"why"
His frown could be seen deepening at her words.
She had just agreed to be with him and now she wanted to leave him. He wouldn't allow it,or at best, he'd follow her back and start the process of persuading her all over.
"I haven't brought any clothes with me"
Dorian could feel a relieved sigh leave his lips at her response and his expression softened down. He got up and approached her, taking her hand.
"Come"
He led her to the door close to the dresser, opening it,he led her in and Penelope almost gasped.
It was__another room, only more packed than the other with shelves and cupboards at every end. A large bed neatly dressed in front.
She frowned.
"If there was a bed here,why didn't you use it?
She asked
Her head flung to him and she noticed a smug on his face making her realise what he had done last night was on purpose so she'd ask him to share a bed.
What a cunning act.
There were two large wardrobes in front. One black and the other white,he unlocked the white one,then slid it open and the sight made her jaw drop.
There were female clothes of different kinds,mades and possibly brands.
Shirts and trousers of multiple colours,he slid it even wider and she noticed shoes on the other side,it looked like a fashion collection if not one.
"Do you like it?"
Dorian asked in anticipation although ready to change it if she said she didn't but fortunately,she replied positively.
"Its_" she paused as though finding the right words.
"Amazing."
.
.
"Lets have breakfast"
Dorian impelled while taking her hand in his without consent.
He led her out of 'their' room to the elevator and soon they got to the main stairs which he led her down from,still holding her hand.
She had chosen to wear a simple Jean with a thick blue shirt and 'coincidentally',Dorian also wore a blue shirt making them look like couples in match.
Once they got closer to the last steps of the stairs,
Taps of footsteps on the marble floor could be heard from ahead and soon,a woman was seen approaching them.
Oh no.
Not today.
A gasp was heard from her as she now stood in front of both,her eyes looking at the woman standing beside Dorian and her lips widened slightly letting out another gasp.
By the time she got close,they were already on the last step.
Heisty,she approached and shoved Dorian without care causing the man to tumble to the side almost dragging Penelope with him only he let go of her hand in time.
The woman who had just pushed Dorian like someone of unimportance aside approached Penelope who was slightly taken aback by her actions.
She looked elderly and probably perhaps middle 50s or less?,compared to how agile she was just a moment ago
"Is_is this her?"
Her eyes stared at Penelope with unbelieving eyes.
"Yes"
Dorian who had long composed himself replied. For someone who was just treated less than his status a moment ago and still didn't seem offended,the woman must be someone of higher importance or authority, Penelope noted but taking in her appearance,she didn't seem so.
"Oh dear"
The woman's hand went to torch lightly against the girl's left cheek.
"She's even more beautiful than I've been told"
By whom?
Dorian wanted to ask but could already guess who. Who other than that blabber mouth,his Gamma Felix, Seems he's had less time on his hand to do some gossips, he'd fix that.
Although he wasn't wrong. His mate was the most beautiful woman in this realm,no arguments accepted.
The woman was staring at Penelope adoringly but then she frowned.
"She's human?"
This part,she wasn't told.
"She's my Luna"
Dorian replied to her question in a way of telling he didn't care what she was.
"Of-of course,I was just surprised"
The woman's attention returned to Penelope but then she frowned again,her hand going to sit near the girls neck.
Penelope felt wary at first but seeing as how calm Dorian remained,she stayed but the woman said something that got her confused.
"You haven't marked her yet?"
Her question was followed by silence.
Confused, she looked at Dorian who seemed to be finding a way to reply.
"Uh,well.."
Why was he fondling with his words.
Shifters were known to mark their mates the instant they found each other,so why hadn't he.
"Well you see.."
"Aunt Betty!,where do i place this?"
Someone's voice called from the entrance pulling everyone's attention to the gamma Felix who was struggling to drag about three suit cases and a laggy purse hung around his arm.
"It's really heavy"
He said trying hard to move the luggages she had dropped right at the entrance of this manor when she arrived.
"Place them over my head you moron, where else if not a guest room"
She spited before turning her attention back to Penelope.
"What is your name my dear?"
She asked but behind her, Dorian could be seen letting out a relieved sigh as he was saved from answering her question,if not,how was he to start telling her of how complicated their relationship started and was still.
"Penelope" She replied after looking at Dorian who passed her a warm smile.
A slight pause could be seen in the woman for a quick second before her smile returned.
"Penelope,such a lovely name"
"Betty,if you wouldn't mind,we were about to go have breakfast"
Dorian interrupted not liking that his mate was yet to have eaten but instead,was met by the woman's glare.
"I come all the way from Wavesland to visit and instead of a warm welcome to your dearest aunty,you do this" she huffed
"Betty I was just.."
"Say no more"
She cut him off with her hand, turning back to Penelope,her expression softened
"Anyways it's a good thing you haven't eaten yet,just wait few more minutes dear, I'll whip up the best meal you'll ever have in centuries"
She turned to Dorian
"Don't you dare give her anything till I'm done,I don't want her taste buds ruined"
Quickly,she left and Penelope could hear a sigh coming from the man who stood before her.
Was that his aunt?
She seemed in her late fifty's and from the way they both interacted,she guessed they were family.
.
.
After both Dorian and Penelope,well mostly Penelope was done eating the stack of food Betty made and then forced her to eat wanting her to taste each dish she'd prepared, Dorian offered to give her a tour of the manor when he saw how she kept observing her surroundings with scrutiny.
He'd want her to be familiar with the place since she'd be staying with him henceforth. He toured her around and couldn't help smiling each time the word ' wow' slipped out of her mouth unconsciously.
She hadn't even realized sometimes that her lips were kept slightly ajar and he didn't care to tell her as he loved the sight before him.
"You paint?"
Penelope asked when they were at the gallery room which was located at the farther end of the hallway in the second floor of the building.
This room was mostly coated in white,wide and filled with paintings of things with nature, beautiful paintings which got her surprised when Dorian said he painted all.
"Yes,it's like my second hobby"
Second?
Penelope was slightly cut off,well she knew most people had hobbies,even she but to think a man like him would,well,not like he wasn't allowed to have one.
"What's your first?"
She asked wanting to know what kind of hobby a man like him would have
"Looking into your beautiful eyes"
His reply made her pause in her thoughts.
Her eyes flew to him but when they met his,she was quick to avert them.
Looking into your beautiful eyes.
"That's not a hobby"
She said more to herself but his brief Chuckle confirmed that he heard it.
"If it isn't then why do I love doing it?"
He asked in return and Penelope swallowed the lump forming in her throat.
She made a mental note not to ask any unnecessary questions to this man henceforth.
She returned to just looking at different paintings around when she noticed one that caught her attention,it was a painting of a woman, beautiful face,long curly ebony hair,faint blue eyes and a lovely smile on her lip.
"Who's she?"
She found herself asking but silence followed and this made her look at Dorian who was rather looking at the painting.
"My mother"
His reply got Penelope to understand why there were so much similarities between them both.
So she was his mother.
Man she was beautiful.
But where was she?, Recalling all those articles she had read about Dorian online, she'd never once came across anyone which spoke of his family,or rather his mother.
"Is she in.."
"No" Dorian replied knowing what she was going to ask.
"She's dead"
He replied briefly,his voice turned flat with no emotion and Penelope found herself feeling bad, perhaps she shouldn't have asked.
"What about your father?"
She regretted her words immediately she watched how his expression hardened as though irked.
"Dead"
His voice came out between clenched teeth this time,she noticed his voice changed into something of sadness and anger.
Or was it pain.
She was uncertain,but whatever it was,she understood it was something sensitive so she decided not to ask anything further.
So he was an orphan.
If she knew she wouldn't have asked in the first place,it was insensitive of her to, but then
CRACK!