Justin was in the middle of a conversation with his friends when a sudden wave of dizziness hit him, momentarily blurring his vision.
He raised his wrist to glance at the time—it was just past midnight. His pulse quickened as he realized the urgency of his situation.
He needed to get out of there, fast.
Staying any longer would risk something he couldn't afford: being in close proximity to humans for too long. The last thing he needed was for someone to drop unconscious around him.
He quickly made his way toward Maddie, intending to inform her of his departure, but as he approached, he overheard her speaking to the crowd, introducing Mira.
The words made his chest tighten, and he found himself frozen.
Mira Bluen, the name seemed to linger in the air, and as Maddie detailed the girl's true identity, his gaze flicked toward the girl in question.
The crowd had gathered around her, murmurs swirling like a storm.
He only caught glimpses of her through the throng of bodies, but it was clear to him—this girl, the center of all this gossip, was now the subject of their mockery.
The weight of the situation hit him hard. But he had no time for it. He needed to leave, now.
Just as he turned to slip away, a voice cut through the noise, "She's drowning in the pool!"
A rush of adrenaline surged through him.
His instincts screamed at him to act, but the crowd's apathy stunned him. Instead of rushing to help, they stood frozen, watching her flail in the water, as if her suffering were just another spectacle to be consumed.
He was torn—he couldn't allow this to continue, and the need to feed was beginning to gnaw at him.
A cruel thought flickered in his mind—Maybe I could use her.
After all, it wouldn't be long before he lost control, and the hunger that burned inside him demanded to be sated.
He was already slipping, and the transformation was creeping closer with each passing second.
Without a second thought, he darted toward the pool.
The moment he plunged into the water, the change within him accelerated.
His vision sharpened, his canines began to elongate, and his eyes shimmered with the predatory glow of a creature too close to its breaking point.
His instincts screamed for blood, but he forced himself to remain focused.
He grabbed Mira's limp form from the water, lifting her effortlessly from the pool. The crowd gasped in unison, their eyes wide with shock and awe.
Their focus shifted from their cruel gossip to the spectacle before them, but for Justin, it was a fleeting moment of calm.
He could feel his body burning with the need for blood, but he knew he didn't have much longer before the transformation became irreversible.
As he pulled Mira out of the pool, he heard the whispers start again, their malice thick in the air.
"Oh my, I can't believe this," someone murmured from the crowd. "I'm sure this was all part of her plan."
The voices grew louder, feeding off each other's cruelty.
"What was the point of creating such a scene? She could have just told everyone the truth about herself."
"Yeah, I bet she asked Maddie to say all that, just so she could put on an act and get attention."
"Out of everyone, she managed to capture the golden boy's attraction."
"I'd trade anything to end up in Justin's arms, even if it means being like her."
"Though if I was the one who carried that ugly duckling, I'd be washing my arms a thousand times."
Their cruel words reached Justin's ears, and something within him snapped. The anger that simmered beneath the surface surged.
His voice, deep and dangerous, echoed through the air, stopping the gossip cold.
"Will you all shut up?!"
The intensity of his voice sent a shiver through the crowd. The dangerous aura around him was palpable, as if the very air had turned to ice.
He raised his head, locking eyes with the group, as if daring anyone to challenge him.
Immediately, the whispers died down. But the shock on their faces was undeniable.
No one dared to speak.
Justin's voice dropped to a menacing growl, his words laced with fury. "Just one more word against her, and I'm quite sure you wouldn't be missing the other side of me. You all are so quick to jabber about someone else's life. If her sister wanted to give an introduction about her, then so be it! Why the murmur? You tortured her, and now you're watching her struggle for her life, but you just stood there and did nothing? You let her drown in that pool?"
His words hit like a slap, leaving the entire crowd silent, their heads lowered in shame. No one could meet his gaze. The weight of his scolding crushed them all.
Once he had vented his anger, he returned his focus to Mira.
He pressed his hands to her chest, giving her the life-saving treatment she desperately needed.
But just as he was about to give her mouth-to-mouth, a voice broke through the tension.
"Mira..."
Maddie, now dressed in a lifeguard outfit, approached them, concern dripping from her voice.
As she neared, Justin hesitated.
He quickly looked away, refusing to let his gaze linger on her sister. His focus was still on Mira, and he continued the rescue procedure, praying for her to breathe.
Maddie reached for Mira's hair, but Justin's sharp tone froze her in her tracks.
"There's no need to worry. Just call the doctor. I'll take her to her room."
Maddie was about to protest, but then she paused.
She couldn't take Mira to her room.
That would look suspicious, especially with Justin here. She glanced up at him, trying to force a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Okay, follow me," she said, her voice tight with restraint.
She led Justin to the room, her hands trembling slightly.
Once inside, Justin gently placed Mira on the bed, as if she were made of glass. His eyes never left her, and it didn't go unnoticed by Maddie. The jealousy burned in her chest as she watched him.
Justin's gaze, however, was far from Maddie. He was staring at Mira with a hunger that Maddie couldn't understand. She clenched her fists, furious.
"Maddie, you should go and call the doctor," Justin commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Her blood boiled, but she gritted her teeth and nodded, unwilling to show weakness.
"Okay, I'll use my phone," she said, reaching for her pocket, but before she could take a step, she felt a firm grip on her wrist.
"Could you do it outside?" Justin's voice was sharp. "I'd like to do something in here. You can bring the doctor once they arrive. Besides, you have a party to host."
Maddie stood frozen, her eyes wide with disbelief.
Did he just send me out of the room because of the ugly duckling lying in bed?
Her rage bubbled up from deep within her, but she forced herself to smile, her patience wearing thin.
"O-okay," she muttered, her voice tight with anger.
As she walked out of the room, her gaze lingered on Mira. She was lying there, seemingly innocent, hands resting on her stomach, her chest rising and falling with each breath.
Maddie's thoughts turned dark, and she cursed inwardly.
Why couldn't it have been her? Why did Mira have to be the one he cared about?
Once Maddie was gone, Justin wasted no time. His hand shot to his phone, and he dialed his trusted bodyguard, Jude.
"Yes, Master," Jude's voice came through, calm and professional.
"Jude, sneak into the Bluen's house immediately. It seems I'm going to stay here longer. I can't leave in my other form, so hurry. I'll be waiting," Justin said, his voice curt and demanding.
"Okay, boss," Jude replied, the line going dead.
----
Once again, a woman darted through the shadowy forest, her breath coming in sharp gasps. This time, she clutched something tightly in her hand, as if her life depended on it.
Branches clawed at her skin, the ground uneven beneath her frantic steps. Her foot caught on a hidden root, sending her sprawling to the forest floor.
The precious object in her grip slipped free, tumbling into the dark underbrush.
Behind her, the figure she was fleeing emerged, a dagger glinting ominously in their hand.
"No—" she choked out, but there was no time.
The blade struck her stomach, and pain exploded through her. She growled, her lips slick with blood, as her strength faltered.
"Help..." she managed, her voice barely more than a whisper.
With a jolt, Mira awoke, her body trembling.
She gasped for air, her hand clutching her chest as she tried to calm her racing heart.
Realizing she was safe, she threw her arms around the person beside her, burying her face in their shoulder as she struggled to breathe.