Chapter 157

Chapter 157
Lincoln

I knew what I was going to see before he stepped forward. I knew because the hairs on the back of my neck stood up and that’s why I had kissed her. 

Maybe for the last time.

“Justin-“ Hope whispered from half behind me and my arm tightened on her. She was afraid and with good reason because the creature walking towards us wasn’t the man she once knew. This was the Justin he had become, the one who drank blood and killed an entire planet just because he was obsessed with her.

The creature who would do it again if he couldn’t have her. And he would never have her, not ever again. Hope and Faith were my family.

And he wouldn’t touch them even if it meant I died today.

The crowds of families scattered.

Security would be called and no doubt what they called the police but by the time they arrived it would be too late.

One of us would be dead by then, my eyes narrowed as I watched him glide to a halt. Part of him still looked human but his skin was too grey, his cheeks gaunt. There were dark hollows in his face and his eyes glowed red.

His mouth and fingers were red as well, wet blood smeared and dripping.

I felt sick. He had been feeding. 

My stomach rolled in disgust.

“Get away from her.” His voice was a high pitched whine, more dead than alive. “Hope,bring the child to me.”

Behind me Hope bristled. “Justin.” She stepped forward, and I had no choice but to drop my arm from her shoulders. “Justin stop this, you can’t be here and looking like that. You have to control-“

He snarled at her. Teeth bared and blood dripping from them. “Come here, it’s time to end this once and for all.”

She froze at his words.

“Why do you need Faith?” Her voice shook and she took a step back.

“Because he thinks the child is what keeps you loving me.” I said quietly. “He thinks that’s what keeps us together and he thinks that if he kills her then you will go back to him. Isn’t that right?”

Justin didn’t answer him. His eyes locked in the pushchair behind me and stayed there. I could see the hunger in his face. He wanted to hurt my child and steal away my mate and I couldn’t let that happen.

He took a step forward and growled and my body moved to intercept him smoothly.

“You.” He glared at me. “You’ve ruined it all. The future is in shambles and -“ Justin’s eyes darted from me to Hope and back again. “You’ve ruined it all. Hope belongs with me and once I kill you and get rid of the child she will-“

Striding toward Hope slapped him so hard I heard the bones in her hand crunch.

She didn’t even flinch. “You piece of shit.” She screamed it into his face. “All of this because you were obsessed with me? All this death and destruction? You fucked the world up because you couldn’t stand the thought of losing me and you brought me back because you would rather we all die if you couldn’t have me?”

He didn’t answer her.

“That’s not love Justin.” She reached out and poked him in the chest angrily. I couldn’t help it, I smiled. She was spectacular. Bloody stupid but still spectacular. 

“I have always-“

She poked him again. “What you are feeling isn’t love. Its obsession. If you love someone then you don’t trap them, you don’t kill millions of people. I hate you Justin. It won’t matter if you kill everyone I know and love. I will always hate you. And if you-“ she took a step into his space and I saw her nose wrinkle in disgust. “If you hurt either of them I will kill you myself. Do you understand that?”

Justin stared at her for a heartbeat and then took a step back. “You really mean that?”

“Mean it?” She screeched. “Of course I mean it”

“And what if ,” his eyes narrowed. “Sacrificing them meant you saved everyone else? Would you be willing to-“

Using both of her hands she pushed him backwards. “No.” She said firmly. “I would rather the world end and face it by their sides. They are my family Justin. I love them-“ she glanced behind her and her smile was soft. “So if you want to kill my mate and my child you will have to kill me first.”

Justin blinked rapidly, almost like he couldn’t believe his ears. Part of me couldn’t either.

“It’s over Justin.” Hopes voice turned quiet. “But I think deep down you knew that, and that’s why you brought me here. The future you built is gone and me being here is tearing the universe apart. Killing my family wont stop that will it?”

He remained silent and at that moment I knew the truth. “Killing me and Faith would.” I said quietly. “You’re the key Hope, he needs your love to survive in this world and you have given it to me. That’s why he is losing control , it’s because you have rejected him. To save the world one of us has to die.”

Hope stepped back, hovering between us. “Is that right Justin? Does someone have to die to-“

“You can only choose one. That’s how I made you. You are the key to everything Hope. It’s always been you.” 

“How do we stop the world from ending Justin?” She asked softly and this time there was no anger in her voice. 

“One of us has to let you go. You were made for me Hope. That’s how I changed you but somehow-“ Justin’s eyes narrowed as they stared at me. “Somehow you were made for him as well. The universe can’t right itself until you make the choice. In this reality you can only have one fated -“ he sighed heavily. “You really do love him don’t you?”

“Yes.” She answered quietly. “Not because he is my alpha, not because biology tells me I have too but because he makes my heart sing. From the moment I first saw him he was mine.” She looked at me. “I love him.”

“I love you as well.” I said without thinking.

“I see.” Justin took a step away. “You love them more than you have ever loved me.”

“Justin-“ Hope groaned. “It’s not a competition. It’s real life. Feelings change. I loved you once but not anymore. I’ll love -“

“Then I will prove to you once and for all that I love you the most.” Justin straightened and I didn’t like the look in his eyes at all. I took a step forward because it looked like he was going to attack her.

“I will prove to you and maybe then you will -“ he took a step to the side. “Remember me with fondness because I do love you Hope and my love isn’t selfish. I hope the world survives-“

“Justin-“ she launched herself forward but had no hope of catching him before he had vaulted across the high fence and straight into the tiger enclosure.

They attacked almost instantly and Justin didn’t even try to defend himself. He just let himself be- ripped apart.

“Justin.” Hope cried again, I pulled her into my arms. Hiding her face against my chest as dozens of screams rent the air. The highest was Justin’s.

He had sacrificed himself. 

“It’s over Hope, it’s over.” I held her even tighter. 

“Why would he do that? Why?” She cried.

“Because one of us had to die and he wanted you to know he loved you enough to sacrifice himself. He made-“

“Does this mean the bombs won’t drop and the world won’t end?”

I sighed. “I don’t know Hope because the future can’t be seen but we will be together when we face it.”

“Promise?” She lifted her face to me. Tears ran down her cheeks.

“I promise, whatever happens in the future we will face it as a family.”