"I expected cobwebs and a racecar beds." Kade followed in, big grin plastered to his face.

"Play nice." I grumbled dour, walking over to the bathroom and flicked the light on. "Bathroom, closest's over there." I walked back out, shedding my coat and throwing it on the trunk before the bed. Glancing back at the prick, he was merely quiet and brushed his fingers along my vanity. Still with a smirk on his lips, he huffed then picked his head up. "What?"

"Nothing." He gently shook his head, his bag fall off his shoulder to his side. He moved off to the closet, catching his smile shrink before dissapearing within it. Not a minute later, hearing a knock on the door. I strolled over my bed and plopped down, yelling at whoever to come in. Watching the knob turn, it hesitated before opening; being Rex. He bit his bottom lip, not much of looking at me but his feet.

"Alex has requested you to be at dinner tonight." His eyes slowly look up to me, seeing his left eyes was a plump shiner. I swallowed back my anger, knowing it was Aiden's wrath that made it. I nodded, speaking soft and sending him on his way. Once the door closed, I heard a faint snicker. I shot Kade a glare, seeing it was in nothing but sweat pants and a black wifebeater. Crossing his arms, he leaned into the doorway and grinned big time at me.

"Is that Aiden's jealously or anger over an disobeying an order?"

"Shut up." I sighed, getting up and brushed passed him into the closet. "And don't expect to sleep together in the same bed."

"Like I would sleep with you--I don't want a damn shiner." I threw him a dirty look, shifting through the hangers. Out the corner of my eye, seeing him shake his head and walk out. "Don't worry, I can't sleep anyways."

"Vampires can sleep." I snorted.

"Yeah, well I can't...not without know where my Sin is." Something changed in his tone, making me stop. Man, that stupid stick is really important to him. I walked over to the doorway to atleast peek at him, seeing him staring down at his white kunckled fist and the deep tension in his face. when I placed my hand on the doorway his bright eyes flew up on me.

"Get ready."

"For what?"

"You're coming to dinner too."

"Nobody wants me there." he laughed weakly, turning halfway back to me while gesturing to the door.

"Doesn't matter if they want you there. You know what, I request you being there."

"Isn't it odd--Aidenst little brother wants you there but not himself."

"That's because..." I trailed off, snapping down to my feet. "Just get ready." I walked back into the closet.

~0~0~0~0~*~0~0~0~0~

"Kade! I didn't know you were here!" Alex gasped, leaping at Kade the minute he came into the kitchen. Aiden didn't seem bit amused with the face someone was happy he was here, eversince we got back he hasn't said a single word to me nor Kade. Yet Kade said to not mind his grumpy moods, it's most likely because it was the arrangement of this whole thing. Someone was "moving in on his second lady.". As much as it sounded nice, it pissed me off. I was no one's second lady wanted to spew out yet I knew that was a lie. Kade chuckled and ruffled up his hair, grinning at him.

"I haven't see you in a long ass time, what's up dude?" They pounded fist, making me roll my eyes and look over at Aiden was intently watching the two. Once summer had came into the room, his eyes were locked on her and so was his brand new smile. I shook my head and walked over to Kade and Alex, grabbing Kade's wrist and luring him out.

"Whoa, didn't even get to grab a plate. Someone horny?"

"Shut the hell up." I sighed with frustration.

"I'm guessing Aiden's woman's somewhere in there."

I whirled around, gripping my plate more and snarled near his face. Keeping his smirk, he raised his hands and turned his head to the side. "Apologizes." He muttered, reopening his those bright crystal steel eyes on me. I shook my head and pulled him behind me back to my room. When back, I shut the door quite hard and huffed, "I just...don't want to be in the same room with her right now." I walked over and settled my plate on the vanity. Peeking through my bangs, Kade's eyes weren't on me but my back. Coming over, suddenly locking eyes.

"I'm not touching you on purpose, I'm just figuring something out." He murmured gently.

I groaned, letting my eyes fall. With me huffing in defeat, I felt his hands on my waist. For once, it sent a warm vibe up through my body. His touch left a tingling sensation as they slipped under my tank top and on lower back, softly he cursed under his breath. I looked at his serious stare(for once) on my back, he licked his bottom lip and shook his head. Eyebrows stitching together, he parted his lips but hesitated when only his thumbs moved along my spine.

"Amazing." He commented.

"What?" I spoke louder.

He shook his head, "I-..." he swallowed, pulling my tank top up more and ran his hands up more my spine. Going right over it, a pain shot through me. I gasped, feeling my legs buckle underneath me. I gripped the vanity but it didn't help; falling anyways. Kade made some odd noise before wrapping his arms around me, holding me up but leading me over to the bed. "You just keep amazing me."

"Will you tell what's fucking wrong?" I growled, grabbing the blankets and crawling onto the bed. He walked back over without another word, grabbing my plate and coming over. Handing it over, he gestured toward behind me. Knowing what he meant. "I don't care."

He nodded, slipping behind me, "You're body still rejecting it, by now if any other it would have given in but now...it's still fighting all these years."

"Probably because of what I eat."

"No--it's not that." He whispered, feeling his hands back on exploring my spine. I picked my fork, digging into my potatoes and stared at the door. He pressed more firmly near the scar with his thumbs, groaning when a slight pain came . "Sorry." He mumbled, lightening up but started to message around it. Doing so, it was creating a icy tingling feeling; feeling wonderful. I leaned my head back and groaned, hearing him chuckle. "He's never gave you a back message?"

I nearly choked, letting the thought of it over power my actions. Quickly swallowed, I settled my fork down and stared at my plate. Thinking more of it, my heart sank a little. I peeked over my shoulder, once again spotting him not smiling. "It hurts when he does it."

We sat in silence, him being the first to look away. "Weird." He slipped out from behind me, laying on his side to digg into his plate.

I looked down to my potato, shoveling some up. "Why is it cold? When you do it."

He pushed his corn around, clearing his throat. "Channeling the tension away. Making it feel like it never happened." He glanced up with a calm look. "It's a past trick, makes it feel it was before the widow did it to you." He shrugged, going back to eating his plate. I pushed my hair behind me ear and huffed out, suddenly seeing the door open. Being Alex. He pulled a big smile upon his face, coming in and shutting it with his free hand.

"I came to eat with you guys." He walked over.

Kade smirked over his shoulder. "Alrighty then, it's groupie."

"Are they talking war games again?"

"No-- that a few trials are tomorrow." He frowned, slipping onto the bed beside me. I groaned, stabbing my potatoes and let go of my fork. I completely forgot about the trials, my face fell into my hand.

Kade snorted. "Trials?"

"Those who broke the laws come before Aiden and the small jury." Alex nodded, out the corner of my eye looking to me. "Maybe he'll be easy on them since Summer's home for the weekened."

"Ugh." I ran my hand through my hair. My wolf was growling I'm ready for tomorrow but my mind was quiet, too quiet. I bit my lip and turned my head. What if--? What if I freak out like when Summer's parents came, what I hurt anyone again? I can't...I don't think I can do this.

The night was a little uneasy, espeacially since Kade was sitting in the middle of the floor with maps surrounding him. Atleast all fo them has multiple circles and X's over random spots, at first his whistle kept me up but when he seemed to change a pitch it put me down in seconds. I didn't know where he was or went off when I did wake up but that wasn't bugging me, the house was quiet with an unrestless stiffness in the air. Everyone knew everything had to be perfect today, it was the days we show our fury to the rest of the Hawaiian lands. Aiden, our vampire king present him judgements and spare those who thought could redeem themselves. Sometime he would offer them a place amongst the house if it came down it but even that was rare, that huge room has seen so much blood. Heard so much screams of plead and pain. Surprisingly, my stomach wasn't feeling so good today.

"Valerie." I whirled around, gasping when it was Aiden himself. He stood there in his typical black sweat pants and pull over hoodie, hand still on the doorknob I overlooked him to see there was someone behind him. "You ready?"

I nodded gently. "Give me a sec."

He nodded, his eyes taking me in while his brows twitched together as he shut the door. I heard his voice on the other side but ignored it, opening the truck and squatted down. I picked up the choker up off its hook and stared at it, I had such a love/hate relationship with this thing. The choker its self was blunt leather that didn't shimmer, with multiple chains that dangled and looped all around I pressed it against my neck, feeling the clasp hit my the base of my neck. Like a tazor, a tiny voltage came to me. Shooting both vertical ways, down it hit my scar like it happened all over. I gasped, clamping my eye shut. When it pair surged upto my skull, I got a flash back of the day out in the courtyard.

I had attacked Robbie...My eyes flew open.

Seeing I was gripping the trunk with white knuckles, glancing at the choke laying across my boots with its chains all tangled up. "No, it's not going to happen again." I whispered, reaching down and grabbing it with carelessness.

"About time." Aiden sighed, coming over.

I shut the door behind me and flashed him and Summer a dark look. It made Summer stare idly a me as Aiden stopped in his steps give more a frustrated look. "What's wrong?"

My hand was still gripping the door handle, looking back to it when it was still white-knuckled. Let go, Valerie. I pried my fingers off, huffing and brushing passed him. "Let's just get this over with." Sure enough, they both joined after me. Even though they were supposed to be infront of me, I didn't want to see him holding her close and acting the loyal boyfriend he was. Ugh! Turning left down another hallway, not far away from the hall, the chandleirs above suddenly flickered. Making all of us stoppped. Aiden cursed under his breath when Summer whispered his name, but this sounded fimilar. I turned back to them, spotting Kade behind us now. Kade wolf whistled, looking me up and down while arms crossed. Aiden and Summer parted, whirling back to see him. He looked like he went somewhere tropical: wearing jean "man-pris" and a black wife beater. Now seeing this entire blue ink shit. Cascading from under his chin and down his throat, it still looked like it was into another language while it went down his chest and under his wifebeater. He chuckled, flicking his steel eyes from me to Summer. He suddenly bowed, standing up and throwing his arms out.

"I swear, you're probably more beautiful than this mutt over here." He walked over, offering his hand. Both Aiden and I growled heavy, but Summer ignored it by giggling and shaking hands.

"Thank you. I'm guessing you're Kade."

"Yes I am." He shook his hands, seeing the blue tattoo writing thined into a line while it wrapped around his arms all the way down to his wrist. He dropped his hands ot his side then smirked over at Aiden, smirking bigger then. "Can we talk in private?"

"I got somewhere to be important right now." Aiden growled low, grabbing Summer by her waist and pulled her against him.

"I know--the trails." Kade waved, shifting feet. "But I advise you leave her out of this." He pointed to me, making me stiffening up on demand. What? Not be at the trials? "I really do."

Aiden snorted. "Valerie's top in command over the hybrids. She's going, Kade."

Kade crossed his arms. "If you want your top dog to look like a weak newborn puppy with a chew toy, guessing it'd be a vampire. Then sure, go right ahead." I blinked, sucking a breath in while they all looked to me. Summer's face was full of worry while Aiden was getting irratated, Kade's being competely calm. Aiden twisted back, spearking slow and deep. "Valerie is going to be fine."

Kade lost his tiny smile, leaning forward and mocked Aiden's tone. "Then why am I here?"

I gulped, feeling Aiden growl but Summer whispered his name and touched his chest. "Maybe you should call her off for today. Rex can take her place."

"That mutt isn't taking her place." Aiden hissed at her, notcing his free hand was now a fist. "Valerie. Come here."

I swallowed, exchanging looks with Kade as I slowly walked over. Standing inbetween them, I slowly turned to Aiden who was practically glaring me down. "You sure you're okay today?"

I stood there, letting my mind drift. Was I? I mean, that moment with the choker. What if Kade was right about something? I turned back with Kade who raised a brow, I gulped. No, Valerie. you're going to be fine. "I'll be fine." A deep sigh came from Kade, deep down feeling like I let him down but I couldn't figure why I even cared.

Aiden snuffed, "Just because she's troubled doesn't mean she's unstable, Kade." He scowled. Now a faint growl came from Kade but he pushed it off while he smirked and shook his head gently.

He lost his smirk then, speaking soft and slow"I could dance to the fear in your eyes." he dropped his hands to his side and took a acouple steps back from us before turning around and walking off. Aiden shook his head, speaking Why am I even friends with that guy? husky under his breath while he walked Summer away. My foot couldn't move yet though, there was like bricks in water; watching Kade dissapear around the corner. Above, the lights flickering again. Where was he going? "Valerie! Come!"

"Coming!" I called out, catching up after them.

~0~0~0~0~*~0~0~0~0~

Three trials in and it was getting difficult to concentrate. Why was Kade so worried about me being here? Sure there was alot of people here but I could handle myself, I was positive. Aiden could count on me. All I had to do was standing with my hands behind my back and stare at people who came forth for their judgement, all I had to do was stand there and look deadly sexy. From heel boots to black skinny jeans to corset top and a choker; I nailed that shit in the eyes and pants of men.

"Drake newbil. Come forth." Rex growled, baring his teeth then turned back to click his way over to Summer who was typing all this shit down. Laying down and flicking his ears back and watching a clammy looking guy get lead forward by two guys, when shoving him hard that he fell to his knees; making a few in the jury snicker. I ran my tongue along my tongue, glancing over at them. Seeing two were exchanging words. The jury, those passed the judgement and making this one look even weaker. What did this one even do?

"Sire, please. I didn't do anything!"

"Shut up!"

I glanced back at the sound of a shout of pain, feeling my wolf wake up once again. Seeing the guy was leaning over on his cuffed hands, he spat out of blood and coughed a few times. I gulped, closing my eyes. Getting a quick flash back of Kade watching me through the vent. Bones surrounding me. My eyes flew open, jerking my head back and hitting something hard. I groaned deeper, out the corner of my eye seeing Summer and Rex were looking at me. I shifted my a feet a bit, starting to feel restless. It was starting to get cold in here, shifting a bit more.

Valerie, what's wrong?

Rex's voice pressed into my head.

I bit my tongue, tilting my head down and stared the Drake down as he got punched across the face again. N-nothing. I cracked my neck, hearing bones clattered as if dropping on the floor. I glanced around but saw nothing even near but blood Drake spat out. I swallowed a lump of somethat that tasted bad, closing my eyes and exhaled. "Drake you are charged with murder of-." My eyes flew open, being somewhere completely. I was in the corner of some dark room, seeing a figure, Drake newbil was crumble amongst the floor while across the kitchen was a figure choking a girl to death. Then the sound of bones clattered came against, Kade's face that day came now. I sucked a breath in, being too cold. I fluttered my eyes, glancing around the court like I just woke up. What the hell? "Guilty." Aiden called out.

"No!"

Then everyone's eyes were on me. My body moved but it didn't feel like me, dropping my hands to my side and walked toward Drake, from his matted charcoal hair to his beaten face he wasn't halfbad looking. When close enough, I turned back to pissed off Aiden and stomped my heel to make it loud enough for everyone. "He's innocent."

"Proof?" Aiden growled.

"I--I don't have any but I know he is." I balled my hands ups into fist. "If you just let me explain."

"Enough!" Aiden shouted, standing up. "Step away from him so he gets what he deserves."

My wolf stomped her paw and rose her head higher, I sucked a breath in and tilted my head down. "No."

"I'm innocnent, I tell ya!" Drake shouted.

Aiden let his fangs slip out, thrusting his finger to me. "Move her and kill the bastard!"

I parted my feet, a few vampires moved toward me. "I can kill in heels too, boys." I moved to my left when movement started, ducking an arm and twisting around. Someone scooped their arm around my throat, coughing a few times before my wolf snarled and bursted out. A loud snarled rippled from my chest, hearing a yell of fear fly behind me. I slammed down on my paws, shaking off an itch then glared up at Aiden. He always been holding me back, always! For what? Safety? There he was, staring at me like he was pissed at me; dissapointed in me. "I can take care of myself. " I bared my teeth, lunging forward into a run. At the man who thought he could always control me. A blur came down from above, something crashing into my head. My jaw cracked off the floor, biting my tongue and yelping. I tripped over my right paw, slamming down on my shoulder and sliding acouple feet to a stop. I shook it off, growling and snapping back to see Kade swinging a brass candle stick holder. He smirked it the bent peice of metal, throwing it behind him.

"Rule one: Don't trust yourself."

KADE

Valerie snapped her teeth then lunged at me, moving at the last second with a spin on my converse. Before she fully pass me, I grabbed her tail. She yelped out which melted into a heavy snarl while snapping back at me. I ducked, spinning on my other converse and threw my elbow back. I hit her but I didn't know where, whatever I shook my arm and weakly laughed while looking at her standing there and panting.

"Hit my funny bone, there." I grabbed my elbow, seeing her legs were trembling.

A wolf beside Aiden's woman got to his feet, baring his teeth. "What the hell did you do to her?!"

I smirked, seeing Valerie wasn't moving at all. Studying her tail was slowly drooping while she was panting and staring at the floor. She's having a flashback. I slowly walked over, seeing her ear twitch. Then her whole body went into blur, ducking her teeth neat my face. I stood back up and wrapped my arms around her neck. She yelped a sharp pitch, gritting my teeth. "You need to loose weight, my love." I muffled against her head, pulling her head to the ground. She snarled deeper, struggling and trying to back out of it. I cursed under my breath, pissed that nobody was helping me at the time. All people want to do is just stand there and watch. "Fucking hell." I sighed heavy, letting go. She swung her teeth at me, throwing a fist. Her head flew the other direction, I kicked her front feet out from under her. Smacking her head off the floor, I pressed my knee behind her ear and glanced to her back foot. She shifted them, about kicking out at me. Grabbing her paw while it flew, pushing it up. She yelped multiple times now, holding it up higher and pressing my knee deeper behind her ear.

"Valerie, listen to me." Valerie snorted, turning her head a little to get her a pitch black eye on me. I cursed under my breath, biting my lip. She's gone. This was what I feared. She ruthless as what had done this to her, her hatred made her this. I closed my eyes and leaned down, petting her bleeding head. "Valerie, I know you're there." I cooed, she bared her teeth and tried to jerk her head but didn't budge.

"Kade!" Aiden yelled behind me.

"Clear the room!" I called over my shoulder, feeling Valerie jolt udnerneath me. She growled, stretching her front paw out.

"Kade, what are you doing?" He growled it in my ear.

I glared at him over my shoulder, "I adivsed you. You're lucky I was here to know what she was going to do. Now clear the room or I can't get her to go back to normal, she's gone Aiden. This is furtherest she's ever endured." A snarl rippled underneath me, petting her neck and cooing her name. A minute passed, glancing back at Aiden who sighed heavy. He took a step back and nodded, yelling at everyone to evacuate. Valerie groaned deep, blinking her black beady eyes up at me. "I know you're there, Val. Take you're time to figure it out." I lowered her paw abit, feeling her relax more and close her eyes.

"You hungry?"

I glanced up, seeing Aiden's woman walk over with a platter with a sandwich and a beer on it. Aiden knew me too well. I chuckled, shaking my head while I went back to pressing my thumbs more along Valerie's back. It was the middle of the night and she still was gone, starting to make me wonder what was really happening to her now? But she seemed to enjoy the back rub, sitting backwards on her and been doing for a while now. Hell, she was even purring everynow then so that was a good sighn.

"A little bit." I nodded to Valerie's tail, settling it down there and pulling her house coat closed. "Thanks."

She offered a smile but frowned quickly the next, "How is she?"

I cracked my neck then running my knuckles down her spine. I glanced over my shoulder, the black satin fabric still over her head. I sighed, turning back to her. "Still out of it."

She nodded, hugging herself. "Aiden's worried she won't come back from this."

"Maybe it's for the better." I shrugged, smirking at her worried look. "Maybe she'll become the strong bodyguard he always wanted her to be."

She nodded gently, walking over to the other side near me. "...I see the way he looks at her, he tries to cover it up...he's not that good at faking it." She sucked a breath in, glancing down.

I stopped, sitting up straight and stared at her. "Trust me, I may not be the most "fully here" guy but when it comes between you three. He'll pick you over her."

Tears plucked her eyes, gripping her sides. "How'd you do know?"

"Because." I patted Valerie's side. "He had the chance to have Valerie for himself. She was the first choice but he picked you, the second. Always the pick the second because if the first was perfect, there wouldn't even be a second." I winked, hearing Valerie growl low. I turned around and moved closer to her head, "I know. I'm pissing you off, arent I?" I smirked, leaning more on her to kiss her head.

"You talk to her like she can hear you."

" And I hope she can." I murmured, flicking her ear. "Because it's the only way to pull her out of this."

"Are you sure?" She moved closer.

I crossed my arms and rested him on Valerie's head, smirking over my shoulder. "It's the only idea I can think of right now. She's in a frail state, anything could piss her off and she's back to raging mode and I don't want her like that. She's rushing into it; getting lost. If she's lost, she won't be able to come back. She'll be...she'll be the dammned thing that made her like this." I murmrued, feeling Valerie pur underneath me. I kissed her head again and laid my head down, closing my eyes.

She giggled but quietened down. "I'll leave you two alone."

"Goodnight." I sighed, listening to her footsteps venture out of the court room, going silent. I smirked, rubbing Valerie's furry neck. "You're so soft, why didn't I pet you before?" She snorted and groaned, shift a bit. I pulled fabric back a bit, pulling her eyelid up to look. Her left was still pitch black but her white was milky white, throwing my off. I sighed heavy, pulling the fabric back over. I rubbed both side of her neck and stared at the wall. "Don't worry. The raging war will be over soon...I promise."