PENELOPE COULDN'T stay asleep for long when she woke up the next day. The white twitchy ears she saw last night haunts her dream. She needs to check on the rabbit's side and see what else she could do to possibly help them. Sending them away seems heartless but now that she has Joaquin waiting for her, hiding them makes her feel guilty.

She should've told him about the rabbits!


"Joaquin, are you done eating?" Penelope ruffled his hair before bending down to whisper in his ears, "You want anything else?"

"No, I'm full." Joaquin faced her with a grin. "Anyway, stop asking me that. I'll get used to this caring side of yours."

"You should." She held his shoulder. Gently massaging it with light hand movements. "I'll be with you for a very long time."


Joaquin's happy expression vanished. He held her hand and turns to her side. "Have I thanked you enough?"

"Yeah… two times since this morning. It's just cooking breakfast. Come on."


"Well, no one ever cooked for me voluntarily." Joaquin frowned. "Lance hates it because I'm picky and my father doesn't know how to cook."

'Picky?' Penelope stroked the smooth curve of his neck. "You didn't raise hell to me while I'm cooking. You said 'okay' to everything though."

"It's because you're the one who's cooking and it tastes good." Joaquin nodded. "I'd… probably eat a stone if you asked me to at this point and I'd still be happy."

She laughed. Penelope feels as though a small hand scratched her heart that it tickles. "I won't ask you to. So this is how Joaquin talks with the girl he's interested with, huh?"

"Pretty much, yes." Joaquin reached out to move his plate. Penelope observed his actions. It looks like he's used to doing this alone. "I have never really dated. Not even once."

"It's okay." Penelope stood straight and followed Joaquin to the kitchen. "We can learn together."

His earnest face shined brightly. "I'm looking forward to that."

SHE FOUND a great timing to excuse herself for awhile after sending Joaquin for a soak on the tub. As much as Penelope would like to sit down in front of him, whether for ogling or talking, she needs to prioritize the shifters she had hidden. Joaquin didn't ask for her too. The man fell asleep five minutes in the warm water. She knew that he'd been stressed by the other day. He deserves some relax.

'Then me, I'll go for a quick search in the cave.'

Penelope recalled her memories and navigated her paws to the way. She shifted to make her movements fast and the senses be more efficient.

After searching for fifteen minutes, she couldn't find even one.

Penelope hissed. The mud dirtied her fur.

'Maybe Joaquin's father caught them?' Penelope thought. 'Did he sent them away? Or worse, eat them?'

Joaquin didn't tell her anything amiss. How could she miss it? Penelope knew that something happened to the rabbit shifters while they were hiding. Jana prayed it couldn't be that bad.

The rest of the surviving family members of the rabbit clan her team had saved are a bunch of youngsters and two old member. The youngest of the group would be a four year old kid. Penelope didn't remember it wrong.

The kids should be safe.

'I need Joaquin's help with this.' Penelope thought she could fix this problem but seeing things don't go in her way makes her self-indignant and disappointed.

'I don't want to call Joaquin's father but if he's the one who set the barrier for the mountain, then the one who drove the rabbit shifters out could only be him.' Penelope shifted back to her human form. 'That old uncle doesn't care about Joaquin. He hates socializing. He hates people. He basically hates everything. It must be him.'

She knew she's being biased with this. If the bunnies really got lost, then it could only be her fault. She should've got back after waking up.

JOAQUIN STIRRED the beaten egg with his whisk in an absentminded manner. Penelope left twenty minutes ago and until now, he doesn't have an idea as to where the woman could go.

'I can find her, ' he mused, 'but of course, I won't do that. She needs the space.'

Although there is a whispering voice at the back of his head saying, 'She could have told you and you'd still agree. Instead, she lured you into a hot bath then disappear.'

That voice indeed had a point but there's no way Joaquin would let that cloud over his mind.

After chopping an onion in a unhurried pace, Joaquin faced the living room. He couldn't hear any steps. Penelope is not yet home.

"Maybe you are right, self." He shook his head then sigh. "She better have an explanation for this."

'Or else?' Joaquin inhaled deeply before continuing his work. 'Or else none. I don't like forcing people.'

Lance won't come back. Joaquin is still bothered by this fact. Lance had served him for seven years. The loss he felt was way deeper than he would let himself admit. His father told him that Lance is his cousin but Joaquin knew that it's not the case. Lance was never his cousin. Adarmus never had a sibling. But the way Lance can track him through a familial blood scent trail is quite baffling. Only those with direct relatives that it happens.

'Is he actually my cousin?' Joaquin padded his way to the living room. He suddenly feels like being suffocated by the dense air. 'Do this actually mean, I left him to die yesterday?'

Joaquin palmed the door, flinching when the cold doorknob brushed the side of his arm. "Damn it."

He savoured the fresh air as it opened. Joaquin repeatedly shook his head to throw his crazy ideas away. Adarmus had once told him that Dylan and Lance were all his guardians because he can't personally take care of Joaquin. Relative or not, he should not worry about their safety and instead live freely as much as his situation can offer.

'Where's Penelope?' Joaquin's temple throb painfully. He gasped. "Pen?"

"Hey, mister!"

Joaquin almost jumped by surprise. "Who's there?"

A light sneeze entered his ears. The little voice squeaked again with menace, "Mister! Hand me the eggs in your kitchen! I saw you cooking them inside!"

"What?" Joaquin closed his eyes. Pain seared the back of his head. He almost stumble forward. "Why are you here?"

"He-hey…" The boy stuttered, "I was just asking for the eggs! Why did you became sick? You don't have to act if you don't want to give me!"

'Kid.' Joaquin's lips pursed in annoyance. He sniffed the air and froze in confusion. 'A rabbit?'

"Kid, have your parents ever told you not to cross the wolf's way?" Joaquin grunted. He sat by the floor and waited for the aching to subside.

The kid ran to him and snapped, "You're sick! Meep! I have to call Mira and Uncle!" Little hands grasped Joaquin's shirt. "Hang on, I'm gonna call for help. Help!"