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"If I win the Alpha Trials I shall procreate in the old way, with a willing host." He stood his ground, towering behind Zalia, being her support. Eve's face crumpled into a scowl when he mentioned this method. Her expression contorted with rage and then smoothed out.

"Fine. Do what you will. Let these fools take you in." She turned on her heel and disappeared.

Zalia had to think this over to discover the meaning. Did he mean he was going to lay with a woman from the pack to have Were children? That was almost enough to make her hope that he DIDN'T win the Alpha Trials. But if it was between him and Eve, she knew she wanted Bade to win. When the woman left she smiled softly at Bade, but then would resume her talks with the various pack members.

She needed to talk with him later, though. Now that the pack mostly accepted her, they needed to seriously consider what was going to happen. Where it all would lead. Zalia glanced at Bade often, just trying to decipher what was going through his mind. Oftentimes he was so unreadable.

He remained unreadable and stoic for the Pack; its what they needed in a leader. Someone who was unmoving and tough, but understood compromise as Bade had just achieved. He stayed with her while the Pack milled about and spoke. His father came back to introduce himself to Zalia more formally and welcome her, though it was clear his decisions tended toward his daughter, he had to acknowledge the majority.

The night of trials over, Bade gave his good byes and looped his arm about Zalia's waist. "Shall we?"

Zalia formally greeted his father as well, expressing her gratitude in giving them a fair trial. When everything calmed down, goodbyes were said and Bade had his arm around her waist, she finally let the weariness set in. She leaned heavily against him and sighed softly. "Yeah. Let's go home."

She smiled a little and nuzzled into him, then would walk home. Home, the place that they almost lost today. She was so glad things had worked out. Once they were safe inside, Zalia went to the fridge and made them both something to eat. She was pretty hungry. She sat down at the table with her food and was quiet for a while as she just focused on eating.

Eventually, the question came up. "Bade...when you said that thing to Eve, did you mean that you would sleep with someone of the pack to have normal Were kids?"

He had been ready for this question and not so subtly took a bite of his food as she finished asking it. He chewed while he similarly chewed the information he was about to expell. He realized he would be doing a lot of explaining on Pack etiquette and culture. When he swallowed, he took a drink of water to wash it down and cleared his throat. He was not at all sure how she would receive this news.

"Yes." He went with the blunt route. "At the time of the trial's completion, it is customary that the new Pack Leader consummate his victory with procreation. I suspect that's how I was conceived. So, if the winning party does not have an intended, the a willing candidate is supplied. Most times it is a Pack virgin. We don't pick at random, we do take into account how the woman would be able to raise the child and support it." He added the last bit so the ceremony didn't seem so antiquated. "We are very sure to take care of each other in the Pack."

Zalia listened to him speak. She poked and prodded at what was left of his food while he talked, making sure to take in every word. His silence before-hand had been rather unnerving. "I see." she said at last. She kept prodding at her food. It was why she'd waited until her plate was almost empty to ask the question. She knew she wouldn't have an appetite afterwards.

She really didn't know what to say. She didn't like that he'd have to be with another woman, even just once. But...what if it wasn't once? What if she didn't get pregnant the first time, so they'd have to sleep with each other again? What if they started to develope a relationship? One from his pack who could supply him with a 'real' child was better than the dhampir who couldn't give him a child that changed.

Finally she stood up and took care of her dishes. She didn't say anything about her bitter feelings on the subject, because she knew it was necessary. If he won the trial, he needed to take care of the pack. She mulled over all these things, but none of it made her that happy. But at least she had been accepted. At least they could be together. Until the trial would begin, at least.

"When does it happen? The Alpha trials?" She finished cleaning up and turned to look at Bade, who was no doubt still eating.

He watched her as the information absorbed into her. "Oh, well. Usually its when the Pack Leader dies. But it can also start if the Leader is seen as unfit to run the Pack or if they become too old to be considered in their right mind. My father has been the only Pack leader I have known, so I've never seen a Trial, just learned of them."

He could tell by the set of her shoulders that she was upset and struggling with accepting the facts. He got up to bring her his plate, but he placed it beside the sink and embraced her. "This all won't come about for a long time, hopefully. My father is spry and he acts younger than he is, so he's not going anywhere soon. Don't worry about it."

He didn't want to say things like 'who knows if we'll still be together then' or 'maybe I won't win' because he didn't want to upset her furhter, but thoughts like that were heavy in his own mind.

Zalia hugged him back. He wasn't the only one thinking such thoughts. She buried her face in his chest and held onto him. "Yeah. That's right. Things are okay now. The pack knows about us and accepts it. We don't have to go anywhere and we don't have to hide it. Everything's okay now. So we don't have to worry about what might or might not happen. Things are great now. So let's just think about that."

She stayed there in his arms for a few more moments. "I'm tired.." She yawned, honestly worn out from the day. She nuzzled against him. "I'm gonna go to sleep, okay?" She was quiet for a moment. "Are you going to work tomorrow?" She wanted to know so she could decide if she was making him lunch and taking it to him.

And of course, the next question. "Can I sleep with you tonight?" It was still his room and his bed. She liked falling asleep with him, but she didn't know if he wanted it to become a daily thing. "I-it's okay if you want the bed to yourself." she said quickly, not wanting him to feel like he HAD to let her sleep with him.

"I'd prefer it," he answered to the sleeping question. He had to think about work; how many days had he been out now? "Yes, I will be going to work tomorrow. I hope you're not too bored here all day."

He took another shower before going to bed; the process was apparently a soothing one and he took lots of showers. He climbed into bed fresh and wearing pajamas so as not to startle her. He nestled down into his pile of blankets and pillow and pulled her to him and was out first.

In the morning, before the sun was peeking over the horizon, Bade was up and leaving for work.

Zalia smiled when he agreed to it. She nodded at his answer to work as well. "Alright. Don't worry, I'll be fine." She let him go shower and she'd settle in bed, waiting for him to come. She was in her pajamas too, of course. The dhampir happily snuggled against him, curling up close and relaxing in his arms.

He fell asleep quickly, but Zalia stayed awake for a little while. Fingers caressed his face lightly and soothingly, and she counted herself lucky for finding such a man. It wouldn't be long however, before she fell asleep too.

In the morning though, just as he reached the door, he'd heard the shuffling of feet and feel her arms wrap around him, face against his back. "Have a good day at work." she mumbled sleepily with a yawn. "I'll come by with some lunch." She scooched to his front and leaned up to place a kiss on his lips. She was very sleepy still, but she'd gotten out of bed just to see him off.

When he left, she'd go back to sleep. She wouldn't wake up until later that morning, and then she'd shower and dress and clean up the place. She watched some TV for a little and had breakfast, then she would make up a basket of lunch for Bade and a seperate, smaller portion for herself.

Just at noon, she'd arrive at the lumberyard with the basket hooked on one arm, her other hand holding her parasol to shade herself from the sun. She went to the nearest worker and smiled. "Good afternoon! Can you tell me where Bade is, please?"

The man gave her a funny look as it was not often they had visitors out on the site. it turned out that Bade was in fact in a tree at the moment, trimming it of branches so the thing could be cut down entirely. When he was flagged down by a fellow worker, he shimmied back down the trunk and checked his watch. It was time for lunch, so he only had one guess as to who had called for his attention. He stopped at the bathroom to clean himself of sweat and bark dust before making his way to Zalia. He wore a white wife beater and cut up jeans today, and a giant white smile as he walked.

He was in her view when his cell phone started buzzing in his pocket. He pulled it out to read the screen as he was walking, but his pace slowed as he flipped it open and put it to his ear. He was soon standing still have an animated conversation, then staring at his phone with concern as he hung it up.

Zalia thanked the workers for their help and watched as he approached, smiling. She was about to go to him when he got a call. By the time he stopped she was right there, looking worried. "What was that? Is everything okay?" She touched his arm. "What happened?" She looked at the phone, then at him, wishing she had overheard the conversation. Unfortunately, there was too much sounds around for her to be able to have distinguished the conversation.

Brows knit together, the Were stared at his phone and then deposited it back into his pocket. He met Zalia's gaze and frowned. "My dad is in the hospital." He notified the nearest coworker of this situation and left work as soon as possible to drive over the local hospital. When he had given the front desk he father's name they directed him to a room a few floors up.

The doctor was exiting as he was entering and he stopped to ask what had happened. "Well, it seems as if he was attacked by some sort of animal. He's out of it right now, but stable. We don't know how long it will be until he comes too, however. He's not showing any responsive signs." The doctor flipped through the paperwork on the clipboard before him. "It's odd, though. His accident was reported midday, a time an animal sizable enough to cause this type of damage would be nowhere near a bustling city. Was your father known for going to the forested areas unannounced?"

Bade mad up some response that he couldn't tell you if he wanted to now, he was more concerned with going in to see his father. Rafe Ulf laid in the bed with what must have been a broken arm and a twisted ankle. He was unconscious, of course and bade suspected the bandage around his head had something to do with that. He sat at his father's side and held his unbound hand, thinking.

Zalia knew what had happened the moment the doctor said about the animal. She had come with Bade of course, and upon hearing this she felt anger welling up inside her. Eve. That bitch had beaten her own father so that the trials would happen. If she lost the trials, then at least she had the pleasure in ruining Zalia and Bade's lovelife with him having to lay with another woman. Would they even consider her as a possible candidate? If so...that would make things worse.

Zalia stood by Bade, her hand on his shoulder. "It's okay. He's strong, Bade...he'll be fine." She just hoped the others in the pack would have enough common sense to see that one of their own had attacked him.

Bade had come to the same conclusions, of course. AS he stared at his father's inanimate face, his jaw clenched and his expression was hard. He stood up with force enough to push the chair back from where he had been sitting. He took her hand, almost forcefully, and led he back to his truck in fuming silence. He drove with a led foot to his father's home, stomped up to the door, which he unlocked himself and swung the door open.

"EVANGELINE," he demanded of the seemingly empty house.

Zalia was right behind him. She would not admit that she was scared of how the man was now, and she almost pitied Eve for incurring his wrath. Almost. When the door to the house was burst open by her infuriated boyfriend, she kept an eye out behind them. She herself felt the anger stirring her vampiric blood.

"I don't know why we bother," she said lowly to Bade, though it was just to draw Eve out. "She's too much of a chicken to show her face." Surely Eve wouldn't let that stand.

"Brother." It came from the unlit hallway that led to the back of the house. Eve slunk out of the dark, her hands clasped behind her back. She was wearing spandex workout shorts and a loose tanktop, and looking entirely innocent. She strode up to Bade with what was probably mock sadness. "I see you've heard about our father, I'm so sorry I didn't call you soon---"

She was cut off by Bade smacking her hands off of him. "Don't play me like those idiot in the pack, Evangeline. I know what you're like deep down and I have tried very desperately to ignore your dark side, but you've gone too far. Attacked by an animal?" He shook his head in disbelief. "I never thought you would take it this far. It's unacceptable. I will be putting in my candidacy for acting Alpha while father's in incapacitated."

Eve looked hurt when her affections were shunned, but expressions like that never stayed long on her face. She was soon smiling. "I have already nominated myself with some followers, Bade Ulf. You will have competition."

Zalia moved forward slightly and growled. "I wonder how well you would do with both arms broken?" She growled again. "You think you're so smart, but don't think it will last for long. One look at those 'followers' of yours and the wiser of the pack will know just who to choose."

She took Bade's hand and pulled him away. "Come on. You have things to take care of." She wasn't about to start a fight. That would make Bade look bad.

Bade refused to move. He was standing his ground this time and had he been covered in fur, his hackles would be right up and bristling. He was almost vibrating with the change when Zalia pulled at him. Eve was mirroring him, ready to fight at any moment. The presence of the Dhampir calmed him enough to snap to his sense.

"I will see you whenever the meeting it held, Evangeline and I promise you, you will not get your grimy paws on this position."

He turned and left with Zalia then. He was still bristling as they walked out. "I don't know what to do. I just want... To break her neck."

((net flipped and ate my post.. x.x))

Zalia sighed and pulled him away, walking with him. "I know. I do too. Don't worry, just focus on getting this position. Your father will be better soon anyways, I'm sure of it." She frowned a little. "Besides, surely the pack isn't dense enough not to be suspicious. I mean, after her behavior last night, your father is suddenly attacked and she's the first one to put herself up as candidate? That seems fishy easily."

She looked at him for a moment. "Don't worry. It'll be okay."