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

Then-

"Taryn."

Soft. Wicked.

the sound of

Fast.

like it, either. It's faster. Heavier. Like the whole fucking forest is shifting just

not getting far on

Fuck.

of paper. My foot slips on a rock

hear him

Like we're playing tag

arms are covered in scratches. I

he growls, voice lower now. Feral. Closer. So fucking close I can feel the rumble of it crawling up my spine. "K me chase you. It's only making

root catches

I trip.

aking

No-

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Chapter 131

my knees, mud splashing up onto my face, my

impact.

the

Then just breathing.

His breathing.

Deep. Controlled.

Possessive.

remember my lungs

my throat, and the sound of boots-his fucking boots-pounding behind me like war

has been. But desperation makes liars of biology.

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 spot headlights. Taxi.

slows, blinking hazards. I dart into the street like a lunatic-probably look like one too. Pregnant, limping, blood on my sleeve, eyes wide

starts to roll toward me,

BANG.

as a hand slams against the

Enoch.

handprint fogged on the window like some twisted

yell, yanking the door open and

goddamn door off its

doesn't ask questions. He

scream. So

just mangled clangs against

us, sparks flying.

in the middle of the road

I can feel in

He doesn't chase.

he's too

his stare doesn't

Neither does mine.

the tears off my cheek with the back of

like

I am.

Chapter 131

get to see that.

cab turns. He's

breathe for the

to the cab driver. My voice is

care what it

she's seen a ghost.

she asks, voice

say before I can stop

the rest

when I get out.

door. Fair. If I were her, I'd be doing

limp toward the apartment, one hand cradling the curve

there's barely anything to cradle

future

in the

Except-

The hallway's already open.