Darcingtowne Wolves: The Misfits (Book 1)

Chapter Five: Chosen Family

It was only then that Mason looked into her eyes. Eyes that looked nothing like hers. In fact, they didn’t share any of the same features. How had she never noticed before?

“You’re...you’re my uncle…?” Penelope asked, her voice high and strained.

“I am your father in every way that matters.” Mason growled, squeezing her hand. “And you are my daughter, Penelope. Please, tell me you understand…”

Penelope wanted to yank her hand away, angry that he’d never properly explained this to her before, but she also wanted to comfort Mason. She could see the pain and fear in his blue eyes, and in the way he gritted his teeth as the tears streamed down the deep lines of his face. Even though she understood the story he’d told her, it didn’t change how she felt about him. He was right; Mason was her father in every way that mattered.

“Papa…” she finally said, throwing her arms around his shoulders. “Don’t cry, Pops...or I’ll have to cry too.”

“I think it’s too late for that, Princess.” Mason snorted, laughing a little with relief as he wiped the tears that were already popping up in the corner of her eyes. “I haven’t cried in years...you have no idea how scared I was to tell you the truth, but you needed to know. Especially if you’re going to live here, and if you’re going to attend Promenade Collegiate.”

“Why? I thought you said ProCo was a good school, the best?” Penny blinked a few times, sniffling.

“It is. Your grandfather was the President of the school during his time. But, it’s also the university that all the members of Twilight Promenade attend.” Mason said, his lips quivering a little as he attempted to reign in his emotions. “I’m not sure your cousins even know you exist…”

Cousins. She had cousins. Somehow, that was more shocking to her than the fact that she was sort of a Princess. Being a Princess was surreal - the very idea was so outlandish that she could ignore it as blatant fantasy. Having family members that she’d never met before, who might not even know she existed, felt far more believable than being some kind of wolf princess.

“Maybe it’s better that way.” Penny said, snorting. “I got into the school on my own merits, not because of nepotism, and if they don’t know who I am they won’t have a reason to mess with me. Besides, you’re the only family I need - you and my chosen family. The Misfits. We’re keeping the name...I’m sure the rest of the gang would agree.”

Mason smiled at this, and pulled her into another hug. “I’m so proud of you, Penelope. Now, why don’t you have a look around while I unload the truck?”

Penelope nodded, and watched as Mason hurried out of the room. His capacity for emotional outreach had probably been tapped out, and she was happy to let him get some air. It was a little disconcerting to see such a big, stoic man crying - though she was sure he would soon be back to his usual impassive self soon.

While Mason hauled boxes from the truck into the grand entryway, Penelope ran from room to room and floor to floor. The main floor had a huge kitchen, a ballroom, the formal sitting room that they had been talking in, and several smaller rooms that looked like offices. The second floor was divided into two halves - one side had dorm-style single bedrooms with small ensuite bathrooms and a large common room, while the other had several family suites with their own separate kitchens and living spaces. The third floor penthouse was obviously the alpha floor, and was the only space that had been cleaned prior to their arrival. It was so luxurious that Penelope was starting to get overwhelmed again; the master bath was bigger than her old bedroom back in the cabin, and the attached closet had individual racks for each pair of shoes. She didn’t even own enough shoes to fill all the racks.

Penny was out of breath by the time she made it back down the stairs from her poke around, and her cheeks were flushed from having jumped on her fancy new king sized bed. She’d always wanted to do that, and since it was her bed and this was her house she figured she could jump on it if she wanted to.

Mason was leaning on the banister at the end of the grand staircase, which had been carved into the shape of a howling wolf. “Well, what do you think?”

“This is insane.” Penelope panted, grinning at her father. “If this is our family home why didn’t we just live here?”

Mason shrugged a little, his face turning a bit dark. “I couldn’t stay here...not after your mother died. Especially not after my mate rejected me. I had to get away from this festering shithole of a city.”

Well, there he goes casually dropping another bomb. Typical Mason Silvius.

“Dad…” Penelope said, releasing a high pitched wine as her face fell. He raised a hand to calm her.

“Penny, it was a long time ago, and I don’t regret it. I never have. It may not have ended pretty, but it was for the best.” Mason said, his expression returning to its usual neutral state. “Now, we need to head to the registry office or we’re going to be late. We’ve got a tight schedule today.”

“Tight schedule?” Penelope asked, lifting an eyebrow as she followed her father out of the townhouse and over to his truck.

“Yep. After we finish at the registry office, we’re going to the train station to pick up Carrie, and assuming we don’t get held up we should get back here in time to help Ryan and Bastian unload.” Mason said easily as he took his seat behind the wheel of the truck.

“I thought I was supposed to be the Alpha now...and here you, still taking care of everything.” Penelope grumbled a little.

“I haven’t officially retired yet.” Mason said, giving his daughter a brief smile, which she rolled her eyes at.

“Oh. My. Goddess!” Carrie squealed as she threw herself at Penelope. “I’ve missed you so, so much!”

Penelope laughed and spun her friend around like a long lost lover before setting her down. While Penelope had the standard height of a she-wolf, somewhere around 5’7”, Carrie was tiny - barely five feet tall. But, what she lacked in height she made up for in personality. Carrie was bubbly and bright, like her curly red hair, which swirled voluminously around her freckled face and only served to highlight her gorgeous green eyes. She wore pink and green, a combination that would have been eye blindingly clashing on anyone else, especially someone with such bright red hair, but for Carrie it somehow worked.

“I missed you too Carebear! Also, how dare you not tell me you were coming - how much do you guys already know?” Penelope asked, fixing Carrie with a stern look that melted away when she saw that it made her friend giggle nervously.

“We kind of know everything, I guess? Your Dad wanted to be the one that told you. Forgive me, Alpha?” Carrie said, toeing the ground uneasily with her adorable bejeweled ballet flats. 

Penny cringed a little at the use of her title, though it was now rightfully hers. Their meeting at the pack registry office was quick and painless, and although she was now the official Alpha of The Misfits, Penelope didn’t feel any different. She still felt like a freshman university student who only had the vaguest idea of how to be a good leader.

“Let’s not start with that, ok? Or, we should at least discuss things before we decide how we’re going to conduct ourselves. Let’s grab your bags and meet up with Pops.” Penny said, ruffling Carrie’s hair a bit.

“But Alpha is better than Princess, right?” Carrie asked, her laugh turning into a yelp when Penelope pinched her ear.

“Owwwwwuh! Fine, fine, I’ll stop!” Carrie whined.

Sebastian and Ryan were standing on the sidewalk in front of the brownstone when Mason pulled his truck into the reserved spot outside it. At least, Penelope thought the tall, dark haired man was Ryan. He was standing right next to Sebastian and chatting like he knew the slight brunette half wolf, at the very least.

“Sweet Moon Goddess above,” Carrie breathed in a blatantly lustful tone as she leaned forward between the two front seats to get a better look at the two young men standing outside the brownstone. “Ryan really grew into those ears, didn’t he Pen?”

Mason made a face, and coughed a little. “I know you’re both adults and I’m not your father, Carrie...but you know you have a mate waiting out there for you, right?”

“That doesn’t mean we can’t get a gander at the goods, Mr. Silvius! Look at him!” Carrie cried, then flounced her way out of the truck as Penelope rolled her eyes. “Oooh, what if he’s my mate?! I better give him a big old kiss and find out.”

“Don’t worry, Dad. I know the rules. Responsible Alphas don’t sleep around with pack members.” Penelope said. “...And before you ask, I’m not in a rush to find my mate. Ok?”

It wasn’t exactly a rule; plenty of alphas did sleep around with pack members. But, Penny had never been mate crazy, and she knew that it would cause issues if she did have a fling with a member of her pack. Besides, Ryan was her best and oldest friend. He was like a brother to her; that would be super weird.

Penny had never been worried about Ryan being her mate, but now that they were both eighteen and would be able to feel the sparks, she supposed that it was time to find out for sure.