King Novel novel Chapter 37

Chapter 37

Chapter 37

90%

+53)

Enoch stares at me as though he’s calculating something. As though he’s deciding whether to lie. I recognize that look because I’ve used it a million times myself.

His eyes–dark, predatory, infuriatingly unreadable–hold mine, and for a split second, I swear there’s something there. A flicker of recognition. A crack in the mystery. And then, just like that, it’s gone.

He shakes his head before presenting his head like a damn dog waiting for a pat.

I let out a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding,

ng,sual for some godfortaken treason relief foods through me. What the hell is wrong with me? Wasn’t the entire point of this to wait for him to heal, regain his memories, and then yeet him the fuck out of my life? So why does it feel like my stomach just unclenched after weeks of being in a chokehold?

I ignore the tiny voice in my head whispering, Liar. Instead, I roll my eyes and ruffle his hair in what I hope is a completely normal, not–at–all–affectionate way.

“Alright, big guy. Let’s get you checked before you start leaking all over my floor again.”

***

Dr. Lisa’s clinic smells like antiseptic and cheap lavender–scented candles, a weird mix of sterile and trying too hard to be comforting. The overhead fluorescent lights buzz faintly, flickering like they’re about to give up on life–same, honestly.

Enoch sits on the examination table, looking disturbingly unfazed for someone who just made a whole–ass spectacle of himself in the fighting pits. I expected him to be hanging onto life by a thread, maybe missing a limb. Instead, the asshole looks fine. A little scratched up, sure, but most of the blood on him isn’t even his.

“Can you lift you arm, please?”

Dr. Lisa presses her lips together, clearly uneasy. She’s treated Enoch before, back when he was just the weird mute stray I dragged in, but I can tell something’s different now. Maybe it’s because she just watched him brutalize a gown–ass man in the ring with the kind of efficiency that makes you question if he’s ever done anything else in his life.

She checks his injuries with careful hands, prodding at his ribs, his arms, his knuckles–bruised, but nothing serious. Her brows furrow as she moves to his back, running her fingers along the skin like she’s searching for something.

“Huh.”

Huh? Huh?! That’s not a word you wanna hear from your doctor.

“What do you mean, huh?” I demand.

Dr. Lisa steps back, wiping her hands on a rag. “His healing has accelerated.” She glances at Enoch, then back at me. “Now that his wolf is back from hibernation, it’s not just his human body trying to fix him anymore–it’s his wolf, too.”

I process that for a second. “So… what, you’re saying he should have his memory back now?”

“In theory,” she says carefully.

I glance at Enoch, but he’s looking at me like he’s got nothing to add.

I bite the inside of my cheek. “Yeah, well. I asked him. He says he doesn’t remember anything.”

Dr. Lisa hums, tilting her head. “That’s strange.”

I cross my arms. “Tell me about it.”

1/4

10:33 Fri, 21 Mar

Chapter 37

< 90%

She says nothing for a moment. She simply just studies him though she’s trying to put a puzzle together. The room is too quiet, except for the hum of the lights and the faint, and the steady sound of Enoch’s breathing. I don’t know why, but it’s annoying me.

Finally, I break the silence. “And another thing.”

Dr. Lisa lifts a brow.

I hesitate. Because this? This is embarrassing. But I need to say it out loud just to prove I haven’t completely lost my damn mind.

“I feel…” I trail off, choosing my words carefully. “Weird. Around him.”

Dr. Lisa squints at me. “Weird how?”

I exhale sharply, looking anywhere but at Enoch, who’s watching me like I’m an interesting new specimen to dissect. “Like.. . I don’t know. Like my pulse shoots up every time he’s close. Like my body feels all…” I wave a hand vaguely. “Tingly. My skin gets hot, my head gets light. It’s like-“I cut myself off before I can finish that sentence.

Because fuck no. I am NOT about to say that it feels like a mate bond.

Dr. Lisa stares at me for a beat. Then she bursts out laughing.

I scowl. “What the hell is so funny?”

She wipes at her eyes, still chuckling. “I think I’m gonna have to examine your head too, Taryn.”

I glare. “This is not funny.”

She snorts. “Oh, it is. Trust me.”

I huff and cross my arms. “You’re all useless.”

Enoch just blinks at me—completely unhelpful. Dr. Lisa shakes her head, still amused and I don’t find the humor at all.

I sit there, stewing in my own confusion, because whatever the hell is going on with me, I don’t think I even want to know the answer.

Dr. Lisa secures the last bandage around Enoch’s forearm, and I swear I see the tape tremble between her fingers.

“You heal fast,” she mutters, inspecting the already–fading bruises, her gaze flicking up to meet his. “Too fast for a rogue.”

I stiffen.

Enoch’s wolf isn’t just back–it’s supercharged. His wounds are closing faster than they should, faster than even an Alpha’s. Dr. Lisa notices it too, her lips pressing into a thin line as she finishes.

“I’d love to know who you really are,” she says lightly, but her eyes betray her curiosity.

I swallow, forcing down the truth clogging my throat. He’s the fucking Alpha King.

I can’t say it. Not when I finally remember that merchant from the market who stalked us looked at me as though I’d just doomed myself. Not when his warning—you’re going to regret saving him–echoes in my head every time I brethe.

I sure hope I don’t feel any regret any time soon.

་

The thought follows me back to my room, curling into my chest and settling there, heavy and suffocating.

2/4

Chapter 37

MORNING

Pain rips through my neck, dragging me out of sleep with a hiss

1 reach up, fingers grazing over the bandage Dr. Lisa had placed there after the Alpha’s little dagger stunt. The wound’s will bleeding. Annoying. I shuffle to the mirror, peeling back the edge of the bandage. My reflection stares back, pale and drawn, and my thoughts–once again–veer straight to him.

That strange, electric charge. The way my pulse spikes when Enoch touches me. It’s not like before with Kallin–no comforting warmth, no familiar pull. It’s something more.

And he doesn’t feel it. At least, not that he’s admitted.

I press my fingers to the sore spot on my neck and shake my head. Not the time.

Enoch’s already gone by the time I step outside, his usual morning training with Gamma Abel underway. I grab a basket of food—because my dumbass Lycan refuses to remember basic survival instincts like eating–and head to the training grounds.

THE TRAINING GROUNDS

Something is wrong.

Everyone is keeping their distance from Enoch as if he’s an active landmine. Even the warriors, guys who usually think pain is a personality trait, flinch when he moves. This makes sense, considering he put Kallias‘ wolf into hibernation with sheer fucking violence.

But it’s more than that.

The air feels different. He’s different.

He turns when I approach, face brightening like a golden retriever that just spotted its favorite human. He’s all sharp lines and predatory energy one second, and then–poof. Suddenly you’re seeing a soft, puppy–eyed bastard.

“Taryn,” he rumbles, stepping closer. I look around. Gamma Abel isn’t here today, huh?

I hand him a piece of bread. He only stares at it like it personally offended him.

“Eat,” I say, rolling my eyes.

A beat of silence. Then, slowly, he leans down and takes a bite directly from my hand.

I freeze.

The entire training ground goes dead silent.

I hear someone whisper, “What the fuck-” before I clear my throat loud enough to break the tension.

I yank my hand back, ears burning. “Okay, we’re done here.”

This little—ugh!