Some of them know about us, I say to the Royals as we walk. Almost there. Nick, Axel, Luke, Cam and Drake know about the rogues because I let Luke, Cam and Eric tell them last year. Remember the battle between RedRiver and Bloodlust?

Of course, Clove replies. Changeling wouldn't stop bragging about saving River.

When Zaine doesn't give a snappy reply, Clove and I both look at him in worry.

We met up with the rest of the Rulers and a large group of Thatcher's rogues, the ones who like to attack for fun, called the Killers. Most of them are wolves, while two are witches and two are warlocks. All the werewolves are in wolf form with the magic users walking with us, close to their group leader, meaning Clove, Killian and Zaine are next to me.

You OK, Changeling? Killian asks gently, one hand holding Zaine's and his other holding his Pantera claws.

Zaine looks up at him, fiddling with his spiked baseball bat. Honestly, I'm kinda nervous. We attack to rescue, not for fun. Yeah, we've gone with King before on these attacks, this one just feels more wrong. I don't like it.

Neither do I, Killian growls. He attacked Chase, I want to attack him.

He's strong, Flash, and he's crazy, Clove says, her grip tight on one of her throwing knives. We can't be sure you'd make it out alive.

So attack him with me, Killian says.

I shake my head softly. They outnumber us, now and overall. There are more of King's rogues here now and King has more followers overall, and not all of mine are strong enough fighters to fight back. Yes, I want to fuck him up for hurting Chase but I don't know what the outcome will be. We'll have to wait.

Killian huffs softly but nods. Anyway, darling, singing always calms you, so why not try it?

Zaine nods softly. He thinks for a few seconds, then starts singing. I grin a wolfish grin, recognizing the song.

"You'll never take us alive

We swore that death will do us part

They'll call our crimes a work of art

You'll never take us alive

We'll live like spoiled royalty, lovers and partners

Partners in crime

Partners in crime"

Already I can tell his nerves are fading. His voice doesn't waver as much and he sings the notes strongly. I can see his body becoming less tense as he swings his bat in soft arcs like a pendulum.

The other rogues look at him strangely then seem to just accept that they'll be fighting with singing in the background. As we step into RedRiver territory, the witches and warlocks take to the trees, climbing up to the lower branches. Zaine however, stays walking and singing beside me, hand resting on my back, fingers gently fisted in my fur.

"This, the tale of, reckless love, living a life of crime on the run

I brush to a gun to paint these states green and red

Everybody freeze, nobody move

Put the money in the bag, or we will shoot

Empty out the vault and me and my doll will be on our way"

"There they are," Killian says, pointing ahead of us, his eyes glowing.

Through the trees, I see one of RedRiver's patrols running towards us.

"Oi, singing psychopath," Clove calls. "Get your ass up here."

Zaine rolls his eyes up but climbs up and crouches next to Killian on one of the branches. They're easily seen, figures perched on the snowy, otherwise-bare branches of the trees above us. They'll join in during the fight after analyzing it from above.

As Zaine starts the next line, the patrol wolves reach us and the fight starts.

"Our paper faces flood the streets

And if the heat comes close enough to burn then we'll play with fire, cause

You'll never take us alive

We swore that death will do us part

They'll call our crimes a work of art

You'll never take us alive

We'll live like spoiled royalty, lovers and partners

Partners in crime

Partners in crime"

As I take down one of the wolves, I notice more wolves joining the fight. I can sense the Alpha power in the air.

There must've been a meeting, Clove muses. Nick, Drake, River, Blake and Ceniza are here, along with Luke, Cam, Thunder and more warriors. King's rogues still outnumber them.

He knew, Killian whispers in realization. King must've known Ceniza would be here. Why else would he make us join in an attack on this pack, at this time.

But why does he want us on an attack against Ceniza? Clove asks.

I find myself facing Cam, one of my old rogues and a friend of mine. I can see he's surprised to see me and the Royals but he doesn't hold back.

"Here we find our omnipotent outlaws fall behind the grind tonight

Left unaware that the lone store owner won't go down without a fight"

When King came to Moonblood to attack, Zaine says, thinking, He said that Reina wouldn't be able to let go of the bond, which is why he wanted us to come back sooner. He probably wants to see if she's really let go.

I growl. It makes sense. Thatcher said I wouldn't be able to go back after staying at my old home because the bond Asher and I have wouldn't let me. He doesn't want Asher and I to be together but why? Is it because Thatcher truly wants me or is there something he's hiding?

"Where we gonna go, he's got us pinned

Baby I'm a little scared

Now, don't you quit

He's sounded the alarm, I hear the sirens closing in"

We have to try and steady King's trust in us, I say. We need more information from him on why he wants to keep Ceniza and I apart and I feel like it's not just because he wants me.

Attack him, Killian says. If King wants to see if the bond is weak, then attacking Ceniza should be a good enough move to make King think it is. And Strange, go after Thunder.

I can tell Clove's hesitant and unwilling but she reluctantly agrees.

"Our paper faces flood the streets

And if the heat comes close enough to burn then we're burning this place to the ground cause"

Zaine jumps down, landing on Axel's back and gripping the wolf's blond fur to not get flung off. The rest of the witches and warlocks quickly join in as well, taking the wolves off guard. The wolves are unprepared to fight against the weapons and abilities the magic users have but they stay strong.

As Zaine continues singing, even while he's fighting, I can hear the grin in his voice. He's enjoying this now, I guess. Probably an adrenaline rush fueling it too.

"You'll never take us alive

We swore that death will do us part

They'll call our crimes a work of art

You'll never take us alive

We'll live like spoiled royalty, lovers and partners

Partners in crime

Partners in crime"

I lunge at Cam, managing to pin him to the ground. I hear a snarl and I know it's Axel trying to come defend his mate. Glancing over, I see Zaine is trying to keep the beta's attention but Axel is determined.

Don't, I say, quickly forming a link between my mind and his. I won't hurt him, Axel.

I cut the link, then make one between me and Cam.

Rei, what's going on? he asks in confusion

I growl angrily. King. He was gonna strangle Chase if we didn't join in.

Cam's eyes narrow. He's alright, right?

Yeah, Chase is fine, I reply. I hesitate. ...Tell Asher he was right.

Right about what?

He'll understand, I say softly. I look around quickly. If you have to, you can tell the other Alphas about us as long as they promise to not tell anyone except their betas, gammas and deltas. The rest of their packs can't know.

Cam nods. As I let him up, I hear a loud yelp, one I know is from my brother. When my eyes find him, I see him facing off against Clove, one of her throwing knives in his shoulder. I grimace and look around for Killian and Zaine. I see them fighting back to back, Killian's claws tearing into his opponents and Zaine's bat colliding with bodies, though I can tell both of them are trying to injure only, not kill.

The snow is red, melting away slightly from the blood landing on it. I spot quite a few bodies around, from both the pack and the rogues. None of them are people I care greatly about but the sight still makes me wince.

Searching for Asher, I spot him close to the edge of the fight, snapping at one of the rogue wolves.

I slink through the throng of wolves until his back is facing me.

Stand down, I growl, mind-linking the rogue fighting my mate. He's mine.

Seeing me crouched behind Asher, the rogue nods slightly and abandons the fight. As Asher starts to turn around, having seen the rogue glance behind him at me, I lunge.

I collide into his side, making him stumble. He recovers quickly, growling lowly, only for his eyes to widen when he recognizes me.

Raven whimpers in my mind. I don't want to do this.

Neither do I, I reply.

But we need King's trust, she finishes. And this needs to look as real as possible.

I nod mentally, going back to focus on the fight.

I snarl, making Asher snap back to attention, baring his teeth again, though I can see the hurt and confusion in his eyes. I don't let my emotions show. I don't let him see how I have to force myself to attack him. I only show anger, taking my anger at Thatcher out on Asher.

I lunge again, jaws snapping at Asher's legs. He dodges and uses his front legs to push me away. He's not trying to hurt me. I attack again, managing to drag my claws across his side and bite into his shoulder. Asher whimpers softly and I know it's not from pain but from the fact that it's me hurting him.

I growl again, pushing away my guilt. I can't show that now. I can apologize later.

As Asher and I snap at each other, I feel eyes on us, staring. When I take a quick side glance, I see Thatcher watching us, a look of what looks like satisfaction on his snout.

While I'm distracted, someone tackles me. Pinned to the snow, I see River standing over me, growling and ready to tear my throat out. Before he can, Asher headbutts his side, his ears flattened against his head, eyes angry and protective. When River looks at him in confusion, I can tell they have a quick conversation via mind-linking.

While they're distracted, I worm my way out from under River and run over to Clove, who's now facing Blake and Raiden. As Blake goes to lunge at me, I hear a loud howl; Thatcher, telling us it's time to go.

Finally, Raven grumbles. Let's haul ass out of here.

Come on, Strange, I say.

Clove quickly sheaths her knives and jumps onto my back, riding me like a horse as I run with the rest of the rogues away from the pack. Some of the pack's warriors chase after us, making sure we leave and don't try to attack again. I see Killian using his speed, carrying Zaine piggyback style with Zaine clinging to him like a monkey, singing again.

"You never took us alive

We swore that death would do us part

So now we haunt you in the dark

You never took us alive

We live as ghosts among these streets

Lovers and partners, partners in crime

Partners in crime

Partners in crime"