Tamer Of Wolves

~Harvey's the New Forrest~

I have nothing to wear.

It's the next day; the day of the party; the coronation day, and I'm rummaging around in my backpack for something. Anything. But no. I didn't exactly plan on going to a coronation when I escaped, so I give myself some slack for that.

But Aruba doesn't.

You idiot. This could be our chance to meet our mate, and you don't have anything to wear? I can hear the disbelief in her voice.

Oh don't worry. You forget that I have enough money to buy us a damn mansion, sweetie. I think can buy a dress, I reassure her. I pull out my wallet and check. $1,000. That should be enough to buy me a fairly nice dress.

Did you just call me 'sweetie?' Aruba asks, laughing.

You bet your ass I did, I tell her. I put my wallet in one of my jeans pockets and my phone and card key in the other. I also slide my Bowie knife down into my boot, just in case. I head out the door and out of the hotel.

I hail a taxi and he takes me to a fairly nice looking dress shop. I get out, pay him, and then walk into the shop. As I enter, I feel eyes on me instantly. I smell wolves, and I know immediately that I've just walked into what's possibly my doom. I look around, and I'm sickened by the fact that pretty much every pair of eyes belongs to a male. Not surprising, I think. Males have looked at me like that for my whole life.

I ignore the stares as best I can and I head to the petites. I stop and stare in wonder.

Dresses. Everywhere. All around me, in a variety of colors and sizes. I'm a size 4, and I look at the multitude of dresses that are size 4. I pick out a tiny black dress and a royal blue dress. I try them both on and I evaluate my choices.

The tiny black dress has silk see-through sleeves, comes down to about 3 inches above my knees, and the neck line shows off my cleavage. I'm not aiming to look like 'The Slutty Rogue Who Tried to Show Off Her Assets' at the coronation of the Black Spades Pack's new Omega.

The blue one, however, is just my type. It has no sleeves and it comes right down to my knees. And to add to the wow factor even more, there is a slit on either side of my rib cage. I love it, and it's just my size and price range. Thankfully, this shop has a shoe department. I walk over and grab a pair of tan high heels.

As I go up to the cashier, I'm stopped. Not by someone, but by someone's hands. Rough hands grab my shoulders and spin me around. A man, who looks to be no more than 30, is sneering down at me. He licks his lips as his gaze slithers up and down my body, earning shivers from me. My mind flies back to the way Ian looked at me. He looked at me exactly like that.

"Did that dress look good on you?" He asks me. "And I'll bet those heels make you look sexy as shit."

I struggle to get out of his grasp, but that only makes him tighten his grip on me. He laughs and grins. "I bet you'd look even better without any clothes on," he says as he pulls me to him. I let out a yelp and I'm hitting him and scratching him, hoping to God that I won't have to shift right here in the middle of the dress shop.

Suddenly, a hand appears on the man's shoulder. The hand yanks the man around harshly, taking me halfway with him.

"Well, Jared. Out satisfying your dick again?" Harvey taunts, almost seriously, at my attacker. I let out a sigh of relief. Harvey looks at me with a look of apology. Jared looks at Harvey in disbelief.

"Well if it ain't the Monster Alpha's twit of a brother! Don't you dare deny you don't wanna touch the Wolf Tamer, too. Every male in here does. Why should you be any different?" He sneers.

I instantly stiffen. So this has somethings to do with me being the Wolf Tamer, too?

Harvey scoffs. "At least I can control my boner. I don't let it lead me around like a fucking untrained dog," he scolds.

At that, Jared lets me go. As Harvey puts his arm around me and pulls me to his side, I feel authority rolling off of him in waves. Must be his Alpha blood, I conclude. The joker of a wolf that I thought I'd met yesterday is actually a pretty scary person to get pissed at you.

"Now, leave before I tell my brother that his favorite Rogue dropped in for a visit," Harvey commands without blinking.

Jared whitens, and backs off. He's out of the store in a flash. Harvey sighs, and turns to me. Chuckling nervously and rubbing the back of his neck, Harvey's expression looks sheepish. His brown eyes have an embarrassed gleam to them, causing me to stifle a giggle.

"Hehe, sorry about that," he apologizes. "But I couldn't let him talk to or touch you like that."

I smile warmly. "Thanks Harvey. I owe you one," I say, lightly punching him in the arm.

He waves me off and laughs. "Please. Anytime, Princess." Harvey swings his arm around me and leads me slowly over to the cashier. He points to the dress and heels in my arms. "That's what you're wearing to the coronation tonight?"

"You betcha. I was lucky to even find something so quickly," I nod, gesturing to the heels and dress.

Harvey looks at the clothing I'm about to buy and whistles out of amazement. "Damn, you're gonna send the males at the coronation into a huge frenzy," he whispers.

I scoff, and continue to the cashier. I pay for the dress and heels and the lady behind the counter puts them into a bag and says "Goodbye, have a nice day!" I return the wave, and start to walk out of the store with Harvey.

"Please. I've sent males into a frenzy my whole life. Even human males," I tell him. "And, the crazy part is, I don't even know why. The only piece of info is that I'm the 'Wolf Tamer,' and I'm clueless about that, too, cause no one wants to tell me what the hell I am." I know I'm ranting to him, but I don't care. I have to get that off my chest. I turn to Harvey. "Can you, by any chance, tell me what the 'Wolf Tamer' is?" I ask inquisitively.

Harvey sighs, and looks at his feet. At that, I know I've hit a brick wall. Again. Everyone I've tried to get to fess up has done that signature move every damn time.

"I don't think I'm the one to tell you that, Princess," he tells me simply. "And if every male was like that before you came here," he continues, pointing back at the store, "then how'd you protect yourself?" Harvey asks with concern clear in his eyes.

"One name: Forrest Blanchard." My eyes begin to water at the mention of Forrest's name, but I fight them back. "He would keep me safe from any unruly males, and any jealous females," I say, chuckling.

"What's so funny?" Harvey asks, tilting his head to the side curiously.

"Nothing. It's just that Forrest was my protector, and now you've somewhat replaced him," I say simply.

Harvey bows. "It's my pleasure to protect you for as long as I know you, Princess," he promises, standing up and planting a kiss on my hand.

"You know what, Harvey? I think you and I are becoming fast friends," I tell him, bowing back.

"Cool! I've never been friends with a Rogue before!" Harvey exclaims. He then, without a second thought, skips away towards what looks like his truck. Yes, skips.

Once in the truck, he starts it up and rolls the window down. Def Leppard is blasting through the stereo, and he turns it down to yell, "See ya at the coronation tonight, Marina!" He waves.

I laugh, and wave back. "See ya, Harvey!"

And with that, Harvey Foxx is driving away down the road, and leaving me, Maria Osment, to wait for and hail a taxi.