Kev woke up, the world a dull roar in his ears. His head throbbed like a bass drum, each beat echoing the memory of a car barreling towards him. He blinked, trying to focus on his surroundings. This wasn't his room. This wasn't his bed.
The space was small, cramped even, a studio apartment crammed into what felt like a forgotten corner of a grander structure. A single window, veiled by heavy drapes, offered a sliver of moonlight light, mixing with a lantern on the table, painting the room in a murky twilight. The air hung heavy with the scents of aged wood and something oddly metallic, a far cry from the clean linen smell of his own bed.
Kev sat up, the movement sending a fresh wave of pain through his skull. He winced, gingerly touching the back of his head. No blood, at least. He looked down at himself, confusion mounting. He was dressed in someone else's clothes, a half buttoned suit jacket and a pair of oversized slacks.
A sound from outside the door startled him, a low, guttural growl that sent shivers down his spine. The door creaked open, revealing a towering figure silhouetted against the dim hallway light. As the figure stepped into the room, Kev's breath hitched in his throat.
It was a... man? Tall and broad-shouldered, but his features were... different. Sharp, lupine ears poked through thick, dark... fur? And his eyes, glowing amber in the dim light, held a predatory intensity. The lips pulling back from his long snout showed his long canine teeth, displaying his full wolven nature. Yet, he was dressed impeccably in a tailored suit. The air around him crackled with a raw, animalistic energy.
"Ah, you're awake," the man said, his voice a deep rumble. "Good. We have much to discuss."
Kev's heart hammered in his chest. Where was he? Who was this man? And why did he feel like he'd just stepped into a nightmare?
The wolfman was a striking figure, a stark contrast of refined elegance and untamed power. His grey fur, neatly groomed, blended seamlessly with the charcoal grey of his tailored suit. Sharp, polished shoes clicked against the wooden floor with each deliberate step he took. His face, framed by thick, dark fur, was that of a savage beast.
He stopped a few feet from the bed, his amber eyes fixing on Kev with a piercing intensity. He opened his mouth to deliver a sharp, dismissive command, the words already forming in his mind. But then he truly saw the creature before him, saw the pale skin, the slight frame, and most of all, the terrified blue eyes that stared back at him
Something in fang's chest seized. The anger, the impatience, it all just vanished, replaced by a strange, hollow ache in his chest, something he hadn't felt since he was a pup. Those blue eyes were a ghost, some memory that tickled at the wolfman's oldest thoughts.
A moment of stunned silence hung in the air as the two stared at each other.
"What are you?" the wolfman finally asked. Even to his own ears, his voice sounded different. The sharp edge of authority was gone, replaced by a low growl that held bewilderment instead of menace.
Kev, initially paralyzed by fear, felt a wave of absurdity wash over him, momentarily overriding his terror. He stood up, his legs wobbling slightly. "My name is Kev," he managed to say, his voice raspy. "I... I'm not sure where I am."
The wolfman frowned, his brow furrowing. "I was told you bumped your head on the journey here," he said, his tone laced with a hint of impatience. "But that doesn't explain... this." He gestured vaguely at Kev's form. "What are you?" he repeated, his voice hardening.
Kev's confusion deepened. "I'm... human?" he offered tentatively, unsure if that was even the right answer in this strange place.
The wolfman let out a low, humorless chuckle. "Human?" he echoed, his lips curling into a sneer. "You look more like some kind of... monkey-pig hybrid."
The wolfman's eyes remained locked on Kev, his gaze unwavering. A nervous laugh escaped Kev's lips. "Human, since the day I was born," he confirmed, his voice shaking slightly under the scrutiny.
"They were supposed to hire someone... exotic," the wolfman grumbled, more to himself than to Kev. "But I've never even heard of a 'human'." He sighed, a heavy sound that seemed to carry the weight of his frustration. He brought a paw to his face, rubbing his temples as if trying to ward off a headache.
With a visible effort, he shook off his annoyance and straightened his posture. "Forgive my rudeness," he said, his voice regaining its earlier composure. "My name is Fang, and I am the owner of this establishment." He gestured around the room with a sweep of his hand, though the gesture seemed out of place in the cramped space. "Welcome to Club Fang."
"As my new personal assistant," Fang continued, his voice taking on a practiced cadence, "your duties will include managing my schedule, handling my correspondence, and ensuring the smooth operation of my... personal life." He paused, his eyes lingering on Kev's form. Despite his initial surprise, Fang couldn't deny a flicker of interest. The human was undeniably attractive, his slim build and delicate features a stark contrast to the burly beastmen Fang was accustomed to. Interesting, at the very least.
Kev listened intently, though his mind was reeling. A wolfman, a nightclub owner, a personal assistant... It was all too absurd, too fantastical. He felt like he'd stumbled into a bizarre fever dream, a world where the lines between reality and fiction had blurred.
Fang, catching Kev's wide-eyed stare, faltered in his speech. The human's gaze was unnerving, a mix of fear and fascination that sent a strange thrill through him. He cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. "As I was saying..." he began, but the words trailed off. His thoughts scattered, replaced by a sudden, primal awareness of the human standing before him.
A giddy, almost awkward feeling settled over Fang. The human's unwavering attention was doing strange things to him, stirring emotions he hadn't felt in ages. He was the owner of a notorious nightclub, a purveyor of debauchery and indulgence, and yet here he was, flustered by a new hire. It was absurd.
Kev, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, broke the silence. "What kind of club do you run, Mr. Fang?" he asked, his voice tentative.
Fang's grin returned, sharp and predatory. "The kind of establishment where anyone can come and indulge their desires without fear," he said, his voice dropping to a low purr. "A place where inhibitions are shed, and fantasies become reality."
"That sounds..." Kev hesitated, searching for the right word. "Intriguing."
"It is," Fang agreed. "But it also requires certain... precautions." His grin widened. "This is an electronics-free establishment. We have proprietary systems in place to ensure that what happens within these walls stays within these walls. No pictures, no videos, no phones."
Kev's eyes widened in surprise. "That's... impressive," he admitted. He'd never encountered anything like this back on Earth.
Fang chuckled, a low, rumbling sound. "These days, if it isn't on camera, it isn't real," he observed. "We allow people to shed their fear of being canceled, of being shamed. If someone outside speaks about this place, it's merely hearsay."
A flicker of curiosity crossed Kev's face. "But is it practical?" he asked. "I mean, it must be hard to keep a club going with no music or lights."
Fang's laughter boomed through the room, a deep, resonant sound that sent a shiver down Kev's spine. "Oh, we have music and lights, my dear human," he said, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Just not the electronic kind."
He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Torches and strings, mostly. It's very... medieval. Helps one get into a more primal mindset, wouldn't you agree?"
Fang's tail, previously still, began to wag subtly behind him as he continued. "The kitchen, the bar... everything is done without electricity. It's a challenge, but it adds to the unique atmosphere of the place." He paused, a sly grin spreading across his face. "And it certainly keeps things... interesting."
Kev's interest was piqued. "Can I have a tour?" he asked, his eyes wide with curiosity, a spark of adventure momentarily overshadowing his earlier trepidation.
Fang's gaze flicked towards the door, and his tail, which had been wagging gently, stilled abruptly. "Perhaps not until the morning," he said, a hint of hesitation creeping into his voice. The truth was, he was reluctant to expose Kev to the full extent of the club's activities just yet. It was a world of uninhibited desires and primal instincts, a far cry from the mundane reality Kev seemed to have come from.
He frowned, taking in the cramped, outdated room. It was hardly a fitting accommodation for his new personal assistant, especially one who looked so out of place in this world of beastmen. "Besides," he added, "we should get you a better room. This one is... subpar." It was far too close to some of the club's more... adventurous playrooms. He didn't want to overwhelm the human, or worse, scare him away on his first day.
Such a delicate creature, Fang thought, his mind wandering. My personal assistant should be closer to my own chambers, where I can keep a watchful eye.
Kev reached for the doorknob. Fang reacted instinctively, lunging forward and pushing the door closed with sudden speed. Their hands overlapped on the cool surface, Kev's small, delicate hand dwarfed by Fang's large, calloused one. A jolt of electricity shot through Kev at the unexpected contact, and he looked up at Fang, his eyes wide with surprise, a blush creeping onto his cheeks.
The door refused to budge, the knob turning uselessly in Kev's hand. They were trapped.
"We could just yell for help," Kev suggested, his voice a mix of nervousness and practicality.
Fang scoffed, turning away. "That would likely go ignored this time of night," he said, a growl rumbling in his chest. Frustration gnawed at him. He had a club to run, deals to close, and here he was, stuck in a cramped room with a human who seemed to have fallen out of the sky.
He paced the small space, his agitation growing with each step. Kev, sensing the tension, offered a tentative solution. "If you want the bed, I can..."
Fang's gaze snapped towards the bed, then to Kev, a flicker of something primal flashing in his amber eyes. The truth was, he wanted Kev far more than he wanted the bed. But he couldn't, not yet. Not when the human was so clearly out of his depth.
He shook his head, pushing the thought aside. "I'll sleep on the floor for a few hours," he said gruffly. "We can yell for help in the morning. Someone on the cleaning crew is bound to find us."
Kev nodded, relief washing over him. He climbed into the bed, careful not to make any sudden movements that might upset the volatile wolfman. He closed his eyes, the exhaustion of the day finally catching up with him. Kev prayed that sleep would claim him and when he woke up this would all be a strange fading dream.
Fang watched him for a moment, a complex mix of emotions swirling within him and snuffed the lantern.
"Good night," he said softly, before settling down on the floor, his large form curling up surprisingly small in the corner.
The silence stretched, punctuated only by the soft rhythm of Kev's breathing. But the stillness was deceptive. Fang, lying on the hard floor, fidgeted restlessly. The years had taken their toll, and his body ached in protest. He was no longer the spry young wolf he once was.
After what felt like an eternity, he couldn't take it anymore. With a sigh of resignation, he rose from the floor and carefully climbed onto the bed beside Kev. The human remained still, his breathing even, feigning sleep.
A blush warmed Fang's cheeks. "The floor is... unforgiving," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "Forgive the intrusion."
He settled behind Kev, his large body spooning the smaller one. The warmth and softness of the bed were a welcome relief, and he closed his eyes, sleep claiming him almost instantly.
Kev, trapped between the wall and the massive wolfman, felt his heart pound in his chest. The scent of Fang's fur, a mix of musk and something uniquely him, filled his senses. Despite the awkwardness of the situation, a strange sense of comfort settled over him. He closed his eyes, the warmth of Fang's body a soothing presence in the darkness. Sleep, when it came, was surprisingly peaceful.