Babysitting The Amnesiac Lycan King

Chapter 131 Chapter 131

I don't move.

I don't blink.

I don't fucking breathe.

There's mud soaking into the knees of my jeans and bark grinding into my palm, and none of it matters: Not when his voice is still echoing in my head.

"I got you, baby."

The branch. That fucking traitorous branch.

My chest hurts from holding in my breath too long. My throat burns. Every inch of me is screaming to run, now, but I'm pinned-mentally, physically, soul-deep frozen-by the sound of leaves being crushed under boots that are far too heavy to be anything but his.

Enoch.

He's close. So close I can hear his breathing. Sharp. Controlled. That same way he used to breathe when he was barely keeping it together in front of everyone else.

Only this time he's not hiding it.

There's no more mask. Just obsession in its rawest, most terrifying form.

The forest around me is thick with mist and dusk-shadowed trees. It should be enough to keep me hidden. But I know him.

He's a hunter. I'm the goddamn prey.

There's the sound of pine needles shifting. A rock being nudged. A pause. I can feel his stare against the back of my skull. No logic behind it, just pure instinct. Like he's already seeing me through the tree I'm hiding behind. Smirking. Patient.

I try not to tremble. Try.

"Taryn," a voice calls out-not his.

It's coming from somewhere in the trees. To my left. Deeper, farther. Higher up, maybe. I can't see. My heart launches into my throat.

Jacob.

My head jerks toward the sound. Just slightly. Just enough to hate myself for reacting.

"Found her," Jacob yells. "She's inside. Second level security just flagged-"

"No, she's not," Enoch snaps, his voice dark and low. Too close. "She's not inside. She's here."

Silence.

Goddamnit.

He knows. He knows..

I press my lips shut so tight they ache. My thighs are already cramping from crouching, but I'm not moving until-

"She really is inside," Jacob insists again, louder now. Closer. "It's her file ID. Triple confirmation."

"Don't lie to me," Enoch barks, and something snaps-a sharp, visceral crack that doesn't sound like a branch this time.

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Chapter 131

flinch.

He hit something.

"Get the fuck out of my head, Jacob."

I don't breathe. I don't blink.

But I move.

While they're arguing, I slip away. Slow at first. Quiet. One foot, then another. Careful of the twigs. Careful of the earth that wants to betray me like it already fucking did.

And then-then I'm gone.

I bolt.

I don't wait for logic or a plan or any idea of where the hell I'm going. I just run.

My boots hit the undergrowth hard. Branches whip at my arms. My lungs burn. Every breath is jagged. My legs already feel like they're losing blood. Doesn't matter. I'm not stopping.

me, the argument cuts

Then-

"Taryn."

name. Soft. Wicked. Too fucking

sound

Fast.

humans. They don't sound like it, either. It's faster. Heavier. Like the whole fucking forest is shifting just to let

not getting far on those

Fuck.

made of paper. My foot slips on a rock and I nearly eat dirt, but I catch

hear him getting

outrun me?" he calls again, too fucking casually. Like we're playing tag and not some twisted

arms

I can feel the rumble of it crawling up my spine. "K me chase you. It's only making

root catches my

I trip.

aking

No-

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Chapter 131

knees, mud splashing up onto my face, my palms stinging from

impact.

me, the footsteps

Then just breathing.

His breathing.

Deep. Controlled.

Possessive.

I just remember my lungs burning, my

the sound of boots-his fucking boots-pounding behind me like

of biology.

coat catches on some stupid bush as I round the curb. I don't stop. I rip. The stitches scream and snap like my ribcage, but I don't stop. I'm not stopping until I'm halfway across

I spot headlights. Taxi.

The little yellow car slows, blinking hazards. I dart into the street like a lunatic-probably look like one too. Pregnant, limping, blood on my sleeve, eyes wide enough to eat the

to

BANG.

a hand slams against the glass behind

Enoch.

eyes, handprint fogged on the window like some twisted horror

door open and practically throwing myself inside.

driver turns, sees the seven-foot psycho ripping the goddamn door off its

ask questions. He slams

tires scream. So do

lurch forward. The door Enoch just

us, sparks flying.

in the middle of the road now,

I

He doesn't chase.

he's

stare doesn't

Neither does mine.

wipe the tears off my cheek with the back of my shaking hand and glare at

like I'm

I am.

Chapter 131

get to

turns. He's

don't breathe for the next three red

mutter to the cab driver.

care what

like she's seen a ghost. Or

she asks,

say before I

the rest of

too quiet when I

the door. Fair. If I were

the apartment, one hand

there's barely anything

secret. A heartbeat. A future

punch in the door

Except-

The hallway's already open.