Chapter 66: The Hunter's Dilemma

“Jacob...” The voice of the old woman slipped into his consciousness, pulling him from the abyss of sleep. His eyes fluttered open and shut, heavy with exhaustion. There was something thick and sweet in his mouth, and instinctively, he latched onto it, his thirst overpowering any semblance of rational thought. It was blood—warm and sustaining. Different from what he was accustomed to, mysterious in its essence, but he was too hungry to care. He drank greedily, his hands curling around the source, until a soft tap on his cheek brought him back to reality. “Let go,” the old woman’s voice instructed gently, and Jacob exhaled in relief, releasing her wrist. "Why would you heal her when you're so weak from not feeding?" she scolded, her voice carrying both curiosity and reprimand. Jacob sat up, running a hand through his tousled hair. “I had no choice,” he muttered, his eyes scanning the room. Something was different. He noticed the stillness around him—the world had frozen. His breath