Chapter 73 Second Choice
Chapter 73 Second Choice
Justin didn’t move for a long time.
Not because he couldn’t.
Because he didn’t trust what would happen if he did.
The forest had gone quiet again, but it wasn’t the same silence as before. This one felt… aware. Like the trees had leaned in, like the ground itself was waiting to see what he would do next.
His hands were still shaking.
Not subtly.
Not something he could hide from himself.
Violently.
Like something inside him was trying to get out through his fingers.
He stared at them.
At the blood smeared across his skin.
Not his.
Not yet.
“You felt it.”
The voice returned, softer now. Not mocking. Not distant.
Closer.
Too close.
Justin clenched his fists until his knuckles went pale.
“Shut up.”
“You almost did it.”
“I said shut up.”
“But you didn’t.”
That was the problem.
That was the worst part.
Justin dragged a hand down his face, smearing the blood further, breathing uneven, trying to anchor himself to something—anything—that still felt human.
“I stopped.”
Silence.
Then—
“For now.”
Justin’s jaw tightened.
The words landed heavier than they should have.
Because part of him agreed.
He pushed himself to his feet, slower this time, deliberate. Like sudden movement might trigger something.
He couldn’t stay here.
The smell.
The body.
The memory of how close he’d come—
It was already clawing at him.
He turned away from where the girl had run.
That direction was danger.
Not for him.
For her.
For anyone.
So he went the opposite way.
Deeper.
Away from people.
Away from temptation.
Away from himself.
At least, that’s what he told himself.
But the forest didn’t feel empty anymore.
It felt… full.
Every sound sharper.
Every shift in the air louder.
Every scent layered.
And beneath all of it—
That same pull.
Faint.
Persistent.
Like a thread tied somewhere inside his chest, tugging him forward whether he wanted it or not.
“You can’t outrun it.”
Justin ignored the voice.
Kept walking.
Faster now.
Branches snapped underfoot. Leaves crushed. The rhythm of movement building, pushing, almost becoming something frantic.
“You think distance changes what you are?”
“Shut up.”
“Say it again,” the voice whispered, almost amused. “It doesn’t make it less true.”
Justin stopped abruptly.
His chest rose and fell hard, breath uneven, pulse loud in his ears.
“I’m not a killer.”
The forest didn’t respond.
The voice didn’t respond.
And somehow…
That silence was worse.
Because it felt like waiting.
Like it knew something he didn’t.
A scent cut through the air.
Sharp.
Fresh.
Alive.
Justin’s head turned before he could stop it.
There.
To his left.
Close.
Too close.
“No.”
He took a step back.
Then another.
Like he could physically put distance between himself and the feeling rising in his chest.
But his body leaned forward.
Just slightly.
Just enough.
“You feel that?” the voice murmured. “That’s not hunger.”
Justin’s teeth clenched.
“It is.”
“No,” the voice said softly. “That’s instinct.”
And instinct didn’t ask permission.
Justin turned.
Forced himself to walk away.
Each step heavier than the last.
Each movement dragging against something inside him that wanted the opposite.
“Keep going,” the voice whispered. “Let’s see how long you last.”
Justin picked up speed.
Walking became a jog.
The jog became something faster.
His breath came harder now, sharper, like his lungs were trying to keep up with something his body had already decided.
But the scent didn’t fade.
It followed.
No—
It stayed.
Because he wasn’t leaving it.
He was circling it.
His steps slowed.
Unconsciously.
Then stopped.
The realization hit too late.
He hadn’t escaped it.
He’d tracked it.
Justin’s eyes lifted slowly.
And there he was.
A man.
Older.
Broad-shouldered.
Standing still.
Watching him.
Not afraid.
That was the first thing Justin noticed.
Not confused.
Not panicked.
Just… aware.
Like he’d been expecting this.
Justin’s pulse spiked.
Danger.
Not prey.
Different.
The man tilted his head slightly, studying him.
“You’re not supposed to be this deep in the territory.”
His voice was calm.
Measured.
Authority threaded through it like steel under skin.
Justin didn’t answer.
Couldn’t.
Because something in that voice—
Something in that scent—
Set everything inside him on edge.
The man took a step forward.
Justin’s body reacted instantly.
Tense.
Ready.
Wrong.
“You’re not from any pack I know,” the man continued, eyes narrowing slightly. “And you smell—”
He stopped.
Mid-sentence.
Something shifted in his expression.
Recognition.
Or something worse.
“…interesting.”
Justin’s stomach twisted.
Not fear.
Not exactly.
Something closer to anticipation.
The man’s gaze sharpened.
“I’m going to ask you one time,” he said, voice lowering slightly. “What are you?”
Justin’s lips parted.
But nothing came out.
Because the answer—
The real answer—
He didn’t want to say.
Didn’t understand.
Didn’t trust.
“I don’t know,” he said finally.
It wasn’t a lie.
That made it worse.
The man studied him for a long moment.
Then—
“You should.”
Justin felt it before it happened.
The shift.
Subtle.
But undeniable.
The air tightened.
The man’s posture changed.
Weight shifting.
Muscles coiling.
Not aggressive.
Prepared.
Justin’s own body mirrored it instantly.
No thought.
No decision.
Just reaction.
“That’s far enough,” the man said, voice colder now.
Justin blinked.
Realizing—
He’d stepped closer.
Without meaning to.
Without noticing.
“I didn’t—”
“I know exactly what you did,” the man cut in sharply.
A pause.
Then, quieter—
“You’re not in control.”
Justin’s jaw tightened.
“I am.”
The man’s expression didn’t change.
But something in his eyes did.
Calculation.
“…No,” he said finally. “You’re trying to be.”
That hit harder than it should have.
Because it was true.
And they both knew it.
The forest held its breath.
Justin could feel it now.
The line.
Thin.
Fragile.
About to snap.
“Leave,” the man said.
Simple.
Direct.
Final.
Justin didn’t move.
Because something inside him—
Something darker—
Didn’t want to.
Didn’t want to walk away.
Didn’t want to stop.
“You don’t want to do this,” the man added, quieter now.
Almost… warning.
Justin laughed.
Short.
Empty.
“You don’t know what I want.”
The man’s gaze hardened.
“I know exactly what you are.”
That did it.
Something inside Justin snapped.
Clean.
Sharp.
Final.
“Then say it,” Justin growled, voice dropping, changing, something else slipping through the edges. “Say what you think I am.”
The man didn’t hesitate.
“…A problem.”
Justin moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
The distance vanished.
The man reacted instantly, stepping back, blocking, deflecting—
But Justin wasn’t thinking.
Wasn’t planning.
Wasn’t holding back.
His hand slammed into the man’s chest, sending him back a step.
Not enough.
Not nearly enough.
The man recovered quickly, striking back, precise, controlled—
Different.
Trained.
This wasn’t prey.
This was something else.
Something dangerous.
Good.
That made it better.
Justin smiled.
And that was the moment everything went wrong.
Because the smile didn’t feel like his.
“Stop,” the voice whispered.
But this time—
Justin didn’t want to.
The man lunged.
Justin met him head-on.
The impact cracked through the forest, sharp and violent.
Blow for blow.
Movement for movement.
Faster.
Harder.
Closer.
Until it wasn’t a fight anymore.
It was something else.
Something messy.
Something primal.
The man grabbed Justin, trying to restrain him—
Big mistake.
Justin’s hand closed around his wrist.
Twisted.
Hard.
A crack split the air.
The man grunted, pain flashing across his face—
And Justin felt it.
That surge.
That rush.
That same thing from before.
But stronger.
So much stronger.
“Stop—”
Too late.
Justin moved.
Teeth bared.
Eyes dark.
The man saw it.
Too late.
Justin’s grip shifted.
From restraint—
To control.
From control—
To something worse.
“I told you to leave,” the man growled, struggling, trying to push him back—
But Justin was stronger now.
Faster.
Hungrier.
And this time—
He didn’t stop.