Babysitting The Amnesiac Lycan King

CHAPTER 121

CHAPTER 121

ENOCH

The fucking paper won't stop shaking.

It's not my hands. It's this cursed, pathetic excuse for a goodbye. Thin and too clean-smells like her. A whisper of lavender, something floral and too soft for the mess she left behind.

I don't blink. I don't breathe. Not until I tear it open.

The letter's inside-folded neatly like she gave a shit about presentation. Typical Taryn. Even when she's leaving, she does it with a ribbon and a bow.

I'm not ready to read it.

But I do anyway.

Something small slides out and hits the table. Tink. A black microchip. I stare at it for a second, my heart already punching through my ribcage as though it's trying to escape the moment.

I unfold the letter. My eyes scan the page first. Her handwriting is still goddamn perfect. I fucking hate that I recognize her curves before her words.

Enoch,

If you're reading this, it means I'm already gone. And no, not because I betrayed you-l never could. You know that. Deep down, past the rage. You know that. I never meant to hurt you. Not when I left, not when I hesitated.

The video that played at the Unity Ball wasn't me. I was going to stop it-I did stop

it. But someone took the file. I don't know who, but I'll find out. I promise.

This chip has something that belongs to you. To us. The real story, the one I wanted to tell. Not for the world, but for you.

I loved you. God, I still do. I don't know how to stop.

I don't expect you to believe me right now. Maybe not even ever. But one day, when it stops burning-when the bloodlust fades and your silence doesn't sound like war drums-I hope you'll play it.

Loving you was never the mistake.

And if there's a next life-I'd choose you again. Even if it ends like this. Even if it ends bloody.

But we need space. You need time. And I... I need to stop bleeding for people who won't stay.

If this is goodbye, then know this-

I never stopped choosing you.

-Taryn

My fingers curl into the edge of the letter until the paper creases hard enough to tear.

"You fucking liar," I whisper. But my throat burns. My jaw tightens. Muscles strain until I taste iron on the back of my tongue.

Fuck.

Fuck her.

No, no. Don't lie to yourself, Enoch.

You'd fucking burn down every kingdom for her.

I shove the letter aside and grab the chip. Plug it into my laptop. If this is another

trick, another dagger dressed in silk-I swear to the fucking moon-

The screen lights up, cold and clinical, too modern for how raw my chest feels right now.

The video boots. Buffering.

And then-her face.

My world doesn't just shift. It cracks.

There she is. Auburn eyes bright like she's just told someone a dirty joke and got away with it. Her lips are curled into that

smug half-smile that used to get her out of everything-including my temper.

And her voice-fuck-I forgot how it wraps around you like barbed wire and honey.

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CHAPTER 121

The video opens with her giggling. Blurry footage. It's handheld, shaky as hell.

"Okay, this thing's on, right? Ugh Enoch, you better not be watching this naked, or asleep, or naked and asleep because I swear to God-"

A blurry flash-camera pans too fast-my face shows up for half a second. I flinch at the light. Scow! She laughs behind

the screen.

"Shit, sorry! Flash! Okay, no flash, got it."

The image steadies. We're in Riverstone. That rundown cabin. My hair's longer, sofy. She pans across the tiny room, all wooden floors and peeling paint. Then back to me.

I'm shirtless

Of course I am.

"I present to you, the grumpiest patient of all time," she says in a fake posh accent. "Zero out of ten bedside manner. But, hey, look at those abs."

I scoff under my breath. Fucking hell.

Another clip loads.

We're on the beach. The Maldives. That night.

I recognize the sheets-white and kicked halfway off the bed, her legs tangled with mine. My arms are around her waist, and she's giggling so hard the camera shakes again.

"Enoch-no, stop! I'm recording-baby-!"

A low grunt from me as I reach for the camera. She squeals, holding it above her

head like it's some national treasure. "Put that shit down," I growl in the background.

She laughs harder.

"Just say hi to future-you. C'mon. This is for memories. For-"

snatch it. It falls sideways

the speakers.

"Give. It. Back."

"Make me."

And then-There's a

Jesus fucking Christ.

curl

Third clip.

bed. I'm still passed out beside her, arm

mess, mouth slightly open like

trace

voice

is my mate. The grumpy, hot, king-of-the-underworld bastard

puts up with me.

"So hot. I mean, who gave him the

at that jawline."

again, stupid

he ever sees this-hi, babe. You're welcome. I could've drooled on

but didn't."

I press pause.

My chest is... fuck.

hand balls

I can't breathe.

I press play

scene. Silver glitter. Everywhere. She's filming the ballroom-half

total chaos.

right now. And he's gonna lose his shit-" "Sinclair," I bark offscreen. "What the fuck is this powder all over

says

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CHAPTER 121

going to

on screen, and two seconds later

laughter.

bodies crashing into boxes.

breathless and breathy

I give

the clip changes one last

The final video.

It's her

Just her

alone. In

one that made my

curled Lipstick smudged like she

hum sounds like the Unity

time I'll get to say this,"

downstairs too. Or

twirls in place, the dress catching the

a

straight at

smile this time. No

was supposed to play tonight. I thought

it was...

voice cracks, but she

1. us. Before

mate. My King. If you're

world saw something else. But this-this

and sand and early mornings and late-night kisses

forevers."

mate. My longtime boyfriend. And if it's not too much trouble... would you maybe, possibly, grant this

Silence.

The screen goes black.

I close the laptop.

I can't fucking move.

like something just cracked inside me. Maybe it

took it with

fast the chair skids across the room. My

even realize

"FUCK!"

Again. Again. Until

down the surface.

at the ceiling. My jaw

She didn't betray me.

She fucking loved me.

to burn

I can't fucking breathe.

my fingernails. Not real blood. Not

voice's still playing in my head like it was looped and embedded in the

of my skull.

love you... isn't that worth anything

I should've answered her.

I should've answered her.

I should've-

CHAPTER 121

the side of the

splitting my knuckles open

one go.

shakes unde my grief. Or maybe it's just

lean forward, both palms pressed

sweat dripping from my

It's not sweat.

It's fucking tears.

Pathetic.

face with the back of my hand and stare at the crimson

screen behind me has gone

I still

in hurt and tears, begging me to see

her. Pick her

I fucking turned my

said shit since I shut him down hours ago. But he's

Pissed.

Raging

"You don't deserve her."

voice slices through

I mutter,

walked away. She begged. And you

fist into the mirror. Glass bites back, tearing