PENELOPE SQUIRMED out of Joaquin's heavy paws in his shifted form. Now that she had seen the blue wolf all in its gentle glory, she's beyond optimistic about their mating life. Who doesn't want a mate as majestic as him? It's a plus too that the big wolf seems to like her beta status. He bites her on the neck and order her to lie down when she wants to play some more.

It took weeks before she can successfully cheer her wolf side to shift again after what had happened to Lance. It scared her that something might happen again and it's going to be her fault.


Joaquin helped her overcome her fears. The blue wolf needs someone in front of him to guide along the way. Penelope thoughtfully claimed the role and walked with him while appreciating the moonlight.

Now Penelope finally understood why Joaquin chose this place as his home. It's peaceful and gives the feeling of being as one with the forest. She knew that Joaquin's wolf needs to be in an environment like this in order to feel calm.

He can never move into the city.


Penelope closed her eyes in an attempt to sleep. Joaquin nudged her face with his snot. She playfully hit him with her claws. The other backed slowly just in time to avoid her claws from making contact with his eye.

They ran to the peak of the mountain. It's where the temperature dropped drastically with the air full of mist.


She shifted into her human form. Within seconds, she felt Joaquin's palm touching her bare hips.

They decided to go against the clothes when they shifted to come here. Joaquin loves the cold while Penelope would like to experience his warmth. To be wrapped around his arms. They both knew what's the outcome of doing this.

"You did well. You taught me well." Joaquin took a greedy intake of breath. "Thank you. It has been years since the last time I visited this place."

"I take that Lance is busy and he had no time to bring you here?" Penelope turned to face him. The pointy nipples on her chest stood for attention. It reacted because of the chill and excitement.

"No. I..." Joaquin stuttered. Penelope looked down only to see his lower pole pointing her thigh in an avid manner. "I thought it was useless to come here. I can never see again."

Penelope's breath stagnated. Her voice lowered a tone or two. She started caressing his arms in a consoling way. "I can describe them for you. I can be your eyes now. You can always feel when there's nothing to see, babe. You can hear. You can touch. You can smell. You didn't lose everything."

Joaquin gave in and hugged her tight. "I have you. I think it's going to be enough from now on."

Penelope kissed the side of his face. He actively seek her mouth for a grateful kiss. The hiss that the both of them let out was a statement of their long wait. 'It's worth it.'

Heated hands started to roam with eagerness. Joaquin's fumbling hands rose to her chest. Massaging with little to no strength. Penelope gasped. He lowered his lips and started to explore her neck.

Their harried exhales mixed with each other. The cold couldn't fight with their temperature and their bodies started to sweat.

Penelope know that sex with her fated mate will always be the greatest. That's partially the reason why she waited, and keep on waiting 'til she finally saw him.

Joaquin didn't imagine touching anyone apart from himself before. This silky expanse of skin and the feeling of dampness in the areas he always thought about, he was ecstatic and even relieved.

He's relieved to know that he's never going to be alone. He's relieved thinking Penelope would be his as much as he is a part of her life now.

Something that only in his dreams happens.

"It's going to be real." Joaquin kissed Penelope's forehead. "Not gonna dream anymore."

"There's no need for that. I'll make everything possible for you."

From this night onwards, they are going to face forever hand in hand.

LANCE HATED the happy faces he saw the first thing in the morning when he woke up. His nasty mood didn't dissipate throughout the breakfast. And it only threatened to burst out of the surface when he scented Joaquin upon passing in front of him.

'He's claimed.' Lance held a fist to his mouth. He wanted to start breaking things when Penelope saw his expression. She immediately tried to pacify him with her praises.

"You gathered a lot of wood yesterday, Lance. The kids were all happy. We slept comfortably last night."

Lance spat his irritation. He casted a light spell to excuse the audiences from their conversation. "How can you just encourage him like that? I raised that kid for ten years. I cut limbs after limbs just to protect his head—then you're going to sneak him out of this cabin for you guys to have a sweet time together in the middle of the night to go god-knows-where? Are you both thinking that this is a fucking vacation?"

"Lance, we went to the summit. The whole mountain is guarded, okay?" Penelope shook her head. "You don't understand this but for wolves, we have to assure we've marked each other or else we're going to be easily distracted when the other's away."

"I know that! You think I'm clueless about that 'wolf shifter mating process is shitty but I love it' bullshit?" He was clearly exasperated and upset with what Penelope and Joaquin had chosen to do. "What I mean is, you can do everything in this house—in your own room—by just telling me to cast a spell around your space so nobody else can hear. Is it so hard to ask me that?"

Joaquin's bright face suddenly became gloomy. "What has gotten into you? You were alright yesterday but now you're reprimanding us as if what we did is a mortal sin."

Lance paced in front of the lovers. He couldn't help but to roll his eyeballs again and again. Lance didn't know where did this bitter feeling came from. 'Maybe because I know that Joaquin won't only have me as his friend from now on. There's Penelope. He won't need me for anything except dying for the both of them.'

"Penelope, do you know someone from your former pack who has the surname of 'Grand'?"

She hesitated for a moment. In the end, she said, "No. I remember all the families living in our pack before. If there's a person surnamed Grand, then this is definitely a new member."

"Oh..." Lance held his chin. "The mountain is no longer safe. I think there might be someone who will betray us from the inside—I'm not saying that it's you, Penelope, but there's the old Sy. There's something wrong with him."

"There's Samael, the one who was hired to hunt the 'special' bunny. And there's this woman named Lesley Grand from your former pack telling me that she's here to check the mountain. The most peculiar thing is, she said that her uncle died because of the plague."

"A plague?" Penelope paled. "How... how did that happened? How are they now? Did she mention anything about it?"

"They are recruiting new members. Which means they must be thriving. As to how were those poor wolf shifters now, I didn't get the chance to ask. However, she said the name of the one who casted the curse to your pack." Lance observed her face for anything amiss. But other than shock and anger, he couldn't find anything suspicious. He sighed.

"That's good. That means they are searching for that person now. But why did she came here to look? The pack was a bit too far." Penelope halted after asking the question. It was as though someone bashed her on the head and realization settled in her mind. Her face looks like she's ready to vomit any second from now. She couldn't believe it. "Then... the one she's looking for is me?"

"She said your name. She told me that Penelope Blacke is the traitor who failed her mission and choose to curse her own pack when the rightful Alpha banished you for neglecting your duty to protect your fellow enforcers survive."

Joaquin broke his silence. He firmly objected, "That's not true. It's clear as day that she's lying. Penelope tried her best to save them to the extent where she almost died!"

"I know, Joaquin." Lance appeased him. "But that's why I grew anxious in every minute passing. She didn't stank of lie. That's why I'm confused. She thought what is she telling me is the whole truth." Lance crossed his arms. "There's someone who wants to make sure to erase your existence not just physically but even the memories you had with your pack members. The culprit wants everyone to resent you. So that no one would dare investigate your sudden disappearance along with the other enforcers."

Penelope choked. Her heart hammered loudly. "It could only be Alpha Beatrix who planned all of this."