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.

the argument

Then-

"Taryn."

Wicked. Too

the sound of someone

Fast.

either. It's faster. Heavier. Like the whole fucking forest is shifting

getting far on those tiny

Fuck.

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

can hear him getting closer.

calls again, too fucking casually. Like we're playing tag and not some twisted game of hunt the traitor mate in

air tastes like metal. My arms are

fucking close I can feel the rumble

root catches

I trip.

aking

No-

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Chapter 131

mud splashing up onto my face, my palms stinging

impact.

me, the footsteps

Then just breathing.

His breathing.

Deep. Controlled.

Possessive.

just remember my lungs burning, my pulse

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

desperation makes liars of biology. And tonight, it makes

the curb. I don't stop. I rip. The stitches scream and snap

I spot headlights. Taxi.

yellow car slows, blinking hazards. I dart into the street like a lunatic-probably look

to

BANG.

hand slams against the

Enoch.

the window like some twisted horror

door open and practically

psycho ripping the goddamn door off its

questions. He slams

tires scream.

door Enoch just

us, sparks flying.

in the middle of the road now, eyes glowing, chest

I can

He doesn't chase.

he's too

his stare

Neither does mine.

off my cheek with the back of my shaking hand and glare

like I'm not

I am.

Chapter 131

to

cab turns. He's

breathe for the next

I mutter to the cab driver. My voice is flat. "All of it.

what

nods like she's seen a

that?" she

before I can stop

talk the rest

too quiet when I get out. The cab

Fair. If I were

one hand cradling the curve of

anything to cradle

future that feels more

punch in the door

Except-

The hallway's already open.