JOAQUIN STRUGGLED to call himself back. The two identities inside of him fought against each other. All of which are worried with Penelope. He can feel himself losing with the another version of him. The reason within him makes sense—and it scared Joaquin that he's way more useful than him.

'You should learn to fuse your ambitions and the contradictions in your heart, Joaquin.'


'It was never your future self but a version of 'you' that you had always desired to be.'

Penelope's cold fingers wrapped against his. He sighed loudly. "Lance is in trouble. We need to turn."

"No." Joaquin selfishly thought of Penelope and her safety. "Lance will get pissed. He diverted them so we can escape. I won't spoil his choice, Pen."


"But there's a lot of them, Joaquin!"

"Trust him. He'll be alright. When he gets seriously injured, Adarmus can heal him. He's not the real Lance anyway."


"What?" Penelope turned her head to Lance's direction. Joaquin continued to explain.

"The real Lance died a long time ago. My father did something unforgivable. He cut a portion of his lifespan and breathed it to Lance's body. He became a living corpse— his purpose in life is to be my bodyguard and serve as my father's eyes to monitor me." Joaquin's lips trembled. His wandering suspicions finally came at rest with this conclusion.

The one who explained it to him was the voice inside his head. It all made sense now.

Adarmus seems indifferent everytime Lance get hurt. He never cared and the way that they understand each other with just a gaze between them made Joaquin realize that maybe they're having a telepathic communication.

'Did that make you hate Lance?'

'No.' Joaquin squished the different emotion bubbling in his chest. He's mad, but not with Lance. Adarmus made a fool of himself. His father defied the fate's will and used Lance like a puppet. Joaquin treated Lance as his own brother. It pains him to think that Lance was not even aware that he's being used all along. Lance thought that protecting him was just a job— a job that he's willing to die for. He didn't know that other than protecting Joaquin, he had no other drive or goal in life.

'He was blessed with a mate. Does this mean something?'

'Yes. It's the Fates' way of saving him. Since he can no longer decide for his own, the fates delegated him a task— to love a person and experience new things with them.'

Joaquin halted his steps and breathed heavily. 'But he's going to die...'

'He needed to use up all of Adarmus' energy in him. He needs to die again, in order to be reborn with his own will.'

His death is a necessary link. Joaquin thought that Lance always get acquainted with death whenever they're together. 'Don't worry. It will be the last time.'

'Why would I trust your words?'

'It's simple.' The voice hummed. 'You're comfortable with me. And you don't feel any threat against me. We're familiar and your body does not reject my influence.'

Joaquin felt the cold hug his gut. 'What do you mean?'

'Adarmus rarely talks about me, I get it. He hates having me as a topic of his web of lies. Let me introduce myself honestly this time...' His tone became serene. 'I'm your father.'

His eyes widened. "What?"

Penelope grasped his hands. "Are you okay? I'm fully rested now. How about we run? We're about to reach the river."

Joaquin frowned. He pushed Penelope a little and asked the voice, 'Tell me the truth! How did that became possible?'

'Your father, Adarmus, is an immortal. He's the first blue wolf who can shift into any sexuality for a limited time. That made the chance of reproduction for the blue wolves higher. What he didn't know that time that his sexuality doesn't matter. When a blue wolf wants to conceive, they will carry an offspring. I... I happened to ask if he wants to make a small family with me. He answered no but a week later, he...'

Joaquin closed his eyes. 'That's why... that's why he doesn't want to tell me about my mother. I don't... have one.'

'He took offense. He... was about to be engaged to a woman named Mathilda when he heard a rumor about me. Instead of asking me about it, he went to the Fates and cursed them. His pride won over his sense of rationality. He felt betrayed... even if there's nothing to be worried about. Your father...'

Tears stared to pour out of Joaquin's eyes. Black mist started to surround him. It was warm and welcoming.

'My power has not yet fully recovered after being sealed for so long. I can only provide you assistance with my pitiful effort.'

"May I know your name?" Joaquin mumbled.

Penelope was awe-struck. She couldn't believe how a black ink enveloped the whites of Joaquin's eyes. Although eerie, she's not scared. He looked sad.

He's lost.

"I am Joachim, my son."

Penelope finally heard the voice too. It was deep and just like her mate, he sounded lonely.

"Should I be pleased to meet you?"

"You will meet me in flesh soon, Joaquin. That time, I hope you would be."

Joaquin smiled. The relief and acknowledgement was clear in the way he eagerly answered with a series of nod. "Yes... alright."

Penelope sighed. 'He's okay. It's the only thing that's important.'

"You can now stop running, Joaquin. They have surrounded you and your mate. Your contact with that little mage has long been broken— his magic couldn't sustain the spell any longer. Lance has been seized as well."

Joaquin's shoulder slumped. The happiness in his face became doom and disappointment. "What am I supposed to do?"

"You would have to ask your beta wolf, Joaquin. Our decisions must require our mate's approval after all. That's a rule you have to know if you want a harmonious relationship."

Penelope swallowed. 'Who are you?'

Joaquin lowered his eyes to her. She felt at ease when she saw him smile a little.

She responded, "We will fight. We will need your help."

Joaquin's father went silent for a moment. In the end, the black mist around Joaquin receded. "You don't need to ask for it. That's given. He's my scion and you are his chosen queen."