Chapter Three

When she came too she found someone leaning over her and, out of reflex she swung. Connecting with whoever it was she scrambled over the back of couch. Pushing her self off the floor she found her feet. As well as a knot on the back of her head that was throbbing. Groaning Elizabeth rubbed the back of her head and looked about the room to find Daniel rubbing his jaw. Shaw was sitting in the chair across from where she was. "Oh come on! Did you have to let him on the furniture," groaned Elizabeth pointing at Shaw, "He's filthy."

Mumbling to herself she ventured past the two guys on her way to get some aspirin when she froze. "Oh my god!"

"What," said Shaw who was right behind her as she spun around. "Wow," said Elizabeth pushing him back with one finger. "Um, yeah. Anyway," said Elizabeth rushing around Shaw. She ran for the door to only run flat into Daniel, crushing him against the door.

"Where are you going Miss Marshall," asked Daniel barring the door.

"I'm not going to try to figure your how you managed to get here before I did When you where half way across the room, but you need to move. I've get to get to the barn," stated Elizabeth in a panic trying to move him out of the way.

No mattered how hard she pulled or shoved Daniel didn't even budge a inch. Resorting to her last alternative she grabbed a hand full Daniel's 16 year old man hood and twisted. "I said move," growled Elizabeth as she pulled him out of the way, and by golly he was moving or loosing his nuts.

Pulling the door open she growled as a hand shoved it closed. Looking up at the arm Elizabeth followed it back to Shaw. "You're no' go'en outside lass, and I'd like it if you'd released my Da's nuts."

"Only when you let me get to the barn, and make sure that girl is still alive," stated Elizabeth giving Daniel a little squeeze for emphasis causing him to squeak and lean heavily on her. "Girl? What girl? I didn't see any girl?"

"Of course not," shouted Elizabeth a little more loudly then she meant too. "She's locked in the tack room."

Shoving at Shaw with her free hand Daniel groan as she wedged him between her and Shaw. Gaining enough room she squeezed out the door she made a break for it. Jumping off the porch, Elizabeth sprinted across the yard toward the barn. Hitting the gravel she almost collapsed as her bare feet hit the rocks. "Oh, oh, ouch!"

Picking her way across the gravel she squeaked as Shaw scooped her up and packed her the rest of the way. Dropping her at the door to the barn Elizabeth headed for the tack room. Pulling the key out of her pocket she unlocked the door and found that the woman was back to being a cat. "By Oden," gasped Shaw as he dashed to the woman's side. Walking in timidly she looked down at the blood stained cat. "Daniel, call Brom, and tell him we've got the cat he's look'en for," ordered Shaw.

Elizabeth jumped when she looked to the door and found Daniel practically standing on top of her.

Picking the cat up Shaw packed it into the house and laid it on the kitchen table. Grabbing a kitchen towel he dampened it before cleaning the cats wounds. "I take it she's still alive, yes? I wasn't out too long, was I?"

"No, about an hour maybe, but her kind is hard to kill. She's lost a lot of blood though," replied Shaw, "Here put pressure here."

Grabbing her hands he placed them on a particularly nasty wound on on the cougars shoulder. "I hope you know you just ruined my dish towel," said Elizabeth applying pressure, and trying to ignore the warm and tingly sensation of where his hands just where.

"You're uncomfortable aren't you?" asked Shaw out of nowhere as he pulled ice cubes out of the freezer. "You have a wicked tongue when you're uncomfortable. Daniel makes you uncomfortable."

Rapping the ice in another wet dish towel Shaw held it to another bad spot. "Why are you doing that?"

"The ice will restrict the blood vessels limiting the blood flow. She'll heel quicker."

"Oh," replied Elizabeth moving a step away from him.

"I make you uncomfortable too don't I?"

Looking over at him, her eyes locked with his deep green ones and she forgot what she was going to say. Again her stomach did the flip that makes it settle down in her womb when someone cleared their throat. "Brom and Dr. Carlton are heading up the drive now. The Gods must favor her, because Dr. Carlton just happened to spend the night instead of driving home last night. Hopefully he's sober," laughed Daniel laying Elizabeths phone down on the kitchen counter. "By the way, I put Brom's number in you're phone."

When Daniel walked back into the living room. Shaw listened for a bit before asking, "Why doona you like me lass?"

"I never said I didn't like you Shaw," said Elizabeth looking everywhere, but at him for she knew as soon as she did she'd loose all functions of her tongue.

Moving into her line of sight he purposely positioned himself so that he could gaze into her eyes "Yes, but I make you uncomfortable?"

"Yes," replied Elizabeth forcing herself to look away even though every fiber in her being screamed in protest.

"Why," asked Shaw moving back into her line of site.

"Because you're... you..." Turn me on and I don't know why, thought Elizabeth. "You um." Make my skin tingle when you touch me, and make my belly do these summersaults. "Um you need a bath, and I don't mind long hair as long as you take care of it. Um you're just... unsanitary."

Looking away from her, Shaw looked toward the door. An she worried that she'd hurt his feelings, but he'd asked and he was filthy. On the up side his black hair did look better then last she saw him. Blowing into the kitchen with a blonde haired man in tow. Brom moved Elizabeth out of the way as the blonde who she figured was Dr. Carlton took over her spot. Washing her hands off in the sink Elizabeth found Daniel sitting out on the porch swing. "It's a little cold to be sitting out here," said Elizabeth with a shiver.

"It's better then in there with all that blood. Human blood smells better, but any type of bloods makes my mouth water," said Daniel smiling at her sporting a set of fangs that where normally not there.

Not knowing what to say she decided to sit in the farthest chair from the swing. "Brom told you what I am. So the comment isn't a surprise to you."

"Do you feed on people?"

"Yes, but I don't kill them. It's stupid to kill. You're pray really, but bodies are liabilities. When there are people now who are paid to find missing people. On top of that bodies are getting harder to hide. The head of the houses has passed a law that states we are not to kill humans anymore. So that we, meaning vampires, are not discovered. But there are the bad guys out there, just like bad humans. I've got several human I keep as pets per say."

"Geez make them sound like dairy cows. Milk them for all they've got their whole life, and when they get to old to do that. You butcher them and sell them for beef," said Elizabeth with a disgusted look on her face.

"Well I am what I am. Nothing can change that. I am a predator and I eat humans. You don't see me damming you for drinking milk and eating a steak do you?"

"True," replied Elizabeth staring out over the field. "Did you hunt last night?"

"Like I said I have pets so I have no real need to hunt. My pets have to have a break every so often though. So that they don't become anemic. So last night was one of those night, and I went hunting for things on four legs. So I guess the answer you're looking for is yes."

Thinking back to her dream she said, "A six point buck."

"What are you Elizabeth," asked Daniel knelling in front of her.

Looking into his questioning eyes, she said the same thing she told Brom, "I'm human. I just saw you in a dream. It was a dream. I'm pretty sure, or am I dreaming now?"

"Nope this is all real, as real as the claw marks down your leg," said Dr. Carlton bringing his medical bag over to where she was sitting.

"Huh," said Elizabeth vaguely looking down at her ruined pajama pants.

Stepping through the door Brom looked at Daniel. Then at Shaw who was watching the Dr. closely as he walked Elizabeth into the house. Closing the door behind the two he turned to Daniel. "Thanks for the help Daniel, but I've got it from here. You can go home to your lady friends."

Turning to Shaw, Brom wasn't as civil as he was with Daniel. "Now what the fuck are you doing here! You where specifically told not the leave the house, and yet again here you are. Not where you're suppose to be. Do I even want to know why your sent is all over her house? She's prickly enough with everyone in town. We don't need you making her more skittish. I honestly don't know what Mac was thinking when he hired her. I don't even know why I agreed! Either way, you are only here because you're a friend of Daniel's, and as a favor to him. If you can't prove to be civil here and proving to the lot of us that you can control you're beast. Not even Daniel can save you from the exaction the Fae lords will hand down. On top of that how am I going explain to Elizabeth how her porch has charred marks in the shape of paws on it! I thought that necklace of you're was suppose to keep the beast from getting to the surface. Shaw are you even listening to me," shouted Brom at Shaw who was staring off in space somewhere over Daniel's left ear.

Turning so quickly to face him. Brom prepared to block the punch that normally came when he tried to boss Shaw about, but the punch never came. "Brom do you have a straight razor?"

"What," asked Brom lost on where the question came from.

"A straight razor. I need to shave," said Shaw drifting off into thought again.

"Um in my bathroom in the medicine cabinet."

Patting Brom on the shoulder Shaw jogged off the porch. "I'm going to borrow it okay?"

Watching him disappear down the driveway at a run Brom looked at Daniel slack jawed. "I think our worst nightmare is love struck. I had a hell of a time trying to convince him I was his friend, and I wasn't going to hurt Miss Marshall. For a spit second I thought he was about to kill her. I mean he had her throat in his mouth, but he never broke skin. I'd never seen him that enraged and not kill whatever was near him. The Shaw I know, would have chased that cougar down, ripped it limb from limb, and chewed on the bones. He chased him as far as her property line and came straight back here."

Looking out at the field where Jurisdiction was grazing with his shredded blanket Daniel continued, "You may want to get a high lord out here to be honest with you Brom. His reaction to her is unnatural. That horse out there is unnatural. It doesn't like me, but it's like most horses. He didn't try to break his neck to get away from me the first time I met him. He let me put him in the field last night without problem. Then we've got Elizabeth in general who is an enigma in herself. She claims to be human, and she 100% believes she is, but there's to much about her that doesn't add up."

Nodding his agreement Brom took a deep breath, "I've got birth records, school pictures, credit card statement, service records, and blood tests, that say she is Daniel. All the evidence I've got supports what she says she is true, and that's human. I even called the Alpha back in Virginia and had a long conversation with him. Everything points to she's weird. An enigma."

"Yeah, well she just dreamed I ate a dear last night and form what I can guess knew the cougars where out here fighting. Shaw said she was talking in her sleep."

"So he has been sneaking into her house," snarled Brom ready to wring Shaw's neck.

"Nope, she's been letting him in. He's been pretending to be a dog."

Choking Brom looked at Daniel before glancing over his shoulder at the closed door. "Does she know?"

"Not a clue. I'd like to be a fly on the wall when she does find out," laughed Daniel.

"You and me both."

Sitting in silence for several minutes Brom leaned against the porch rail and looked in through the window. Watching Dr. Carlton help Elizabeth down the hallway a thought struck him. "Daniel do Hell Hounds have mates? Or do you even know?"

"Back when the Fae had them as pets they did. I recall stories about them back when I was mortal and the Fae walked around on this plain openly for all to see."

"If you don't mind Daniel, would you please tell me the story of how you two met? Maybe it will give me some insight on you're friend, and make my job easier. For I haven't a clue on why the High Lords have punished me," asked Brom taking a chair.

Holding his arm out in a jester to Brom to sit in the chair beside him. Brom flopped down in the chair and propped his feet up on the railing.

"They tasked you with it because this town is the envy of every supernatural being. Everyone gets on so well they figured you had to be doing something right. I don't think the Fae want to see Shaw dead, but they don't want him alive either. It is said that the werewolf shifters evolved from the Hell Hound line.

Well I guess we should start at the legions I grow up with, and we'll progress from there. As you know long long ago the fairy folk walked the world among us, and just like us they had their pets. Hell Hounds as they are known to us, where nothing more then the Fae's hunting dogs. They lived and breathed for the hunt. Their loyalties lye only with their master and no one else. Since the Fae never die they didn't have to worry about what happens to their pets. Who would not die either, until that fateful day. The story goes that two brothers got in an argument, over what is not important," said Daniel anticipating Brom's question. "Well the one killed the other brother. Kind of like you're newer version that is written in you're bible about the two bothers Cain and Able. Well needless to say Able's dog got a little mad. See it takes a special weapon to kill a Fae as you know. Even back when the Fae where plentiful there wasn't many then either. So needless to say they pretty much had no crime rate.

Well back on track here with the hound. So Able's dog was left without a master. So when the beast had no master to feed it. It did what came naturally and that was to hunt, and hunt it did. It massacred an entire village before the Fae could figure out how to kill it. Most of the villagers where human but at least three where known to be a Fae of some sort. Well things got interesting from there. Knowing this, they changed the beasts in the ways only a Fae can. They lessened their strength. Oh yes, they use to be stronger," replied Daniel to Brom's shocked expression. "They are strong enough to kill my kind, and almost all maters of magical beasts. Maybe even a lesser fairy who is tired and week, but none of the higher kind. In doing this, they gave them the ability to shift and learn things. Making them a little more human so that they could avoid another massacre. With human thought processes, and behaviors, you get human emotions. So their, so called fix set another ball rolling. That ball was love. The hounds began finding mates and this started fights, because now there was unwanted puppies everywhere. On top of that the mates became inseparable, and when forced apart they began to mysteriously die. Again they refined the breed. They dabbled with shorting their life spans to only a 1000 years to a couple thousand. When they got done, the beast's would age 1 year for every 100. So if you think about it Shaw's Elizabeths age, a ripe 32 years old."

"Reverse dog years," laughed Brom passing Daniel a beer out of the six pack Charles sat beside him.

"I didn't mean to interrupt Daniel, but Ellen sent me over to make sure everything is okay here. She also wanted me to tell you, that Shaw is officially off his rocker," said Charles running a hand through is short red hair.

"Why? What's he done now?"

"It's not what he's done Alpha. It's what he's doing"

Popping the top off the beer he watched Charles fidget with a string on his jacket before asking "What is he doing?"

"Nothing that's out of the ordinary. Well for a normal person, but he's taken over you're bathroom Alpha."

"What's he doing in my bathroom?"

"He's shaving his beard off currently, and then the oddest thing is he plans on taking a shower. I've never known that man to take a bath outside of a swim in the river."

"Daniel I think you better get on with the story. If I'm going to make heads or tails of any of this," said Brom taking a big swig of his draft.

"Is there anything you need me to do alpha," asked Charles running his hand though is hair again.

"No just go make sure he doesn't break anything in my room will ya."

"Yes Sir."

Watching Charles get back on his four-wheeler, Daniel picked up where he left off. "So they changed the beasts again to their liking, but something went majority wrong."

Inthralled in the story Brom found himself on the edge of his seat. Sitting back he asked. "What happen? What went wrong?"

"I couldn't tell you I don't know. All I know is they stopped breeding their Hell Hounds, and they all died out until only the legend remains. No one would even remembers the Hell Hounds had ever existed. Except for the urban legend that still lives on today about them. But even then the story has changed. For if you asked about the Hell Hounds. They would tell you about the hounds of Baskerville that were described in the book written by Arthur Doyle. A solid black hounds that are human dogs. I know the Fae remember them well for they shake in fear when you mention Hell Hounds. Even most of the vampires of my time know of them, but as you know their isn't many ancients left. I believe the fear Shaw installs in my kind has kept me alive this long. For you know any one of them would love to get their hands on my blood."

"That's true. I don't know of any vampires that wouldn't love to play in the sun all day."

"That is very true indeed," laughed Daniel handing Brom his empty bottle.

"So do you think the world has just forgotten what went wrong with the hounds and why they stopped breading them?"

"No I believe the Fae has ripped those pages from the history books."

"But why do you think," replied Brom handing him another beer.

"That, you'd have to ask a High Lord. I think whatever happened scared the shit out of them, and the Fae aren't one to admit that they're scared of anything."

"So how does Shaw play into all of this?"

"When I was changed into a vampire. I was forced to leave my home. To the world I knew I was dead. Of course I couldn't be seen during day light hours and only demons walked around at night, or so they thought. I left my home in the year 804 B.C. or B.C.E depending on your religious preference"

"Where was home if you don't mind me asking?"

"No not at all. I was born and raised as an archer in the village of Roma which is present day Rome. Hard to imagine it as a small village from looking at it today huh," laughed Daniel at Brom's expression. "But it was a very small back then. I had my own house and a wife who was pregnant with our first born. Who grew up to be a fine man. But thats enough about me. Back to Shaw. So I travel all over my known world at that time. Never staying in one village for more then a night. Leaving a trail of bodies behind me like any other new vampire at that time. They didn't teach you the ropes like they do now-a-days. It was sink or swim for me back then, and I learned as I went. One night during my travels I ran across the strangest wolf pup I'd ever met caught in a snare. It was the size of the wolves I'd seen during my travels, but it acted like a puppy would. It couldn't even yip or bark correctly. I walked past it continuing on my way when it started to whine and it try to fallow me. I remember him bouncing at the end of the rope while he whined and tried his hardest to bark at me. When I got far enough away that he couldn't see me any more. Which I have to say was a longer distance then I could see then. He started to do this whining high pitched noise. It reminds me of a person that tries to sing higher then their voice can go and it cracks. The rest of the night my thoughts kept going back to him and my feelings of loss that were still fresh from my wife and my trusty hunting dog.

Before sun rose that morning. I went back for him and cut him loose from the snare. I couldn't at that time understand why he didn't act like most wolves. Wolves are cleaver creatures, and smart enough to begin with not to get caught in a snare. If they were dumb enough to fall pray, they'd just chew through the rope. For the life of me I couldn't understand why this one was so stupid. He couldn't even hunt prey. He scavenged for his food, and most of the time being bigger then the other animals would take theirs."

"He was a fighter even back then huh," laughed Brom.

"He was vicious then. Most of his kills came from picking a fight with something else. I remember one time he ran across this badger. He didn't know what to make of it. He jumped around it yipping and every once in a while he would bat at it with his paws. I wish you could have seen it," laughing so hard he had to pause to catch his breath and whipped is dry eyes as if wiping away absent tears.

Brom figured it was an old habit that didn't quite, even after his tear ducts did and dared not to ask.

"Well the badger got the better of him and bloodied his nose, but needles to say the badger didn't live long enough to learn from his mistake.

I traveled the world for three years before I found Shaw and I found the world a very lonesome place. So when Shaw fallowed in my foot steps I didn't shoe him off, because I enjoyed his company. I liked knowing that when I crawled out of the ground he would be there. If I was lucky and found a cave or an abandoned house to sleep in he was by my side curled up in his little ball of warmth. It took a very long time to get over the urge to feed on him. On many a night when there wasn't any people to eat, which was quit often then. I would seriously contemplate making a quick meal of the idiot wolf. As the year grew on Shaw mentality didn't change, and I thought he was touched in the head. The years flew by and I'd just grown accustom to his antics that I just over looked them. As well as his humungous feet and ears that were five times to big for his body. Fifty years flew by before I thought to stop and think about why Shaw was still alive. I'd heard of the Fae Hell Hounds, but I'd never seen one. So I didn't know that that's what he was. Two hundred years passed and still he was still there. A bit bigger then before, but not enough to really make him abnormal. Just a couple inches taller then you're everyday wolf.

Some time between 600 B.C and 650 B.C, I joined the company of one of my own. He predated me by a hundred years of so and I thought of him like a mentor then. I wish he was still alive, but he got staked sometime in the 14th century, I forget when. Anyway never once did he mention anything about Shaw, and seemed to except him for what he was. Other then that he was very cautious with him. He told me on many occasions I should be rid of him, because I was only asking for trouble. I always told Alexander that he was my friend, and could never think of it. Well one night I'd left Shaw in the woods a few hundred yards from this lone house to go hunting. Shaw had gotten very good at the command stay. I could have put him on a fence post and told him to stay and he'd still be there the next day. I'm getting side tracked again aren't I? Okay, well when I went back to get him I fond this shivering boy in the spot where I'd left him, balling his eyes out. When he heard me approach he looked up at me, and I could tell he'd been crying for a while. His eyes were all red and puffy. He had snot all down his face. He tried to get up and walk toward me, but the kid seemed to not know how his legs worked, and he repeatedly fell.

I didn't know who was more scared, him or me. Actually when I think about it, it was him. I didn't know what to do. I took a quick look around, and when I didn't see Shaw a turned and walked away. The boy started making frantic noises and grunts as he fought desperately to stand and walk. I remember to this day Alex looking at me and saying, "Do you give the term friends so lightly that you'll walk away in their biggest time of need?" It tares at my soul to think I almost left Shaw to die in those woods so long ago."

"So the boy was Shaw," exclaimed Brom absently opening another beer from the edge of his chair.

"Yes, what Alexander had said stumped me at that time causing me to pause and looked at the child. As the wind shifted I could smell Shaw in it, even though only this five year old boy who laid on the ground whaling like a banshee was in sight. "Will you walk off and leave you're friend to freeze to death? If I were you I would, but you claim to love him. Does you're love come and go like the wind?" scolded Alexander. I could see the anger in his eyes and at the time I didn't know why. I was full, so I saw no need to feed on the child and he wasn't my Shaw. I told Alex this. I want you to know that man hit me up side the head with a tree. A tree! When my ears stopped ringing he preached, "Is you're brain working now Daniel of Roma, or do I need to nock some more since into it? That is no pet dog you have there, and it damn sure isn't a wolf!" He didn't use those exact words but that's how it would translate into today language.

Just then it all clicked, the big ears, the overly spiky hair on the shoulders, the big feet, puppy like attitude, the long life span, and finding a crying boy in the spot in which I'd left Shaw. All I could say was they don't exist. They're only legends the elders tell their grandchildren to keep him in their places. Alexander thought this funny and when he stopped laughing he said, "Oh they existed boy. They existed and I'd say he'd be the last of his kind. I'd let him die if I were you." But as you can see I didn't.

I picked him up and packed him to the house of the family me and Alexander had just eradicated. With winter coming on I knew I couldn't travel with a human child and I had no ideal when he'd change back. We stayed there for many a year. Raising the son I would never had gotten any other way, and eating any pour son-a-bitch that happened by my house within a 10 mile radius. The rest is history," finished Daniel siting back in his chair.

"So did Shaw pick his name or did you give it too him," asked Brom as he finally relaxed.

"Nope it was the name I gave him. See I found him just outside of Saint-Clair-Sur-Elle, in La Manche, and in that time gaelic was the primary language for that area. I asked a man once who spoke my language somewhat, how to say wolf in his language. His reply was Sèitheach which later got shortened to Shaw. So he was Sèitheach of Saint-Clair-sur-Elle. As time went on and your origins became your last name Shaw became Sèitheach St. Clair. He changed it to StClair when he went off on his own and settled in Scotland where the sheep where plenty and the women beautiful."

"So how is it you have the last name of Black instead of Roma?"

"Yeah, and how many people do you know has the last name of Roma? I know I know of none. So I adopted the last name of Black after my black pet Hell Hound," laughed Daniel standing up and clapping Brom on the back. "Well my friend I'm off to bed. I would seriously consider calling that Hight Lord you're so found of. She might spill the beans on what happened with the Hell Hounds so long ago. We might want to know before Miss Marshall wines up pregnant and we're all going oh shit now what do we do."

"Do you really think he's that serious? I mean this isn't the first girl he's fancied right," asked Brom picking up his empty six pack and walking to the edge of the porch with Daniel.

"Oh no he's fancied many a girl, but this is the first his wolf ever wanted to sleep with repeatedly. You can't forget he's been coming here every night and if you haven't noticed he's marked his territory. Laying claim to this house, and you mustn't forget he just asked you for a razor. As long as you've known him, when has he ever done anything to please anyone besides me."

"That's true. So is he still mad about you forcing him to live with me?"

Shaking his head Daniel seemed to drift off into memory. "He knows not to anger the Fae. Even if you think he's arrogant and believes no one is his match, he knows different. He's encountered the Fae Hunters once in his life. He knows they can hurt him and for that reason only. He doesn't wish to anger them."

Not even taking the time to think about what a Hunter is or how they can harm Shaw. Brom said, "I'll call Ashley." For he knew the answer to Daniel's questions could only be answered by her.

Walking into the house Brom found Carlton in Miss Marshall's guest bedroom fast asleep in the high back chair that sat in the corner. Elizabeth's house guest was still unconscious on the bed with a IV tied to one of the bed posts. "You can go home Brom. I think I can handle everything from here. Both girls are drugged and sleeping soundly."

Turing is attentions back to his long time friend. Brom smiled, "Yeah I should head home and see what's left of my bathroom."

"Why? What happened to it?"

"Shaw's currently occupying it."

"I'm not even going to ask. I still don't know why you agreed to take that feral animal under you're roof."

Running a hand through his hair. Brom looked down at the floor for a minute trying to put a lot of things into words in which couldn't be read into. "The Fae want's Shaw domesticated, because they don't want to see him dead. Ashley thought if anyone could do it, it'd be me. I can't really refuse the High Lords now can I."

"More like you can't refuse Ashley," joked Carlton before running Brom off.

Walking into his house, Brom could hear Ellen having a coronary from the front door.

Brom's house was a beautiful house made up of equal part logs and stone. He had the room to house large functions that couldn't be held at his lodge due to it's human guests. He could room any where from 6 to 12 people depending on how comfortable everyone was with each other. For every room in the house had it's own shower and common area in which the couch pulled out into a bed. His room was farthest from the front door, and he could hear every word Ellen was saying as if she was yelling it in the living room.

Taking a deep breath he straightened his back, held his head up high, and hoped for the best. Finding all the furniture where he's left it this morning was the high point when he stepped into his room. The down side was every drawer he owned was turned upside down and the contents where strolled all about his floor. Ellen was red faced standing just outside the closet door while articles of clothing flew past her head. Her hands where so tightly balled that she shook. Brom wondered if she was on the verge on an aneurism. "Ellen," said Brom walking over to her.

But when she didn't acknowledge he'd even spoken he decided to amp up the volume a little and yelled, "ELLEN!"

Drawing her attention, Brom's jaw hit the floor as Shaw walked out of the closet wearing nothing but his skin. It wasn't the nudity that made him stand their gawking like an idiot. It was the fact the Shaw had bathed, his hair was brushed and neatly pleated in a single braid, and his face was as bare as a baby's bottom.

Seeing that it was him, Shaw went back to his rummaging. "Alpha I'm so sorry. I tried to stop him. I really did. I've been yelling at him for the past half hour. I can't believe I'm not horse from it, but he doesn't listen! He never listens!"

Taking Ellen's shoulders into both his hands he looked her in the eyes and said softly, "Breath Ellen. Just breath. Everything is fine. It's not as bad I though really. I expected him to nick himself and demolish all the furniture, but hey it's all still in one piece."

"But Alpha-"

"No butts," said Brom sternly pointing a finger at her. "How about you take one of the cars and go see you're sister. You haven't seen here in a couple weeks."

"There's no way I could leave you with him in the state he's in. I swear to God Brom he's lost it for sure this time."

Shaking his head Brom tried to not to laugh at Ellen's hysteria. "Yes you will, and no he hasn't. Go on with you Ellen and that's an order."

Growling Ellen stomped her way out of the room just as Shaw leaped out of the closet and shoved a pair of grey slacks in Brom's face. "These! Do you have any more of these? These are two small. I figured we where the same size other then you're shorter but I tried them on and I canna get them buttoned."

Taking the slacks from Shaw he looked at the stranger in his bedroom. If he hadn't of known he was Shaw. He would have thought someone had broken into his house. "No but what about the jeans I bought you. Did they not fit?"

"Aye they fit my waist alright, but my man parts felt like they were being sawed in half. Those things gave them no room for breath'en, they didn't. No way a man could wear those blooming things an walk about."

"Well you're going to have to wear them if you're wanting a pair of slacks."

"Are you bloody mad man! You wont be catching me in that torture trap again," growled Shaw pointing toward the bath room where he guessed Shaw had shucked his clothes.

"Well if you want to go to town and get a pair of these you will, because you can't go like that," said Brom gesturing to indicated his lack of clothing.

"Holy shit what happened- Oh God!"

Turning toward the bedroom door, Brom saw the back of Donna's head as she scurried out. "What is it Donna," called Brom after her.

"Um it's okay Brom. I didn't mean to bother you from the looks of it you've got you're hands full," said Donna from the hallway somewhere out of sight.

"Well not really. Shaw would like some slacks, but he's not willing to wear blue jeans, so that we can go to town and get him some. So what cha got going on," replied Brom tossing the slacks over his shoulder and heading toward the hallway.

Chewing her fingernail Donna looked at the toe of Brom's boot refusing to meet his gaze. "Um, did you get a chance to talk to Beth? Um, how mad at me is she? She's not to mad right?"

"Well no. I really didn't get a chance to talk to her much before she kind of kicked me out of the house. Then this morning everything else went down. If you're this worried just go talk to her."

"Nah I wouldn't bother," said Shaw from somewhere in Brom's closet. "You hurt her feelings, because she considered you her friend. But almost all of the anger is toward Brom for make'n ye be his lackey. She kens you are her friend, and she understands how it is to fallow orders. I wouldna worry about it kid'o, but I would give it a couple of days to let the stinging go away. I like this."

"Now what do you have," groaned Brom walking back into his room.

Rushing in behind Brom, Donna blurted. "How do you know all that? Did she talk to you?"

"I like this shirt, but alass it's to small," said Shaw walking out with a button down shirt on that wasn't wide enough for his broad shoulders.

"What Shaw isn't telling you. Is that Elizabeth confided all of this to a wolf type dog who's been pretending to be a pet."

Giving Brom an evil look, Shaw flexed every muscle he had in his chest and back. Bringing his arms together he ripping Brom's shirt down the back. "That's all right by me. I never wore the damn thing to begin with. And unless you stop dicking around and get those blue jeans on. We're not going to be able to get you any shirts or slacks today. You'll still be wearing those ratty ass clothes this evening. When we go back to her house to figure out what where going to do with Miss Feline who's there."

Acting like a little kid Shaw threw the ripped shirt to the floor with more force then necessary. He stomped across the bedroom kicking at every article of clothing that sat in the floor between him and the jeans. Grumbling to himself Shaw pulled his jeans on before he growled, "Are ye happy?"

"No not really. You still need that shirt I gave you and some shoes. When you're dressed I'll be outside waiting."

Grabbing Donna's arm Brom pulled her out of the room telling her to shush every time she tried to speak. Once they were outside, Donna looked at him awestruck? "How did you just do that? From the way mom and dad talk about him he's a wild card. No one tells him what to do. Not even you alpha. They say the Fae can't control him either, even though he's part Fae right?"

"I'm not even getting into the Fae subject with you, but he seems to really like Elizabeth. I don't know what she's said to him, but it sure has done a number. If she's the one pon I need to check mate the king. I'm so using it and milking it for all its worth. She can hate me for the next six centuries for all I care. If it makes my job easier. Get in," said Brom opening the back door of his truck.

"Why? Where am I going," asked Donna crawling into the back of Brom's king cab.

"Yeah, like I'm any good at shopping. Ellen buys all of my clothes and I'll be damned if I'm doing this adventure on my own. I think it would be easier taking the devil shopping."

It wasn't long before everyone was in the truck heading to town. Pulling into a parking spot Brom ushered Shaw and the whining Donna into the local clothing store. To be honest it was the only clothing store in town and luckily it was pack owned. As the bell rang it alerted the clerk of their presence. Saying a silent prayer Brom cursed the devil as the only human employee of Betty's Boutique and Apparel walked toward them. "Good morning Brom," beamed Mary giving Shaw the goo-goo eyes. "And who's your friend?"

"He's not available Mary, and I'm doing fine thank you."

"Donna will you direct Shaw to the mens section. So Mary, is Betty in?"

Taking Shaw by the arm Donna weaved her way through the racks of clothes grumbling about how much she dislike that women. Raffling through several racks of clothes she turned to Shaw. "So what size pants do you wear?"

"Tis' the size that fits lass."

"If he doesn't know I'd be more then happy to measure him," chimed in Mary batting her eye lashes at Shaw.

"Ugh," complained Donna as Mary flirtatiously rapped her tape measure around Shaw waist.

Making sure she bent over enough so that he could get a good look at her cleavage. "He doesn't care at all for blue jeans Mary. So we need to find him some slacks or more than likely anything cloth," stated Brom shooting Donna a look that said behave.

"I have just the right thing for you big boy," said Mary lustily running a finger down Shaw's chest.

Directing them over to a shelf full of Kaki's. Pulling one off the shelf she handed it to Shaw. "Here you go darlen try these on."

Shrugging Shaw undid the button of his jeans before Brom grabbed the jeans. "Not here you oaf."

Dragging him to the dressing room before forcing the pants into his hand and shoving him in. Closing the door behind him Brom said, "Now you can change."

"Well now, wasn't that interesting," giggled Mary tossing two more pair of pants into Donna's hands.

If looks could kill, Mary would have been dead from the look Donna was giving her. "So do you like those," called Brom through the door.

"They are better then that torturing device you made me squeeze into, but these are still confining. My member still can't breath, and I don't like the way my jewels are pressed so close to my body."

Mouthing the words jewels and member to Brom, Donna blushed when Brom grabbed himself. Grabbing the Kaki's out of Donna's hand Mary handed them to Brom. "Have him try these on. They might be better on his treasured area's."

Acting like she was gagging herself. Donna left Brom and Mary to do her own browsing. Coming across a rack of J Ferrar flat front dress pants, Donna paused and wondered. Pulling a par off the rack she started shifting through their other selections.

Grabbing a couple more by Stafford and Haggar, she toted her finds back to Brom who was shoving the naked Shaw back into the dressing room. "No you can't come out yet!"

Leaning against the door Brom smiled at an old women who promptly hung up the pants she was looking at and headed for the door. "What on earth is going on over here Brom? You're running my business off, and Mary is almost in tears?"

"Well good morning to you to Betty?"

Holding her arms out to the door guard, Donna said shyly "Here he might like these better."

"I'm through try'en on you're bloody pants. It's not worth all this," growled Shaw through the door with venom coating his last words.

"These are not like the others Shaw. I think it's what you're looking for, and I think Elizabeth will like them," said Donna.

Brom shut the door on Shaw again as he tried to exit, filling the store with a menacing growl. "Brom I swear by Oden! If ye be shout'en this bloody door in me face again I'm ripping it off da hinges."

"By God Brom! You did not bring that beast into my store," gasped Betty as her face lost color.

"Yes I did, and Shaw if you'd stop trying to walk out in you're birthday suit I wouldn't be shutting the door in you're face. It's not expectable to walk around naked in this day in age." Tossing the pants Donna had on her arms into the room he closed the door quickly. "Try those last one's and if they are not to you're liking. I'm sorry but I can't help you."

"Fine but how the hell am I to get in them when there is this plastic things stuck to them," shouted Shaw as his angry voice reverberated throughout the store.

Smacking himself in the face, Brom just hung his head. "They're called hangers Shaw. They pull right off," said Donna picking up where the words had escaped Brom.

"He's not serious is he? Tell me he's not."

"Oh yes Betty he is," answered Brom. "You know as well as anyone that he prefers is wolf form over his human one. Always has and you should know that. He hasn't stepped foot into the human world since the early 1800's. Why do you think he still wears those ridicules clothes."

"I don't know about these either."

Shoving Brom out of the way, Betty flung the door open. "And what's wrong with those," she snapped. "You've tried on almost every pare of pants in this store!"

Spinning around in the mirror Shaw pointed at the cardboard that was stuck to the waist line of the pants. "This thing kind'a dig's in. I doona know if I could stand that all day."

Stepping into the fitting room, Betty leaned around him and ripped the tag off the pants. "Fine is that better?"

"Lovely thank you," replied Shaw gazing at himself in the mirror. "So are we done?"

"No you have to try on the other pairs Donna got for you."

Picking the other pants up out of the floor Betty tossed them into Brom's hands. Pulling the hangers off the other pants Donna had, Betty muttered to herself. Tossing them on the chair in the dressing room, Betty pointed at them before closing the door behind her. "And Shaw the other pants have the same thing on them. Those cardboard size tags are removable."

Poking his head out of the door Shaw looked between the three of them. "Why do I need to try those ones? When this pair here fits?"

"Because it's about time you started acting like a human instead of a dog Shaw," snapped Betty folding her arms..

Nodding in agreement Donna added, "In today's world you wear a new set of clothes everyday. I mean have you seen Elizabeth were the same clothes two day's in a row? On top of that she wont like you if you seem unclean. I mean have you seen her house it's spotless. So she takes cleanliness seriously."

"Vampires don't care if they wear the same clothes for 100 years or more, because they can lore women to them with their vampire mojo. You on the other hand don't have that power. So you'll have to do it the human way my friend, and that starts with clothes," stated Brom pushing Shaw's head back into the room and once again closing the door on him.