Wolves and Men

Aisha was half black. Her skin was darker in the black lights than it was naturally. Her dark hair had been straightened, with her bangs hanging low over half of her face. She did have extensions but they were modest and most people wouldn’t be able to tell they were even there. Her arms rippled with muscles that she spent many hours in the gym sculpting. Her original goal had been to dance to fund her body building career. He had changed her mind about that. Now she danced to fund her education in animal behavior and psychology, specializing in wolves and other wild dogs.

“Aisha,” Kenneth said. “How are you tonight my student?”

The girl smiled. Her smile was a point of true beauty on her. She could have any man with that smile. “I am very well tonight, Instructor. Thank you.”

Kenneth smiled back at her. “Aisha, you know why I’m here. Please go get your funds.”

The girl stood up and moved away from the table back to the dressing room. Why hadn’t Chloe told her to just bring the money with her? This was a waste of time for both of them. He would have to remind Chloe that his time was not something to be wasted.

After a few aggravating minutes Aisha returned. She too handed him a small blue leather pouch. This pouch was filled with one’s, tens’, some five-dollar bills, and some twenties. He glanced up at his student. “How much Aisha?”

The girl looked down at the table trying to hide her smile. “Instructor, I was able to make over nine thousand this month so after paying all my bills I have just over five thousand to give to you.”

Kenneth nodded curtly. It was an average amount. Aisha had never been one of his big money makers. Her body building worked against her, especially with her reduced breast size. Muscular women seemed to intimidate men for some reason. Still five thousand was a pretty good amount for her.

He zipped the pouch closed. “Very good my student. How are your studies going?”

She said, “We just started into the pack mentality and how that it affects wolves and other pack animals. We were introduced to the idea that the Alpha as the pack leader is not necessarily a dominator but without him the pack structure falls apart. Wolves actually have more of a family based dynamic than first supposed in the early sixties. We studied the possible repercussions that could have psychologically on single animals in captivity and how we could use that to better understand wolves in captivity and accurately compare them to wolves still in the wild.”

“Would that knowledge help to understand, say howls and communication?” Kenneth asked.

Aisha pursed her full lips. “No, I don’t think so. Wolf howls are unique and are only a small part of a very intricate communication system of body language, scent produced through their glands. The wolf howls might be imitated but wolves don’t respond to them. They know their own kind too well to be fooled by recorded howls or noises or human imitations.”

Kenneth smiled and patted her hand. “I suppose not. Keep studying Aisha, I expect you to graduate at the top of your class.” He leaned toward her locking her gaze with his. “I demand it.” Aisha’s face went slack and her eyes glossed over, and she nodded obediently.

“Good girl,” he said as he pulled out two empty blue leather pouches. “Now give one of these to Chloe.” He scanned the room for the girl who had just gotten off stage. “Who is the girl who was just on stage?”

Aisha didn’t move. Her voice was soft and demure her eyes still glazed over. “I don’t know Instructor. She has only worked here a few times. I haven’t spoken with her.”

Kenneth shook his head. He stood up, leaving a twenty on the table. He scanned the club one last time for the girl. He didn’t see her. Well, there would be time enough for her later. He walked out of the club with the money in his suit jacket pocket, leaving Aisha at the table staring blankly at nothing.

Kenneth made his rounds to three other of his clubs. When all was said and done he had close to twenty thousand dollars. Not too bad for a night and he still had three other clubs to visit. But it was getting late. By the time Michael pulled into the drive-in front of his home the sky was brightening. In less than an hour the sun would peek over the horizon. He made his way inside to go to bed.

He found Natalia waiting for him at the foot of the stairs. He cocked his head to the side. “What is it?”

The girl looked at the wall beside him and said, “The Elder is asking for you,” she stated quietly.

He stopped and thought for a moment. What kind of game is she playing at now? “Did she say why?” he asked.

“No, she didn’t. Just before I gave her the usual dosage, she asked to see you. That was last night. I tried to tell you then, but you were asleep by the time I came back up here.” She held her arm in front of her chest, looking anywhere but at her mate.

Kenneth nodded and rubbed his chin. She was smart, too smart to do anything without a purpose in mind. He was certain all she wanted was more time with him so she could try to do what she had tried yesterday. Even in that cage she was more dangerous than he originally gave her credit for. He wouldn’t make the same mistake again.

“I don’t want you giving the Elder her dosage anymore. Have Michael or one of my slaves come over and do it.”

Natalia balked at the rebuke. “I can handle it, Kenneth I don’t need some slave doing everything for mm…”

Kenneth grabbed her by the chin and squeezed her cheeks painfully. “Listen to me very carefully, mate! You don’t question my motives or my orders; you obey and do as I tell you to. Do you understand?!” Natalia nodded her head. “Good.” He let go of her. “Now, I have to go visit the dogs. I expect you to be gone and working on those texts we talked about.” She started to protest but Kenneth stopped her with a glare. “Do not question me, Natalia! Or would you like to end up as a club whore for a month?” Natalia’s eyes went wide. She shook her head violently. “Leave,” he said his voice was ice cold.

After his mate left, he looked around the house. There was not a whole lot to do. The Elder downstairs was proving to be more of a nuisance than she was worth. He couldn’t get close enough to her to break her. Was there a way to do it remotely?