Zaine laughs as he finishes the song.

As we run off RedRiver lands, the warriors stop chasing us. They watch us disappear then turn back and walk back to their pack house.

We stop after a few minutes when we're far enough away from any pack's territory that they won't see us as a threat. Clove hops off me and Killian lets Zaine down. I look around at everyone. The Killers group lost three or four members, one of them being one of the warlocks. Nearly everyone is sporting a wound or two.

I lick gently at a shallow bite on my side that's probably from when River tackled me. Already it's closing up and is nearly gone.

Clove hisses through clenched teeth, pressing her hand against the claw marks on her thigh. I wonder if someone had tried to rip her knife scabbard away and missed when she dodged the attack. Still in wolf form, I sniff at the wound, looking at her worriedly.

She pats my head reassuringly. "I'm fine, Reina. It's not too deep. I'll live."

Killian appears beside me, holding his claws and Zaine's bat, peering at his sister's leg. Guess he's in worried older brother mode. Zaine leans against me, putting pressure on a bite mark in his forearm.

"Fucking hell, Axel bites hard," he mutters, grimacing as another bolt of pain runs through him. Clove takes his arm gently, examining the wound. Zaine smiles, "What's the verdict, Doctor?"

Clove huffs. It's not the first time Zaine or Killian have used her rarely used nickname in a phrase like that.

"You're gonna die," Clove replies, rolling her eyes.

"No, he's not," Killian says, wrapping one arm around Zaine's shoulders. "But we do need to get you both bandaged, because we don't have amazing healing like the wolves."

We should get home, I say. Serena can help.

The witch has the ability to heal. That's why she's part of the Healer rogue group.

Just as we start to slink away, Thatcher's voice shouts out, "Oh no you don't. Come here, Queenie."

I scowl but turn around, shifting back to my human form, my clothes appearing on my body. Thatcher and the rest of the Rulers, except Darcy, stand in human form, thankfully wearing shorts. I hope they freeze out here. The other rogue group disappears through the trees. Lucky bitches.

"That was great," Daring says, grinning and ignoring the claw marks across his chest. "Wasn't it?"

Killian shrugs. "Sure."

"Oh come on," Max says, smirking. "I could tell you enjoyed it. The adrenaline is great. What'd you think, love?"

When Max looks at him, AJ shrugs and predictably remains silent. Max still smiles at the response, pulling his mate close and gently nuzzling his neck.

"Nice job, Queenie," Thatcher says, grinning, "And you, Telekinetic." Clove rolls her eyes at what he calls her. "That was fun to watch. Poor boys seemed so confused."

Darcy barks, the wolf form version of laughing. The rest of the Rulers only grin and smirk.

I nod stiffly. "Still managed to put up a good fight though. Still doesn't explain why you wanted us to join."

Thatcher shrugs. "It was a good show."

I nod but I know he's not telling me everything. From his tone, I know he won't tell anything I want to hear, no matter how much I pry.

"Too bad it couldn't have gone on longer," Four says, scowling. "More warriors were showing up."

"I was having fun," Zaine says, pouting.

"Of course you were, asylum escapee," Thatcher replies. "We should do this again sometime."

"Let's not," I say. "We have more important stuff to do than join you on pointless attacks, King."

Thatcher's eyes narrow, studying me. I stand strong, not letting him see the anger and growing hatred I'm feeling. I went from following his orders to hating his guts quite quickly. Guess that happens when you finally open your eyes to the truth. And when you threaten my family.

I want to know what Thatcher's hiding but I also want to go back to Moonblood. I think it would be a better idea to go back than stay here. I might just try to rip Thatcher's throat out and get myself killed in the process.

Thatcher smirks suddenly, all suspicion disappearing. "Oh they're not entirely pointless. I get to see you more often, Queenie."

"Oh joy," I mumble sarcastically. "Just what I wanted. More of you."

"You can have all of me," Thatcher says, smirking suggestively.

"No thanks, King," I reply, noticing Darcy giving me the stink eye. Hey, it's not my fault this persistent little bastard won't take the fucking hint. I look back at Thatcher, "If that's all, then we'll be heading off."

Thatcher shrugs and turns away, speaking to the Rulers. "Let's go, hoes."

Sighing in relief, I turn away and we start walking. I shift back to my wolf form, letting Clove climb back onto my back so she doesn't have to walk on her injured leg. After handing Clove their weapons, Killian carries Zaine, even though the wound doesn't affect his walking. I can tell Zaine greatly appreciates Killian's worry though.

When should we leave? I ask.

As soon as possible, Clove replies. But put it depends if Raiden and Asher will hold a grudge or not.

Hopefully explaining it will help but they'll probably be mad and upset, Killian pipes up.

Clove and I both shoot him a look saying 'that's not helping.' He smiles in a way that's both cheeky and sheepish.

Let's head back after Flash's birthday, Zaine suggests. Two days to pack and let King's attention be drawn somewhere else so he hopefully isn't breathing down our necks as soon as we step foot out of the house.

I nod, agreeing. Two days.

As we lapse into silence I decide to mind-link Asher and let Clove mind-link Raiden. When I form the links, I feel Clove perk up.

I'm sorry, I say immediately.

Rei, Asher replies, voice sounding pained. Why?

King forced us to join the attack, I start. Threatened Chase. When you and the other Alphas appeared, Killian figured King must've known you would be at RedRiver. I need King to trust me if I want to find out exactly why he wants to keep us apart.

I won't tell him we're coming back. I'll leave that to be a surprise.

Asher growls quietly. He won't keep us apart.

No, he won't, I agree softly.

In that moment, I get this weird feeling. I can't pinpoint exactly what it is. It's like a warm, fuzzy feeling, like the one you might get from cuddles or affection. It's not love, I don't love him, not yet. But I do like him.

I'll just have to see where the bond takes me.

I watch them run.

It feels like she's taking a part of me with her. Again.

I limp over to Raiden, growling softly as my shoulder and side both throb in pain. I lick at the rather deep wound on Raiden's shoulder and he licks at the bite on mine. Neither of us say anything but I know we're both feeling more emotional pain than physical.

Come on, let's get back inside, Nick says softly, gently bumping my uninjured shoulder with his.

He walks beside me, helping me move faster so we don't take forever to get back to the pack house. Beside me, Axel walks with Raiden. We could shift back but it's winter and at least in wolf form our fur keeps us warm.

When we get back ten or so minutes later, we all shift and get dressed. By now my side has healed and the bite in my shoulder has scabbed over.

We head back to the meeting room where Drake immediately has his legs attacked by his younger brother as he wraps one arm around his mate's shoulders. Zero stands with Nick, Luke, Axel and Cam while Heaven and Astrid make sure River and Blake are alright.

A bolt of sadness hits me, seeing all of them with their mates. I hope I can convince Rei to come back with me. I want her with me. That's all I've ever wanted, ever since I had my eyes opened to how wrong I was in what I did.

My hand finds Raiden's and he squeezes it gently. As we sit down, I blink, confused when I feel a weird tingling in my mind.

I'm sorry, Rei says.

That's when I realize she must've formed a mind-link between us.

Rei, I reply softly. Why?

King forced us to join the attack. Threatened Chase. When you and the other Alphas appeared, Killian figured King must've known you would be at RedRiver. I need King to trust me if I want to find out exactly why he wants to keep us apart.

Anger bubbles within me. I'm really not liking this King character.

I can't stop the growl that escapes my lips, making the others look at me. He won't keep us apart.

No, he won't, she agrees.

She goes silent and a few seconds later, I feel the link cut. I guess she got distracted.

"What was that?" River says. "Now and out there?"

I know he's referring to when I stopped him from killing Rei.

"Mind-linking Rei," I say, "And I told you, she's my mate."

"And she attacked you?" River asks, eyes narrowed in confusion and concern.

I sigh. "It's complicated."

"Clearly," River replies curtly, making me send him a light glare.

"I thought you said she only attacks to rescue," Axel says, looking at Luke and Cam.

"You know?" Raiden asks, voice empty. "You knew about her and where she was and didn't tell us?"

Axel winces, as Luke, Nick and Drake shoot him accusing glares.

"We told them before the battle between RedRiver and Bloodlust," Cam says. Drake grimaces and Lily, Luke, Nick and Axel all wince at the mention of the battle. "The Royals were there, fighting with us."

Luke shoots Cam a confused look, questioning why he's revealing this.

Cam shrugs. "She said we could tell as long as it stayed between all of us and the betas, gammas and deltas." He looks at River, Heaven, Blake and Astrid. "No telling the rest of your packs."

They both nod, swearing to not let word out. Cam explains what Rei said and we all pitch in in explaining the Rogue Kingdom.

"Well damn," Astrid mutters. "Sounds like a book idea to me."

River's eyes are narrowed, his expression cold. "You said this has been around for about four years." He looks at Luke and Cam, "And you two were rogues for years... Did you ever see a shit-eating bastard called Dominic Mallor?"

"No swearing!" Jamie scolds, scowling.

River's gaze softens. "Right, sorry. No swearing."

I can tell River's burning hate for the man who killed his parents and temporarily took over his pack is coming forward, lurking just under the surface. Even Heaven looks angry at the mention of Mallor but she focuses on calming her mate.

"I don't remember ever seeing him," Cam says, eyebrows furrowed as he thinks.

"Me neither," Luke adds. "But there's a possibility that taking over Nightstalker was an action both from his own will and on King's orders."

"But why?" Drake says, resting his elbows on the table with his fingers twined together. "What's the motivation? King already has dozens of rogues and barely any limits on land and what he does. So if it was connected, why would he want to have control over Nightstalker?"

"Power maybe," River says. "We are the strongest pack in the country. He went right for the biggest fish in the sea."

"Who knows why," Cam shrugs. "King's mad, always has been. It died down a little when Rei became Queen but it was always lurking there."

My eyes narrow. "Mad in what way? And to what extreme?"

"He would have this crazy edge to him," Luke says, eyes blank as he looks through his memories. "It was clear he had liked hurting and killing others. Loved it, even."

"Not surprising," Drake says. "He fights hard and with murderous intent. I could see the joy in his eyes as we fought though."

"But he's smart," Cam continues, "Even though the attacks he has seem random, he'll plan them out. Which pack, where along their territory to attack, which rogue groups, what time. He doesn't care about his rogues as individuals but he cares about the overall amount, how many rogues he has. It's rather psychopathic."

Raiden growls softly. "I don't trust him around her or anything of them. People like him can be unpredictable."

I nod. "All the more reason to try and convince her to come back."

"Good luck," Luke says, giving us a smile. "She's stubborn, it might not be the easiest job in the world, getting Rei to do something."

"She listens to King just fine," I mutter.

"She probably won't now," Cam says, expression hard. "Not when he threatened to strangle Chase. He's like her little brother."

I nod, agreeing. "We should get going."

We all stand up and say our goodbyes. Jamie hugs my legs, looking up at me and asking if I'll tell Rei he says hi. I tell him I will and when I ask, he explains how he knows Rei from when he was dead. It's strange to hear a seven year old say it so casually. 'Oh yeah, we were friends when I was dead, no biggie.' I notice Drake wince as Jamie says it and I know he still blames himself for what happened.

We all head outside. Raiden and I climb into my car and we both wave as I pull away from the pack house.

"So, when are we finding them?" Raiden asks.

"As soon as possible," I reply. "We both have some work to finish when we get back that can't be held off, so it'll have to be tomorrow."

Raiden nods. "Tomorrow."