I look around the room.

Everything I brought is in my suitcase, which is lying open on the bed.

We've only been here for three weeks. It feels like it's been longer. I don't want to leave. I don't want to leave my brother or Dad, or even Asher.

I hear footsteps entering the room and look to see my twin brother.

"Hey Thunder," I say as he stands beside me.

Zaine took it upon himself to pick different nicknames for Raiden and Scott, ones that they don't mind having. Using google for name meanings, Zaine went with Thunder for Raiden, whose name apparently has a Japanese origin meaning god, spirit, thunder or lightning. Scott is now Wardog, something after his position in training the pack's warriors.

Apparently Dean doesn't mind being called Winchester too much. Zaine made a nickname of his nickname and is now calling Dean, Winnie. That, I don't think Dean likes as much.

Raiden smiles softly, "Reina."

I suppress a smile. "What is it?"

He looks at me. "I, uh... Thought you would want to take this with you."

He holds out a snow globe. A bright smile appears on my lips, seeing the thing that meant so much to me. It was custom made, Raiden gave it to me for our fourteenth birthday.

Inside is a small model of the forest, with two black wolves walking through the few trees within, one wolf a little bigger than the other. Raiden said it was me and him. We didn't know what my wolf would look like then but since we're twins, he guessed my wolf would be black like his. He was right.

The base is a music box too, with the wind-up key on the bottom. It plays the tune to What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong. I turn the key and hum along to the tune.

Raiden looks at me sadly. "Do you really have to leave?"

"Yes," I reply softly, "We do."

"But we just got you back. And Strange... I don't want to be away from her and neither does Reza."

"Reza won't ever like being away from her," I say. "He always was an overprotective and clingy wolf, enough to rival Asher's."

Raiden's eyes turn amber, his wolf Reza taking control. "I'm not that bad."

"Ah, but the keyword there is that," I say, smiling. "Not that bad."

Reza huffs. "I'm not clingy or overprotective. I'm reasonable, unlike Jayden."

"You are not," I reply. "Remember, we were once out walking and heard something in the bushes. You stood in front of me and it turned out to be a rabbit."

"It sounded like it was bigger," Reza whines. "You're our sister, it's our job to protect you. We failed more than once before, we're not letting it happen again."

"I know," I say. "But I can protect myself and so can Strange. We'll be fine and she's coming back in a few weeks."

"But you aren't," Raiden says, his eyes fading back to their normal black. "Reza and I will miss her, but we'll also miss you. Why can't you stay here?"

"We can't," I reply.

"That's not a good reason," Asher's voice says from the doorway.

Raiden and I both look and see him walking into the room, hands in his pockets.

Raiden looks back at me. "He's right, you know."

I sigh. "King says we have to go back."

"So you're leaving just because he said to go back?" Asher says, eyes narrowed.

"Thatcher's not the kind of guy you want to piss off," I say.

"Well, neither is he," Raiden replies, gesturing to Asher.

"And that's still not a very good reason," Asher says. "If those are the only reasons, you might as well stay."

"We can't," I reply, wishing he would just drop it.

Of course, he doesn't.

Asher's growls softly. "You can. You can stay. I can see that you want to stay here. You're giving no truly important or valid reason to go back. The rogue kingdom can be managed here, you can work from here in the pack and no one else has to know about the rogues. Clove can stay with Raiden. Everyone can be happy. So pick, Rei, stay or go."

He remains silent but I can tell that Raiden sides with Asher in this.

"We... have no choice," I whisper.

"You do have a choice," Asher growls in frustration. "You can stay or you can go, it's your own choice. From what I see though, you're letting King control you."

"No, I'm not," I reply lowly.

"You are," Asher hisses. "You're going back just because he said to go back. You want to stay but you're not. We've practically begged you to stay but just because King said to go back, you go back. I don't understand it, Rei. You're giving him power over you and you don't see it."

"Asher," Raiden says, warning him to keep his anger in check.

"He helped me," I say.

"Helped," Asher repeats. "He helped you. That doesn't mean he gets to control you."

"He's not controlling me," I argue.

"Then why are you going back?"

"He has a point, Rei," Raiden says, looking at me now.

I look from Asher to Raiden and back again.

I shake my head slowly. "I'm sorry but we don't have a choice. We have to go back."

"Fine, then go!" Asher says, frustration and anger finally winning over him. "Go then! Leave, I don't care!"

He turns away and storms out.

Raiden sighs and shakes his head. "Idiot. I'm starting to think he has slight anger issues."

I stare at the doorway for a few seconds, then pull my gaze away, sighing softly as I put the snow globe securely in my suitcase and zip it up.

Raiden puts a hand on my shoulder. "Are you alright?"

"Fine," I reply. "He's wrong though. I'm not letting King control me."

"Who are you trying to convince?" Raiden says softly, doubtfully. "He's got a point, Rei. Are you going back just because he said to?"

I look at him, then at the clock. "We should get going."

Raiden nods sadly in reluctant acceptance. I take my suitcase and we both head downstairs, where Clove, Killian, Zaine and the twins are spending the last few minutes talking with Scott and Dean. Asher is nowhere in sight, probably having gone back to the pack house.

"What happened?" Scott asks. "Ceniza went by looking more upset than anything."

I shake my head. "Nothing." I look at the other Royals. "Let's go."

"Aww," Zaine whines.

"We'll walk with you to the border," Dean says.

All of us get our coats and boots on and head outside. Clove and Raiden walk together, holding hands. Zaine and Killian talk with Scott and Dean. Chase and Rhea run and play in the snow. I walk quietly, thinking of Asher's words.

He's wrong. I'm not letting Thatcher control me. We work together, partners, he's not my boss.

When we make it to the border, we stop. Clove and Raiden say quick, whispered goodbyes. Then Raiden comes over to me.

"Stay safe, Rei," he whispers, hugging me.

"I will," I reply. "Tell Dad I love him. And tell Asher I'll miss him."

Raiden nods, telling me he will. "I love you, sis."

I smile softly. "Love you too, bro."

We pull away from each other. Raiden steps back beside Scott and Dean.

I'm the first to turn and start walking, closely followed by the twins, Killian and Zaine and lastly, Clove.

"Keep your eyes open!" Zaine shouts without looking back. "I am everywhere!"

He runs ahead, playing with the twins. Clove and I exchange confused looks at Zaine's words, then we both look at Killian, who shrugs.

As soon as Raiden and others are out of sight, Thatcher and the rest of the Rulers appear walking beside us.

"What are you doing here, King?" I ask suspiciously.

Thatcher shrugs. "Making sure you kept your word on returning. Where was lover boy?"

I don't answer. Asher's words continue circling in my mind. He's wrong.

King's not controlling me.

➵