"Are you sure you want to do this?" Clove asks.

"I... I'm sure," I reply. "I want to give Asher a second chance and I don't want him to hold me with that past image of me."

Zaine smiles. "I'm proud of you, Reina. It can take a lot to face a bad past... I should know."

He looks down and mumbles the last part under his breath but I still hear him.

"Your past is in the past and that's where it's staying," I say with a tone of finality. "We're not letting you get abused or bullied again."

"Amen to that," Killian says loudly, raising his glass of water like it's a toast.

My eyes narrow when I spot a slight grimace cross Zaine's face before it's gone. "What is it?"

Zaine looks up at me. "Just bad memories."

Slowly, I nod, seeing the sincerity in his eyes but something's telling me that's just not it, that he's not telling us something. Killian seems to notice this too but he doesn't comment on it, deciding to wait until Zaine wants to tell on his own. Killian wraps his arms around Zaine, kissing his forehead gently. Zaine smiles, hugging Killian back and resting his head on his boyfriend's shoulder, ignoring the fact that Killian has started a game of kicking Clove's legs under the table and she's fighting back.

"Can we go now?" Rhea asks.

"Yeah, let's go!" Chase adds.

"We go whenever Strange's ready," I say. "Well, whenever she's done playing footsie with Flash."

Clove grins and gives Killian one last kick in the shin before she nods at me and the twins. "OK, let's go. I'll be the mature sibling and end it."

"Mature," Killian mocks. "Look, she's definitely not the one who chased me around the backyard just this morning!"

Clove scowls, whacking her brother upside the head, "You're the one who stole my manga. Again."

"She has a point," Zaine says pointedly. "Manga stealing is the highest of crimes."

Killian whines at being outnumbered, pulling his arm from around Zaine's shoulder and instead folding his arms across his chest, pouting like a child. Zaine chuckles softly, leaning in to place a soft kiss to Killian cheek only for Killian to move his head away.

"I don't accept kisses from meanies," he says, turning his nose up. "At least Reina is nice to me."

"Aw, love you too, Flash," I say with a smile.

Killian grins, bounding over to wrap his arms around me from behind, his head on my shoulder. He places a quick kiss to my cheek before sticking his tongue out at Zaine as the shapeshifter rolls his eyes.

"Get back here, Flash," Zaine says, "They're leaving, you can see your new girlfriend later."

Killian pouts but lets me go before overdramatically dragging his feet back to Zaine. I roll my eyes as Clove, Chase, Rhea and I put on our coats and boots and head outside, closing the door behind us. Chase and Rhea walk in front of Clove and I, giggling and stomping in the snow. Clove and I hold hands as we walk, talking and laughing together.

"Y'know Reina," Clove says, "Maybe you could mind-link your dad so he goes to the pack house now and we don't have to ask Asher to do it when we get there and wait."

I nod, "Good idea."

I hesitate slightly.

"Nervous?" Clove asks. I nod. "It's alright. It's natural to be nervous, or scared. Remember how nervous Killian was about confessing to Zaine?"

I chuckle slightly. "He was afraid he'd scare him away. Alright, I'll mind-link him."

For the first time in two years, I reach through my mind-link to my dad. He's mind-linked me many times over the years but I've never replied. Looking back, I'm not sure why I never did. I didn't want him to come looking for me...

Hey, Dad? I say nervously.

Rei? His reply is immediate. Is that really you? Raiden mentioned you're back.

Yeah, I say, smiling slightly. I am.

Are you alright? Dad asks. What have you been doing?

That's partly why I mind-linked, I say. Can you go to the pack house and find Asher? And Raiden? Maybe ask them to go to Asher's office to talk?

Of course, Dad replies. See you soon?

Yeah, I say softly, a smile on my lips at the thought. See you soon.

Then I close the link.

"Well?" Clove asks.

"I asked him to find Asher and Raiden and have them go to Asher's office."

"Found it!" Chase says loudly, pointing at the pack house through the trees. "Race you there!"

He takes off running, Rhea following after him, both of them kicking up some snow behind them. I glance at Clove quickly before running after the twins. I hear her footsteps behind me, her laughter ringing through the air. Both of us run slow enough that we don't pass Chase or Rhea, letting them win.

We come to a stop outside the pack house, laughing together.

"We win!" Rhea cheers, giggling.

"How'd you get to be so fast?" Clove says, dramatically falling to the ground, panting exasperatedly.

Rhea giggles again and sits on her stomach. She scoops some snow into her mitten-covered hand and places it against Clove's forehead for a few seconds. Then she drops the snow and lays her head on Clove's chest, smiling. Clove sits up and wraps one arm around Rhea, using the other to help herself stand up.

"OK, I'm cold now," she says. "Let's head in."

We head up the porch stairs, stomping off some of the snow on our boots. Chase opens the door and steps inside, Clove and I following him, Clove still carrying Rhea.

The pack house looks just as I remember it. The maple flooring and walls are still the same. I see pack members in the kitchen to the right and talking in the living room to the left. I smile slightly at the cozy feeling the place brings.

Clove sets Rhea on her feet and we all take off our coats and boots, putting them in the walk-in closet to the right beside the door.

So where are we going? Clove asks.

Asher's office, I reply. I think I remember where the Alpha's office is but we should ask just in case.

"Miss Rys, Rangers," I hear Sophie's voice. I see her walking towards us. "If you want, I can take Chase and Rhea to play with the other kids."

"No, I want to stay with Reina!" Rhea whines, grabbing my hand.

Chase grabs my other hand. "Me too!"

I chuckle softly. "I guess they'll stick with us for a while longer. We'll come find you when they're ready."

Sophie nods, smiling. "Alright. See you later then, Miss Rys."

"Oh, Sophie?" Clove asks.

"Yes, Miss Ranger?" she replies.

"Do you know where Asher is?"

She nods. "In his office. Down the hall, first turn left, second door on the right."

"Great, thanks," Clove says, smiling.

Sophie returns it and heads into the kitchen, going to help some of the other pack members in cleaning up breakfast.

"Let's go," Chase says, pulling my hand, trying to lead me down the hall.

We walk down the hall, following Sophie's instructions. When we come to the door labelled with a brass plate reading 'Alpha's Office,' I hear talking within.

"I've been meaning to ask about that, what she's been doing," Asher's voice muses. "It's probably important and now I'm even more curious."

Clove looks at me before knocking. The voices stop.

"Come in," Asher calls out a few seconds later.

Clove opens the door and walks in, followed by the twins, then me. Asher is sitting at his desk, Raiden leaning on it on the side opposite to Asher, while my Dad is sitting on the couch in the room. He gets up as soon as he sees me, hurrying over to sweep me into a hug.

"I missed you so much," he whispers.

"I missed you too. I love you, dad."

"Forever?" Dad asks with a smile.

I smile in return, "Forever."

"And me!" Raiden says with a grin, crashing into us to join the hug. "Forever."

Dad chuckles. "Forever, my spawn."

"'Spawn,'" I repeat with a laugh. "It's ruined. The moment's over."

We pull away from each other, Dad placing a quick kiss to my cheek.

"Clove," Raiden gives her an acknowledging nod, a smile on his lips. He looks at Chase and Rhea, then back at Clove and I, "I'm guessing these two are the younger set of Ranger twins?"

"Nah, we picked these little brats up in the forest," Clove replies, grinning and ruffling Chase's hair.

Chase giggles and grabs at Clove's hand on his head, playing with Clove's fingers. "No! We're Rangers!"

"What are you guys doing here?" Asher asks, tilting his head. He glances at my Dad, "I'm curious and I wanna know. Rangers, this is Zander Rys."

"Nice to meet you, sir," Rhea says, smiling.

Dad smiles back. "You too, young lady."

"Why don't you sit down," Asher says, gesturing to the two chairs facing his desk.

Clove plops downs in one and Chase and Rhea squish together on the other while I lean on the back of it.

"Back to Asher's question," I say. I glance at Clove, who gives me a reassuring smile. "Last night I was thinking..."

I hesitate, not knowing how to say it.

"What?" Asher asks when I pause, sounding like he's trying to hide a slight panic. "You were thinking what?"

I glance at Clove again. She tilts her head, seeing my nervousness. Suddenly a smirk appears on her lips. My eyes narrow at her and she gives me an innocent look, clearly planning something.

"Rei?" Raiden says. "I think you're scaring him."

I blink and look at Asher, who's gazing at me, a small frown on his face, his eyes nervous and fearful. I give him a soft reassuring smile to comfort him and his worry seems to fade.

A second later, my hand shoots up to catch a pen from Asher's desk flying right at my face. I turn my narrowed eyes to Clove and her glowing eyes, throwing the pen at her.

"Quick reflexes," she says, using her power to launch the pen back like an arrow. "On guard when there's no obvious reason to be."

"You're a shit, you know that Strange?" I growl out in annoyance, tossing the pen to land on Asher's desk.

Clove gasps dramatically, covering Rhea's ears. "Reina, there are children present. Check swearing in front of children off the rogue essential list."

"Strange!"

"Ooo, anger. Check," Clove sings. Another growl passes my lips at her but it only makes Clove smirk. "Look who's rogue-ish now."

"Shut up, Strange."

Clove raises her hands in surrender, still smirking. "Just pointing out the changes and helping a sister out."

"So that's what this is about," Dad says, looking from Clove to me in realization. "You wanted to tell us more about where you were, what you've been doing and who you are now."

I nod slowly, watching him, Raiden and Asher carefully for their reactions. All of them look curious and from their expressions, I realize Raiden and Asher have been wanting to ask these questions since they found Zaine and I by the old maple tree; they were just waiting for me to tell them on my own.

I nod in reply to Dad's words. "I just don't want you to see the past me because that's not who I am anymore."

"Then who are you?" Raiden asks inquisitively.

I spread my arms out in this sort of grand gesture to myself. "I am a rogue. I've spent the last two years relying on myself and my rogue group for protection. I've learned how to stand up for myself, gained confidence and I'm not the quiet girl you knew. I've killed enough to have lost count though they all deserved it. I'm not weak anymore. I am dangerous. We are all dangerous."

Clove smirks and gives a little wave when my words prompt Asher and Raiden to glance at her. Dad on the other hand keeps his eyes on me.

"You've been living alright though, right?" he asks imploringly. "Shelter, food, water, other basic needs?"

I nod. "We've been living together in a small town north of here. All basic living requirements."

"Except silence," Clove mutters. "Between Chase and Rhea and then the idiot warlocks, silence is rare."

A snort passes my lips at that. "You lived with Killian your whole life. Did you ever have silence?"

Clove scowls. "Not really. Or peace."

I don't miss Raiden's pointed look at Asher, a look that says, 'that's you, you do the same thing.' Asher only smiles innocently in response before glancing back at me. He stands and walks around the desk to lean on the other side of it facing us.

"So you've really changed a lot," Asher says softly.

I nod and walk over to Asher, looking up at him. "I've still meant everything I've said to you since we got here," I say softly. "I'm willing to try and make us work if you'll try too."

Asher smiles softly. "Of course I'll try. I've wanted to try for two years. I'm not giving this chance up."

Kiss him, Raven says. I don't care if it's on the lips or not, just kiss him please.

Asher has the same idea, because he places his hands on my hips and starts to lean in. I close my eyes and let my lips meet his lightly. It's a short, tiny kiss but it's sweet and like the seal of a promise. We both promise to try and make a relationship between us work.

"Aww," Clove coos. "Reina's second kiss."

"Who was your first?" Raiden asks, his voice holding slight suspicion.

"Clove, a few days ago," I reply. "Only to try and make it seem like I died. Not much. She's like my sister."

Asher takes my hand in his, gently rubbing his thumb over the back on my hand. "What's with the eyes?"

I shrug. "My eyes changed when I was gifted. I'm guessing it's from the fire."

"I like them," Asher says, looking into my eyes. "They're pretty."

"Let me see," Raiden says, coming over to us.

"Me too!" Rhea pipes up, hopping off the chair.

Raiden picks her up so she's eye level with me. Rhea places one hand on my shoulder, looking at my eyes and smiling. She always has loved staring at my eyes.

"Pretty," she says softly.

"They are," Raiden agrees. "Like fire."

I feel a push in my mind. Leon and Brianna. I try ignoring them but they don't go away.

I growl softly. What do you two want?

You should have died with the Ranger bitch, Brianna says.

Gee, thanks mother, I sass, growling at what she called Lyria.

You don't deserve my son, Leon snaps. He was right when he rejected you. You are weak.

Asher, Raiden and Dad give me curious looks, seeing my glowing eyes. Clove looks pretty mad, since I'm letting him, along with Zaine and Killian, hear my conversation with Leon and Brianna.

Weak? I repeat. I beat you.

Clove lets out a snort, smiling in amusement.

Leon's furious growl echoes in my head. You cheated.

Oh, says the one who tried to fight me three against one, I snap. I only used a dagger, it's like an extra claw. Now, remind me why I'm even talking to you?

Don't tell them about us, Brianna says.

Clove starts laughing loudly, making all of us look at her.

And why shouldn't I? I ask. I'm sure you're happily fucking in hell, so please, give me a reason why I should keep your affair a secret?

It would destroy my reputation, Leon hisses.

Clove starts laughing harder, almost cackling now. I try to suppress my smile but it doesn't work.

You already laid the plans to destroy it, I reply. All I have to do is open my mouth.

You wouldn't, Brianna growls.

At this point Clove has almost fallen off the chair, her body shaking with laughter. Asher, Raiden and Dad are all watching her with confused looks, wondering what has her dying.

I certainly would, I say. Now, I have better things to do than talk with you two, so goodbye.

I stop using my power and their presences disappear from my mind.

That was great, Killian says. Thanks Reina, I needed a good laugh.

Me too, Zaine adds. Oh my Satan, that was gold.

"What was that?" Asher asks, tilting his head.

"Just a time-wasting conversation," I reply.

"How?" Dad asks. "Warlocks can't mind-link, can they?"

"Nope," Clove says, playing with the gold chain around her neck, panting and staring at the ceiling after her laughing fit. "Not normally. We can all mind-link because of her."

She points at me. Raiden's eyes look at my chain necklace, then back at Clove's.

"Telepathy?" he guesses, looking at me.

I nod. "Yeah, that's part of my power. We all have one with a telepathy spell on it. Clove, Killian, Zaine, the twins, all of us."

"What made Clove laugh so hard?" Asher asks.

"Just some things some dead people said," the witch replies. "Who knew spirits could be so funny."

"Spirits?" Dad repeats. "So necromancy is part of your abilities too? Who were you talking to?"

"Just some old acquaintances," I reply. "And yeah, necromancy, telepathy and one other thing."

"What's that?" Dad asks.

"You'll have to find out," Clove says, grinning. "Y'know, we should probably be going."

Raiden checks the time on his phone, "Yeah, school starts in twenty minutes."

"Isn't the annual school talent show today too?" I ask.

Asher nods. "Yeah. It replaces the last two periods after lunch."

"Come on," Clove sighs, getting up. She looks at the twins, "OK, you two little brats are going to play with the other kids."

"OK!" Chase says.

Raiden sets Rhea down and she goes over to Chase.

"I'll take these two to join the other kids," Dad says.

"Thanks. Bye, Dad," I say, smiling.

"See you later, Rei," he replies. "Take care of her, Raiden. You too, Asher."

"I will," Asher says.

"Me too," Raiden adds.

"Come on, hurry up!" Clove whines, standing by the door. "I still need to get Killian back for his stunt earlier, let's go!"

I chuckle, shaking my head. Asher, Raiden and I follow her out the door and down the hall. We quickly put on our coats and boots, before heading outside and speed walking towards the school. Asher holds my hand as we walk through the trees. When I look at him, he smiles at me, making me smile back.

"Thank you, for giving me another chance," he says softly.

"Just don't mess it up," I reply, smiling.

Asher chuckles softly. "I won't."