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 cuts

Then-

"Taryn."

Soft. Wicked. Too fucking

sound of

Fast.

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

on

Fuck.

My foot slips on a rock and I

hear him getting closer.

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

tastes like metal. My arms are covered

he growls, voice lower now. Feral. Closer. So fucking close I can feel the rumble of it crawling

root catches my

I trip.

aking

No-

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IVOLT, 20 vay

Chapter 131

up

impact.

me, the

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

of

stop. I rip. The stitches scream and snap like my ribcage, but I don't stop. I'm not stopping until I'm

I spot headlights. Taxi.

dart into the street like a lunatic-probably look like one too. Pregnant,

to roll toward me,

BANG.

a hand slams against

Enoch.

fogged on the

the door open and practically

the seven-foot psycho ripping the goddamn door off its hinges like it's a wet

ask questions. He slams

tires scream.

lurch forward. The door Enoch just mangled clangs against the

us, sparks flying.

the

snarl I

He doesn't chase.

knows he's

stare doesn't

Neither does mine.

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

glass like I'm not falling

I am.

Chapter 131

get to see that. Not

turns.

for the next

for the damage," I mutter to the cab driver. My voice is flat. "All of

care what it

nods like she's seen

was that?" she

before

the

quiet when I get out. The cab peels off before

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

apartment, one hand cradling the curve of my

anything to cradle

secret. A heartbeat. A future that feels more

punch in

Except-

The hallway's already open.