A few questions should be answered in this chapter and new ones may surface. New chap now.

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He made certain the females were truly gone before moving. Shaking the fear and shock from his bones Robbie quickly moved from his bed to help his trembling comrade into a sitting position leaning him against his bed behind him. Robbie had never seen anything like that. A phrase was all it had taken to bring down his usually strong and brave leader. One artless phrase had him begging. They had seriously underestimated the women's tattoos. They may have made a mistake with this rescue mission, it was becoming horribly clear that maybe they would be the ones needing to be rescued.

"Are you alright?" He asked his removing his hands from the other male's shoulders when it became obvious that it was hurting him.

Beck's head dropped forward his chin hitting his chest and a ragged breath escaped his lips as he tried to get his body over the amount of pain that had just coursed through his body. "My insides felt like they were melting." He announced simply and wiped the trail of blood dripping from his nose.

Robbie leaned back on his heels his eyes on his hands. "I think this was a mistake. If Andre…" He trailed off not really sure what he was going to say.

Beck groaned and leaned his head back cautiously not wanting to cause himself any more unnecessary pain. "We're here now, Robbie." It wasn't necessary for Robbie to tell him how much of a mistake this was, he was already aware. This through a wrench into their plans but as a squad captain he always had a plan.

(1-5)

Tori nervously combed her hair, her eyes trained on the large wooden doors. Their mother would be walking in any minute now. Tension was in the air. The maids and servants still ran frantically around the home cleaning and making certain everything was perfect. Her mother's grand collection of pets had entered from their usual home on the border of the West clan's property and stood silently in the foyer waiting on Mary West's arrival, lining both sides of the wall. "How do I look, Tori?" Trina asked.

The younger girl turned to look at her sister. Her eyes trailing down from Trina's curled brown mane to the bright yellow dress. Tori mentally cringed at how bright it was.

"Could you have chosen anything brighter?" Jade chimed in from beside Tori. Her sarcasm had not gone unnoticed.

Trina eyes narrowed before rolling her eyes. "I don't remember asking you, Jade." She crossed her arms over her chest. "You're the one that's going to hear about it… remember when mother told you to stop dressing so gloomily."

Tori's eyes darted towards Jade who had made an attempt at it. Instead of black she was wearing dark blue… Tori lightly shook her head.

"This isn't gloomy." Jade looked down subconsciously before looking back towards Trina over Tori's head. "What are you trying to do? Blind her?"

"I'm sorry for being late." A deep voice interrupted the girl's argument making them all turn around. The tall male bowed his head. On his left was a little blond haired boy who was staring openly. The man without even looking up pushed the boy's head down.

Tori grinned at her little brother when the boy fought against the heavy hand on his head to continue looking. He gave Tori a toothless grin back.

Jade rolled her eyes. "It would have been your head if she would have gotten here before you." The blue eyed girl sneered at her little brother when he looked at her. He yelped and quickly hid behind the man, who is his caretaker. The corner of Jade's lips tugged upwards. "What are you afraid of little brother?"

"You're a witch." Trina mumbled shaking her head.

"You're one to talk. Ms. I fuck every pet I get."

Tori groaned, "Tyson." She motioned for the little boy to take her hand ignoring her sisters bickering. The little boy gave her a wide innocent grin when he took her hand, which made Tori's heart clench painfully in her chest. Her little brother in a sense was the reason she was so against everything the war stood for. Though he was treated fine because of who his mother is, and being raised with woman which could be the reason he was so sweet. Tori still had problems believing all men were natural monsters who needed to be tamed. Taylor proved that it wasn't really true in her mind.

The heavy doors swinging open made the air grow thick, and instantly everyone froze. Trina and Jade quit arguing, the males lined up around them noticeably tensed, and Tori subconsciously squeezed Tyson's hand before letting go.

Tori swallowed as a brown haired man entered first – their mother's favorite. His eyes surveyed the foyer before taking a measured step away and bowing his head. A second later a tall blond woman with Jade's blue eyes entered the room. In a few graceful quick steps the woman was standing in front of them.

She approached Trina first. "I read you've gotten another pet?" Was the woman's greeting, none of them had expected anything different.

"Yeah… I mean yes, I did mother." Trina smiled weakly catching her mistake.

"Good," Mary said moving on to Jade completely skipping over Tori and Tyson. "Tell me my real daughter… why do you still only have one?" Her blue eyes slid briefly to Tori. "Even Tori has two."

Jade's jaw noticeably clenched. Tori realized that her usually stoic, rule obsessed sister had been slacking – she being the one and only blood related daughter of the best male tamer, she was expected to be the best also. Why? Tori couldn't help wondering why Jade was seemingly holding back.

"She caught more than one at a time. It was by default, Mother." Jade lightly defended herself. Her tone was obviously lacking its usual sharpness.

"You are my daughter. You are expected to be the best." Mary didn't wait for a response before moving back to Tori.

Tori an overwhelming feeling to take a step back as the woman's eyes studied her. "How is training going, Tori?" The woman wasted no time. Tori slowly opened her mouth to answer. "I would like to see them. Once I take a rest."

Ignoring the little boy beside Tori and every other male in the room the woman turned and gracefully walked through a doorway already being held open for her, gold cloak flowing behind her. With her departure the air in the room became lighter leaving behind a numb Trina, an angry Jade, and frightened Tori.

(1-5)

It was a short and quick journey to Cat's home. All one had to do was travel down the gravel path behind the West clan's main house, walk around their pet house and take a quick path through the woods. Tori could always tell when she had entered the Valentine's land when tall red bricked homes came into view.

The Valentines were a much larger clan then the Wests, with ten main families and about one-hundred branch families. They needed a lot of land, and they had it.

Tori shuffled up a grassy hill giving quick greetings to the red haired females. Cat's home was in the center of the clan's land, her grandmother being the clan's leader.

"Victoria Vega West."

Tori turned around at hearing her name being called. An easy smile found its way to the girl's lips as Cat's grandmother approached her in a quick limping shuffle.

"I was just coming to find you." The old woman breathed. "I guess you being here means Cat is not with you." The woman leaned heavily on her cane.

"What's wrong?" Tori asked concerned.

"As you are aware today is Cat's birthday… she ran away after refusing to take a pet." The woman said sadly. "We have others out looking for her but we all are aware that Cat will not be found unless she wants to be found. Though I'm sure you as her closest friend can find her."

Tori nodded. "I'll find her, Lady Valentine."

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