Babysitting The Amnesiac Lycan King

CHAPTER 122

CHAPTER 122

The ultrasound gel is cold. That's the first thing I feel-goopy, slimy, wet as hell- and somehow it's the one sensation that cuts through the chaos in my head.

I never thought the first time I'd hear the word pregnant in relation to myself, it'd come from a doctor with a Russian accent, wearing a lab coat that smelled faintly of wolfsbane and old garlic.

"Breathe," the doctor says. Not kindly. More like he's annoyed that I'm holding my bath like a damn rookie, which, to be fair, I am. At this. At everything.

My hands are gripping the sides of the exam table, trying to hold myself together. As if I won't shatter into pieces the second I let go. Seraphina's standing near the door, arms crossed, chewing gum like she owns the place. Of course she knows this sketchy little hybrid doctor working out of the back of a cosmetic clinic in Rome. Of course she fucking does. "Four weeks," he says as if it's not a fucking bomb that just went off inside my body. “But the embryo's growth suggests accelerated development. Possibly four and a half." He glances at me, then Seraphina. "Are you an... Omega?"

I blink at him, the fluorescent light above buzzing like it's got something to say too. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"You're lucky she got you in," he says, eyes flicking from me to the monitor, where the faintest flicker of life pulses on the screen. "Most wolves don't pick up shifter pregnancies this early."

I blink. "What does that mean?"

He sighs, clicking something on the keyboard. "It means this kid's strong. Too strong. That heartbeat isn't supposed to register for another two weeks, minimum. And that,"-he jabs the screen-"that's a dominant aura. You feel sick lately? Migraines? Nausea so bad it feels like food's just... wrong?"

"Yeah," I say. "Also almost got murdered last week, but sure, let's focus on the vomit."

Seraphina snorts from the corner. The gum cracks. "She's dramatic. Always has been."

I flip her off without looking. "So what now? Do I die, or...?"

"You don't die," he says flatly. "Unless you do something stupid. Like stress

yourself out. Or keep working a high-pressure job while your wolf's already struggling to keep up with the hormonal load. Small wolves aren't built for this kind of pregnancy. Not with a fetus this dominant. You're looking at premature birth.

Four to five months, tops. If your body can even hold on that long."

"I... really can't do anything?" I stammer. He sighs like I just asked him why rain is wet. "Listen, that's not a normal pregnancy. That is a Lycan's offspring inside of

you. Strong. Growing faster than your body can keep up."

My stomach flips. That's not morning sickness. That's dread.

Because that strong heartbeat pulsing like war drums on the monitor? That's his. Enoch's. And mine.

A kid that was never supposed to exist, pounding into life as if it knows it's a fucking miracle.

"Fuck," I whisper. My throat burns.

"Language," Seraphina mutters, even though she's probably the reason I swear as much as I do.

"Shut up," I snap.

The doctor hands me a paper towel and turns off the screen like that's it. Like he didn't just dump a bomb on my uterus and call it a day. "No work. No stress. You stay home, you rest, and if your wolf pushes back, you tell her tough shit."

Eris, inside me, snarls like a feral thing. 'He's out of his goddamn mind if he thinks I'm letting you die for a fucking paycheck. I clench my jaw and wipe my stomach, still cold and wet and fucking trembling.

Seraphina shifts beside me, all her usual smugness gone for once. "Taryn, he's not fucking around. I've seen Omegas with Alphas' kids before and this-" she motions at the screen, "-this is a goddamn suicide mission if you don't take it easy." "I'm fine, Ser," I mutter, pulling my shirt down and sliding off the hospital bed. The paper crinkles beneath me, like it's laughing. "I'm not gonna turn into glass just because I've got a damn parasite in me."

She scoffs. "Parasite? Girl, that parasite's got claws. And probably a temper." The image of Enoch's green eyes flashes behind my lids like a curse. Fuck.

"Listen," the doctor continues, tapping at some notes. "You will need a physician that understands your physiology. A hybrid of wolf and human medicine. And no stress. No fighting. No pack politics. No Alpha males, period."

"Great. I'll just live under a rock, then." I grab my hoodie from the chair. "You selling any of those here?" Ser grabs my arm before I make it to the door. "Taryn. Be serious. You're not going back to work."

I glare at her. "You don't get to tell me what to do just because you're suddenly a six-figure secretary with a city view and

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CHAPTER 122

too much lipstick."

"I make enough to house five damn kids and still buy Chanel, don't test me, she shoots back with a smirk. "You can stay at mine. Rent-free."

"No."

"Taryn-"

not a charity case,

pregnant. With a Lycan. That's not charity, that's survival. Stop

of my nose, exhaling through my teeth. "I'll pay rent. I'll clean.

work part-time. I don't care.

You can be your usual prideful self in the guest room. But if you so much as mop the floor,

Seraphina's apartment,

key, drops it once, curses under her breath and finally pushes the door open like the whole world is

want," she says as we step inside. It smells like roses and espresso and

need to work."

need to not die,

some overpriced essential oil diffuser humming in the corner. It's too cozy. Too soft. Like

yeah. I

sit on the bed and just breathe for a

invisible. Still nothing,

Except it's everything now.

But for how long?

If he knew...

stirs in my head, her

finish that

"What if he-"

"No."

now, more animal than usual. "You put us through hell for that man. You died for him, bled for him, lost everything. If you let him take this child from us, I swear,

my lip hard enough to taste

"Eris-"

you

Silence. Then softer, breaking.

is ours now. Not his. He

She's right.

I did it on purpose. Like I used this baby to chain him. And

Maybe even hate

won't let

much it kills

***

my

like hours.

pick up my

I dial Zoe.

It rings.

And rings.

nic

CHAPTER 122

Then-

"Where the hell have

jail?

out a

"I'm pregnant."

Silence.

More silence.

Then, "You're fucking what?!"

palm into my eye, suddenly exhausted. "You

drops. "Is

"Yeah. It's his."

God. Taryn. Taryn. Where are you? Where are you? Are

say, quiet but firm. "I'm fine. I just... needed you to know. But

I am. Not

"Taryn-"

it. Don't

goes quiet again, then

I close my eyes.

Am I?

know." The truth tastes like rust on my tongue.

hang up before

room is quiet

hand stays on my

days, I let

Just enough.

***