PENELOPE was once again dressed in their signature long, colorful drape and skimpy jeans. She brushed her hair up in a loose ponytail before applying a little make up. Her face was altered, and this made her scared every time she looks in the mirror. She was glad that Joaquin couldn't see her face right now. Penelope didn't like how a lot has to be changed in order to make her 'unnoticeable'. This means a lot of magic needs to be plastered on her face. It made her skin feel baggy and a lot heavier.

No matter how much she could rant about how she hates it, she knew how important is it for her cover not to be blown. This is her chance to avenge Grace, her friend. This is her opportunity to redeem the freedom that has been taken away from her fellow Crystal lake pack members. They needed a new leader. But Penelope has no agenda to lead. She personally detested being tied into one space and do the same thing everyday. The post is not for her. The title has to go with someone who got the credibility and loyalty to do so.


Beatrix has no place in this territory.

Joaquin and Penelope visited the water supply for everyone in the pack. The large barrels contain no poison and she couldn't find any residuals among the station.

It can only be the food served.


The people might be deluded already into thinking that Beatrix is a goddess. They would never understand that Penelope was only trying to save them.

Beatrix' schemes ran deep.


Penelope acted her part as a timid she-wolf. She asked about Beatrix and her allies. The people would only speak good words about her, unknowingly smelling of rotten meat and stinky fungus. It made Penelope feel horrified and a bit of pity at the same time.

'How can Beatrix look at these people and say that she's doing great as an alpha of this pack? She's killing them!'

"You've been fixing your clothes for the last thirty minutes. Is there a reason why you need it to be extra smooth for tonight?" Joaquin's normally stoic voice had a rare cheeky undertone to it. Penelope briefly looked back at him then laughed. "I got lost in thought. I—"

She paused and raised her eyes again to look at his face. Penelope saw Joaquin's pupil as deep black coal a while ago. She didn't notice it quickly!

Pen observed his face. His eyes were not black but pale grey because of the white lantern at the side of their makeshift bed. Pen exhaled. "Wow..."

"Why?" Joaquin retained his cold voice. Penelope shifted her feet and shrugged. "Nothing I... was deep in thought and saw something."

"Weird." Joaquin closed his eyes. He turned and laid back on the bed. "Do we really have to go out tonight?"

"Don't you want to eat?" Penelope crossed their distance and sat next to him. She pet his hair. "Does your head hurt?"

Samael used to share a room with them but the man barely even slept the whole time he's inside.

"Yes. It's been like this since this afternoon." Joaquin arched his neck to her touch. Penelope tried to contain the fondness in her chest but in the end, she gave in and pecked him on the lips.

"Be good. You're going to be okay soon."

Joaquin stilled for a second. He used a hand to hide his eyes then grinned. "Again. Do it again."

Penelope tapped his forehead. "Are you a kid?"

"I'll show you what a 'kid' can do. Are you up for it?"

She gasped and mocked a laugh at him. "Says him who's having a headache!"

Joaquin only wiggled his brows at her. Penelope played with him a little before deciding to head out for the both of them.

"We'll see each other outside. Boo yah!" Upon closing the tent, her smile vanished. That Joaquin right now wasn't the usual 'him' that she knew. Does this mean he's sharing his quirky and fun side with her? This part of Joaquin was adorable and a charmer.

He says the first thing that comes out of his mind. Penelope recalled Joaquin's dark eyes and laughed at her silliness. Of course, after a long while of thinking about her problems, it's not impossible to imagine something unusual.

"YOU SEE the way she smiled?" Joaquin tapped his head and shrugged, "Record it in your mind. Save it good. Because that is the very first and last time you'll be seeing it."

'She's not even using her real face.' Joaquin closed his mouth and nodded his ascent instead. "Thank you. Now please, go away."

"What? Did you not enjoy it?" The other him on the mirror looked dashing in his casual clothes. It was still Joaquin, but a better version of him. Accomplished and experienced. "Well, I did tell you you're going to see her for a second."

Joaquin fell in love again with Penelope's back. It was his first time personally seeing his beloved's physique. Her skin tone was divine and silky. It was her.

And it's still not enough.

When Joaquin felt a hunger in his gut, an extreme need to see Penelope's face, he gathered the rest of his self-respecting courage and called a stop to the other Joaquin.

He listened but not without his boastful laugh.

The other him knew all of his thoughts. He knew that one second is not enough.

He needed more.

"I told you already." The him in the mirror jested, "There's no other reason. I don't want to harm you. I'll be your friend. Do you really think I'd want anything from you?"

"You don't exist." Joaquin couldn't help himself and answered with annoyance, "You're not even real. You are not true. Whoever you are, you're not a part of me. Never was and never will be."

The Joaquin in front of him stopped moving. It was as though it realized something. After a moment, it cackled madly. "I'm not 'you'?"

"How come I know all of your secrets? And that I can see, but you, yourself, can't! Who's the real one among the two of us, huh?"

Joaquin's sight turned black. He can no longer see anything. When he heard him mention Lance, his heart raced.

"How come I know that all along, you knew that Lance was just an altered corpse made by your father to guard you? How come I know that even though the real Lance was long dead, you were still jealous because your father talks often to him and not to you?"

He laughed maniacally. Joaquin forgot how to breathe for a second.

The man in the mirror is indeed just another version of him.