The echoes of the gunshots echoed through the air, cutting through Stiles' thoughts like a knife as he watched the life fade from Kate Argent's eyes and she slumped to the ground. Stiles' chest heaved with every breath he took as he dangled from the chain hanging from the abandoned factory's ceiling. After a few moments though, Stiles gave into the screaming of his muscles, and dropped down to the floor, careful not to land on Kate, and stepped away from her corpse, picking up his sword from where it lay on the ground, knowing that, although Kate might be dead, the pack, and Stiles himself, were still in danger. Kate wasn't the last of the assassins standing, and a couple of the fighters that Stiles had knocked out early on in the fight had started to recover.

The sound of the main door to the rail shed bursting open caused Stiles to startle, although he wasn't the only one, as many of the other assassins whipped around towards the source of the sound, their weapons raised. They all lowered their weapons, however, as they caught sight of the men who had walked through the door. Stiles felt his shoulders slump and he dropped his chin to his heaving chest, his stomach burning in pain where Kate's claws had cut through his skin, blood tricking from those injuries, in addition to the bullet graze to his shoulder.

"Of course," he muttered to himself, before he looked back up, taking in the sight of Ra's al Ghul himself, flanked by five men, whom Stiles recognized as the remaining members of the Seven Men of Death, Ra's most elite fighters.

"Ra's al Ghul," one of the Assassins that had been standing with Kate greeted, stepping forward and dropping to one knee, "we are honoured by your presence here tonight."

Ra's simply lifted his hand and the man fell silent, his head bowed respectfully. Stiles shoved his gun back into its holster, double checking the safety as he went.

"Ah…my young fox. I am glad to see you still alive. I was a tad worried that my Jaguar would have skinned you alive by now. I see that she, like so many before, underestimated you."

Stiles' glance dropped down briefly to Kate's body, before he looked back towards Ra's, his eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"What do you want with me? I thought you'd figured out that I wasn't the one in the prophecy. You know that Nyssa and I would never have worked out."

"I know," Ra's nodded, stepping forward smoothly. Stiles glanced briefly over his shoulder at the pack, checking that they were ok. Melissa was standing beside the cage, holding onto the bars, her eyes wide and shining with tears. Stiles shook his head, warning her to stay back, that her getting involved would only put her, and Stiles, in more danger. She nodded in response, taking a step backwards.

Stiles looked back towards Ra's, who was smirking, "never before has a more appropriate name been chosen by a member of our order than you," he offered in a soft, quiet, but dangerous voice. Stiles' gaze flickered around the room, taking in how many members of the league were upright. A couple of the league laughed, as if Ra's had made some great joke.

"The fox who runs with wolves. You had us all fooled, little fox. For years and years we thought that you were the cunning fox that would run with us, the wolves of the desert, the League of Assassins. Now I see that we were wrong. We were never your wolves, were we, Stiles? We were never your pack."

Stiles hesitated before he nodded. Ra's was right. If he had a choice between the pack and league Stiles would choose the pack every single time, without hesitation, regardless of what danger it would put himself in, what threats he would have to face.

The Pack came first, it always had and it always would, right up until Stiles drew his last breath.

"Even after all these years…after everything that happened to you in this town…that they put you through…they still come first."

Stiles met Ra's' gaze with his own, his eyes hardening with resolve, "Every time," he replied in agreement. Ra's nodded, approaching Stiles, his five followers spreading out behind him. Stiles straightened his back, ignoring the sound of his father's voice calling his name, of Derek and Scott trying desperately to break free, of Jackson, yelling for him to run. He blocked it all out, focusing solely on Ra's in front of him, knowing that it was likely to be the final moments of his life. Ra's was going to kill him for his disloyalty, and there was nothing Stiles could do to prevent it.

Eventually Ra's stopped when he was only a few short feet from Stiles. If he drew his sword and swung it through the air he could easily cut off Stiles' head, or cut through his abdomen, just like Kate had done to Laura Hale, severing his body if he wanted to

"I value loyalty, Stiles. It has always been a trait of yours that I admired. When you were first brought to us, despite the condition you were in, you were loyal to Sara…ready to protect her. Perhaps that is why Nyssa chose to spare you as well as Sara."

"Sara viewed me as a little brother, she has since I was born. She would never have gone with Nyssa if Nyssa had killed me…not at that point anyway. Nyssa isn't stupid. She knew that if she wanted to get in Sara's pants she was going to have to play nice with me," Stiles pointed out.

Ra's laughed, "yes, I do suppose you're right. I will miss your wit. You truly are much smarter than those I encounter…and your kind of intelligence in addition to your strength and your loyalty…it is a rare, and special combination."

Stiles said nothing in response to the praise Ra's was heaping onto him, although he was getting a little confused. He'd seen Ra's execute people before…and he didn't tend to go on about it this much. He'd interrogate them on why they had been brought to him for execution, and once he was satisfied with the answer he would cut off their head, or stab them, depending on how quickly and painlessly he wanted them to die.

Sometimes he would bring them back using the Lazarus Pit and execute them again, if he felt their death had been lacking in some regard. Stiles really hoped that he didn't get that particular fate.

"Do you know why I am here tonight Stiles Stilinski?" Ra's questioned.