PENELOPE hurried her way home. Expecting to see Joaquin still oblivious in the situation and ask for a brunch. What acknowledge her upon entering the cabin, is a whole new pandemonium.

"You need to revive him, Uncle Sy! Or else I couldn't live with this guilt in my heart!" A five year old kid tugged nervously at an old man's sleeve. The rabbit shifters she's been searching awhile ago were all gathered around the unconscious Joaquin lying on the floor. "Uncle, uncle! Is he still breathing? Make him open his eyes, Uncle Sy!"


"It was your fault anyway! Stop messing with Uncle Sy!" A stern boy at the age of twelve reprimanded the kid, "Uncle is the best doctor in the world! If this guy couldn't wake up after his efforts, then it should only be this his fault!"

"I believe Broggy's words. So maybe we should just hide him somewhere…"

Penelope was stuck rooted on the spot. Joaquin finally flutter his eyes open. Staring straight to the old man's worried face with his blank eyes. He mumbled, "You're not dragging me anywhere."


Everyone in the room jumped in fright. Penelope strides inside the room. The youngest boy didn't falter and even stood on two feet to greet Joaquin. "You're alive now! Yes! Does that mean you're gonna give us your eggs for free?"

"Ms. Pen!" The Old Sy rose to his feet and massaged his neck. "I'm sorry for the intrusion. Did you see our little Tubby in your way here? We set him out to find you."


Penelope was reminded of the rabbit's full pledged Siberian dog named Tubby. She grunted, "No, I didn't. Maybe he got distracted on his way."

"Ah…" The old man's beard was three inches long. His boney fingers trembles on slightest alarm. "Well, this… your friend here. Do you know him?"

Joaquin steadied himself. Penelope longed to be closer to him but she fears his reactions toward these rabbit shifters. 'He could be scared right now with these…' She scanned the crowd with a quick glance and almost sighed in exasperation. 'Seven people.'

"He's my partner. My fated mate." Penelope pinched her brows. She pursed her lips and signaled the Old Sy. "May we talk? Where's the Old Nana?"

At the mention of the elderly woman, the children stopped pacing the living room and altogether chorused a loud cry. Penelope heard Joaquin's hiss throughout the noise. She gritted her teeth. "Please, please. Stop crying!"

Old Sy comforted the youngest kid. He frowned. "Old Nana has died the night you sent us to the cave to hide. She tried to protect us from harm. The old woman got bitten by a snake. I couldn't save her fast enough. Now that the Old Nana was gone, I'm afraid we don't have another family to take us in."

Nana was the oldest rabbit shifter in the Roselir clan. Although she didn't come from the ruling family, her background is nothing little and her connections ran deep. She promised to take care of the kids the moment Penelope is able to send them to the nearest city to book a plane ticket. Sadly, the woman died even before they could get out of the Calistre woods.

"Then…" Penelope prompted. Old Sy didn't disappoint and continued with a determined face, "I hope Ms. Pen can help us find a new place for us. The kids were all hungry and only the mountain's barrier is helping us from rogues. The moment we set afoot to seek a new home, we don't know what might happen."

"We… only ate grass yesterday." The youngest kid pouted. "I saw him cooking eggs. Ms. Pen, feed us please."

"B-But I—" Penelope stepped back and stared at the crowd's pleading expression. She can't bear to look at them straight. 'I shouldn't be heartless. I couldn't be heartless with them. They are just like me.' "But this place is…"

Loud knocks halted everyone's movement. Even Joaquin had a look of incredulity in his face. 'Since when did my house become this full?' Penelope can imagine him thinking just like that. 'Is eight people inside my cabin not enough?'

Keys rattled and the bolts unlocked. The door slid open, revealing Lance's grinning face.

His smile turned into a scowl when he saw the visitors inside. "Joaquin what? You were throwing a party and I'm not, in any way, invited?"

"How..." 'How are you still alive?' Penelope cupped her mouth. The question seems inappropriate. Joaquin's jaw slacked. He mouthed, "Lance, you're alive?"

"Yeah, well?" Lance opened the door widely. His smile returning with venom. "It was just a kick on the guts. Who dies because of a kick on the stomach, right? Five wolves? Heh. It should be twenty."

'Twenty!' It looks like even his confident had a huge increase. The size of his ego barely giving room to Penelope's uneasiness this time.

"Lance…" Joaquin said, "Will you—"

"No." Lance raised a finger and waved it with warning. "Now I understood that all of you have a sad backstories and all that shit— come on, who has none? But you've got to understand that this is Joaquin's place and not your Ms. Pen's Happy Stay-In Vacation for Everyone. No. You don't disrespect someone else's home. Move out."

Penelope quickly got a hang about his sudden appearance. It is indeed Lance. She recognized his nasty behavior. No one else can fake his obnoxious attitude. "Lance, you don't have to be like this. There are kids listening!"

"Who probably witnessed the annhilation of their family where they came from. They're not cotton candies anymore, Penelope." Lance raised his brow and tsk-ed. "You knew what happened last day. You brought death knocking on my cousin's door. Are you sure you really are his mate? Why does it seems like you wanted to kill him rather than making him happy?"

Penelope let out a growl. Her skin itches for a shift. She wanted to claw Lance's face. 'How dare you say that in front of me? In front of Joaquin!'

"Lance, you just came back and you're already causing me more problems." Joaquin shook his head. "They're here. They have no other place to go. They need to eat. They wanted to be here."

"But Joaquin! Have you lost your mind? What if—"

Joaquin held his palm up. He crouched as if hurt. Penelope jumped to his side. "Don't talk to Penelope like that. She's part of my home now. Don't make me ask father to send you back where you came from."

"Stop talking." Penelope hushed him. "You're not feeling well but you're still acting tough. Let's rest for a while. Uncle Sy, let's have a talk later."

Lance harrumphed but he didn't pursue the matter anymore. He glared at the children with not enough hate.

"I… I don't like him." Penelope heard the youngest kid murmured. She shrugged and said to herself, 'Same, kiddo.'

"Joaquin, I'm sorry."

Joaquin turned his back and waved his hand in dismissal. Penelope bit her bottom lip. 'It looks like he's really angry this time.'