After dinner, the Centauri pack wolves had returned to their cabins. King wasn't up for it, but Vincent and Ryder had offered that they were having game night at the Drakov's cabin. River had gone to bed already but Viola, Azura and Lupin were up for more fun. They had left to their cabin and rest of them decided to hang out in their rooms. Sabrina had returned late from a runway show and she had eaten dinner with her eyes barely open, she went to bed as soon as she was done, so did Hailey and Hunter.

King was in the kitchen with Klaus, as they both cleaned up the clutter after the rowdy dinner. King moved out of the way as Klaus singlehandedly swept the entire of the mess, not a single trace was left that an entire group had ate dinner. The countertops were sparkling and everything smelt of fresh summer lemons, with King who had wiped his hands after helping Klaus wash the remaining dishes. By the time, they were done, King eyed the ticking clock which told him that it was just past midnight. King should head out soon, if he wanted to execute his plan.

"You keep looking at the clock," said Klaus. King turned his head, his eyes linking with Klaus's inquisitive gaze. "Do you need to go somewhere?" he asked.

King leaned his back against the counter, a smile played on his lips. "I should head to my house, don't you think?" he retorted.

"Oh, I thought you could spend the night," said Klaus.

King was stunned. "You want me to stay here?" he bemused.

Klaus stared back blankly. "Is that a problem?" he asked. King didn't know how to tell Klaus how many scenarios were playing in his head. And it was a lot, even for a normal person. "We shared a bed before, right?" Klaus simply went back to wiping down the other counters.

King stifled his laugh. "Okay then," he crossed his arms. "Don't blame me later."

Klaus had finished taking out the trash, locked all the doors and closed the windows before they went up to his bedroom.

More than ever, King craved to sleep with Klaus; to simply share a bed and feel each other's warmth, but King was on a mission. So, there wasn't any peace for King tonight- even in his mate's warm bedroom and comforting arms.

King stripped out of the layers of clothes. Klaus had given him a pair of shorts to borrow, although King wasn't shy to sleep without anything on, but for Klaus's sake, he put them on before he got under the fluffy duvet, that he pulled above his bare torso. Klaus turned off the light, and in the dark as King laid back on his side, he heard Klaus's faint footsteps round the bed. The light from the moon slithered through the crevice between the curtains and King faintly traced Klaus's calm expression. Klaus had changed into a simple shirt and shorts as well before he came to the bed. Suddenly, a warm light flickered on and the moon itself was brimming with joy on the table near Klaus's head.

"Does it bother you?" asked Klaus softly.

King gazed at the moon lamp they bought at the museum with endearment. "No, it's nice, actually," he whispered back.

Klaus then snuggled into the duvet, only his head poked out and a smile played on his lips. "Nothing's better than getting into bed after a long day," he yawned.

King breathed in the soft fabric softener from the bedsheets, but it was Klaus's sweet cedar, pine scent that snuggled King into being tranquil and comfy. The easy breath of his mate was all King needed to know that this was truly an unexplainable phenomenon. For so many years, he slept alone in cages that smelt of blood, iron and grime. The cries of other hostages and fighters filled King's ears for many nights, the sounds of people getting beaten or raped or both was all King remembered. And after he had escaped, those memories filled the walls of his silent manor. Except now, laid on his side, he was resting and unguarded next to Klaus. A man who had nothing to do with King's past or pain.

King reached over, his fingers skimmed over Klaus's golden hair that was bright even in the dark. Klaus's eyes opened, the glint of the moon from outside shined in those emerald irises.

"For the first time, I have felt something other than emptiness," said King. He knew he probably didn't make any sense to Klaus. "You've opened up a place in my heart that I closed a long time ago."

Klaus's soft eyes thawed through King's pain. "Is that a bad thing?" he asked.

"I don't know," said King. "All those years in the cage fights did something to me, something dark. And I don't if I can come back from it."

"You don't need to come back from it," said Klaus. "You just need to close that chapter of your life and open a new one, that's all."

King smiled. "What did I do to deserve such a sensible mate?" He tugged the duvet from between them and closed the space. His arms circled around Klaus and he pulled him in his tight embrace. King's chest warmed as he held Klaus close to him for the little time they had together for tonight.

Klaus lifted his head back, and although King's eyes were closed, he could feel those curious eyes. "Is something wrong?" asked Klaus.

King drew in a deep breath. "No," he lied, as he circled his arm further pressing them closer.

"King..." Klaus whispered.

"Mm-hmm?" King mumbled, but no question or comment came from his mate. Klaus tucked his head under King's chin and got comfortable leaning onto his bare torso.

"Good night," Klaus's voice tickled King's chest.

King put his hand over Klaus's soft hair. He didn't say a word because he didn't need to. With Klaus in his arms, safe and sound, all King felt was incredible...even worthy. However, King hadn't fallen asleep despite being content in his mate's bed. His eyes were closed and his body immobile, but only until Klaus had slumbered into his dream world.

In the silent room, the clock ticked every second turning into minutes and into an hour. King stayed for as long as it took until he was sure that Klaus had fallen asleep. From the even breathing and unperturbed expression, King was assured that Klaus was indeed dead to the world.

King pulled away his tangled limbs from his mate and stretched over Klaus to help him into a more comfortable position. King hovered over Klaus for a moment, memorizing his elegant face that was truly breath-taking. The urge to kiss Klaus was strong and King would've done it, but he didn't want to risk waking him up. King simply laid his lips on Klaus's temple and the tantalizing rush coursed through his entire body, his skin crawled with a hot chill.

King ripped himself away because that was the only way he'd ever leave Klaus, otherwise it was impossible. In the darkness of the room, the little moon on the side was his only source of light. He picked up his clothes from the chair and put them on. King smiled when he picked up the cufflinks for his sleeves, remembering how Klaus had helped him. With that memory in his mind, he buttoned his suit's jacket and belted the silver buckle on his trousers.

Once he was done, he quietly crept out of the bedroom and closed the door behind him, like he didn't want Klaus to see, as King left to reawaken the beast which he brazenly hid from everyone.

He reached the compound outside the Centauri manor; the chilling night air was in the same bitter mood as King. He really despised being out here alone, while his mate laid in bed. But this had to be done, he thought, before he opened his car's door and got inside.

King drove with swiftness, cutting through the empty streets without stopping. The engine of his car roared as he picked up speed down the last highway before he arrived on Madison Avenue. He parked his car in front of the tall glass building that had no end. As King recalled, Trez told him that Marcello Tricomi owned the whole skyscraper, but he resided on the top floor penthouse.

King opened the trunk of his car, where laid a black metal case. He placed his thump on the keypad and the locks unbolted. The lid popped open and legions of weapons that he favoured were filed in an orderly manner for his use. This was Bone's specialty; the weapons choice was impeccable and indeed beautiful. King hid a weapon wherever he could find a spot on himself. Guns strapped to his waist, blades and daggers hid around his ankles. He positioned the speed-loaders on his back too and then relocked the case and his car before he made his way to the building.

None of the lights were on in the building, even the massive marble foyer was closed off and like it was never used by anyone. King made his way over to the elevators that had to be in service if Marcello lived here, and his guess was correct. The elevator doors pinged opened and he sauntered inside, he pressed the top floor and waited. Annoyingly and so out of character, there was a chirpy tune that started to play in the elevator. King rolled his eyes and he wondered what the fuck was wrong with Marcello.

The irritable ride came to an end and the doors pinged open to a wide floor, that had a single door across from him. King stepped out and the bright light from the elevator had slowly disappeared once the metal doors closed. He stood, alone in pitch darkness, with the glass walls around him showing him standing in the clouds and starless sky of Manhattan.

In the crackling silence, King crossed the short path before he rang the doorbell to the only man that lived in this massive building. Without even looking around, King knew that there were four cameras on him right now. One in each corner, and the little black dot peeking under the golden slate on the door hadn't gone unseen either.

The door opened and behind it stood a very tall man who was still dressed in a suit and looked as if it wasn't one o'clock at night.

"I was wondering when you'd show," his deep, fiery voice hadn't matched his cold eyes.

Marcello Tricomi stood dressed in a black suit, his blond hair tousled and pushed voguishly away from his rugged, handsome face. Marcello appeared amused more than surprised and he wasn't even guarded against King, particularly since King was here to kill him.

"I don't think waiting for your death is a good idea," said King. "You should have run if you knew I was coming."

Marcello's grin felt as if ice prickled down King's entire body and it had cut him raw. "We can talk about killing me later," he bemused. "Why don't we share a drink first." Marcello moved past the door and left King standing alone at the entrance and a little bewildered.

King entered the hall and the door closed behind him. After he passed the long entry, the space opened to an enormous area that was square and wide. The far black wall had a plasma-screen TV and underneath was a long fireplace, that was low to the ground and the soft orange flames danced, which illuminated the dark-oak floors. The entire left side was just glass walls, the entire of Manhattan laid below them and it was oddly elegant for a Drug Lord.

King noticed Marcello had entered his grand kitchen, that was right across from the lounging area. A rich crystal chandelier hung over the black, leather sofas, which were placed in a large square, on a black rug, and a slab of jaded marble was the coffee-table. King had to admit, this was a pleasantly satisfying bachelor's pad for someone like Marcello.

"Take a seat," offered Marcello as he came up around King.

King looked down at Marcello's outstretched hand that held a crystal glass with rich bourbon. "You really think I'm going to share a drink with you like we're buddies?" he asked curtly.

Marcello snickered. "I knew you wouldn't," he said as he idly placed the glass on the counter and took a seat himself, once again showing his back to King.

Marcello sat on the single couch, the fireplace flickering behind him and the light illuminated his broad figure. Under that tailored Italian suit, it was clear that Marcello trained to be a feared fighter like King had been. The silk of the suit stretched to his sturdy, broad shoulders and Marcello crossed his long legs at the knee, his hand around the glass which rested on the arm of the chair.

King recognized this attitude, because it was the same that King used when he played with his prey. But King was beyond the façade and he didn't care about Marcello's inept politeness. However, curiosity took the better of King and he took a seat too.

"It's nice to finally meet you, King Vitiello," began Marcello.

"I've been getting that a lot this year," mumbled King as he remembered Gabriel.

"I suppose you're speaking of Gabriel Centauri," said Marcello, his eyes gleamed with a glimpse of hatred that also leaked from his venomous tone.

King raised a brow. "How long has your eye been on me?" his tone screamed his visible displeasure.

"Since your cage fighting days," answered Marcello. "I used to bet money on your fights and let me tell you, I made millions each time." Marcello grinned over the rim of the drink.

"Why?" asked King.

"Like Gabriel, I am always on the lookout for promising talent," answered Marcello. "A man of your caliber would do very well with me."

King's face told Marcello how unimpressed he was, and frankly, how fucking pissed. "And what does the great Marcello Tricomi need with me?" his voice dripping with lethal ice.

Marcello laughed bitterly. "I'm a business man, King," he said. "I have enemies just like Gabriel does."

"You want to hire me as a hitman," he scorned.

"Hitman is such a degrading word," retorted Marcello. "More like my own personal assailant."

King's temper rose. "So, why try to kill me?" he asked.

"To bring you to me, of course," said Marcello. "I knew you'd confront me sooner or later."

"What if I had shot you at the door?" countered King.

Marcello's jaw tightened. "That was the risk I was willing to take," he took another sip of his drink. "Don't get me wrong, I would have killed you if you had attacked me. But something told me you wouldn't."

"Oh, really," King said sarcastically. "Please, enlighten me."

Marcello thought for a long moment, his silver eyes assessed King's irritated gaze with calculated patience, that was only something King had seen in Gabriel and Trez.

"What makes you think you can join someone like Gabriel?" asked Marcello. "You don't belong with them." Marcello's words punched King in his gut.

"You want me just like Gabriel does," King said. "Why should I choose you?"

"You were born in the slums, like I was," said Marcello. "Orphan is a brand that was stamped onto our skin from day one. Despite the brand, we both know what it's like to crawl out of Purgatory and build ourselves an empire, that not even the urchins from the place we crawled out of can touch."

King understood now. It was like he stood in front of a mirror and Marcello was King. King stared into those sharp eyes that resembled a vicious leopard more than a wolf. But from this distance, he could sense Marcello's ardent wolf who was feral in his mark.

"Gabriel came to you too," proclaimed King. "Why didn't you join him?"

"Someone like Gabriel will never understand me," said Marcello. "He's from a different world, born with a golden spoon and a family that loves him. I was not and I don't answer to someone like that either."

King remembered Gabriel; his pack; his family and their bond. Azura's story resonated inside his mind and he didn't agree with Marcello. "You haven't met them," King bemused. "The Centauri pack worships Gabriel and I saw why."

Marcello raised a brow; an insidious expression marred his handsome face. "Gabriel's not who you think he is," he believed. "He'll use you and then kill you."

King laughed at that notion. "And what exactly where you planning on doing with me?" he snapped. "I don't think you're going to give me a stable retirement plan after I'm done doing your shit either."

Marcello bit back his tongue and it was clear when he had. "You're not his equal, King," menaced Marcello. "You will never be a part of them and neither will I."

King remembered what Klaus had told Azura when she had appeared at their front door. "The Centauri pack always protects their family," he recited with a smile on his lips, that he hid from Marcello.

"You don't honestly believe that," Marcello scoffed.

King rolled his eyes. "I don't give a damn, Marcello," he sighed and got out of his seat.

"Aren't you going to kill me?" asked Marcello.

King froze in his tracks. "I was...but..." he didn't know why he hesitated from killing Marcello. Maybe because he felt like he was killing himself. King had seen the evil in Marcello's eyes and it was the same that was in King's heart. But he changed because of Klaus, maybe Marcello had hope too.

"But?" urged Marcello.

"We're the same, you and I," whispered King, he looked into those eyes. "And if I was saved, then I hope you are too."

Marcello scowled. "Hope," he scoffed the pure word like he was cursing the goddess, but King had done that a lot too. "Men like us can't have a family. We have no blood and no one to call our own. Don't forget that..." his voice trailed as King walked to the front door leaving the penthouse.

King pressed the elevator doors to open, he got inside and wondered if he made the wrong call. For the first time, he hadn't gone for the kill and something inside his body felt as if it shattered. His eyes blanked and he slumped against the wall.

King's heart raced and he couldn't breathe anymore. This wasn't like him and he didn't know what was going on inside his body or maybe it was his soul. He didn't know anymore; he didn't know anything. The only thing he knew was that he needed Klaus- he needed his mate and he was going back to him right now.

Suddenly, the elevator doors pinged open. King looked at the number on top and it was only the twelfth floor. A sharp alertness grew inside King and he knew something was terribly wrong. His wolf howled inside him and had already tracked the unfamiliar scents around his perimeter.

Anger grew inside King. "This is what happens when I show mercy," he seethed through gritted teeth.

King looked up at the camera above him. Something in his gut told him that Marcello was watching. King stepped out of the elevator, accepting the challenge. The white hall was long and ahead of him. The florescent lights had been turned on and he stood ready for what was coming.

King pulled out the guns strapped to his waist, that had silencers twisted at the front for this tedious bullshit.

On cue, a man appeared dressed in a black suit. He ran towards King like that was going to work any better than a firearm. But King wasn't going to break a sweat to fight the beast of man running towards him. He lifted his arm and pulled the trigger without hesitation. The man dropped and the blood from his bald head splattered onto the white walls. Once the gunshot went off, more men appeared blocking the other side from King.

Six men ran with their guns out, full ready for anything, but it was going to take a lot more than them to take on someone as highly trained as King.

A feral need flashed through King and he moved with rapid speed. He cut through the men and shot heads, chests and one asshole got shot in the eyes for trying to dodge King's aim, that never missed.

King reached the other end of the hall. He looked back and seven men crowded the white floors with their bulky figures, they laid motionless as their blood pooled underneath their wounds.

The stench of cheap cologne, some humans and some shifters made King's stomach lurch. He walked down the connected hall on the left and knew that he should take the emergency stairs instead of the elevators. King pushed the door open and ran down the series of stairs when he heard the door open behind him.

King got off on the fifth floor finding himself on in a posh restaurant with white dining tables and chandeliers. He hid behind the wall near the grand piano and waited for the men who were following him carelessly. King was careful not to be near any cameras, he reloaded the empty barrels of ammo in his revolvers and waited in silence. His breath was calm but his heart thundered, this was the rush he recognized from deep inside his body and the wrecked soul that he had left.

This was what Marcello wanted to remind him, thought King. Marcello wanted to remind King who he was and who he was tortured to become in those cages.

When more men appeared, all thoughts left his head and the hunter emerged. His eyes tracked nine men from the mirror across him. They all held guns and King was more than ready to compare who was better. A man sloppily walked passed King, not even realizing that death stood behind him.

King shot the man's foot, when the asshole jerked forward, King shot him in the head twice. King moved past the piano and the men followed his trail. King noticed that the targets had separated which was stupid because they had a better chance if they stuck together, but it was clear that these men weren't proficient like King.

Another man appeared in front of King, he stepped out from the shadow and locked the man's neck in a chokehold with his arm to stifle his screams. King put the gun at the man's temple, from the mirror in front of them, the man witnessed the sinister look in King's untamed eyes. The man died staring at the Devil himself. And like that, King worked fast around the extravagant restaurant to kill the next seven men who were just as easy targets.

King took the elevator this time and he reached the third floor when the elevator jerked and stopped. King looked up at the camera. "Cheap trick to trap me," he said jeeringly. "But don't you know not to trap a wolf. We don't think it's nice."

The door pinged open and a legion of men were running towards him. King reloaded his pistols and got ready to go again. He moved out of the elevator and put his back against the wall, hiding himself away from the danger running towards him.

Thankfully, the lights in this hall were shut off, but the orange lights from the streets outside, streamed through the glass and helped pave his way out of this quandary. King utilized every bullet he had and never missed the target in front of him, but the more he killed and killed, the more these pests appeared and King was running out of bullets and time.

He moved down the hall and reach other side, where he found a group of them waiting for his appearance.

King's guns were fried. He dropped them when he knew that they weren't any hope for him. King grabbed the double blades from his ankles. He flung the silver metal across the air and impaled the man directly in front of him.

The other five men gaped as their fellow teammate fell to his knees, eyes wide open but completely lifeless. They all charged towards King and this was going to be entertaining but particularly difficult. King took the blade he had left and stabbed the chest of the first man, and then he used the same weapon for the second and third. They both dropped at his feet before he ran out of the way to dodge the bullets. He hid behind the far wall near a ceramic vase, that hindered his view to find his next target.

King shoved the vase out to the open and it was ruthlessly shot at. When all movement ceased, King peered around the corner and it was clear that no one was there anymore.

"He's here!" A voice bellowed and then shots were fired.

King couldn't move in time before multiple bullets reached him. Five of them hit the wall above his head, but two hit King's right arm. King made it out as bullets were rapidly fired and more men appeared. He charged down the emergency stairs, ignoring his arm that was throbbing from excruciating pain, and as hot liquid poured down his shoulder and bicep.

"Fuck," he growled darkly. His throat burned and his body was on fire. His wolf was clawing to be let out, but King couldn't do that in a place like this.

King stopped just before the door to the lobby, catching his breath. The sweat ran down the temples of his head, down his neck and into his collared shirt. His right arm was immobile, but he needed it to fight, so he bit it back and forced his fist to tighten around the knob of the last door.

King closed his eyes, took a breath and remembered Klaus- not even the goddess he should pray for to get him out of here safely. Find an ounce of strength and hope to get to Klaus, King opened the door and appeared in the dark lobby, that had light from the outside streaming through the glass again. He stuck to the wall, his head peered around and he saw more men assembling at the door. He had to use another exit, because more than twenty men emerged and King wasn't going to fight them without any guns.

He looked around the empty elevator area and no one was there. He thought of taking an elevator to the underground parking lot, but something told King that's just make it worse, because those places could be locked down, and once that happened, escaping was impossible.

King crept away from the huddled men ready to kill him on sight. He moved towards the back where there was merely open space, no place to run or hide anymore.

It was sudden, when a man appeared from the emergency door, he was shot like King. And then King recognized the man from earlier, he had survived his wound and had come looking for King.

The man held his arm up, his face twisted with hatred, a gun pointed at King.

This was the end. Except, the gun never went off and no sound was made from anything around King.

Unexpectedly, a red laceration appeared around the man's beefy neck, blood splattered and his head flopped onto the side and fell off. Behind the decapitated head, King recognized the icy-blue eyes, dark black hair and crimson red lips; it was Zero, the rogue alpha who was the protector and saviour of their kind. Some would even say that she was a guardian for the wolves. And right now, King thought it too.

Zero's eyes gleamed under the low light. She put her blade away under her leather trench coat and pulled King behind the door away from everything.

"How'd you know I was here?" King asked as the door closed behind them.

She ignored his question and shoved her hand through his suit's jacket, making him wince out loud. Zero ignored his protests and looked at his wounds.

"You're losing blood," her husky voice was dangerously rigorous.

"How'd you know I was here, Zero?" he persisted.

"I know where everyone is," she snapped. "What the fuck were you thinking coming here alone?"

King stared into her blazing blue eyes, that had command like no other, not even Gabriel or himself. "I needed answers and-"

"You are not alone anymore," Zero interrupted him with an irked voice. "You cannot take the same risks like a lone wolf can."

"I know-"

"Do you?" she barked. "Have you thought of what would happen to Klaus if you died here? No, you haven't."

"Zero, I'm doing this for Klaus," he said, slightly caught off guard that she lost her temper, and that he felt the need to calm her down.

"This was stupid and reckless," she raked her hair that was cut short to her rigid jaw. "If I hadn't come in time, you'd be dead." Zero raised a brow at his blank expression. "Gabriel does the same. You run into battle without thinking of the consequences," she growled. "Both of you need to know that there are people who love you and need you."

King thought of Klaus and Bone. His clenched his teeth together and couldn't look Zero in the eyes. "I had to know what Marcello wanted from me," he said.

"And?" she waited for him to answer. "What does the asshole want?"

"Me. Dead, apparently," he told half the truth because there wasn't any need to tell anyone that he was offered a job.

Zero rolled her eyes. "Who doesn't," she retorted. "Marcello's going to have to try a lot harder to get to you now."

"Why?"

Zero's eyes flashed feral. "Because now, I'm pissed," she gritted out. "Come on, we're getting out of here."

"I'm shot, Zero," he groaned. "Leave me."

Zero hoisted King onto his feet, her thin arm circled around him but it was stronger than iron as it held his six-foot muscular built. "I won't leave you," she said. "Not now or ever."

King held himself onto his own feet. "Give me a gun then," he said. "I'll cover you-"

Zero straightened to her height and stepped in front of him. "You listen to me, I will cover you and get you out of here," she said. "I will not let you die in here." Zero stepped out from behind the door without King and he heard her gun go off ruthlessly.

King followed behind her and watched since he had no weapon. She was much faster and nimble in her moves. She had killed, shot and sliced anything that moved. In seconds, the men dropped at her feet as she moved within the ranks to kill whoever threatened her or King.

In the darkness, all he could see was her black trench coat flared behind her, as she used her gun or when she switched to her blade and sliced necks like frail paper. King didn't need to lift a finger because all the men had been expunged by Zero. She truly was an army all on her own.

"Why did you come for me?" he asked as she stood in the blood of the people who weren't even her enemies.

Zero turned her savage eyes, that flashed like a wolf towards him. "The same reason Gabriel came for you too," she said.

King's eyes widened. "How do you know about that?"

"I'm tired of people asking me how I know everything," she grumbled.

"Zero," he urged. "Why are both of you onto me?" he spoke of Gabriel too.

"I see a light inside of you, King," she said. "A light that protects innocents and is honourable."

"You can't be serious," he scoffed.

She frowned as if she saw right into his soul, his heart, his mind, his everything. "Is that what Marcello told you," she stated.

"Marcello told me what I knew already," said King. "I know I'm a just a killer that's supposed to be used and then killed one day myself."

"If you believe that bullshit then you might as well go back upstairs and join Marcello," she said coldly and King froze. "That's right, you can't. Can you?" she put her hand on his bloody shoulder. "You are nothing like Marcello and I know that in my heart. That's why I supported Gabriel to look for you."

"You did?" he astounded.

She nodded curtly. "Listen to me, King-" she faced him with grit and authority- "every day, you have a choice to be a different person, to make decisions about your life that you'll be proud of one day. If you can't do that, then you're better off being dead or working for someone like Marcello."

"How'd you know that Marcello even offered me a position?" asked King.

"I know Marcello better than you," she answered. "He's just little lost in the same darkness that consumes you. But I see now, that you're no longer in it. The last time I met you, you were drowning in your own despair, that's why I sent Gabriel your way." King stared at her and her lips lifted into a slight smile. "Klaus had become the beckon to saving your soul," she believed. "I've only seen it a few times, but now I know the will of a mating bond our goddess blessed us with. And you have been blessed by her grace indeed." A warmth filled her sterling-blue eyes, that King knew belonged for the goddess Maya, because Zero was a worshipper of their deity, their creator.

King reacted too late and so did Zero, when a shot was fired and hit Zero in the stomach. She lurched forward and King grabbed her. But Zero wasn't fazed and neither had she showed her pain. In fact, she looked rather irritated that she had been shot.

Zero turned and covered King with her body. "Marcello," she gritted out. "Didn't your mother ever teach you not to shoot people in the back. It's disrespectful...Oh, wait," she faced Marcello who held the gun that shot her in his extended arm.

"You don't know anything about me," seethed Marcello. "So, don't stand there and run your mouth."

Zero scoffed. "I'm not like other enemies you've fought over the years," she said. "You haven't faced anything like me, and trust me, I know everything about everyone."

"Believe her," King bemused. "She's not lying."

Marcello's eyes gleamed with hatred and pain, like he was experiencing the wounds inflicted on Zero and King. "Leave," he sneered, "and don't come back."

Zero lifted her chin. "Oh, I'll be back," she foretold. "And when I do, you better be ready."

Marcello stared into her eyes. "Leave or I'll kill you," he said. "And this time, I won't miss."

Zero put her arm around King and they walked out of the doors, not looking back at Marcello who had lowered his weapon.

The crisp night air hit King's hot face and the rush of the moon powered his exhausted limbs. Energy coursed through his veins as he used the healing abilities of his wolf to stop some of the bleeding. Zero pulled her arm away and King moved to the side to give them some space, and to let her recuperate as well. He thought of how he should get them to the hospital or maybe he should call Bone, but his eyes were blanking out as his body tried its hardest to stay awake.

Through the smell of his cold blood, he smelt the sweet honeyed pine that he loved so much. He almost thought he was dreaming or something when a pair of arms wrapped around King, surprising the wits out of him. It was Klaus who had hugged King tightly, they reunited on the empty street. "Nothing happened, right?" Klaus rattled. "Tell me you're okay-" Klaus saw King's paled skin and the blood dried on his hand- "you're shot!"

"I'm better now," said King as he held onto Klaus just as desperately. "I breathed in your scent. I have you in my arms. I'm fine." King pulled away. "How'd you find me here?"

"Zero called me," said Klaus.

King saw her smirking at him. "I thought you'd need him more than anything," she said as she drew in a breath. "Everyone else is here too."

Everyone else, King puzzled, when he spotted multiple cars screeching as they stopped on the street behind Klaus. From inside the dark cars, Gabriel and his pack emerged. Hunter, River, Ryder, Azura and Lupin had all arrived hastily over to King's side.

"Are you shot!" Gabriel, River and Hunter all roared.

"Zero's shot too," said King as he struggled to speak, but Klaus held him and it felt better.

Zero shrugged Gabriel's hands away and said she was good and it was a through-and-through bullet wound. "We should get pretty boy to the hospital," she looked at King. "He has two bullets imbedded in his right shoulder and bicep."

"I'm on it," said Lupin who was already on the phone calling an ambulance.

"We're going to get you help, okay," reassured Hunter as he helped hold King up. "Hang in there, buddy."

King looked at the beta who had threatened to kill King himself a few weeks ago. "What's the sudden change, beta," he jested. "I thought you hated me."

Hunter's amber gaze flickered with assurance. "Why would I hate my brother's mate," he said. "You're my family, a brother." Hunter turned his attention to Azura and Lupin leaving King smiling by himself.

"Didn't I say that was a bad fucking idea," River's scowl was what King dazedly saw next. "Another reckless wolf was all I needed to deal with."

King chuckled. "Love you too," he muttered.

Gabriel put his fingers on King's throat. "His pulse is low," he urged hastily. "Where is the damn ambulance, Azura!"

"It's here," she answered.

The sirens of the ambulance were heard and that's when King's feet gave up on him. But no one let him fall, no one let him crumble onto the floor like he had in the past multiple times. This time strong arms held him on his feet as he was taken to be saved. Voices filled with concern surrounded him, but in the past, no one cared for his return. No one cherished an orphan like him, he was alone and worthless. However, he was being protected now so he could live another day for them.

"Lean on me," Klaus's voice caressed King's ear. "Don't let go."

Marcello was wrong, he thought to himself, King did have a family now. And this family would die protecting him, it seemed.

"Men like us can't have a family. We have no blood and no one to call our own," Marcello had said. King hadn't forgotten that, but right now, he had found a family. The one he was looking for since the day he was born in this world.