Dusk & Dawn

Part I

Today was the first day for Kira as the main act, and to say she was nervous, was an understatement. She was shaking like she did the first time she danced as a stripper, made worse by the uneasy feeling of impending doom she'd been battling since around eight in the evening. She kept repeating Abi's version of comforting words in her head, pacing backstage, trying to control her erratic breathing. It had been four months since that fateful day in the hospital room, and this was her thirty-sixth time stripping.

She found out that she would be the main act about a week ago, which shocked both her and Abi because usually, no one who has been doing this for less than a year gets that opportunity. She somehow managed to do it in three months.

"You're a bad bitch okay? And you deserve this. Don't worry about nothing. You got this." Was the last thing Abi said to Kira before she went on stage ahead of her. She was anxious for Kira, made worse when she saw just how terrified she looked, but she knew just how capable Kira was. She always managed to surprise her when it came to picking up skills.

Today, Abi would be one of the minor acts, which meant she had a full working night. This also meant a full recovery day tomorrow, but she didn't care, as long as she was making money.

Kira kept at her breathing exercises, trying to ensure she remembered the routine perfectly. She wore a pink and white lingerie set, complete with a corset and fluffy mini-skirt, under a pink, mid-thigh coat, and knee-high white socks with black heels. She wore a blue wig tied in pigtails to complete the look, resembling a sexy anime girl, per her boss' request.

"And lastly, welcome our innocent Diamond." One of the other women announced from the booth at the back of the dark club, and a spotlight focused on where Kira was supposed to exit. Her music started. She took one last deep breath and exited, immediately beginning her 'innocent' girl act.

If there's anything Kira was good at, it was hiding emotion. Nobody could tell she was nervous in the least bit, let alone that she was battling a feeling she couldn't explain. She 'accidentally' dropped her coat on the way to the pole, driving some of the men crazy, throwing money on stage, cheering and screaming vulgarities and requests at her. She was used to this type of behaviour at this point, given her experience as a minor act, so she continued on unfazed. It gave her an odd sense of comfort, and washed off her nerves, but the uneasy feeling got worse by the second. Nonetheless, she started her routine, making it to the pole.

At the back of the club, however, sat a tall, large, muscular man, staring right at Kira, and holding back his urge to get on stage and take her right then. He unconsciously kept repeating the word 'mate', his foot tapping the ground rapidly, a fisted hand resting on his thigh, clenching harder and harder by the second.

"Alpha, don't you think maybe we should leave? We could always come back after-" His companion cut himself off as soon as his glare turned to him, shrinking into his seat even though he wasn't much smaller than the man. The man's eyes turned back to the stage, a complex mix of emotions hitting him. He was seethingly angry, filled with admiration for her beauty, turned on, yet felt guilt. He felt that she shouldn't have to work at a place like this, that he failed as a mate, even though there's no way he could've known.

When he picked up on her scent earlier that afternoon, he couldn't have imagined that this is what he would find. He downed the cup of whiskey he had in his hand, putting the glass on the table. And to think the only reason why they ended up there was because their usual route had construction work being done on it. Had the club been any further from the gas station, he wouldn't have known any better.

"You know, if you like her so much you can book her." One of the women said, approaching their table. She wore nothing but lingerie. The man's companion turned to her as she flipped her hair, batting her eyelashes at him, flirting. "Or me." She said, pressing her breasts together.

"How?" The companion asked. She leaned to his ear.

"Go to the back office there." She pointed to a red door across the club. The man stood up as soon as she said that, charging his way through the crowds without a second thought. He knew they were going to be late for the meeting of the packs, but there's no way he was about to leave. Not after he found her.

Kira's routine took about an hour, and by the time she was done, she was down to just her panties, socks and heels, with her nipples covered by pink nipple pasties. She strutted off stage, the uneasy feeling still lingering.

"Oh my gosh you were amazing!" Abi bombarded Kira as soon as she made it backstage, hugging her. Kira chuckled, ensuring she didn't lose her balance from being tackled. She was relatively tall, so Abi full height was to her mouth. They both were wearing six-inch heels that night, so their height difference wasn't any different than usual. Abi let her go and quickly handed her the towel she was holding. Kira immediately started wiping her sweat off. "I checked the roster for you. You have bookings in rooms one, four and five."

That's how the club worked. If any of the customers found any of the women attractive, they had the ability to book them for thirty minutes in the private rooms. There was only one strict rule, no hands. No matter what, the customers couldn't touch the women, but they could ask for requests, and it was up to the women what they wanted to do. Outside every door was a bodyguard. As soon as any of the girls screamed, they'd help.

Kira nodded at Abi, handing the towel back to her. "We're leaving at four AM right?" She asked, and Abi nodded, already heading back to the main area, intending to serve more customers. It was part of her duty as a minor act. They had to act as waitresses and go on stage occasionally to dance for them.

"Tara is going to come get us." Kira nodded, heading to the private room area. The uneasiness didn't leave her. In fact, it got worse the closer she got to the first room.

"Hi Dave." She greeted the guard at the first door. He nodded, handing her the water bottle he held in his hand. She took it, gulping down the water in an instant.

"Stacy is coming with the rest of your costume in a minute. She said she'll leave your money in your locker under your clothes." Dave was referring to the money the customers threw on stage for her. She nodded just as Stacy came with the costume and money in hand, practically throwing the costume at her. Kira quickly caught the costume as she greeted Stacy, who threw a quick hi and continued rushing to the locker room. She was the owner's niece, and had to make sure everything was running smoothly, which meant no time for conversation.

Kira took another minute to catch her breath and pull everything on, before she nodded at Dave. She was still trying to calm herself from the uneasy feeling, and nothing was working, but she decided she going to do this regardless of how she felt.

He opened the door for her, and she strutted in, turning and closing the door, making sure to stick her ass out as she did so. She slowly turned around, one of her hands still on the handle of the door. She would later thank the heavens she kept that hand on the door handle because as soon as she made eye contact, her entire equilibrium shifted.

A/N: An angry Alpha... What could go wrong?