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.

the sound of

Fast.

faster. Heavier. Like the whole fucking forest is shifting just to let him

far on those tiny feet,

Fuck.

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

hear him

you can outrun me?" he calls again, too fucking casually. Like we're playing tag and not some twisted game of hunt the traitor

My arms are covered in scratches. I don't

close I can feel the rumble of it crawling up

catches

I trip.

aking

No-

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Chapter 131

mud splashing up onto my face, my palms

impact.

the

Then just breathing.

His breathing.

Deep. Controlled.

Possessive.

remember running. I just remember my lungs burning, my pulse

my throat, and the sound of boots-his fucking boots-pounding

faster. Always has been. But desperation makes liars of biology. And tonight, it makes me

stupid bush as I round the curb. I don't stop. I rip. The stitches scream and snap like my

I spot headlights. Taxi.

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

starts to roll toward

BANG.

as a hand slams against the glass behind

Enoch.

on the window like some twisted horror movie

I yell, yanking the door open

turns, sees the seven-foot psycho ripping the goddamn door

ask questions.

tires scream. So

lurch forward. The door Enoch just mangled clangs against the

us, sparks flying.

the road now,

in a snarl I can feel in my

He doesn't chase.

he's

stare

Neither does mine.

cheek with the back

like I'm not

I am.

Chapter 131

to see

cab turns.

the

mutter to the cab driver.

care what it

she's seen a

she

I say before I

don't talk the

when I get out.

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

toward the apartment, one hand cradling the curve of

barely anything to cradle

a secret. A heartbeat. A future that feels

in the door

Except-

The hallway's already open.