Chapter 8

• ~Foxy~
• The next night at the club, I’m getting ready for my new dance and my costume looks amazing. Smiling at myself in the mirror, I know the crowd is going to love it. I love burlesque nights because it makes me feel pretty and I get to do more than just take off my clothes. It’s a performance and I get to show off real dance skills.
• For tonight’s costume, I went for a wild fox meets Little Red Riding Hood theme. I have a whole naughty forest bad girl look going on. Mom helps me make my costumes, even though she hates the idea of me working in this place, but she’s the best seamstress on Blue Moon Ridge. Dancing makes me a living, so until I get a better offer, this is all I got.
• There’s something about the idea of me being a wild that gets the pack wolves all hot and bothered, so they pay good in tips. I guess it’s the idea that wild girls are better in bed. I haven’t had a boyfriend in four years, so I have no idea if I’m wild in bed or not. I didn’t exactly get to explore my sexual side when I was messing around with high school boys back in my wild child days.
• My poor parents had a handful raising me. I was so out of control back then, but I was just rebellious because of being lonely and having no friends. I was just wanting some attention, even if it wasn’t for the best reasons. Truth is, I’m still lonely, but at least I’ve learned to direct my frustrations into dance instead of getting into trouble all the time.
• As I’m watching the girl who went on before me finishing her dance, I’m so excited about my new performance. I’ve been pacing the floor backstage, trying to get in the zone. I’ve worked so hard for this that I’m shaking with excitement and my ears keep flicking. The crowd is hot tonight, so tips should be good.
• After the girl exits the stage, she shoulder-checks me with a smug grin. “Top that, Foxy.”
• Shaking my head, I want to slap her, but it’s not worth the drama. It’s not much different here than it is in the pack houses. I’m the underdog backstage, and just responding to them draws more unwanted attention, so I should bite my tongue.
• When I hear the announcer cueing up my spot, I get ready to go on stage. I’m so jazzed about this that I’m shaking, and my tail just started wagging. Red is ready too, I guess.
• Let’s do this, girl!
• “… Let’s give a big round of applause for Ms. Kitty Lane!... Now, it’s time for our headlining act of the evening. From deep in the Redwood Forest comes a wild animal that can scratch that itch and leave you begging for more. Roll over boys because this girl is ready to give those belly rubs and get you… Red. Hot. And. Wild! And now, welcome to the stage, our own red fox… FOXY WILD!”
• As the music starts to play the modern version of the song Little Red Riding Hood, I step out in my sexy red costume. The crowd is loving it and I’m so into this character that I really feel like this is going to be a hit with the audience. The stagehands have a whole forest set up to make it even more of a theatrical show than I had planned. I really love that the one thing they do respect me for is my creative ideas. At least I have gained that much respect from the crew.
• It’s showtime!
• Making my way across the stage, shaking my ass, each part of my outfit looks like it’s being caught on branches and torn away as I shimmy my way through the stage prop forest. When I’m almost down to my sexy sequin bra and panty set, I’m ready to reveal my final look. Hiding behind a fake bush, I give a wave to the crowd, who want me to come out and play.
• When I get off the last of the tearaway costume, I jump out in my barely there skimpy burlesque look, shaking my tail to get a rise out of the men in the room. The orange glow of the sequin adornment makes my red-orange hair and fox tail look even more vibrant than usual, and I feel so pretty. The cat calls have me so keyed up that I can’t believe it’s going so well.
• I’ll need to remember to thank my mom for her help. Everyone loved my dance, just as I expected, and I couldn’t be happier than I am right now. This is why I love to dance. No matter how different I am, on stage, I’m just a dancer, not a freak of nature.
• When I turn to start making my way through the tables to entertain the guests, the men are pushing wads of cash in my garter belt along the way. Wow! I think my tips are going to be the best I’ve had in months at this rate.
• Just as I round a table, I look up into the ice-blue eyes of the man who’s had my lady parts on fire for the past couple of days. Alpha Crestwood is entering the club with some of his main pack leaders, and I think I’m going to faint on the spot.
• “Oh shit. Not now.”
• Turning to head back toward the stage, I use a branch from a prop as a fan, hoping it hides my face enough to finish my set. I pull off getting through my act, but I know my boss is going to be pissed that I improvised the ending.
• From the side of the stage, I can hear the director yell, “Foxy, stop hiding your face! What the hell are you doing?”
• I just ignore Joselin and keep dancing. I’m sure I’ll catch hell from her later, but I can’t let the Alpha see me. That’s when I realized my ears and tail were a dead giveaway. He hasn’t paid much attention to the stage yet, so I’m still in the clear for now.
• Just as the song ends, he turns to face the head of the house and sits in his seat. Quickly, I dart off stage right, not even waiting for a second of applause, or to take a bow. I can’t let the Alpha know it’s me. He’ll never respect me wearing a sparkly bra and panty set. I know he knows I’m a stripper, but I can’t just be all in his face about it. If I want to gain a spot on his team, I need to look and act the part.
• When I get back to the dressing room, I flop down in a chair and cover my face, taking a moment to catch my breath because my chest is heaving, and I feel like I’m going to pass out.
• “Fuck. That was close,” I pant.
• Yanking a robe from under me, one of the girls’ yells, “Get off my stuff, fox.”
• “Sorry.”
• Moving to the place next to me in my own makeup mirror, I see my boss behind me, and he looks pissed.
• “Wild! My office, now!”