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."

name. Soft. Wicked. Too

sound of

Fast.

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

not getting far on

Fuck.

harder. I tear through brush and low branches like they're made of paper. My foot slips on a rock and

hear him

Like we're playing tag and not some twisted game of hunt the traitor mate in

air tastes like metal. My arms are covered in scratches. I

running, little Omega," 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 it

root catches my

I trip.

aking

No-

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Chapter 131

knees, mud splashing up onto

impact.

me, the footsteps

Then just breathing.

His breathing.

Deep. Controlled.

Possessive.

I just remember

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

liars of biology. And tonight, it

The stitches scream and snap like my ribcage, but I don't stop. I'm not stopping until I'm halfway across the country or dead. Whichever comes

I spot headlights. Taxi.

could reach heaven. The little yellow car slows, blinking hazards. I dart into the street like

to roll

BANG.

hand slams against the glass

Enoch.

on the

yell, yanking the door open and practically

sees the seven-foot psycho ripping the goddamn door off its hinges like

questions. He

tires scream. So

Enoch just

us, sparks flying.

middle of the road

in a snarl I

He doesn't chase.

he's

stare

Neither does mine.

the tears off my cheek with the

glass like

I am.

Chapter 131

get to see

cab turns.

the next

I mutter to the cab

care what it

like she's seen a ghost.

she asks,

before I

talk the rest of the

building is way too quiet when I get out. The cab peels off

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

toward the apartment, one hand cradling the curve of my stomach,

barely anything to

future that feels more like

in the

Except-

The hallway's already open.