Penelope had thought Dorian's question as one of his tricks and plays where he toyed with her but currently with the wind grazing softly through her hair as they rode on the highway, she understood he wasn't just kidding or trying to trick her.
She was really going home, how he knew the route to her home without her saying a word remained a mystery which she didn't care to solve.
His hand held hers as she sat by the further end of the window but that was the least of her cares as all that lingered her mind was that, she would finally be going home.
They soon got to a neighborhood which she recognized, Lake City district and soon, they were approaching her house.
Excitement was less of a word to describe what Penelope felt when she sighted her father by their little garden, engrossed with the little plants.
Even before the car would stop, her hand made it to the knob and a frown formed between her brows when she realized the car was locked.
"Open the door"
Her voice came out harshly as she shot her head at Dorian who looked the opposite of how she felt.
Nothing was done as Azrael waited for Dorian to give the order and when he did through mind link, a soft click was heard and immediately, she jumped out.
[Alpha, there are people around]
Azrael spoke when Dorian was about trailing after her.
Understanding what Azrael meant, he grabbed the black baseball cap as well as nose mask, putting it on before going out of the car.
Drawing attention to himself was the last thing needed.
"Penelope?"
The small watering can fell from the old man's hand as he watched his daughter who had supposedly been missing for a week plus rushing towards him.
"Dad!"
She embraced him not minding the dirt which smeared on her clothes from his apron and he did same.
"Oh Penelope,what happened to you my child"
Peter cried as he patted lightly against her back.
They hugged wholesomely for moments more until a voice drew their attention.
Josh, who had been sent to bring out a flower pot from the storage room paused when he came out and saw his father hugging someone but when he realized who that someone was.
"Penelope!"
The flower pot dropped from his hand almost shattering to the ground as he rushed to her.
"Josh"
At this point, she had tears threatening to fall from her eyes as she hugged her brother.
"What happened to you?"
She asked when she came to take notice of the bandages on him.
Josh sighed before responding
"Nothing major, I was attacked by some gangsters"
Dorian who was just approaching felt a light sting knowing he was the cause.
"Where's mom?"
She asked worriedly
"She's still at the hospital"
"We can't go see her today cause of the hospital's day out policy but we'll go tomorrow"
He replied when he predicted what she wanted to ask.
"Mr. Skendore?"
Their father's voice pulled their attention and they saw him staring at the man who now stood in their yard.
Josh almost froze immediately the man took off the mask which covered half of his face.
Dorian Skendore.
He almost couldn't believe his eyes and had to blink out a few times.
"Nice to meet you Mr. Watson"
Dorian stretched his hand out for a shake but the old man was too overwhelmed to even react quickly but once he got out of his daze, he was fast to take his handshake.
He was, he was standing in front of Dorian Skendore.
Dorian Skendore was at his home, he was shaking hands with an elite and possibly one of the only zillionaires of their time.
The CEO of the D.S company, one of the most successful companies with the highest net incomes during these past five years.
It was simply unbelievable.
"Your daughter was abducted, and when I found her, she was lost, so I brought her home"
Simple and short.
He didn't need to look at her to see the hard glare she was giving him.
His reply seemed to be alot for Peter to swallow.
If it wasn't that it was him who said it himself, Peter who never in a million years believe that someone like Dorian would spare it in his time to take a lost girl home.
Although he was thankful, was this a miracle or what, he got his daughter back and also got to meet the wealthiest man alive.
"Can we offer you anything at all, tea, coffee"
Peter asked when they were all in the house.
He must have said these lines more than three times now but Dorian just declined, his eyes were still fixed on the door where his mate had gone through and not returned since.
It had been over 30 minutes but she still hadn't come out.
He knew he was partially the reason she wasn't coming out but he still stayed, listening to the distant voice of her father which he paid little attention to.
An hour more and Dorian knew it was time for him to do the hardest part of what Raphael had suggested to him.
To Leave.
He tried to get up but it seemed as though his body was glued to the chair he sat on.
He wasn't willing to leave, he didn't want to, but he knew he had to.
Declining another offer made by Peter to give him a drink or any refreshments, he made his way to the door, his steps slow and heavy as he glanced once more to the door where Penelope had walked out together with her brother.
"Thank you for bringing my daughter home Mr. Skendore"
“I regret doing that now”
Dorian was sure to keep his thoughts to himself as he forced out a smile and a nod
"If there's anything we could do to repay.."
"It's fine"
Dorian cut him off
"I'll be leaving now"
The words forced their way out of his throat, afterwards, he took a step out of the house.
Then out the porch and soon, out of the yard till he got to his car where he sat moments more just staring at the house before he told Azrael to drive.
××××××××××××××××××
Gaining information about who Dorian really was from her brother who wouldn't stop blabbering on and on of who that man was didn't change her view of him.
He might be rich and all, but she still didn't appreciate being abducted and was just glad she was finally back to the comfort of her home, tommorow she would go to see her mother and she couldn't wait, it had been a week plus.
The cold wind of the night brushed lightly against her skin making her shiver slightly.
She hadn't realised it would be this cold tonight, she would have worn a sweater.
Dropping her journal aside, she walked over to her window in order to slide down it's glass when her eyes spotted something in the darkeness of the night.
It was dark and almost blended equally to the dark backyard but when she squinted her eyes further, a small gasp left her lips when she saw what it was.
A wolf.
××××××××××××××××××
In a crowd of five people, a girl sitted in the midst of her friends, her eyes on her phone as she stared worriedly at the time.
It was late, she needed to go home now.
"Samantha common, you're missing out the party"
Came a female voice from beside her.
"Let's go dance"
Said July, her besty who looked all messed up and drunk as she tried to drag Samantha to the dance floor but the girl was adamant.
She didn't want to go dance, she needed to go home.
"Urrh, you're no fun"
July snorted turning around to the dance floor.
"Guys, I think I'll be going home now"
Samantha said grabbing her purse but Eric, one of her friends who she had come to this party with grabbed hold of her hand stopping her.
"Why, the party just started"
He said
"Stay a while longer"
He said but instead, she pulled her hand out of his.
"I wish I could, but, I really have to go"
She sounded sorry but within her, she truely began to feel uncomfortable with the environment, the music turned into noise to her and the smell of alcohol was alot.
"Common Samantha"
Another of her friend James urged but she still went ahead although before she would take a step, Eric was already in front of her.
"Why in a hurry?
Why don't you ever want to spend time with us?"
He asked
"I work"
"F**k that, you're just saying that as an excuse because of that man, he's making you do all these and you're letting him"
At his words, Samantha averted her eyes from him
"Why do you let him toy with you so Samantha, you're not allowed to hang out,to have fun or any of those stuff we used to do"
"Eric I have to go"
She tried to walk away but he held her back.
"Stop this Sam, you can report him to the cops, the human defense authority or even..."
His words were cut when a phone rang.
Samantha's hand rampaged through her purse and when she brought out her phone, her eyes bulged wide at the caller.
Oh no.
She felt the phone slip out of her hand as Eric grabbed hold of it, looking at it's screen.
"Oh look who it is" He said.
"Eric no please"
Samantha's alarming voice warned but Eric had already answered the phone.
"Hey, listen here jerk, if you think you can keep forcing yourself on my friend then f**k you, I'll make sure you're reported to the authorities and the media, you'll be tarnished and ..."
"Eric stop!"
Samantha cried as she snatched the phone from him quickly before another word would leave his mouth.
With shaky hands, she slowly placed the phone against her ear.
"Hello.."
DING.
The call was cut off and she could feel her heart pounding loudly in her chest, her whole body was trembling.
A fearful gasp left her lips immediately her phone began ringing again but when she looked at the screen, her heart almost leaped to her throat in fright.
A video call.