Disclaimer: I own nothing.

There'll probably be assassins and such of the organizations that may be mentioned or have a brief roll, but saying "I own nothing" is easier than having to name them all.

But technically, Fang is mine (R.I.P – worst assassin ever).

"Wolf."

The older boy smirks, keeping his aim on her. "Glad to see your memory isn't slipping, Red."

In a flash, her foot shoots up, connecting with the pistol and sending it flying through the air. "My memory isn't the only thing that hasn't slipped," she states, knife to Wolf's neck before he even recovers from the loss of his gun.

He's baffled at first, but his smirk slowly resurfaces and widens. "I can see why The Hood wants you."

"Pfft, yeah, right," she scoffs, grip on the handle tightening. "They only want me, because of my grandmother's blood. Nothing more, nothing less."

"Really?" he asks, skeptical. "That's not what I heard."

Red's eyes narrow. "Oh, yeah? And what exactly did you hear?"

"Well, The Pack's been keeping a constant watch on them and they believe that you could be the start of a new breed of super assassins."

"A new breed? I haven't even thought about joining them and they've already downgraded me to a dog?" she rolls her eyes. "Yeah, I really want to join them now."

Wolf raises a brow. "If you haven't joined them then how come you killed Fang?"

"Was that his name?" the seventeen-year-old asks. Adds with a shrug. "You're not the only one that hears things, Wolf. My granny's death was no accident, but why am I telling you this? You already know."

"Look, I knew about her being a target," he admits. "But I didn't think she'd be killed. I just thought the Alpha's would kidnap her."

"And then what?" Red asks scornfully, free hand gripping the front of Wolf's shirt like her life depends on it. "The Pack doesn't do ransom. Whether or not she would've gave them all The Hood's secrets, she would've still been tortured and killed."

She brings her head up and glares suspiciously at the nineteen-year-old. "Which brings me to the most important question: Why are you here?"

"Guess. You've been right about everything else so far."

"You're here to kill me?"

Wolf rolls his eyes. "If I had wanted to kill you, I would've done so as soon as you turned the corner."

"Recruitment?"

He scoffs. "The Pack doesn't care how skillful you may be, if your apart of The Hood in any way, shape, or form then the only thing they want you is dead."

Red glares. "You obviously followed me here and then you hold me at gun point. If not recruitment then what? And if you knew I killed Fang, how come you didn't do anything beforehand?"

"Because death for him was the better option. Believe me, he wouldn't have wanted to go back to The Pack if I had had to help him. He is – or rather, was – the leader of the Alpha's."

The brunette frowns. "Then why are you here, Wolf? What do you want from me?"

"I'll tell you on one condition," he replies, glancing down at her hands on his person. "Back off and keep your hands where I can see them."

She blinks and then realizes he's referring to the knife still at his throat and her other hand still on his shirt. She lets go and takes a step back. "So, talk."

"I'm here to help."

"When did I need help?"

"Do you honestly think The Hood is going to take no for an answer? Especially when it's coming from someone as qualified as you?"

"You sure know a lot about The Hood."

"I told you – constant watch. And it's only a matter of time until they use force."

Red slips the knife into the flap of her cloak. "So what do you suggest?"

Wolf smirks. "We take 'em down. The Hood and The Pack."

"What do you have against The Pack? You're a part of them."

"I was forced just as much as you will be. Priorities get mixed. Right and wrong no longer exist. I grew up wondering who the real enemy was and I still don't know. Not trusting either organization is all I've got."

"What are they trying to do?" Red wonders.

Wolf glimpses up at the dark sky overhead. He turns his head and finds his pistol lying a few feet away. "Nice kick," he comments, going to retrieve it.

Red is quiet, still waiting for an answer.

The boy puts the gun away and looks back at her. "The Hood? I don't really know anymore. Their idea of freeing the world doesn't sound any different from controlling it. I just know that what they've got planned isn't good."

"And The Pack?"

"They're not so different from The Hood. The only difference is that they openly want control. Or to destroy humanity as we all know it – whichever comes first."

A silence falls over them.

Finally, Wolf asks, "So, are you in?"

Red doesn't answer at first. She thinks over the risks, the challenges, the possibilities.

The lingering threat of being forced into an organization that she wants nothing to do with.

And she knows her answer.

"Yeah, I'm in."