Jun’s hands tremble as he grips the blanket tightly, his mind reeling.
He looks between Kieran and Ace, desperation flashing in his wide eyes. "You’re telling ... I’m a werewolf now? That I’m not human anymore?"
Ace steps closer, his expression heavy with guilt. "Yes, Jun. But it wasn’t a choice anyone wanted to make lightly. You were dying_ your body couldn’t fight back on its own. This was the only way to save you."
Jun shakes his head, disbelief flickering in his gaze. "You’re saying Kieran bit to... to turn into this? Why couldn’t you just..." His voice cracks, his words cutting off as the weight of it all crashes over him.
Kieran says firmly, his voice steady but filled with regret. "Your heart stopped. You were slipping away, and we had no other option. I didn’t want to do this, Jun, but I couldn’t just let you die. None of us could. There’s nothing wrong with being what you are now, no one will even know that you are not the sa Jun."
Jun’s breath cos faster as he processes their words.
His fingers move to his neck instinctively, searching for the bite, but he finds nothing. His voice rises, panicked and incredulous. "So, I didn’t even get a choice in this? You just decided I’d beco... sothing else?"
Ace crouches in front of Jun, eting his eyes directly. "Do you think we wanted this for you? That Kieran wanted this? Jun, how many tis do we have to tell you that you were slipping away."
Jun closes his eyes, pressing his hands to his face as he lets out a long, uneven breath. "This doesn’t feel real," he whispers. "I can’t... I can’t even believe it right now."
Jun stares blankly, his lips pressing into a thin line. For so long before he asks, "I don’t think my dad will be able to take in this! What if he fears because now am an animal! Speaking of who... where’s my dad now?"
The question hits like a cold wind, and the room seems to grow still. Ace tenses, and Kieran glances away for a mont, his jaw tightening.
Ace finally exhales softly, forcing himself to speak. "Jun... there’s a lot we need to talk about, but right now, you need to focus on yourself. You’ve just woken up, and there’s still so much we don’t know about how you’ll feel in the coming days."
Jun’s eyes narrow, suspicion flickering behind them. "You’re avoiding the question."
Kieran steps in smoothly, his voice calm but firm. "You know Xiao Jun, right now you’re not just a human anymore. Your senses, your strength_ they’ll all be heightened. You’ll heal faster, feel stronger... I an, I don’t want to make it seem like it’s just a small matter and am taking the credit for doing it, but seriously, Xiao Jun, you will be way better than a human."
Ace nods, his tone gentler now. "It’s a second chance, Jun. Sothing not everyone gets. And as much as I hate that we had to make this choice for you, it might... it might save you in more ways than one."
Jun looks at them both, his breathing uneven. "So you call running up and down , day and night is way better than being a human?"
Kieran gives a slight nod. "Actually yeah, and for the records... we don’t always run up and down! This is a lot to process, but it cos with benefits too. You’re part of sothing bigger now. A pack. A family. You’re not alone in this."
Jun leans back against the headboard, his fingers running through his hair. "This... this is insane." But there’s a flicker of sothing in his voice_ whether it’s acceptance or just exhaustion, it’s hard to tell.
Ace moves closer, sitting carefully at the edge of the bed. "Jun... I know this is overwhelming. But we’ll guide you through it. Every step of the way."
For a mont, Jun’s gaze softens, his focus lingering on Ace. Before rembering again, "And my dad?"
Ace stiffens slightly, his throat bobbing as he swallows hard. "Actually, Lila didn’t hurt anyone except for you... oh G_d , I just rembered I was supposed to get..." Ace’s voice muffles as his voice is not heard clearly , walking out if the room. "I’ll be right back."
He cannot tell Jun, but Jun doesn’t seem like he will stop asking even as they try to divert his mind.
He leaves Kieran to it, but for so reason , Kieran couldn’t also bring himself to telling him.
"I’ll get you sothing to eat, you need it for your energy back," Kieran says, lingering at the door too.
Before Jun can protest, the door clicks shuts, leaving Jun alone in the heavy silence of the room.
For a mont, he stares at the closed door, his fingers clenching the blanket draped over him.
He knows they’re hiding sothing. The way Ace’s voice faltered and Kieran avoided his gaze_ it wasn’t hard to piece together that they weren’t telling him everything.
"They think am fvcking stupid?!," Jun mutters to himself, his frustration growing.
The dull ache in his body reminds him of how fragile he feels, but it isn’t enough to deter him.
Pushing off the blanket, Jun swings his legs over the edge of the bed. His limbs feel heavy, his head light, but he grits his teeth and forces himself to stand.
His steps are unsteady at first, but he moves with quiet determination, heading for the door.
The hallway is quiet, and he’s careful to keep his movents slow and asured. He doesn’t want Ace or Kieran_ or anyone else_ to notice him sneaking out.
Slipping out of the mansion is easier than he expected, though the chill of the evening air bites at his skin, reminding him how much his body is still adjusting.
He pushes through it, his mind fixated on one thing: finding his father.
When Jun reaches their house, his heart sinks. The place is dark, untouched, and eerily quiet.
Dust has settled over the furniture, and it’s clear no one has been there for a while.
"Dad?" he calls out, his voice echoing faintly in the empty space.
But there’s no answer, only the weight of the silence pressing down on him.
Jun doesn’t linger long.
If his father isn’t here, there’s only one other place he might be.
Without hesitation, Jun makes his way to the hotel.
The streets feel unfamiliar sohow_ his heightened senses already picking up every sound, every flicker of movent in the shadows.
It’s unsettling, but he pushes the strange sensations aside, his focus unshaken.
-
Jun arrives at the hotel gate, his heart pounding in his chest, but not from fatigue.
It’s the determination that fuels his every step, even as his body protests against the effort.
The grand building looms before him, its tall glass windows reflecting the golden hues of the setting sun.
The hotel is alive with activity, the usual hum of staff and guests moving about, completely unaware of the turmoil raging inside Jun.
With his jaw clenched, he pushes through the revolving doors and steps inside.
The cool, polished lobby greets him, the faint sll of fresh lilies from the arrangent on the marble counter filling his senses.
A few staff mbers glance his way, their faces lighting up with surprise.
Back at the mansion, Ace and Kieran are in the middle of a tense discussion when the maid they sent to take food for Jun cos, reporting that he is not in.
Kieran glances at him, unease flashing in his eyes. "Maybe he’s in the bathroom?"
"Sothing is off?" Ace says, already heading for the stairs.
When they enter Jun’s room, the sight of the empty bed sends a chill down their spines. And looking everywhere, he’s nowhere to be found.
"Ace..." Kieran begins, but Ace cuts him.
"He’s gone," Ace mutters, his voice tight with worry. "Damn it! He must’ve..." He cuts himself off, running a hand through his hair.
Kieran steps forward, his expression dark. "We need to find him. Now."
Ace nods, his jaw clenching. "We’ll split up. I’ll head to the hotel_ he might head there first."
"Then I’ll check the house," Kieran says firmly.
Without another word, they head for the door, urgency propelling them forward.
-
Jun ignores everyone, his steps into the hotel lobby, his presence commanding attention.
Heads turn, and the air seems to shift. Staff mbers pause in their tasks, their gazes following him with a mix of surprise, sympathy and unease.
Their reactions are unmistakable_ eyes filled with pity, so glancing at one another as if silently asking why he’s here.
Jun doesn’t stop.
He doesn’t even glance at anyone.
His steps are firm, driven by a single purpose. Determination fuels him as he heads straight for the elevator.
The elevator doors slide open, and Jun steps inside, his hand trembling slightly as he presses the button for the executive floor.
His reflection in the mirrored walls reveals the storm raging inside him, but he quickly straightens, forcing himself to focus.
The doors close, shutting out the world below as he ascends to his father’s office.
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