(Present)

"EXCUSE ME." Irlan Nieves smiled not-so-genuinely at the woman walking beside him. He had searched the entire Calistre woods. And he had found no scent trail or even a single strand of hair that belongs to a shifter kind. He faintly distinguish the feeling of warmth in his gut inside the cabin but that's the only evidence he had to prove that indeed, there once a happy bunch that lived in the middle of the forest. "Have you heard about the man who lives in this place?"


"Ah! That blonde guy?" Her mouth hurriedly explained, "They left just a moment ago. Probably having a vacation, eh? I saw them left with two cars. I guess they were going on different places. The ones with the kid goes north while the blonde went to the south, that's all I know."

Irlan shook his head slightly. He stared deeply at the woman's blushing face. He could guess that she had been picking fruits at the foot of the mountain for quite a while now. The stench of sweat and despair leaks from her armpits. "You seem to know them very well?"

"Oh, come on. Who doesn't?" She grinned. "They were all good-looking and me being single, it's not a crime to look, right?"


Irlan shrugged. He can't argue with that. Humans put so much importance with labels such as 'single, married or divorce'. He can't see what's fun with ticking people inside these boxes.

Single people could be happy living alone. Not every married couple enjoys their life and sometimes, divorce is not a bad thing but freeing yourself.


If Irlan would classify people and ask them about their love life, he would rather inquire, 'Are you happy? Are you contented?'

Because for him, that's the only thing that matters in life.

"You do you. Thank you for the information." Irlan turned around then briefly close his eyes. After a second, his lips widened. "And miss, you won't be single for long."

He left the woman with her mouth slacked open. Irlan waved at her casually before hastily moving two steps at a time.

With just a flip of his hand, his smiling face turned into a scowl. He sighed with bottomless indignation.

"How could they not warn me about moving? What am I supposed to do now?" Irlan knew that Madame Mathilda won't give him their location. He has to do it on his own.

Irlan's eyes blinked with trepidation. 'Am I... expected to sniff the ground and follow their trail?'

His hand itched. He could have been meditating to clear the residual pain at the back of his head from the last mission but no, he was left to track down ungrateful people who's not kind enough to leave their number.

"May the Fates bless me with rogues along the way. I'd like to hear bones breaking to steam this irritation out. Pricks!"

PENELOPE CROSSED her fingers and smiled at Joaquin. "Are you sure you're not dizzy? This is going to be a long ride."

"It's okay." Joaquin reached for her hand and tapped it gently. "Thank god there's no wailing kids around."

"Oh... do you not like kids?" She tried to act casual about the matter.

Joaquin shrugged and said, "This mission is dangerous. We should do it without them. I like kids... just... depends on our situation. If it's appropriate to have them around or not."

Penelope laughed. "Well, I kind of miss Michael though. He's a cute kid."

"Am I not cute enough as your companion, huh, lovebirds? What am I going to be? Only your chaffeur?" Lance shook his head while driving. His sunglasses tilted a little. "The Old Sy was sent to a hospital. Kids were all safe and sound in the hands of my auntie."

"Have her call us when the kids get there, Lance."

"Fine. In fact, I'm calling her at the moment to inform her about the kids."

Joaquin's calm face contorted into a concerned expression. "You didn't tell her last week? I thought it was already settled!"

"Yeah, and have her saying 'no'? Nah. She's all alone now. She need some... kids to take care of. I'm telling her now so she can't decline because they're already on the way."

Penelope closed her mouth and refrained from talking back at him. His aunt would skin him alive the moment they met in person again.

"Lance? Lance! You finally remembered me, hmn?" A timid voice of an aged woman cut through their silence. The excitement of her voice baffled Penelope for a second. The woman was so thrilled to have Lance's call? Then she must really be lonely. "What do you need now, tell me."

"I love you so much! You always know what I need at the moment, my great Tia! The best in the world."

A hearty laugh was Lance's reward in his bootlicking. "Now, what is it? So we can talk how have you been these past few days. Did you became sick again?"

"No. Still healthy as a horse. Uhm, I have a favor to ask—would you please take care of six children for a few weeks, Tia? They are... now on their way to your grand house. Now you won't be alone while I'm gone." Lance held in his mouth a strange smile. It was fond, but yet with a little scorn.

"You really hate me, right?"

Penelope's eyes scanned Lance's face. She can't see his eyes but he doesn't stank of lie when he said, "How could I hate you? You're my only living relative."

Joaquin nudged her arm. He blinked. "Stop looking at him."

"How did you know I was staring at him?" Penelope soothed his curled brow.

"I didn't. But your reaction proved it to be yes."

Penelope ran her hand on his arms. "I'm just curious."

"You can ask me." Joaquin smiled. "I don't know the answers but you can always ask me."

She found his actions amusing. Penelope clicked her tongue. "So jealous."

"I'm sorry."

Pen bit her tongue and refused to talk further. Joaquin was always quick to say sorry and being overly attentive after that one night.

A few days ago, he had a terrible nightmare that made him quiet for almost two days. He won't talk with her about it and he always get snappish with sudden noises.

It was like he's being haunted.

When Lance heard about the Crystal lake pack openly recruiting members, he had this great plan of pretending to apply and observe the territory.

Lance made an emphasis to Lesley that he's there, together with Joaquin, to make an official statement that he's moving in and is ready to be serious about her.

Penelope thought it was like playing with fire. And she's not ready for any failure that may come to their way.

"See? She agreed. So easy." Lance glanced at them and raised a quirky brow. "Michael would get so fat."

Penelope caught a glimpse of a teenage boy staring right back at her.

And it was in the middle of the road.

She screamed at Lance, "There's a kid! Lance!"

Lance immediately pulled the breaks without even looking. Penelope's heart beats like a drum on a parade. Joaquin was slightly taken a back but he only hugged Penelope as an instinct to protect her from any possible crash.

"Damn it! We're the only ones in the road, okay?" Lance took a big gulp and screeched, "Get out of the way! Where the heck did he came from?"

Dusting the hem of his jacket, the teen on his late fifteen took large strides and ended up on Lance's side of the car. He nodded after a moment and turned to the passenger's seat.

"Great. I didn't miss half of the journey. Thank you for the consideration and stopping by to let me in. I thought you guys would just... go past me and leave me without even your calling cards— again."

Penelope sniffed the air and noticed the scent of burning flowers. He's from the magic kind. "And you are?"

Lance gulped. "Wow, I thought you'll arrive like... a week later or something."

The teen smiled lightly as if he doesn't mind. He focused his attention to Penelope, who in turn became starstruck with his heterochromic eyes. It was a vivid blue and pale grey.

"I'm Irlan Nieves, the cavalry of this team."

Joaquin let out a sigh and acknowledged him, "You and Lance would be acquainted just fine then."

Penelope remembered his name. It was the kid who was sent to help them. She didn't understand Lance's weary expression though.

'The kid looks harmless. Why is he acting like this?'