THE WIDE set of Joaquin's back is a great view indeed. That is, if the man is not angry and is not turning his back on her on purpose. Penelope gathered the comforter to her chest and stared hard. No. The man was not deterred. He didn't even flinch. It was as though he was sleeping alone inside the room with no mate by his side.

Penelope coughed lightly. She punched the bolster with little strength. "Oh, god. This is really uncomfortable. Certainly not for sleeping."


Joaquin sighed. Penelope hoped he will finally face her but the man didn't even wriggle. It was like he suddenly became a huge stone.

After cooking a scrumptious meal for all of them with the help of Lance, Joaquin bid the others a curt goodbye and readied himself for sleep. Penelope waited for him to call her but alas, not even a snort in her way.

'How do I appease a sulking guy?' Penelope tsk-ed. 'I did you wrong, okay. I know it. It's just that I don't have a choice, yeah?'


'How can I tell you that when you can't even face me?' Penelope rolled her eyes. It's bad already that she can't corner Joaquin for a brief talk without the children loitering every bit of space in the house.

And she's not willing to stalk him to the comfort room. That's not normal.


Joaquin avoids her like plague though. She almost hit her nose on the door when he closed his room. Luckily, she's persistent enough.

Penelope closed her eyes and asked, "Joaquin, is it really a good idea us to stay here?"

Silence answered her query. Penelope grabbed the hem of the comforter to cover her head. She doesn't know how to fix this and Joaquin's silent treatment makes her feel bad that it almost hurt.

A hand stopped her arms from moving.

Penelope gazed at Joaquin's empty eyes. It looks black in the darkness. He looked… angry. "Are you…" He gulped. "Are you saying you want to go away from me?"

She blinked. "You don't want me to?"

Joaquin heaved a breath. He laid back. "Hmn."

"Tsk! Then why are you giving me this cold shoulder treatment? If you've got some problems, you need to tell me straight to my face."

"You're one to talk." Joaquin shook his head. His frown visible. "I thought we're being clear the other day. Turns out, I was a fool to believe you're going to be honest. There's seven of them!"

"Do you want them out—"

"—what if something happened to them? I know that cave. There were snakes and toxic frogs living there. Pen, they're kids. You should have told me earlier!"

Penelope opened her mouth. Upon understanding Joaquin's words, she squinted. "You're… not angry of them coming here?"

"Why would I be?" Joaquin tiled his head to look at Penelope. Her face burned in embarrassment. "You think I'm angry because of that?"

Penelope laughed without ease. "Well, I might have... misunderstood your character, Joaquin."

Joaquin nodded. "Okay. So why did you hide this from me? Penelope, they could be killed and we couldn't do anything."

"I'm afraid you won't want them. We're just new, Joaquin. I… I'm not sure. Well, you see, we're just new. If you get caught of my problems, would you still choose to be with me?" Penelope rambled. "Before, I'm not sure if my pack alpha was not aware of the attack but now I'm a hundred percent certain that she collaborated with someone to kill us. As to why? I don't know. Those men who killed Lance was not there when my friends died. No one survived that night except me and the children. Aside my pack alpha, no one knows the route we were taking. Joaquin, the attacks won't stop soon."

Contrary to what she had expected, Joaquin wasn't fazed. Instead, he pulled her to his embrace and patted her head. Penelope's chest hammered loudly.

"Remember the first time you met me?" Joaquin said, "I'm a blue wolf. My nature is to guide every shifter kind away from danger and to give them justice they deserve. Although it is ironic that a blue wolf has to emerge to ensure the fairness of every shifter species. Don't ask me if I want to save who or what. Just tell me how because that is my duty. I've always wanted to prove myself to everyone. I wanted to show them that I'm here to help and not to cause a massacre."

"You… want to help me?"

"In any way possible." Joaquin gave her a tight-lipped kiss on the cheek. "Your pack alpha sent someone to kill you. The situation on your pack territory could be worse. Those who are left must be oppressed. Your alpha is not a good one."

Penelope's brow creased. "You're right. The enforcers still has the right to object her whims when it gets too much. I was always the first to shout 'no' when she gets too far. Maybe that's why she wants me gone."

"It's hard to know the mind of a lunatic. Trying to kill such a good beta enforcer like you is a dumb's way of trying to have power." Joaquin quipped, "Your fellow colleagues fought hard, Pen."

Penelope's eyes warmed with tears. She had been trying to use Joaquin's presence to erase the fact that she lost four important person of her life. Joaquin didn't like her to forget. It looks like he wants her to remember forever their smiling eyes. "They did, Joaquin. They did."

Plops of water escaped Penelope's eyes. "All they've ever wanted was to go home safe and report."

"The one who ordered this should be punished, Pen." Joaquin hugged her tightly. His pouty lips chasing her tears away. "For those who are left, and for those who were gone."

"How?" Her voice broke. It affected Joaquin's mood. He laid silent for a second before whispering, "We will go there. I'll tie Lance on my back and bring him too. We will find a place for the rabbit shifters then we'll start a new life, just the two of us. Is that okay?"

"Yes…" Penelope never saw herself staying by her pack for life. In fact, she's been thinking of asking her friends to move out and find another pack to serve but they all died. After avenging her friends' death and ensuring her fellow pack members' safety, she will take the ride to the sunset with Joaquin hand in hand. "That's great, Joaquin."

"Sleep now. I'll be with you."

Penelope broke out of his arms to give him a light peck on the lips. "Joaquin, I'm sorry. Never again, okay?"

Joaquin smiled. "Me too. I'll talk to you. Never hide from each other again."

'I promise.' Penelope closed her eyes and thank the fates that she met her mate.