"I HEARD everything." Joaquin tilted his head to the right and inhaled deeply. Penelope's injury had once opened again because of the fight earlier. It took them a great while to come back inside the cabin. Joaquin had trouble walking because of his father's spell and Penelope had a bloody chest. Penelope knew that it probably doesn't look great now. Her arm hurts too that a simple shift couldn't heal. The both of them were stuck at the living room trying to stitch each other back to their best. "Before he left, he warned you, right? Penelope, you might regret having me at the end of the day."

Penelope smiled. She turned to the window before laying her head back to Joaquin's shoulder. "It's dark already. It's the end of the day and I see myself not regretting anything."


"Cheeky." He pulled her nose gently. Joaquin still minds her injury. "It will get a lot colder later. Choose from my clothes and see what's comfortable enough for sleeping. We can order online next time. I'm sorry."

"It's okay." Penelope reached out to tap his hair. It's a shame she didn't manage to pet Joaquin's fur earlier. She never had the chance to meet a blue wolf up close. The shock went too far. "Do you… really not recognize me awhile ago?"

"Always straightfoward." Joaquin closed his eyes. "I can't see you. I know you're mine by the scent of jasmine but I… it irates me how I still couldn't see you after shifting fully."


"So you shifted because you wanted to see me?" Penelope know that she's being shameless. She intends it to be a joke. To her surprise, Joaquin nodded. "Wait, what?"

"It's been ten years since I last shifted. Ten years ago, I recovered from a hunt where I used to live. When I woke up, I can't see anything. My father said that my wolf soul has been damaged. It needs to recuperate for months. I believed him. I never really wanted to shift into a wolf again anyway. I would never know that my shifter half was fully blind if I never morphed earlier. I… maybe father doesn't want to discourage me by telling the truth back then. I thought my lost eyesight won't affect the wolf form. I thought he can be treated with magic. I…"


Penelope's palm itched with the need to punch Joaquin's father. "Hey, hey." She pinched his chin. "Stop. It's okay. It's totally fine."

He hummed. "I want you to know that I'm completely harmless for you. I won't do anything to put you in danger, okay?"

"Actually, there's something I'd like to tell you. I should've told you about this from the start."

Joaquin pursed his lips for a moment. He nodded. "Those rogue were all after you?"

Penelope's teeth rattled. "How did you know?"

"You stumbled on my doorstep all pained and bloody. It's obvious that someone wants you dead." He shrugged. "I never knew they would be back so soon."

"It's okay. Those five rogue are not in any way acquainted with my pack. We saved a group of men last month and all of them died when they chose to betray us last night. I don't understand how did they manage to find me." It angers Penelope to be let out in the dark. "Did I miss something?"

"Did anyone survive aside from you?" Joaquin tightened his grip on her shoulder. Penelope leaned back and sighed. "Except those bunnies we managed to hide? None."

"Bunnies…"

Penelope stiffened. 'Could it be that they found the rabbit shifters?' She breathed heavily. The whole cabin seems so small in an instant. 'No. It can't be like that. Oh God, they are innocent.'

"Because of what had happened today, my father extended the set of the barriers for the entire Calistre woods. Don't worry, Pen. No one can come to us again."

She blinked rapidly. "Your father… he doesn't kill harmless people, right?"

"No. The blue wolves are the guardians of nature. They won't kill unless the situation warranted."

"If the blue wolves are the guardian of the nature, why are you being hunted by everyone?" Penelope twisted to the side to get her glass of water. "Would you like some water?"

"No. I'm fine." Joaquin frowned. "Excessive power can be harmful. There are only two blue wolves alive in every century, Pen. A father and his son. It can only be two, and they must be separated. Everyone wants to have a blue wolf as a guard to their pack territories. It causes discord and sow chaos with every city. Isn't it easy directly killing both of them? No one will have the cheat of having an upper hand that way."

"They said the blue wolves are cursed."

Joaquin lowered his head. "I can't escape huntings for life, Pen. One day, some of those who are still looking for a blue wolf will eventually find me. And whoever is there by my side will have the same fate as those who chose to help me. They perish."

Penelope smiled wanly. "For me, you're not something to be frightened about."

"Why?" He curiously gave her a side-eye. Penelope got the illusion that somehow, he can see her.

"You're lovely," she answered, "simply because you stayed true from the very first time I met you. You are lovely."

Penelope meant every word, and the image of Joaquin's flushing face was a sweet reward.

"Oh…" He patted her hand earnestly with a bright smile. "You… you're amazing. You did well."

Penelope decided to put matter behind them. Now that she's clear about Joaquin, it's time to move forward. There are still a lot of things they need to learn about each other but now that they are both open and welcoming, it will just be a matter of time before that mating bite.

She know it's going to be the best.

Penelope proceeded on telling Joaquin something from her childhood. She first told him the good things before the sad happenings in her life. Joaquin listened with unwavering attention.

That's when Penelope noticed a little snout and a small bunny ears twitching from left to right poking the glass window.

'A rabbit?'