A/N: I split this chapter in half because it's a lot. 30 votes and I'll update the next chapter! <3<3

My eyes adjust slightly to my surroundings. Unlike the darkness that King Aiden visited me in when he Dream Wandered—this is the completely opposite. The world is white and foggy like a blank page or empty canvas. The only light—coming from an unknown source—feels like the yellow of moonlight.

"Where are we?" I finally find my voice and ask.

King Aiden looks around him, a small smile on his face. There's a familiarity that crosses his expression. I watch as he takes the medallion off his neck, holding onto the metal chain before dropping it. Instead of falling to the ground, the necklace dances on the fog. It disappears into the distance like a magnet has called to it.

I watch curiously as the blue light of the medallion starts shining from farther away. It reminds me of The Great Gatsby—except instead of a green beacon it's blue. King Aiden turns to me, he tugs on my hand and starts guiding me towards the direction of the blue light.

"I call this place the Foretell." He says gently as we walk slowly. He's looking around him like we've suddenly entered the Underworld. "Some of my predecessors called it the Premonition."

"What is it?" I ask quietly. I can't even see the ground—it's just covered with a thick layer of fog or smoke. I can't tell what it is. The magic that is radiating from here is intoxicating. Werewolves aren't meant to have access to magic. It's not in our nature to be able to control it. Already having to control our wolves is challenging enough.

I stare at King Aiden. Matthew mentioned how he was all-powerful. He mentioned that not even he knows what capabilities King Aiden has. A part of me wants to hate the King right now. Hate that he's decided to split Matthew and myself. But there's a tinge of fear in me as we walk deeper into the unknown. I clutch onto the King's hand and arm, keeping myself close to him.

"You'll see." He eyes me through the corner of his gaze. "You need to trust me right now, Mia. And I'll explain as much as I can."

I don't feel like I have much of a choice in the matter. I turn to look over my shoulder but there's nothing there. It just feels like a massive open space with no direction. The only thing we can see is the blue dot of light that I guess belongs to the medallion.

My wolf whines but she has little power here. Her instinct is to obey her King and to do as he says. I take a deep breath—mustering every bit of bravery I can. My mind thinking of Matthew as King Aiden leads me through the fog.

"You've been here before." I state calmly.

"Yes." His voice strong and unwavering as he glances around. "I've been here once before. Right before I ascended the throne."

I let us fall into silence, my gaze turning to the King and silently asking him for more. Part of me is scared, another intrigued. I think he can sense it somehow because he sighs. His expression lightening slightly like the royalty is somehow whisked away.

"The blue stone is a relic." He explains briefly, "Its mythology says that the Moon Goddess herself touched the stone and gave it to the first Lycanthrope King. As a gift, to guide him and his subjects. Some King's have had the opportunity to come into the Foretell and receive that guidance. Other King's have never stepped foot in here. I'm intrigued because you somehow activated it. It's the first I've heard of an outsider doing this."

I blink a few times, my jaw dropping slightly. King Aiden turns to me, stopping us entirely. His eyes bare into me with curiosity. There's genuine intrigue like when he first met me—like he's wondering what makes me so special. But I don't even have an answer to this.

"Mia," He says lowly with slightly narrowed eyes. "The Foretell is a sacred place. You cannot speak to anyone except me of what you see in here. It can change everything."

I lick my lips with a slight frown, "What am I meant to see?"

King Aiden tugs my hand and we keep walking. This time in silence as I walk around the emptiness. I feel like we're wandering aimlessly. The only point of reference I have is the blue light at the end. That is, until the fog starts to move.

In the corner of my eye, I see the fog shifting and I jerk quite harshly towards it. The movement catches me entirely off-guard that my hand nearly slips out of Aiden's. He squeezes me reassuringly and we stop quickly to stare at the fog. The only reason I'm able to remain calm is because I glance up at Aiden. He reassures me with his golden gaze before turning to the images.

Before I know it, the fog has turned into a scene. It feels like I'm in a museum and I'm looking at an exhibit. Except, the fog is moving and I start to see it's more like a crystal ball. The light is a bit distorted as the fog tries to become...

Four teenage boys. Aiden squeezes my hand.

They're all sitting in a booth at a corner of a bar. I instantly recognize Matthew. My breath hitches and my heart starts racing. I take a step forward, but Aiden keeps me in place. Matthew looks much younger. Even his face has a few teenage pimples. His hair style is different, and he's wearing a baggy t-shirt and ripped jeans. Something that is so unlike him. I can't help but crack a smile.

Is this Matthew's punk rock phase? My wolf asks with an endeared chuckle. He looks so cute and adorable.

She's absolutely right. He's laughing with his three friends. His hands clutching a beer like it's his first ever drink. I turn my attention to the three other guys. It doesn't take me more than a second to recognize Alpha Alexander. His nearly albino features peeking out. White hair, icy blue eyes. A true Jack Frost in the making. Next is one wearing a hoodie, covering his head, his beer in front of his face to block the view. But as soon as he looks up briefly, his eyes pierce with gold.

I turn to King Aiden—my eyes wide as I stare between him and his teenage self. He offers me a soft smile, but I turn back to the image in front of me. King Aiden is sandwiched by Matthew and another wolf I don't know. It doesn't take rocket science for me to figure out it's Matthew's friend Alpha Wayan. Beautiful hazel eyes and light caramel skin.

"God you two are such utter dorks." Wayan snorts with a swing of his beer. He turns to Alexander, elbowing him lightly. "Come on Alexander, back me up here."

Alexander shrugs, but his smirk is very clear. Matthew rolls his eyes, a slight tinge of annoyance crossing King Aiden's face. I realize it's not directed at Matthew, but instead at Wayan. "Did you just call the King a dork?" Aiden's young self asks.

"Yes." Wayan laughs, "A dork. D-O-R-K. Would you prefer prude?"

"Shut up, Wayan." Matthew shoves his friend as he laughs. "Just because we're not man-whores doesn't mean we're dorks."

"Are you insinuating that I'm a man-whore? Me?" Wayan frowns, "A man-whore?"

Alexander nearly chokes on his beer. "Dude..."

"I'm just kidding," Wayan grins. A girl walks by their table, and he winks in her direction. As soon as she's gone he turns his attention back to the boys. "I know I'm a slut."

"If you're such a fuck boy," There's an evil glint in King Aiden's eyes as he speaks. Almost like he knows exactly what buttons to push. "Then I'm surprised you haven't fucked your best friend...yet."

Wayan's expression flattens, a growl coming from his lips. "Don't talk about her like that."

Matthew turns to King Aiden and they burst out laughing. They clink their beer bottles together before taking a long sip. Even Alexander let's out a low chuckle. His icy eyes looking up at Matthew and Aiden.

"Not that I necessarily agree with Casanova here," Alexander says very plainly. "But why are you two waiting? Seems quite futile when you don't know how long it'll be. Besides, we live in the twenty-first century. It's rather common for mates not to wait anymore."

"Love." Aiden and Matthew both say it together. Alexander's eyebrow raises skeptically but he shrugs it off.

"Your mate is the most important person in the world." King Aiden's voice is almost zealous like he's read this phrase over and over again. Yet, there's a spark in his golden eyes that look almost entranced and magical.

Matthew's playful smirk takes over his lips. He's nearly done with his beer. "Love can bring down empires, you know? Don't you ever want to feel that intoxicated?"

"No." Wayan rolls his eyes, he stands up. "The only intoxication we're going to be feeling is after these next few shots."

They all start to chug their beer as Wayan makes a run for the bar. He calls out three shots for each of them. The boys laughing together as he struggles to carry them all back.

The fog starts to disappear as they start to take their shots. Until finally, there's nothing left anymore except the white emptiness from before. I turn to King Aiden—my realization of this place evidently on my face.

"Why is it showing this to us?" I ask him.

There's a small expression of sadness. Like the memory has touched him and made him feel nostalgic. My voice seems to reach out to him somehow. He slowly looks down at me—a small smile on his face.

"I don't know." He tells me honestly, "We'll have to keep going to find out."

Before he can pull me along, I keep my heels planted into the ground. I force him to turn back towards me. His eyebrow raised. Squeezing his hand, I ask him, "Why can't you just let me stay with him?"

Aiden gulps, "Mia—"

I shake my head, "He just wants to be loved. Don't you understand that? That's what both of us want and we found it in each other."

King Aiden is silent, remorse crossing him. He let's out a breath, "We need to keep going."

This time I let him drag me forward. We're walking for a few seconds when I ask, "You were close to them."

"Yes. They were my best friends. Quite possibly the only true friends I've ever had."

I smile gently, "I know for a fact that Matthew see's you more than a King. He cares about you, you know."

King Aiden's jaw clenches, his expression hard on the blue hue. It's like our North Star, guiding us. "I was never King around them. They never saw me as King Aiden. Just...Aiden."

There's slight pain behind him as he tells me. Part of me taken aback by how honest he's being. I wonder if maybe he's never had a chance to speak to anyone about it.

"Could I call you Aiden?" I ask hesitantly, my voice barely audible. Matthew refers to Aiden as King, but only out of formality and respect. He hesitates for a second and I can't help but roll my eyes, "Come on. You call me Helen half the time."

The Kingly and regal power is slowly chipping away. Aiden cracks a smile, "Fine. But not in public."

I can't help but smile gently, "It must be quite lonely having to always put on this royal façade."

"It's not a façade," Aiden sighs. "It's just a job that never ends. You don't 'leave your work on the doorstep,' you carry it with you everywhere."

A tinge of pity courses through me. Aiden has always been the King to me. The thought of a crown and a throne. Power and wealth. Looking at him here, I realize how young he is. Knowing fully well that he took the throne at a young age after his father died. He's only a few years older than me and already, there's a maturity in him that looks like it belongs to someone much older.

I try to lighten the mood, "So did you?"

"Did I what?"

"You know," I gently shove him with my shoulder. "Wait for your mate. Our future Queen, I presume."

For the first time ever, King Aiden laughs. His laughter echoing in the emptiness with a youthful beauty. The young man I saw having beers with his friends is slowly appearing and it's almost endearing to watch.

"You're quite nosy." He chuckles, "I can see why Matthew is fond of you."

His words instantly wipe the smile off my face. Matthew is somewhere out there still pinned to the ground. Howling and screaming his head off to fight to be with me. And here I am, in some...crystal ball realm where I can see the past. The thought has me disheartened and my mood instantly shifts. King Aiden notices instantly, his own smile falling as he clears his throat.

He's about to say something to me when the fog starts shifting again. This time, it's not as calm as before. It's like a sudden storm is hitting us. Wind flowing through my hair and nipping through my clothes. Aiden pulls me into his side as the fog howls into shapes and figures.

His expression hardens as a scene unfolds before us. This one is cold and eerie. When we were watching the bar, it was comforting and warm. The sound of laughter and the smell of beer taking over our senses. Now, I just feel desolate.

The royal castle is just ahead. I've never seen it before, but I can clearly see it now. It's stunning and beautiful like it belongs to a Disney movie or fantasy novel. Large towers and gorgeous stones. It almost looks like it shimmers. I take a step closer, and I realize it's not shimmering. It's on fire.

King Aiden and I are suddenly engrossed by the fog. I can't help but glance around me. The entire city seems to be unfolding in chaos. People are screaming and running. There are wolves dead on the streets. I hear the sound of growls and roaring and see Royal Guards fighting off some wolves. There's a thin layer of blood on the cobblestone roads.

I turn to Aiden as fear starts to stagnate through me. My voice catches in my throat when I see the look on his face. His golden eyes are focused and zoned in on the burning castle. I can almost see the twinkle of the fire reflecting in his eyes as he tries to harbor his anger.

"Come on," He tells me as he pulls me towards his home. We take just a few steps, and the fog alters. Aiden squeezes my hand and I try not to get dizzy or sick as everything around us shifts and moves.

The castle and it's fire turns into a large hall. We're standing next to a throne—looking out towards a large set of doors. All hell is breaking lose in the throne room. Royal Guards battling. The sound of claws and teeth clashing. Barks, howls, screams are all echoing. I can't help but watch. My wolf so intrigued I can practically feel her lurching forward like she's on a cliff trying to get a better glimpse.

"What's happening?" I ask Aiden in a small voice. "Is this the past?"

"No." His jaw is clenched, "This is the future."

Just as he says so, we hear a loud yell from our left. In our peripheral vision, a fog suddenly develops into King Aiden himself. Blood spattered across his face. He's the only wolf in the throne room that has kept his human figure. Enemy wolves circling him, but he's fighting them off with a sword. His eyes the color of gold burning in a furnace.

A wolf lunges at him, he braces himself and places his sword between them. The blade cutting right through the wolf's chest. Not even a yelp gets out before the lifeless body is tossed to the side by King Aiden.

I frown, "Why don't you shift?"

For the first time since the fog has shown us this image, King Aiden finally turns to me. There's a seriousness behind him like he's about to tell me something secret. His eyebrows furrow and shaking his head he turns back to the scene. "I can't."

This catches me off guard. My own wolf gasping and retracting. She whimpers, He can't shift?

Maybe he can. I frown, But won't.

I turn to the scene just as future King Aiden advances into the throne room. There are less enemy wolves at this point. The Royal Guards are corralling them as two wolves shift next to King Aiden. I instantly recognize Alexander—his white hair looking pink with all the blood that tangled in it. Then Wayan. They both take a place by the King.

"What of the prisoners?" Alexander asks as he stares at the wolves that have been gathered.

"Slaughter them." King Aiden says without hesitation.

Wayan snaps his attention to the King. "Aiden, no."

"They are burning my home. They have destroyed the capital." Aiden growls—his wolf slowly coming out of his expression. "I will show no mercy."

The prisoner wolves are forced to shift. Being placed on their knees as Royal Guards stand behind them, ready to slit their throats. I gasp as my eyes land on one particular wolf. "River," I say under my breath. His eyes are laced with excitement. The fear of death unrecognizable on him.

"Kill them." King Aiden orders. Just as their throats are slit and bodies lifelessly fall to the ground, a loud echo starts to erupt through the hall.

Everyone turns to the main door. A large banging as if a battering ram is hitting it over and over. Alexander and Wayan shift back to their wolf forms. The Royal Guards following suit as everyone waits for the door to crash open. King Aiden drops the tip of his sword to the ground. Blood drips down the blade onto the stone. A growl emitting from his chest that makes the entire building vibrate.

The smell of magic coats the room and I realize it's not a battering ram that's trying to infiltrate the castle. It's a spell. Yellow and purple light slowly creeping in at every hit on the door. Until finally it gives out.

I take a step towards the scene. Tears starting to prick in my eyes as I watch them all come in. So many wolves flood into the room. The throne room becoming an instant battle ground. The back of my throat feels tight, and I can feel my wolf fall into despair. Standing at the head of the group is none other than Matthew.

I let out a shaky breath. He looks so different. His hair is wild and face scruffy. He looks dirty beyond the evident blood on him. But more importantly, the look in his eyes. His beautiful green eyes are laced with insanity. They're not the green eyes that I've grown too—with kindness and love and wit. No, he has no control. Matthew's wolf has taken over and it doesn't seem like he's ever going to regain control.

"No." King Aiden says beside me. His eyes are wide as he stares at one of his best friends. I feel tears prick my eyes as soon as I see it too. Matthew isn't wearing a shirt as he's left in a pair of jeans. But what is so evidently tattooed across his entire chest is the sign of the Rebellion.

I take a few steps towards the image of Matthew walking into the throne room. But King Aiden keeps me grounded. His body unable to move as I pull towards Matthew. I want nothing more than to hug him and tell him I'm here. I don't care that this is meant to be the future. My wolf's heart is breaking seeing him like this. Matthew would never join the Rebellion.

Sage and Tyler step beside Matthew. Seeing how ragged they look as well sends me over the edge and I suddenly feel a sob hit my chest. It only takes me a few more seconds to see familiar faces in the crowd of wolves behind them. A few I don't recognize, but some are warriors who I've had coffee with. This can't happen. I tell myself and my wolf. We can't let this happen.

"Stop." Future King Aiden raises the point of his sword. "Think well of what you're doing Matthew."

There's sadness behind Matthew's eyes. Utter and complete pain. A pain that could drive someone mad. "You took her from me." He says as his fists clench by his sides. His knuckles start to pale.

"Try to accept reason, Matthew." King Aiden implores. I can see he's using every last bit of patience he has. "If you surrender now, I will make the death of your Rebels seamless."

Matthew takes a deep breath, hanging his head suddenly. He's taking large deep breaths but every time he breathes in, it only seems to rile him up more. Turning back up, his eyes are obsidian, and his body is shaking.

His voice comes out defiantly strong and steady, "She killed herself because of you."

King Aiden stiffens, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword better. "Matthew—"

"You took them away from me!" Matthew lunges forward, grabbing his own sword from the ground to clash against the King's. The Royal Guards advance on the Rebels. I watch Sage and Tyler veer to the left and right to battle the guards. Other Rebel wolves joining them.

As Matthew struts towards the King, Alexander and Wayan try to advance on him. Matthew shifts so quickly it's practically in the blink of an eye. His wolf landing on four paws just as Wayan tries to swipe. There's something unnatural with the way Matthew moves. His wolf is much faster, much stronger. Magic is radiating off of him like his aura usually does.

As Wayan tries to sink his teeth into Matthew's shoulder, Matthew jumps to the side, quickly turning until he's gripping Wayan between his jaws. Wayan whimpers as Matthew's jaws tighten around his neck until an evident snap is heard. The sound of Wayan's last breath sending Alexander into utter aggression. Alexander lunges and Matthew throws Wayan's body at the white wolf.

As Alexander tries to stand, Matthew barks at some of the Rebels. In just a moment, several wolves are circling Alexander. He tries to fight them off—even managing to severely maim one of them. But he's soon overrun by wolves as they pin him down.

The Royal Guards are too busy fighting their own battles to help. The King yells as he advances towards Matthew and Alexander, but Sage and Tyler quickly step in to stall. I watch as Aiden fights off Tyler's advances. Until finally, Tyler slips up and Aiden slices him across the torso.

Matthew takes the opportunity to stalk towards the white wolf. Alexander's icy blue eyes going wide as Matthew shifts back to his human form. Somehow, wearing tattered jeans again which only confirms with me that he's taken something magical. He picks up a nearby sword. Aiden screams as he tries to advance but Sage is holding him back.

"I'm sorry, old friend." Matthew lifts the sword over his head before sinking it deep down into Alexander's chest. He lets out a loud yelp before his coat slowly becomes a crimson red.

"NO!" Aiden yells so loudly that the stones shake. Sage tries a maneuver under Aiden like she's trying to get his legs. He seems to see it coming, digging his own sword into Sage's neck. Sage's wolf turns back to her human self. Her hand clutching onto her neck where she's profusely bleeding.

"They're your friends, Matthew!" King Aiden steps over Sage, walking towards Matthew. The tip of his sword dragging on the ground with a raspy sound. "We're your friends."

Matthew's eyes dilate at the Aiden's words. He turns towards the King, ready to attack him, but instead, focuses on Sage and Tyler. Both bleeding out on the floor. Matthew turns to look over his shoulder. More Royal Guards have appeared, but from the outside. Ezra is leading the charge just outside the doors. The Rebels slowly being corralled into the throne room.

Matthew's black eyes meet the King's, "Shift."

Aiden growls, "No."

Matthew holds up his sword, "SHIFT!"

"You know I can't do that, Matthew." Aiden places his own sword between them. "I didn't know about Mia."

"Don't say her name!" Matthew's anger boils, his wolf coming forward in growls.

"Look at this massacre." King Aiden snaps at him, "Do you think she would have wanted this?"

"I don't care. She's gone. All she wanted was me. And I her." Matthew's pain so expressively showing across his face. "She's dead because of you. They're dead, because of you! The fucking King always gets his way."

With a loud yell, Matthew advances until the sound of metal clashing echoes through the chamber. Their swords meeting heavily. King Aiden takes a more defensive stand, letting Matthew angrily hit him over and over again. Desperation and rage striking at every blow.

King Aiden pushes Matthew back with a forceful shove of his sword. Matthew spins, the tip of his sword suddenly slicing across the King's face. Aiden hisses, his hand reaching up for his cheek where a pool of blood is starting to drip down. A deep cut that's going to leave quite the scar on his face if he doesn't heal it soon.

"Have it your way." King Aiden's eyes start to blaze in gold. He advances towards Matthew. Hammering his sword into Matthew's. Strategically side-stepping as Matthew slashes haphazardly. In the corner of my eye, I see that the Royal Guards have corralled the final few Rebel wolves. Everyone watching as the King and Matthew vigorously attack one another.

Matthew growls, pivoting one last forceful swing. The King anticipates this, meeting Matthew and somehow maneuvering himself so that they're only a few inches from each other. The King growls, headbutting Matthew in the face so hard that Matthew lands on his knees. Aiden takes Matthew's sword from his limp hand and in one swift move, he sinks it into Matthew's stomach.

There's anger behind Aiden's eyes. Except this starts to soften as Matthew begins to sputter blood. Every outward breath is bubbled out of a new stream of crimson. Aiden tries to pull the sword out, but Matthew places his own hands over that of the King's.

King Aiden helps to lay Matthew down on the ground, taking his place beside him on his knees. Matthew stares up at the King, words unspoken but sorrow so equivalently shared between them. To my surprise, Aiden's eyes fill with tears.

"You've defeated the last of the rebellion. Secured your claim on the throne." Matthew coughs and sputters. His eyes look at Wayan. Then shift to Alexander. The devious smirk that Matthew is so infamous for suddenly appears on his bloodied lips. "You will rule and be known as Aiden the Annihilator. But now you're alone. As I have been."

King Aiden says nothing. His eyes looking down at the sword piercing through Matthew. Matthew lets out another cough, "All powerful. All ruling. But alone. Aiden the Alone."

"You were my friend." Aiden says to him quietly.

"I thought you were mine." Matthew's gaze turns up to the ceiling. The black dissolves and I recognize the green. The beautiful deep green. A sad smile crosses his face. His last breath exhaling, "Mia."

As the Royal Guards finish corralling the last of the Rebels, King Aiden doesn't move. He keeps his hand firmly placing on the hilt of the sword. Where Matthew's hand is still laid across his. Taking deep breaths, the King's anger comes out in a loud scream. Screaming up to the ceiling. His scream turning into a howl—deep and dark. Desolate. And alone.

The fog starts to dissolve. Ezra's words muffling as everything disappears into nothing. The last image we see is Aiden stand up from Matthew's lifeless body. His regal aura radiating so powerfully it's choking us. The look in his eyes all-powerful, intimidating, and unforgiving. A newfound energy radiating off of him like he's completely changed.

I turn to Aiden—my King Aiden—tears well in my eyes. There aren't words between us. Neither of us truly knowing what to say. I can't help but feel anxious. Seeing my Matthew—the way he's fallen apart like a straw house under wind. I don't know what could possibly drive him to this level of insanity and hatred. This level of violence and darkness. Like a dark cloud has completely engrossed him.

"Aiden—" My voice is shrill and hardly recognizable. It snaps the King's attention to me. He again looks me over—complete shock written across his face as he tries to understand what makes me so special. What could drive one of his most loyal pupils to turn against him.

"The cost of the rebellion...I'll lose everyone..." The King says lowly. There's a sadness behind his eyes that I can't help but admire in some way. Whether he wants to admit it or not, he cares very much for his friends. His little band is much more than he thinks it is. They are his closest friends and confidantes. Wayan and Alexander defended Aiden to the death. And killing Matthew is something even this vision has proved to be unimaginable for him. But Matthew said it himself, the Rebellion would be squashed.

Aiden's eyes look down at the ground. His entire body turning away from me so I can't see the distress this has caused him. Realizing that the only way to defeat your gravest enemies is to watch your friend turn against you and kill those closest to you. I let my own tears flow as I stand in front of Aiden. He's meant to protect us—to protect our realm.

Placing my hand on his shoulder, I grip him tightly. "Let's go home, Aiden."

Aiden grabs my hand, giving it a small squeeze. He closes his eyes, taking a few deep breaths to compose himself until finally he looks up. His eyes laying on the blue orb just in the distance. "We need to follow the path," He says matter-of-factly—almost monotone. "We need to see what the Moon Goddess wants to show us."

My wolf whimpers and it escapes my lips before I can suppress it. "You mean, there could be more...visions?"

Pain flashes across his face. Followed my uncertainty. He nods, pushing a hesitant smile. I don't know if I can take another gruesome image like this one. I don't think I could stomach watching Matthew die again. Or worse, watching myself. Matthew said I killed myself. It must be after I was sent to Bren. After all, I vowed I couldn't live without him.

"We're almost to the end, Mia." Aiden tries to encourage. My feet feel like lead as I trudge along. "We're almost through to the surface."

I let Aiden pull me. My mind and wolf trying to push back what the fog showed. I decide not to think of the vision now. To instead focus on seeing a set of beautiful green eyes. And somehow, I'll have to convince the King to let us be together.