The car soared through the sky, cutting across the night like a silent shadow, stars blinking above like they were watching the drama earth had to offer.
For a while, there was only silence. Jayden leaned into the leather seat, arms crossed, still processing everything. The hum of the engine was steady. The night, peaceful. But inside.. Jayden’s mind was a fireworks show of "what the hell just happened."
Then Penelope spoke, casually breaking the quiet like tossing a pebble into a still lake.
"So, telekinesis, huh?"
Jayden glanced sideways, staring out the window. "Yeah."
Silence again. Not awkward.. just heavy. Thick with what wasn’t being said. Until Jayden finally exhaled.
"I’m sorry... about everything."
Penelope’s brow arched, but she let him speak.
"I didn’t an to fight those guys like so psychotic maniac. It just... happened. I—I could feel this pleasure as I fought. It felt good. Too good. And I didn’t want to stop. I didn’t even think about stopping." His voice dipped lower. "It scared ."
Penelope chuckled lightly. "Jayden. There’s nothing to apologize for. You were a hero tonight. And that feeling you had?" She glanced over, smile laced with mory. "Your mother used to feel it too."
Jayden blinked.
"She’d say there was nothing quite like the thrill of battle. The rush, the heat, the focus. It’s not a flaw, Jayden. It’s instinct. You’re a predator." Her voice softened. "But next ti, maybe don’t transform in front of a bunch of strangers. We’re not trying to trend on the internet."
Jayden smiled despite himself, a little laugh slipping out. "Yeah... Thanks. For dealing with that guy. I don’t know what i would have done without you there."
Penelope waved a hand like it was nothing. "Even if he did talk, who’d believe him? ’Oh, so teenager turned into a werewolf and beat up my n’. Please. He’d get locked in a psych ward before the end of the sentence." she laughed.
Jayden gave a short nod, but sothing clicked. A subtle shift in his gut. That feeling he had... it made him feel jiggy. Just like how Miss Kate looked when she was beating him up. And if mother had the sa feeling.. then maybe it was a thing among werewolves.
Penelope continued. "Still... I’m impressed. You had so much control in your partial form. That’s incredible."
Jayden froze. His eyes widened as a sudden realization dawned on him.
She saw him. She saw everything. But yet, she wasn’t surprised.
Which ant—
"She already knew..." he concluded inwardly.
Then it hit even harder. "Of course. She knew my mum. So it’s only logical that she’d know."
Penelope turned to him, hair softly swaying. "What’s on your mind?"
Jayden sighed, running a hand through his ssy hair. "Just wondering why you weren’t surprised by... what I am. Then I figured, since you knew my mom, you’d know what she.. we are."
Penelope smiled, a soft pride dancing in her eyes. "Yes, I do. But funny enough... I knew you were a werewolf even before I found out you were Cyllene’s child."
Jayden blinked. "Wait... what? How?" he asked in surprise.
She chuckled. "That first day at the restaurant. The mont I saw you, I knew sothing was different. Your energy. It was... primal.. and familiar. Then when I kissed your cheek," she smirked, "I confird it."
Jayden leaned back, stunned. "So that’s why she kissed my cheek." he thought.
"But wait.. how can you tell through a simple peck?" he voiced out.
Penelope gave him a playful wink. "It’s a little talent of mine."
Jayden laughed softly, shaking his head. Then his eyes flickered with gratitude.
"Thank you. For the date. For the food. For everything... and for being so chill. You didn’t have to be this nice to ."
Penelope’s gaze softened. "Jayden... your mother was like a sister to . Of course I’ll be nice to you. I’ll protect you... as i should have done. You can trust ." she assured.
Jayden looked at her. He already knew he could her. Even before the revelation. Penelope wasn’t just fun, or stylish, or powerful. She was kind. Compassionate. A wildfire with a gentle heart.
"So, Duchess, huh?" he teased with a smirk.
She laughed. "Pfft, it’s just a fancy nickna. I used to be into politics... frankly, i still am. It’s beco sothing i can’t really do away with."
They both chuckled, the car cruising through the night.
Then, as they passed a drifting cloud, Penelope flicked a button. The vehicle went into autopilot. She reached into her coat and pulled sothing out.
A ring.
Jayden tilted his head. It was a storage ring. One he didn’t recognise.
Penelope slid it on her finger, closed her eyes for a second, then hissed. "Tsk! That fat goof doesn’t even have anything of value." she clicked. Then the ring flickered. And a red orb shimred into her palm.
"Guess he was smart enough to put this in a separate storage ring." she scoffed.
Jayden’s eyes widened. It was the orb.
The sa orb the man had received from the visitor earlier. The one he claid to have put in his storage ring.
And Penelope was holding it. Which ant... she was one who took the ring all along.
He turned to her in disbelief.
But before he could say anything, she extended the orb to him. "Here. It’s yours."
Jayden blinked twice, then finally found words to say. "Y-You were the one who took it?"
Penelope smirked. "Yep." she admitted, like it was no big deal. "And since you were the one who fought those n, it’s belongs to you now."
Jayden stared at Penelope, amused. "But I only fought them because they accused you of taking it."
She giggled and leaned over, gently caressing his cheek. "Aww, you’re such a sweet boy. But honestly.. I didn’t need it. I took it simply because I was bored."
Jayden sighed, finally taking the orb. What else could he do.
He scrutinized it for a while, then, he inspected it.
______
*Na: Energy Converter
*Grade: A-Rank
*Description: Converts any form of energy into refined energy.
______
Jayden’s jaw dropped.
He’d read about items like this online. Super rare. Super pricey. Super powerful.
Penelope noticed his expression. "You know how it works?"
He shook his head. The system had only given him vague info. "Not really."
She nodded, then explained with casual elegance. "That orb can absorb any energy—heat, sound, light, elental attacks... and convert it into the kind of energy that resides inside us. And when it’s full, you can access that energy temporarily."
Jayden eyes widened.
Penelope kept explaining. "It’s red now. When it turns gold, it’s ans it’s completely filled with energy. And when you want to use that energy, crush it with your hand, and it’ll pump your power up tenfold... temporarily."
Jayden sat back, staring at it. "Wow! Tenfold? That’s... wild. Thank you." he muttered. This was a kind of last resort. Sothing he could against an opponent he couldn’t defeat... or in case he got into a near-death situation.
Penelope smiled and took control of the vehicle once again, releasing a long exhale. It was as though driving manually gave her a soothing feeling.
Jayden put the orb in his jacket, still stunned that he now had an A-Rank item. But then, a thought crept in.
Why did Penelope take it in the first place? She didn’t care for the item. She gave it away without a blink.
Which ant... She only cared about what ca after.
The fight.
And just like that—it all made sense.
Penelope was only interested in the fight. Taking the orb was just a way to ignite it.
The realization hit Jayden like a bullet. "That’s what she wanted all along... to see fight."
Earlier, when Penelope saw the rich man walk in arrogantly, she wanted to rip his head off for interrupting her date. But then she saw the eight, intimidating n that walked in with the man, and an idea clicked instantly.
So she held back from hurting the man, and instead welcod the man to dine in the room, and began to think of the various ways Jayden could get into a fight with the eight n. And when she saw the man receive a rare item, her plan clicked together. It was a golden opportunity... and she took it. Literally.
All she had to do was steal the storage ring and wait for the magic to happen. She set the board. Waited. And watched Jayden move like a piece.
"You took this intentionally, didn’t you?" he asked, voice low.
Penelope smirked. "Oh, you finally figured it out." she said
Jayden leaned in, expression unreadable. "Why?" he asked. "Why did you want to fight those n?"
"Isn’t it obvious? She smiled, eyes gleaming. "I wanted to see just how powerful you are, Jayden."
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