"The Vampire of Nome"

It seemed unseasonably cold for an autumn day in Nome, Alaska. Jenna wondered if the first snow could come so early in the year as she hurried down the dirt road toward the town. She'd bundled up warmly, wearing a thick overcoat, scarf and hat, yet the frigid Arctic air seemed to find every little crack and work its way in. A tug on her arm reminded her that she was not traveling alone, and she quickly pulled Aleu closer as they walked. They'd spent the previous day on Balto's boat on the outskirts with him and Kodi before they had to leave for a week-long mail relay. Now the girls, having said their good-byes and seen the team off, were on their way back into town. Just as they reached the main street through Nome, Aleu pointed up ahead.

"Look, someone's finally bought the old tailor's store!"

The two females looked up the road to where a particularly well-dressed dog was carrying boxes inside from the street. Both curious to meet the newcomer and eager to escape the gusting wind for a minute or two, Jenna and Aleu slipped through the unlocked door.

The little shop was still mostly bare after the previous owner had left for Anchorage; only a few scattered boxes and a few tables were set up. In the back corner of the shop, near the steps that led up to the lodging on the second floor, the newcomer was hunched over a pair of smaller boxes. Though little could be seen of his head, he was dressed in a black tuxedo and matching pants and the fur around his ankles was charcoal black. At the ringing of the shop's bell, the newcomer straightened his posture and turned around with the precision of a drill instructor, but the grace of a dancer. The girls noticed that the he was a collie, and if his face and neck were any indication his entire body was coated in the same charcoal-black fur as his ankles. Though he was tall in stature, he seemed to be only a few years older than Aleu. His dark red eyes settled quickly on the two, and the scar across his left eye straightened as his face relaxed into a smile.

"Good afternoon, ladies," he said, tipping his black stovepipe hat to them. "I am dreadfully sorry, but the store is not open just yet."

The girls smiled more at his formality than his faint Russian accent.

"Oh, we only stopped to say hello and welcome you to the neighborhood," Jenna replied, removing her hat to shake out her shoulder length crimson hair.

"My name's Aleu!" the grayish-brown fem chimed in, sticking out her hand.

"Charmed to meet you, my dear," the collie replied, taking her hand. But instead of shaking it as she expected, he gave a slight bow and brought it briefly to his lips. Straightening his posture again as he released her hand, the collie took note of their shocked expressions. "I hope I didn't offend..."

"No, no I just...wasn't expecting that," Aleu stammered, blushing slightly.

Jenna stuck out her own hand with a small smile, though her cream-furred cheeks betrayed a hint of pink.

"A simple handshake will suffice."

The collie smiled in return, grasped her hand and shook it firmly.

"Of course, Miss...?"

"Jenna. And you are...?"

"Oh, pardon me, I haven't even introduced myself." The collie took a step backward and bowed low to the ground. "My name is Kira, tailor and vender of fine garments, at your service."

"What a nice name," Aleu said. "Have you been here long?"

"I only arrived this morning," Kira replied. "But I can say that it's been quite an eventful day."

He tipped his hat at Aleu and gave a small smile. Aleu's smile widened.

"There's a town gathering in the boiler room tonight," she said. "Would you care to join us?"

Kira glanced around the shop.

"If I can organize this mess into something presentable, then yes. Perhaps I will see you both there."

"Well, it was certainly nice to meet you, Kira," Jenna offered. "I look forward to seeing what you have to offer."

The girls nodded a farewell and turned to leave. As they did, Kira watched them, his eyes tracing up their legs to their swishing tails.

"So do I," he murmured under his breath.

Nome's canine citizens had gathered for their weekly social in the boiler room when Jenna and Aleu arrived that evening. Since the gatherings often lasted well into the evening, Kaltag had the brilliant idea of setting up a bar along the wall opposite the boiler. Doc was busy handling a dispute between Dixie and Sylvie while Nikki was matching the lead dog on a visiting sled team drink for drink at the bar. Star was busy trying to fix the old piano one of the canine citizens had brought in last week, while a record player filled the room with jazz music. The dance floor in the center of the room, however, was empty. With Balto, Kodi and their team out on the relay mail run, the normal balance of males-to-females had shifted in favor of the females. Even accounting for the spouses of the mail team dogs, there were plenty of attractive young girls looking for someone to dance with. So when a charcoal-black collie wearing a black tuxedo with matching pants and a top hat strode into the boiler room, most everyone took notice. The first to speak with him was Kaltag; or rather, he spoke to Kaltag first.

"Good evening," Kira said with a tip of his hat. "A vodka with ice, please."

"Sure thing, pal," Kaltag replied, cracking a fresh bottle. "You from out of town?"

Kira, who had turned to acknowledge some of the friendly waves with a smile and a tip of his hat, looked back at Kaltag.

"Yes, I arrived today," he said. "I bought the tailor shop down the street."

"That's good to hear." Kaltag set the drink down in front of Kira. "You a tailor?"

"In my free time."

"Oh? What do you do when you're busy, then?"

Kira paused for a moment, and took a drink, his eyes shifting to the dance floor just as a familiar voice reached his ears.

"Kira!"

He turned to face the door and couldn't contain a look of surprise as Jenna and Aleu strode toward him. Jenna was dressed in a light tan dress topped with a brown button-up sweater. Aleu, on the other hand, wore a simple grey dress and a white sweater.

"How nice to see you again, Kira," Jenna said, offering her hand. "Are you settled in?"

"Quite well, Miss Jenna. Thank you for asking," Kira replied, shaking her hand before turning to Aleu. "And Miss Aleu. How good to see you."

Aleu presented her hand to him with a small smile. Kira took it, trying to judge her expression.

"If I may...?" he ventured after a second's pause.

"I was hoping you would," Aleu replied.

Grinning, Kira bowed slightly and kissed her hand before straightening up again.

"I don't wish to seem too forward," he said, taking the drink Kaltag had set out for him. "It's just customary where I come from."

"Oh? And where is that?" Jenna queried.

"I come from Russia, Miss Jenna."

"Really? Your English is very good."

"I've had plenty of time to practice."

Jenna nodded and turned to Kaltag.

"What can I get you, Jenna?" he asked.

"Just a glass of wine, please."

"Anything for you, Aleu?"

"I'll have the same."

Kira, meanwhile, reached into his tuxedo and produced a handful of bills.

"Allow me the pleasure of paying for your drinks," he said, nodding to Jenna and Aleu. "In fact..." He looked around the boiler room. "...in the spirit of new friends, a full glass for everyone!"

As he set the bills down, the room burst into a round of applause. A line of Nome's canines quickly formed, all of them smiling and thanking him as they filed past Kaltag. Jenna and Aleu took their wine glasses and looked to Kira.

"Courteous and generous," Jenna said. "Thank you, Kira."

"It's only money," Kira chuckled. "And after all, you can't take it with you when you leave." He raised his glass in the air. "To new friends!"

"To new friends!" the crowd responded cheerfully.

"To new friends," Jenna and Aleu repeated, tapping their glasses against Kira's.

The three each took a drink, and Aleu gestured to Kira's glass.

"What's that you're having?"

"Vodka," Kira replied, "An old favorite of mine."

"I think I'll try some."

	"Oh, I'd suggest just a sip, first," Kira laughed. "Wine and vodka are very different tastes."

"Are you implying that I don't know how to drink?"

"No, of course not. I'm simply saying- "

"Here, I'll prove it." Aleu snatched the fresh glass of vodka Kaltag had set out for Kira and took a deep gulp. When she swallowed, though, she grimaced and coughed. "Oh... That really is different."

"Another glass of wine, then?" Kira said, reaching for her glass.

Aleu shook her head.

"No, thank you." She paused to cough discretely. "I think I can get used to this."

She took another long drink as Kira and Jenna started laughing. The grayish-brown wolf finished her drink quickly and laughed with them. Just then, the record player was switched off, and the ring of hammers on strings caused them to turn their heads. Star had finally fixed the piano, and now started into a jumping, lively tune that was already drawing Nome's canines onto the dance floor in pairs. Kira set his glass on the counter and turned back to Jenna and Aleu.

"Would either of you care to dance?"

Jenna blushed slightly, but Aleu wasted no time.

"I'd be delighted."

Kira offered her his hand and together they walked onto the dance floor. Aleu took his left hand in her right and put her left on his shoulder as he put his right on hers. As the music played, the couples began to step from side to side, jumping to the lively tune. But through it all, everyone's eyes were on the sharply-dressed stranger dancing with Aleu. Although Kira seemed unfamiliar with the dance, he quickly improvised a few new steps of his own, and Aleu simply laughed and followed his lead.

"Do you listen to music very often?" she asked.

"I have not yet acquainted myself with American music, Miss Aleu," Kira admitted. "I hope you will forgive my attempts at copying your steps."

"Don't be silly," Aleu laughed. "You're doing fine."

Then, the jazz music ended, to be replaced by the beginnings of a waltz. Puzzled, Aleu looked over at Star, who met her gaze and winked. It was only then that she realized that most of the other dancers had moved away from them or had left the dance floor altogether. She and Kira were essentially on display for the town to see. She looked back at Kira, who gave her a questioning look.

"I... I've never waltzed before," she stammered.

Kira leaned down and whispered.

"Just do what I do."

Then, he drew her into a spin, and together they launched into a long, jaunting waltz. Spinning and side-stepping, around and around. Aleu could only watch Kira in astonishment. The black collie seemed to have transformed, his slow, timid steps becoming fast and confident. Kira was in his element. Yet, as they danced, he would lean closer and whisper to let her know what to do next. Not wanting to appear heavy-handed, he would wait for Aleu to look at him before offering his advice. As the dance went on, she asked for less and less guidance, preferring to improvise a few steps of her own, as Kira had. Star began to play louder, the tempo of the waltz increasing with the volume; the mood became infectious, and the canine citizens of Nome began clapping and stomping their feet. The end of the waltz became a series of long spins, and for a few fleeting moments the room around them was a blur and the claps and cheers of the rest were blocked out, leaving them only the music and each other. Kira saw that Aleu's face was flushed pick with laughter, and he joined in. In the rush of the moment, he thought he saw something flicker in Aleu's eyes, the slightest change. There one instant, and gone the next. And just then, the music ended. Somehow, they managed to stop their crazed spinning on a dime, and each released one hand to bow to each other and then to the audience. Amid the applause, Kira and Aleu walked back to the bar, where Jenna waited.

"That was fun!" Aleu exclaimed, "But it was much too fast for me. I think I'd better sit down."

As Aleu sat down at the bar, Kira turned to Jenna.

"Miss Jenna, your daughter is an incredibly talented dancer. I can only imagine where she must have got it from."

"Her father and I used to come here all the time when we were dating," Jenna said with a laugh. "He'd be here now if he weren't on that mail run with Kodi."

"Oh? Your son is a sled dog?"

Jenna nodded.

"He is, and his father before him."

"They do the town a great service. You must be proud."

"I am," Jenna said with a nod.

Kaltag placed another round of drinks in front of them, and Kira handed the girls theirs before taking his.

"I hope you will forgive me for intruding. If I knew you were married, I would not have asked you to dance."

Jenna shook her head.

"Don't worry, Kira, I don't take any offense."

The ring of piano keys filled the bar again, and Kira looked to the dance floor, then back to Aleu.

"Would you care to dance again?"

As the night wore on, the crowd gradually thinned. Both Jenna and Aleu seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed themselves. He wondered now how he hadn't noticed the ring on Jenna's left finger until she mentioned her husband, Balto by name. Aleu, on the other hand, had been happy to dance, and though she politely indulged a few other offers from the visiting sled team, she spent most of her time with him. Finally, they decided it was late enough and, saying their goodbyes, turned to leave. Seeing this, Kira paid his tab and met them as they passed the bar.

"Leaving already?" he teased.

"Already? I don't see how you're not tired as well, Kira," Jenna sighed.

"You danced with just about every girl in here," Aleu added. "How can you still have so much energy?"

"Practice," Kira grinned. "And practice makes perfect."

"Well, thank you for being so patient with me," Aleu replied. "It was nice to see you again, Kira."

"It was nice to see both of you. I do hope we meet again soon."

He noticed that Aleu's smile lasted a bit longer than Jenna's.

"Of course," Jenna replied. "I'm sure we'll see you around. I intend to visit that store of yours once it opens."

"I'm at your service, Miss Jenna," Kira said with a slight bow.

The girls bid him good night and turned to leave. Kira finished his drink as he watched them depart, letting his mind wander as his eyes did the same. Though their overcoats concealed the curves of their bodies well, it was just as fun to imagine what lay underneath. Oh, the possibilities. Kira felt a sort of hunger rising inside him. So, with a tip of his hat to the rest of Nome's canine citizens, he turned the opposite direction and started toward his tailor shop. As soon as the chatter from the bar had faded, though, he looked over his shoulder and saw a porch light come on down near the end of the street.

Everything was going well so far. He'd afforded himself a useful trade with which to pass the time, established good relations with the town's citizens, perhaps even made a few friends. Prudence dictated that he wait at least a week, perhaps even a month, before he got involved with someone in his new home. And yet, Aleu seemed quite friendly earlier...

Perhaps, just this once, prudence could be put aside.

The moon had barely reached its peak in the sky when Kira re-emerged from his tailor shop and glanced up and down the main street. The bar in the boiler room was dark. The rest of Nome's citizens had long since gone home, and by the darkened windows up and down the thoroughfare, they'd all gone to bed. Kira turned his attention to the far end of town, and sure enough, a pair of figures emerged from one of the last houses. With one last glance around, Kira made his way casually down the street to meet his guests. In the middle of the empty street, the three canines stopped at arm's length as Kira bowed.

"Good evening, ladies, I'm glad you could join me tonight," he said, straightening up. "Oh, but you must be chilled to the bone, out here with so little on. Please, follow me."

Neither Jenna nor Aleu responded, but simply followed Kira down the street and into his tailor shop. Once they were all inside, Kira shut the door behind them and turned his attention to the girls. He smirked when he recognized the faint glow in their eyes; Jenna and Aleu smiled back at him with their hands crossed in front of them, following his every move. Jenna wore a pink robe, matching the blush on both girls' cheeks. Aleu wore a light blue robe, matching her bright blue eyes. Though they must have been frightfully cold from the walk, neither let it show.

[i]Mine to play with.[/i]

"You must be frozen stiff. Let's go upstairs and get warm."

Kira led the two girls through the darkened tailor shop and up the staircase in the back to the living area upstairs. At the top of the stairs, a great room with a fireplace took up most of the second floor. Off to the right, one doorway led into the kitchen and though a bedroom could be seen through the second doorway, a large mattress had been laid in front of the roaring fire that filled the room with light and heat. Kira stopped in front of the mattress and turned to address the girls.

"You'll warm up much faster in front of the fire. Now, remove your robes, girls."

Without hesitation, both Jenna and Aleu undid the ties around their waists and let their robes slide off their shoulders to lie in a heap at their feet. Kira's smile widened as he looked them over; his imagination had not done them justice. Jenna's broad shoulders and ample chest narrowed into a slender stomach, wide hips and long, slim legs; a beautiful hour-glass figure. Aleu, on the other hand, had more narrow shoulders and smaller breasts, but a firm thin stomach and toned legs were evidence of an athlete, probably a runner. Two gorgeous girls, ready to obey his every whim. 

"To think that I doubted your loveliness for even an instant," he murmured, gesturing to them. "Come, my ladies, warm yourselves by the fire."

Jenna and Aleu followed his lead and sat down on the mattress, warming their hands and feet. Kira, meanwhile, carefully hung up his jacket by the staircase and unbuttoned his collared shirt, revealing a pentagram-shaped mark on his chest. Then he stepped out of his pants and knelt down in front of Jenna and Aleu. Instantly, their eyes were on him.

"Ladies, you can start by getting me hard."

Again, there was not a moment's hesitation. Aleu, who was slightly faster, stuck her muzzle against his sheath and began licking and kissing it, trying to coax out his cock. Jenna ducked under her daughter's muzzle and started licking his sack. Kira glanced down, smirked, and closed his eyes to the let the two girls tend to him. It didn't take Aleu long to get his cock out of its sheath, and she dove on it, slathering it with her tongue before she took it into her mouth. Though she couldn't quite fit his entire length, she was certainly trying. Jenna's tongue was more experienced, lapping at one nut as she fondled the other in her hand before switching. Her efforts were already starting to show as Kira's shaft swelled in Aleu's mouth. Alue hardly seemed affected by it, pushing herself right to her gag reflex before backing off. But soon, she had to stop for a breath, and when she reared back, gasping for air, Jenna took advantage of it and wrapped her muzzle around Kira's tool. Immediately, she began curling her tongue around his shaft, stroking his knot with one hand as she gripped his ass with the other. Kira groaned in pleasure and put a hand on her head. Before he could say anything, she slipped her hands around behind him and swallowed his cock, knot and all. Kira looked down in surprise when he felt his tip nudging the back of her throat.

"My, aren't we talented?" Jenna opened her eyes and looked up at him, bobbing her head up and down on his shaft. "I hate to stop you when you're doing so well, but you interrupted Aleu."

Jenna didn't nod, but instead drew back, sucking on his shaft as she did. After a few tortuously pleasing seconds, his cock slipped out of her muzzle with a wet pop. Rather than return to his sack, though, Jenna joined Aleu in running her tongue from the back of his knot to his pointed tip. Kira shuddered and clenched his teeth. The girls paid no attention, but kissed their way back down his shaft while they fondled his furry sack. Kira placed a hand on each of their heads.

"That's good. Now, Aleu, lay on your back."

The girls moved back, and Aleu laid down on the mattress, looking over at Kira expectantly. He smiled at her, then turned to Jenna and led her by the hand over to Aleu. While he made Jenna straddle Aleu's crotch, Kira straddled her muzzle. Hearing her muffled, puzzled whine, he looked down at her over his shoulder.

"Be a good girl and put that tongue to work."

Aleu nodded, and an instant later, he felt her tongue circling his tail hole. With a sigh of content, Kira turned to Jenna.

"You have such an obedient daughter, Jenna," he chuckled. "And I do see where she's gotten it. Now, you were doing such a good job earlier, I think you should continue where you stopped."

Jenna crawled over Aleu, her sacredness rubbing teasingly against her daughter's belly fur, and took him into her mouth again. As she bobbed her head back and forth along his length, Jenna started humping against her daughter's stomach, teasing them both. Then suddenly, she took his entire length into her muzzle again, moaning loudly. For a long moment, she held her pose, slowly dragging her hands down his chest as she burrowed her nose into his fur, groaning around his massive shaft. Kira gritted his teeth and growled as he felt his shaft throb in Jenna's muzzle, sending stream after stream of his seed down her throat. These two were more skilled than he'd guessed. Usually, he would only let them get him aroused, and then help himself to their treasures. But it had been some time since he'd last coupled. Yes, it had been far too long, and this was no way to celebrate his two newest conquests. 

"That's very good, Jenna," he said, cupping her muzzle in his paws. "Now...ah...let's see if we can't make you a bit more comfortable." 

Jenna backed slowly away, letting her tongue trace the underside of his shaft as it slid out of her muzzle. With a soft gasp, she released his shaft, licking his tip just before he stood up. Below him, Aleu let out a confused whine. 

"No need to fret, Aleu. It's Jenna's turn now." He motioned beside Aleu. "Jenna, lie down please." Jenna nodded and took her spot next to Aleu, staring up at Kira as he led Aleu to kneel between her legs. "Aleu, I want you to get Jenna ready..." He nodded to Jenna's wet pussy. Aleu laid down, draping her arms over Jenna's spread legs before nuzzling against her mother's cunny. Jenna moaned and began massaging her breasts, spreading her legs further apart, but when she started to lean forward to get a better look at what Aleu was doing, Kira put a hand on her shoulder. "Just lay back and enjoy it, Jenna. Tilt your head back." She did, and her nose tapped against the tip of Kira's cock. "Good girl, open wide now."

Jenna did as she was told, and Kira shifted his weight forward, sliding his cock into her waiting muzzle. Once he'd set his balance on his hands and knees, Kira began slowly thrusting in and out of her drooling maw, imagining what her pussy would feel like each time he felt his knot ram against Jenna's nose. She could take his whole length, he knew, but she had been in control before. Now, he was choosing the pace. Jenna must have realized this, for she closed her eyes and let him fuck her face as she fondled her breasts. Kira had almost gotten lost in the rhythm when he heard a small whine. He looked up and watched as Aleu ate out her mother. Her licks were slow and tender, wetting Jenna's outer lips before plunging into her depths with her eager tongue. What she lacked in skill, she seemed to make up for in effort. Kira couldn't tell if Jenna was moaning more from his throbbing cock in her mouth or from Aleu's attention. He didn't have long to wonder, though; within a few minutes, he felt his balls tightening against his groin, and he wasn't about to let Jenna taste him again. He pulled his shaft out of Jenna's muzzle, ignoring her confused whimper and shuffling forward on all fours, letting his tip drag down Jenna's chest, leaving a trail of pre behind. 

"Aleu," he said softly. Aleu looked up without stopping. "You have been a very good girl. Now I want you to lay down beside Jenna and watch." Aleu backed away, her calm expression unwavering, and laid down so that Jenna and Kira were between her and the fireplace. 

Aleu did as Kira bid her, settling down to watch Jenna's reaction as Kira settled himself between her legs.

"Come lie beside your mother first, Aleu." he murmured. "It would be impolite for a gentlemen not to tend to his ladies' needs."

The light gray half-wolf settled down next to her red and cream mother and together they looked over their modest bosoms at their tar black collie with anxious eyes. He met their gaze and grinned before crawling between Jenna's legs and dragging his tongue across her sacredness. The husky gave a shuddering moan and spread her legs further, wrapping one around Aleu's. Without a pause for air, he dove his tongue into her depths, curling and flexing as he probed deeper. Jenna's moan turned to a wail, toes curling as her hands clutched the mattress beneath her.

Her daughter whimpered piteously, reaching a tentative hand down to caress their legs. As her hand strayed toward her mother's cunny, Kira slid his arm under both their legs and began tracing circles in the fur around Aleu's untouched sacredness. She sank back onto the mattress with a soft murmur. Kira grinned against Jenna's cunny as he massaged the outer petals of Aleu's flower. Mother's hand found daughter's as they writhed at his touch, moaning long and loud. Surprisingly, Jenna showed remarkable restraint, while Aleu shifted closer with each stroke, aching for more. Kira happily obliged, plunging two fingers into her waiting cunny. Aleu shrieked and threw back her head, clutching desperately at her breasts. Kira pressed further, stroking Aleu's inner walls just as he found the sensitive bundle of nerves at the tip of Jenna's opening. Biting her lip, Jenna groaned and dug her claws into the mattress as all her toes clenched, her shuddering could have been mistaken for a siezure. Satisfied, Kira backed away and lapped hungrily at her cunny as he pumped his hand faster and faster into Aleu's. The hybrid squirmed at his touch, her breath coming in heated pants that slowly melted into yelps. And just as suddenly, she threw back her head and howled, clenching hard around his fingers as her love fluids drenched his hand.

Kira traced a path up Jenna's body with his tongue, pausing briefly at her neck. Then, he looked down at her, and saw that she was still looking up at him, her expression unflinching and filled with desire. "Good, just relax and enjoy." 

Placing his hands on either side of her head and lining his tip up against her opening, Kira unceremoniously thrust forward, hilting himself inside her. Jenna yelped, clutching her breasts and clenching hard around his shaft. Kira held the pose for a minute, glorying in the feeling of Jenna's warm sacredness gripping his shaft. Then, he reared back, sliding his shaft almost completely out of her before ramming it back in again. Again, Jenna whined loudly, her back arching as she thrust against him. Kira leaned down and pressed his muzzle against hers as he drew back and thrust into her again. Jenna's whine was muffled this time, and Kira opened his eyes to see her expression, but she had closed hers. Deciding that this was a good sign, Kira began sliding his shaft in and out, settling into a steady rhythm broken only by Jenna's muffled cries and the slap of his balls against her rump. As his pace grew faster, Jenna's yelps melted into one continuous moan that jumped in pitch each time his knot slammed against her sopping pussy. Kira broke the kiss to drag his tongue along her muzzle and down her neck. At his touch, her white fur flushed pink, and as her body jerked back and forth under him, he swore he could almost taste the blood rushing through her neck, just inches away. 

[i]No[/i], he told himself, shaking his head, [i]that's not what they're here for.[/i] 

Whimpering and panting, Jenna craned her neck down, looking between her bouncing bosoms to where their sweaty bodies came together. Kira ducked his head down to hers and nudged her muzzle up so that he could turn his attention to her chest. As he continued to pump his shaft in and out of her, he looked down and began to lick around her hands. 

Jenna's breasts were just firm enough to withstand his tongue lashing, but just soft enough to respond to his touch; his tongue making subtle indentations as he lapped at her bosom. First, he traced his tongue around her curves, leaving a trail of saliva in her soft chest fur. Then, he flicked his tongue back and forth across her nipples, making them harden and darken with arousal. Jenna whimpered and mashed her breasts together, laughing as his tongue teased her fingertips. Kira pried her fingers away and slathered her luscious breasts as he held her arms against the mattress. Jenna's moans turned to yelps of pleasure; the only other sound was the rude slapping of his body against hers. Kira drew back to take in the full view as he pounded Jenna. She lay sprawled on her back, looking up at him and panting. Each time he hilted himself inside her, her whole body shook, breasts bouncing, tongue hanging out. Just then, she yelped and looked down between her legs. Kira knew it was his knot that had startled her, and didn't slow his pace. Instead, he leaned back on his knees and, pulling Jenna's rump up onto his lap, continued to pound her. Jenna began to pant, clutching the mattress tightly. Kira groaned as he felt Jenna's cavern clench around his shaft. With his arousal quickly rising, he tightened his grip on her hips and pulled her against him as he rammed his shaft into her. Jenna threw back her head and moaned as her whole body shuddered, her love fluids flooding her cavern and coating Kira's engorged shaft. Kira gritted his teeth and bucked against her a few more times, his own breath coming in shorter, louder grunts. Finally, with a low growl and a shudder, he rose to climax with her.  

Below him, Jenna lay panting heavily, quite spent. And though her eyelids were almost closed, he could still she her amber eyes gazing at him as her muzzle curled into a smile. Kira smirked and reached down to fondle her lovely bosom. When he felt her heart pounding like the feet of a sled team in full stride, he was suddenly reminded of another, more pressing need. He'd promised himself he wouldn't feed on her, on the people of Nome, but her beauty was intoxicating. Glancing at Aleu, still watching them, he was reminded that it was also apparently genetic. It would have been nice to taste Aleu, but he was tied to Jenna - quite literally - and what better way to kill a few minutes waiting for nature to take its course?

Resting on one arm, Kira lowered himself gently onto Jenna's supple form. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around him, still panting as he kissed her neck. When she tilted back her head, he sank his fangs in. Gasping, she clutched his back, moaning as he drank her crimson life. Kira brushed away a few strands of her hair and stroked her side, straying up to caress her breast. Her blood was exquisite, rich and healthy, unlike so many of his Russian victims. Her moan grew softer, her breathing slowed, and finally her head sank to the mattress. Kira withdrew his fangs and kissed the wound, sealing it without an ounce of pain to her. Though his hunger had been sated, he already wondered how Aleu would taste. Kira, on the other hand, grinned at his own skill and even considered getting a head start on the next round. 

[i]I may be able to go all night, but she's finished for now[/i], Kira thought, looking Jenna over. He turned his gaze to Aleu, who lay within arm's reach beside him, watching him. Perhaps it's time to move on to my next lovely toy. He tested his tie with Jenna, but found himself still firmly locked inside her. [i]Besides, I'll have to kill a few minutes anyway, and what better way to waste time?[/i]

Kira drew back up onto his knees and looked over at Aleu. 

The young grayish-brown hybrid lay where Kira had told her to, one arm cushioning her head while the other rested on her side, matching the curves of her body. Though her legs were crossed, he could still smell her arousal. Testing his knot, he found he was still tied with Jenna. Looking back at Aleu, he simply raised his hand and motioned for her to come closer. Aleu crawled over to him, looking up with her tail wagging. She grasped his hand in her own and followed his lead, kneeling astride her mother's stomach and facing Kira.

"Good girl. Now, loosen Jenna's grip." 

Aleu ducked down and began lapping at the silk-smooth fur around Jenna's sacredness. The older husky moaned and dug her fingernails into the mattress. Kira smiled as he watched Aleu run her tongue around the base of his cock, trying to coax it back out of its warm, wet prison. Jenna raised her head to see Aleu's snatch just inches away from her muzzle. Her eyes shifted up to Kira, who simply nodded, and Jenna obeyed his silent command. Though she could hardly move her legs, Jenna reached up and seized Aleu's uplifted rump with both hands. She gently parted Aleu's outer lips with her thumbs and gave her a tender lick. Aleu shuddered visibly and gasped.

He pulled her against him and began licking and nipping at her breasts as Aleu murred her approval. Aleu wasn't quite as well-endowed as Jenna, but her light gray chest fur was softer, smoother, contrary to her wilder appearance. Feeling his knot shrinking, Kira pulled out of Jenna, grinning as she whimpered and clenched weakly around him. He then drew himself up to his full height; Aleu cooed adoringly as his length traced a wet line up the length of her body. When his tip tapped her on the nose, she didn't need to be told. Kira merely nodded to her, and she took him into her mouth. Kira grimaced as her tongue slid along the underside of his sensitive member. Aleu hummed and sucked hungrily on his shaft, swirling her tongue around it. She seemed to be getting excited, too, as he watched her grind her pussy against her mother's stomach. The older husky groaned in delight. Despite climaxing hard inside Jenna only minutes earlier, Kira quickly became hard again. Drawing back, he placed his hands on Aleu's hips and helped her to turn around. With her back pressed against his chest, Kira nuzzled her neck and growled,

"Bend over, Aleu, and give Jenna a kiss."

Aleu dove down on Jenna, pressing her muzzle against her mother's in nothing short of lust. Jenna instinctively wrapped her arms around Aleu's neck and locked muzzles with the young hybrid. Both girls moaned as their breasts mashed together, perked nipples rubbing teasingly against sensitive fur. Kira grinned and crouched down between the girls' spread legs, eyeing Aleu's upturned tail. As he ducked under her tail, though, something caught his eye from the bedroom. He turned his head and saw through the window that the sky was already turning from black to gray, and the first hints of light had begun to appear over the horizon. The sun was coming up. 

[i]Curse these longer days[/i], Kira thought, turning back to the two entangled girls lying in front of him. Aleu's inviting snatch now seemed to taunt him. There was still time, but it would have to be quick. [i]No, my little beauty, when your turn comes, I want it to be done properly.[/i] 

"That's enough for now, Aleu," he said, leaning over her back and kissing her neck, cupping her breasts in his hands as he gently pulled her off of Jenna. When she whined in protest, he patted the mattress beside Jenna and said, "Just lay here, Aleu, and rest. You'll get your turn soon enough." For a moment, Aleu seemed on the point of saying something, but she simply nodded and lay down to watch for a second time. Kira grinned at her and then turned his attention back to Jenna. The red and cream-furred husky was panting, her face flushed from her daughters advances and her hand sliding down her stomach. Before she could reach between her legs, Kira seized her hand firmly and brought it back up to her breasts. Jenna whined pitifully, but Kira simply wagged his finger at her. "No, no, Jenna. Leave that to me." Jenna nodded and spread her legs expectantly. "Good girl. Now roll over and show me your tail." Without a word, Jenna obeyed, rolling over onto her knees and resting her head on her arms as she stuck her rump in the air, her tail shifted aside, exposing her needy sex. Kira wasted no time lining up with her and driving his point home. 

Jenna cried out as he plunged into her, throwing back her head and clutching her breasts tightly. Kira only reared back and thrust into her again, quickly settling into a steady rhythm, his body slamming against hers in time with her moans. Jenna looked over her shoulder at him and her expression was nothing short of pure lust. He watched as her flushed white cheeks grew almost as red as her burgundy fur. For a mother of six, she acted like she'd never been laid before. As he re-doubled his thrusts into her, he could only wonder how it was that she felt like a virgin, too. Before he realized, his knot had swelled to its full size, pressing angrily against Jenna's aching sex. Jenna whined and spread her legs further apart, trying to ease his entrance. Kira gripped her hips tightly and pulled out all but his tip before flipping Jenna onto her back and slamming his entire length into her with a wet squelch. Jenna's muzzle opened wide and she started to moan, but Kira placed two fingers under her jaw and gently pushed her muzzle closed again. 

"Must be quiet, Jenna," he said.

Jenna nodded and shut her eyes, whining through clenched teeth at each stroke. Kira grinned and hooked his hands under Jenna's spread legs and used the leverage to pull Jenna against him as he pounded her swollen pussy. Jenna squirmed under him, her hands running over her breasts as she whimpered and groaned. Kira felt his sack tighten against his groin and he knew he was close. Planting his hands on either side of Jenna's head, he leaned down so that their muzzles almost met, but instead of kissing her, Kira lavished Jenna's breasts with his tongue as he made a few last, furious thrusts. And with a sigh of content, he released inside Balto's lover. Below him, Jenna soared to climax with him, going limp on the mattress and laying with her head to the side, panting heavily. Kira rolled onto his side, pulling Jenna against his chest as he did. She whimpered in confusion at first, but once he pulled her close, Jenna put her arms around him and sighed happily. Kira grinned as he looked down at his first new conquest, and closed his eyes. But in less than a minute, he realized that despite the fire's warmth, there was a sort of chill across his back, the vacant space where something...someone should be.

"Aleu," he called, half-turning his head over his shoulder.

Before he could finish his thought, Aleu was huddled close behind him, her breasts pressed against his shoulder blades. Feeling her arms slip under his and cross over his chest, and her legs get tangled up with his and Jenna's, Kira closed his eyes and enjoyed the warmth of two females against him. As his knot softened and began to shrink, though, he became increasingly aware of another warmth against his lower back. He flexed his tail and felt it stroke her thighs. Raising it only slightly, he slipped between her legs and felt her arousal dampen his fur. There was no hiding that she was in heat.

[i]So much the better[/i], he thought. [i]Tomorrow will be a truly memorable night[/i].

He tested his tie again and felt his shaft slowly slide out with a few soft liquid noises. Jenna whined and squeezed weakly around his shaft as he withdrew, but Kira drew back from her and laid her on her back beside him. Then he stood up and turned to Aleu. She didn't need to be told; he simply nodded to her and she crawled over on her knees and took his shaft into her mouth. As far as he knew, she'd only done this for the first time earlier that evening, but already she seemed an expert, bobbing her head up and down as she ran her tongue along his length. Every once in a while, she would let it slip out of her muzzle and lick at some part or another that to her eyes must have seemed unclean, then she would look up at him, dip her head back down and resume her administrations. Kira crossed his arms and closed his eyes, letting Aleu work her magic as his shaft began to harden again. By the time she drew back and kissed his tip, he was aching for another round. He looked down and met Aleu's anxious gaze, then nodded to Jenna.

"Good, now clean Jenna up." 

Dutifully, Aleu turned and crawled between Jenna's legs, burying her muzzle in her sopping wet cunny. As he listened to Jenna's moans and Aleu's muffled murmurs of pleasure, Kira let his eyes drift to Aleu's upturned rump. Though her scent had been masked by Jenna's earlier, with her tail raised and her legs spread, it was now intoxicatingly strong. Even the way she shifted her legs to get a better position made it seem like she was teasing him, and for a brief moment, Kira thought seriously of simply keeping the both of them there through the day and into the next night. But just as quickly, he dismissed the thought. If two of Nome's more popular girls were to go missing the same day that the new tailor arrived in town, it wouldn't take but a minute make the connection. No, he would have to wait.

[i]Tomorrow my dears, tomorrow...[/i]

Aleu woke to the sun streaming through her window. Groaning, she rolled over and tried to fall back to sleep, but after a few minutes, she gave up and rolled onto her back to stare at the ceiling and day dream. Her thoughts drifted back to before she woke, and the mysterious man walking through her mind.

[i]What a strange dream,[/i] she thought, [i]and for Mom to be there, too... The things we did, the things they did... Why couldn't I see him clearly? Oh, if only he'd gotten to me before I woke up![/i] 

Just then, Aleu felt a tingling between her legs; less of an irritant and more of a need. Aleu closed her eyes and slid her hand down her side and stroke her sacredness. The more she thought back on her dream, the more she felt the need, almost a burning, between her legs. She'd already talked with Jenna about this; she knew she was in heat, and it wasn't going to be fun. 

"Only two ways to get through being in heat," her mother had said. "Getting laid..."

[i]Or taking care of yourself,[/i] Aleu thought.  

The feeling was incredible, but the more she rubbed against her opening, the more she felt that need. She thought back to her dream, picturing the mystery man and Jenna, hearing the echoes of Jenna's moans and yelps. How incredible it must have felt. Maybe if she mimicked what they'd been doing... Gently, Aleu parted her outer lips and slid one finger in, lightly stroking her inner walls. She felt a small jolt of pleasure, and that was all she needed to plunge a second finger in, and then a third. Instead of frantically stroking, she copied what she remembered, thrusting her fingers in and out in a slow, steady rhythm. Very quickly, she felt herself growing more and more aroused, and she brought up her other hand to squeeze and caress her breasts. She imagined the mysterious man hunched over her, his hands playing over her breasts as he pounded her aching cunny. Biting her lip, Aleu sped up her pace, pumping her fingers in and out faster and faster. 

Just then, she felt a sudden sharp pain in her nether regions and had to let go of her breast to cover her muzzle. She wasn't worried, though. Jenna had talked to her about this part, too. 

"When you lose your virginity, it's going to sting for a moment, but just try to ignore it and keep going," she had said. "Just ignore it and keep going. The pain will go away soon."

Whimpering, Aleu followed her mother's advice and continued thrusting her hand into her sopping wet cavern. Though the pain lingered for a few seconds, it was soon overpowered by pleasure like she'd never felt before. It was building fast, faster than she'd expected; a pressure so great and pleasure so strong she felt like she would explode. Cupping her hand tightly over her mouth, Aleu pumped herself faster than ever before. And suddenly, there came the release.

Jenna woke to the fading sound of a moan, and though she strained to hear anything else, the house was silent after. 

[i]Echoes of a dream[/i], she told herself. [i]And what a dream... Who was that man? And what was Aleu doing there in my dream? I kissed her... What is the matter with me! To think that I imagined that... Even though it did feel good...[/i]

Shaking her head, Jenna climbed out of bed and drew her pink robe closed around her and took a towel off the chest at the foot of her bed. As she opened her bedroom door, though, she nearly ran into Aleu. 

"Oh, good morning Aleu." 

"Oh! Hi, Mom," the grayish-brown hybrid replied, stepping around her. "I was just about to take a bath."

"Seems you and I had the same thought," Jenna laughed. "Go ahead. I'll wait."

"Thanks, Mom."

As Aleu turned to open the bathroom door, though, Jenna called after her.

"You look tired, Aleu. Did you get enough sleep?"

"I guess not, but I had the most unusual dream." Aleu paused to turn on the bath's faucet. "I was out walking in the street and you were there with me, then this man came up to us and led us inside. The next thing I remember, we're standing in front of a roaring fireplace... It all gets a bit fuzzy after that."

Jenna nodded and turned to leave, but the blush on Aleu's cheeks spoke volumes. If Aleu hadn't shut the bathroom door, she would have seen the barely-masked fear in Jenna's eyes. She didn't have to ask for the rest of the story because she knew already what Aleu would have said next. They would have disrobed, then pleasured him, and then... 

[i]How could I imagine something so foul? To lie with someone else, and with Aleu watching![/i]

Jenna rushed back into her room and shut the door, leaning against it for support.

[i]Easy, Jenna, easy... However strange and twisted it might have been, it was only a dream.[/i]

After a refreshing bath, while her mother washed up for the day, Aleu put on her spring dress and jacket and took a walk through town. Sunday morning meant church services would soon be starting. Jenna would probably want to go to the 10:30 service, which gave Aleu time to chat with a few of her friends who were also taking morning walks. Dixie and Sylvie were sitting on the porch of the general store, chatting with Dipsy.

[i]Probably spreading the latest gossip[/i], Aleu thought with a smirk, waving to them as she passed. As she neared the center of town, she spotted the tailor shop. [i]Hmm, maybe Kira would go for a walk with me.[/i]

She walked up to the door of the shop, but was surprised to see the "Closed" sign still hung in the window. She knocked twice and waited, but the store was dark, and no one came to the door. She knocked again; still nothing. She was about to knock a third time when a voice from behind stopped her.

"I don't think he's at home. I tried earlier."

Aleu turned to find a short red and white husky standing in the street. Her burgundy fur covered her face, except her muzzle, and ran down her back, completely covering her legs.

"Sierra!" Aleu rushed to embrace her little sister. "It's been too long. How are you and Max doing?" 

"We're doing great," Sierra replied. "He took his plane up to some mine north of Kiwalik; weekly supply run." She glanced at the tailor store behind her older, wilder sister. "Have you met the new tailor yet?'

"Yes, I have; he seems like a very nice man."

"Oh? Is that all you have to say?"

Aleu tried unsuccessfully to feign innocence. 

"What else would you like me to say?"

"Max said you two were dancing at the bar last night."

[i]Just like Max...[/i] Aleu sighed to herself.

"Well, yes, he asked me to dance and I said yes. What's the matter with that?"

"There's nothing wrong with that. It's just that you two were practically the only people dancing. And it wasn't just one song, either."

"Oh, come on, Sierra. So we danced. So what?"

"So, I think there's more to this than you're telling me."

"You keep thinking that way, then," Aleu laughed. "Now let's go. Mom will be waiting for us to walk to church." 

"Maybe we'll see your man there," Sierra joked.

But they didn't see Kira at the service, or walking in afterwards for the following one. When they passed his store on the way home, the "Closed" sign still hung in the darkened window. 

"Do you suppose he went on a trip without telling us?" Aleu wondered aloud.

"It's possible," Jenna said, glancing at the store, and then back at the path in front of them.

"Why would he tell you, Aleu?" Sierra chimed in, nudging her sister. "Is there something we should know about?"

"No!" Aleu snapped, her cheeks flushed red. "He's just a nice man who danced with me last night. That's all!"

The three girls walked the rest of the way home in silence, but Jenna wondered at the sudden outburst from her normally quiet and reserved eldest daughter.

The three ate a small lunch, then Jenna went upstairs for an afternoon nap while the girls sat in the living room reading. Sierra looked through the town's weekly paper while Aleu flipped through an old Western novel her father had brought back from one of his runs down to Juneau. 

And so they passed the afternoon.

When evening came, the girls sat down to a dinner of potato soup and bread. Sierra left afterwards to prepare her home for her husband's arrival the next day. Jenna and Aleu likewise busied themselves tidying up their home for the mail team's return. Once they were satisfied that the house was properly seen to, they donned their evening wear and set off for the bar.

The crowd was always thinner on Sunday evenings. Most of Nome's citizens decided to forgo a night out for a quiet evening at home, so everyone in the bar noticed when Kira walked in. A few of the men offered to repay him for the round he'd paid for the night before, but he politely declined. Aleu was about to stand up to greet him when a trio of younger girls approached him, barraging him with curious questions about everything from his shop to his native land of Russia. Deciding that they were still a bit too young to be interested in anything but his stories, Aleu turned back to her drink. A few minutes later, though, a peal of delighted laughter made her turn her head to the dance floor, where she spotted Kira guiding one of them through the steps of a waltz while the other two watched. Aleu hardly noticed that her grip on her glass was slowly tightening, but Jenna did, and followed her gaze.

"What a gentleman," she commented.

Aleu, unsure what else to do, nodded in begrudging agreement. Mother and daughter watched as he patiently instructed one girl after another. Soon, three girls became seven, as most of Nome's young daughters eagerly awaited a turn with the finely-dressed young man from Russia. 

"Just like girls these days," she heard one of their mothers say from a few tables away. "Always hanging on every new face that passes through town. They'll tire of him within the week."

"They will, but I wouldn't be so sure of our older girls," added another. "I'd wager it won't be too long before some enterprising young lady snatches him up."

"Too bad our girls aren't a bit older."

"Too bad we're not single."

As the other mothers laughed, Jenna kept silent and watched her daughter, still watching Kira. As he finished showing the sixth girl the steps of an elegant Russian waltz, Aleu set her drink aside and left Jenna at their table to join them on the dance floor. Kira and the young girl, a collie named Lena, bowed to each other and Kira joined the other girls in applauding her. As the younger girl rejoined her friends, Aleu stepped up behind him and quietly cleared her throat. When Kira turned around, she found herself mimicking his excited smile. 

"I was hoping you were still free for one more dance student."

Kira's smile widened and he held out his hand.

The night rushed by. Kira guided Aleu through dozens of dances, only pausing briefly for a glass of water every now and then. For a while, Aleu mimicked the younger girls and asked Kira about his life in Russia. Kira chuckled and played along, describing how the wrath of winter gave way to gorgeous landscapes in the spring and summer. Aleu asked if that was what drew him to Alaska.

"Well, now that I see the similarities, I do feel more at home," Kira replied, spinning Aleu nimbly with one hand before catching her with the other. With her back to him, he gently pulled her closer and whispered in her ear, "But that's certainly not my favorite part of my new home."  

"You're not too good with subtlety, are you?" Aleu asked, turning in his arms to face him.

"Perfectly horrible at it," Kira murmured.

"Good. It's nice to have someone who's not afraid to tell me what they're after." She took a step closer and touched her nose to his. "You've been a wonderful gentleman, Kira. I really enjoy spending time with you."  

"And I with you."

"Will I see you again soon?"

"You most certainly will."

"Good." She leaned forward and hugged him. "You really are very talented with your feet," she continued, her voice dropping. "I wonder what your hands are capable of."

Kira paused in mid-step.

"What was that, Aleu?"

The young gray hybrid looked up at him with a mix of shock and embarrassment, as though she hadn't meant to say what she did out loud. She seemed on the point of saying something else, but then kissed him quickly on the cheek. Backing away a step and wringing her hands with a sheepish smile, Aleu added, in a soft voice, "Well... Good night, Kira." 

She turned and moved through the crowd toward the door, disappearing out into the night without a backward glance. Kira stood on the edge of the dance floor, gazing at the open door. When another of the girls walked up to him and cleared her throat, he hesitated before turning his attention to her. 

"Could you teach me one more dance, Mister Kira?" 

Kira glanced back at the door and then shook his head. 

"Not tonight, I'm afraid. Perhaps tomorrow." 

Then, with a hasty bow, Kira left the bar.

The moon had barely reached its high point in the night sky when he opened the door to his tailor shop and ushered the two waiting ladies inside. Jenna still wore her pink robe, and Aleu her blue one. Neither girl spoke, but simply followed Kira up the stairs into his living room. This time, Kira had turned his couch so that it faced the fireplace, but left the mattress leaning against the wall. Though the girls might have wondered why, Kira lead them around the couch and walked over to his record player, set on a small table by the door to his kitchen. 

"My dears, I must apologize. Our introduction the other night was far too hasty. Tonight, I intend to fully enjoy your gifts." Then, he flipped the switch to spin the disc, and set the needle on its course. "Dance for me."

The music was a slow orchestral piece, almost a ballad, but it didn't take Aleu and Jenna long to adapt. Kira took a seat on the couch as the girls began to sway with the melody. Just as she had the previous night, Jenna displayed her obvious experience in seduction, rolling her hips from side to side as she strutted up to him. She began slowly undoing the knot in her robe's tie, letting her robe hang loose on her shoulders; he got the briefest glimpse of her bare body from neck to toes and gripped the cushion a little tighter. Seemingly oblivious to him, Jenna launched into an elaborate dance, twisting and twirling around Aleu. He barely noticed her robe sliding down her arms until she stopped suddenly, her robe in a pile at her feet. She flashed him a toothy grin when his eyes widened. For his part, Kira sat in amazement. Though he'd seen her naked just the night before, he still could hardly believe how young her body still appeared, with only her wide hips and ample bosom to show she'd given birth. Jenna gave him precious little time to think on this, sitting down beside him and cuddling up against him, kissing his cheek as she began undoing the buttons on his shirt. Kira returned Jenna's kiss with one on her forehead, and pulled her closer, but just then the music picked up again.

Aleu grinned when his eyes met hers, and started a dance of her own. A few twirls and slides, and she began running her hands up and down the length of her body. Though her robe still hid the true form of her body, wherever her hands went, the fabric tightened, and by the way her curves filled out the robe, he could already feel his shaft beginning to poke out of its sheath. Aleu seemed to realize this, and paused to loosen the tie on her robe, gripping the longer end in her teeth as she flashed another grin. Kira shifted forward on the couch, but Jenna was persistent, kissing and nipping at his neck as she kept unbuttoning his shirt. Aleu twisted and turned, her hands sliding across her chest and stomach, her head rolling with her shoulders. Then she dropped to her knees, spread her arms out and threw her head back, pulling the robe's tie free. The robe slide down her arms as she stood up; half-turning with a coy smile, she covered her breasts with one arm and her sacredness with the other, smiling at him.

Kira held out his hand to her, and when she took it he pulled her onto the couch beside him. She immediately curled up next to him, kissing his cheek and muzzle as Jenna joined in. Between them, they managed to pull off Kira's shirt, tossing it behind the couch. The girls eagerly turned their attention to his chest, caressing and kissing their way down to his waist. Kira saw Jenna start fumbling with his belt and laid his head back to relax, but no sooner did he close his eyes then he felt a cool hand on his sheath. He looked down to see that Aleu had slid her hand into his pants without waiting for Jenna. He put his hand on hers through the fabric and grinned when she looked up at him.

"Patience, my dear," he murmured, helping Jenna undo his belt and button. 

But rather than wait, the girls seemed all the more anxious, helping him slide his pants off, then his undergarments. His cock had already begun to emerge from its sheath, and the girls wasted no time. Both began licking his shaft and kissing around the sheath. Kira let a growl rumble in his throat, resting a hand on each girl's head. Jenna dipped her head lower and lapped at his sack, sucking on one nut as she fondled the other. Aleu pressed her lips to the tip of his shaft, kissing it as she tried to suck him to a full hard-on. The more his shaft grew, the more intense Aleu's administrations became. She bobbed her head furiously up and down, lashing him with her tongue and pausing every so often to kiss his tip. Jenna leaned up to join Aleu, licking around the base of his shaft, where his knot was already starting to form. When he felt it swell at her touch, Kira stroked both their heads.

"You've done well, my ladies, but I don't intend for you to taste me just yet." He motioned, and they backed away as he stood up to retrieve the mattress and lay it in front of the fire. "Please, lie down, Jenna." Jenna did as she was told, lying on her back and even parting her legs a little in anticipation. "Good girl. Aleu, go keep Jenna warm." Aleu nodded and straddled Jenna before settling her chest on Jenna's. "Perfect."

Kira knelt down behind the two girls, brushing their tails aside and running his hands up their thighs to where their wet slits were pressed against each other. For a moment, he sat there, admiring his girls, and then looked up to meet their gazes. Aleu was watching him over her shoulder, and he could see Jenna peeking under Aleu's muzzle at him. 

With a grin, he shifted forward and rubbed his shaft against their smoldering entrances. Both girls whined and shuddered, each trying to move closer, to coax him further. He just grinned and nudged his tip between their sweet, slick sexes and thrust forward. The girls moaned hungrily, grinding against his dog meat. Kira put his hands on Aleu's rump and began stroking from her tail down the side of her legs, squeezing her bottom each time his shaft slid between her and Jenna. Aleu tilted her head back and groaned louder, rocking her hips back and forth in time with his thrusts. Under her, Jenna whined and slid her hands down to the base of Aleu's back, hugging the little hybrid tight against her, sandwiching Kira's shaft even tighter between them. Kira cringed slightly, but couldn't hide a sly smirk. Suddenly, he pulled away, leaving both girls whining desperately. 

Aleu seemed almost distraught, humping back against the space where he used to be. With nowhere else to turn for a release of her pent-up passion, she ducked down and pressed her lips against Jenna's. The red and white husky uttered a muffled yelp, but quickly adapted, twisting her muzzle to interlock it with Aleu's. Then she wrapped her arms around Aleu's waist as Aleu slipped hers under her mother's arms, pressing herself against Jenna's ample chest. As they moved against each other, Jenna slid one leg out from under Aleu, letting her daughter's leg slip between hers. Aleu drew back from their kiss and looked over her shoulder, still grinding against Jenna. Jenna took advantage of Aleu's distraction and leaned up to suck on one of her daughter's breasts, tenderly caressing the other as she did. Aleu gasped and turned back to Jenna, who pulled away for a second, kissed her breast, and then turned her attention to the other. Aleu was ready this time, but still hummed and humped back against Jenna. 

When her sacredness slid against Jenna's, Kira thought he saw a spark in Aleu's eyes. The next moment, the young wolf-dog put her hands on Jenna's stomach to steady herself and started rolling her hips, moaning each time their bodies connected. Jenna let her head fall to the side and panted open-mouthed as her daughter really began to grind against her. Kira chuckled a bit to himself. If Jenna was this entranced, Aleu must be absolutely love-drunk, but when he turned his gaze to her, he was amazed, shocked to see a bare-toothed smile across her face. Before he realized what was happening, Jenna let out a loud, long groan as her whole body shook under Aleu. Still panting, she reached up and pulled Aleu down into a deep kiss, and the two girls wrapped each other up in a warm embrace. Realization dawned on Kira, and he quickly moved up to them just as they paused for a breath. 

"You girls put on a wonderful show, but now Jenna, it's now Aleu's turn to enjoy herself."

With that, he slid his hands between their hot bodies and gently lifted Aleu off her mother. Jenna rolled onto her side by the fire and rested her head on arms to watch them. Kira set Aleu back down beside Jenna, and she settled on all fours before looking back over her shoulder at him. As he moved against her, she flicked her tail to the side and licked her lips with a grin. Kira let his tip nudge against her entrance, and she cooed adoringly, shuffling her legs further apart and shifting her weight back against him; Kira put his hands on either side of her tail and prodded her just slightly. She whined and tried to push back against him, but he stopped her again. 

"Are you ready, Aleu?"

"Yes," she moaned, her tail thumping against his chest. 

Kira nodded and pulled her against him, his pointed tip easily parting her folds. Aleu yelped, her claws digging into the mattress. With a grin of his own, Kira pulled back and then thrust into her again. This time, Aleu was ready, and rocked her hips backward to meet him. Her lusty groan only partly covered the slap of his hips against hers. As he shut his eyes and settled into a slow, steady rhythm, Aleu was quick to catch on, rolling her hips counter to his. The young hybrid couldn't keep quiet, moaning and whining each time their bodies met. Kira adored the feel of Aleu's treasure around his shaft, glorying in how her warmth flowed into him. Just then, he heard her whisper,

"This feels so good." 

He opened his eyes and saw that Aleu was still watching him over her shoulder, her eyes half-open and her tongue hanging out of her mouth. At first, he thought he might have imagined it, but then her eyes flicked up to his. 

"Don't stop," she moaned.

Despite Aleu's panted request, Kira almost did just that. Suddenly, every twitch, every squeeze, every pulse her body gave felt different. It felt...wrong. His mind reeled, struggling to make sense of it. All he could think of was the whispered comment she probably hadn't meant for him to hear earlier that night on the dance floor. [i]"I wonder what your hands are capable of."[/i] Kira found he had to look away from Aleu to regain his composure. Yet even as he'd wrestled with these strange feelings, he and Aleu had not paused or broken their rhythm, and he was fast approaching release. By the sound of Aleu's moans and the way she was bucking back against him, so was she. He gritted his teeth and began pumping her faster. Aleu screwed her eye shut and collapsed onto her arms, succumbing completely to him. He felt his knot beginning to swell, and slowed his pace to catch Aleu's attention. When she looked back at him, he rammed his swelling bulge against her clenched pussy and she cried out, tearing holes in the mattress with her claws. Kira grinned despite himself and pulled back before slamming his length into her, grinding his swollen knot against her outer lips. Aleu whined and whimpered as she shifted her hips side to side, working his shaft around her insides. Kira groaned, gritting his teeth at the way her body teased him. He knew she must be getting dangerously close, and he meant to give her exactly what she wanted. Rearing back, he gripped her ass tightly and pounded her as hard and fast as he could. Each time his knot rammed against her puckered cunny, Aleu yelped and moaned, digging her claws into the mattress. As his pace grew faster, her voice melted into one continuous moan that jumped in pitch each time his hips slapped against hers. He was at the point of tying with her when she buried her muzzle under her crossed arms and let loose a muffled scream as her body shuddered under him. Kira grunted and clenched his teeth as Aleu's love fluids coated his engorged shaft, bringing to the brink of climax. He was able to hold back and pull out, but it was coming fast. No time.

"Aleu..." he said, shocked at how soft his voice had become.

She glanced over her shoulder - face flushed, still panting - just as he released. Aleu laughed and let her legs fall, sprawling on the mattress as he painted her with his seed. Once he'd finished, Aleu laid her head down on her arms and closed her eyes, murmuring something soft as she faded off to sleep. Kira knelt behind her, watching as her back slowly rose and fell, covered in his lust. He couldn't believe what he'd done. He should have knotted her and filled her to the brim. He simply had to decide not to impregnate her, and it wouldn't happen. Yet, he'd suddenly felt as though taking her virginity was the worst possible thing in the world. Why? 

Sinking down onto the mattress, he kept his eyes on Aleu, but she'd fallen into a deep sleep, and for reasons he couldn't understand, he had no desire to wake her. He glanced over at Jenna, who lay by the fire watching him. If he so much as thought it, she would suck him back to erection, and then let him pound her cunny as hard and long as he wanted. But now, he wasn't sure if he could even bring himself to let her clean him. Gesturing to Aleu, he told Jenna to clean her. The red and white husky did as she was told, quickly licking up all Kira's love fluid. With that taken care of, Kira told Jenna to lie down and rest. As soon as her eyes closed, Kira crawled over to Aleu and looked down at her, smiling in her sleep. 

"Aleu, you deserve better than this," he whispered. "You deserve to know your lover, and very soon, you shall." 

The next morning, Kira casually walked up to the sign over his door and flipped it to 'open.' As luck would have it, Aleu and Jenna were early risers, and on their morning walk through town, they spotted the sign change and stopped in to say hello. Once they'd stepped inside, the girls found themselves surrounded by an astonishing variety of pants, shirts, suits and even dresses. Hats and caps hung behind the register, where Kira turned around to address them with a smile.

"Aleu, Miss Jenna... Welcome to the finest tailor shop in Alaska, stocked with attractive garments for all at attractive prices. What might I interest you in today?"

Jenna glanced around the shop again.

"I wouldn't know where to start!" she laughed. "Where on Earth did you gather all of these from?"

"All of this," he said, spreading his arms and gesturing around the shop, "is the result of years of work. Meeting with people, discovering the best fabrics, the most popular designs, the most rugged materials... All of my experience brought here under one roof. I dare say you will find something that catches your eye."

Jenna turned and began scanning the racks of clothes, murmuring in wonder. Aleu first glanced at the hats behind the register, and then moved around the store, stopping occasionally to inspect something more closely. He noticed that she stared for a long time at a light blue silk dress that hung in the shop window, but then shook her head sadly and walked over to the scarf section. Shortly, Jenna returned to the register with a new hat and a thick, hooded parka. 

"Balto's been needing a new coat for his runs. I think this should suit him."

"Then he is a very lucky man to have such a thoughtful wife," Kira commented with a smile, ringing up the purchase. "You've made a fine choice." He carefully wrapped the parka in paper and placed it in a suitable box. As he handed the box to Jenna, he turned to her daughter. "And for you, Aleu?"

The young gray-brown wolf-dog stepped beside her mother with a simple red scarf. 

"An interesting choice of color," he observed, looking the scarf up and down carefully before holding it out to her. "If I may?" Aleu smiled and bowed her head; Kira leaned forward and gently wrapped the scarf around her neck, then stepped back with a hand on his chin. "Hmm... Yes, a very interesting, but very wise choice. The sharp contrast between the scarf and your fur will surely draw a lot of positive attention." He looked over at the scarves and then back at Aleu. "Might I recommend a softer fabric? Wool is good for keeping you warm, but it can get quick uncomfortable..."

Before Aleu could respond, Kira stepped around the counter and walked briskly over to the scarves, perusing the selection for only a moment before he plucked a slightly darker red one and presented it to Aleu. 

"Try this one."

Aleu slipped her first choice off and handed it to Kira before taking his suggestion. It took only seconds for her to wrap it around her neck and get used to the feel of the fabric. 

"It's wonderful," she said, but her expression suddenly dampened. "How much does it cost?"

Kira shook his head, still smiling.

"For my first two customers, no charge."

Neither Jenna nor Aleu could contain a look of shock and disbelief. 

"Kira!" Jenna gasped. "We couldn't possibly-"

"Ah, but I insist," Kira interrupted smoothly, clasping his hands together. "If it makes you feel better, please consider these gifts from a friend. You've both been very kind to me, and I wanted to repay that kindness."

Aleu laughed, while Jenna smiled and shook her head, reaching into her purse.

"Miss Jenna, please, I do insist. Take them, as a favor to me."

Aleu walked up to Kira and hugged him tightly. As she stepped back, Jenna stepped up and shook his hand.

"This is such a nice gesture, Kira. Thank you."

"My pleasure, Miss Jenna," he replied with a small bow. 

As Jenna turned to leave, Aleu leaned forward and gave Kira a quick peck on the cheek. She gave a sheepish smile and blushed, then turned quickly to catch up with her mother before she noticed. Kira watched her leave, grinning perhaps a bit more than was appropriate. 

Aleu and Jenna were not the only people to visit Kira's store that day. First a married couple walking by spotted the sign and walked in to see what this new tailor had to offer. They walked out less than half an hour later wearing a new jacket and sweater. Another young lady passing by asked where she could find such a well-made garment, and the couple pointed her to Kira's shop. So it began. Nome was a small town, and on a day-to-day basis, very little of any significance occurred. The town had been without a tailor since the store's previous owner had left suddenly a month or so before Kira arrived, so many residents were left to mend their own clothes, with mixed results. To have a tailor again meant fresh clothes, and repairs for old ones. Before lunch time, the store was crowded with anxious patrons, and only the stroke of noon sent them home again for lunch.

That evening, Jenna and Aleu decided to return to the bar. After mingling with friends for a while, they each took a seat at the bar and ordered a glass of wine. 

"Do you suppose Kodi and Papa will make it back tonight?" Aleu asked.

Jenna shook her head.

"Dixie heard from Morse down at the telegraph office that they've been delayed by a storm. They'll be home by tomorrow afternoon, though."

"Hmm..." Aleu took a sip from her glass as she glanced over Jenna's shoulder toward the door. "Mom, what's the best way to see if a guy really likes you?"

Jenna was taken aback for a moment, then followed Aleu's gaze and glanced over her shoulder to see Kira among a small crowd just entering the bar. He didn't seem to have noticed them yet.

"Well, the best way to do that is test his patience around you," Jenna replied with a small smirk.

"You mean see if he's the jealous type," Aleu laughed. "I can do that..."

With that, she finished her glass and walked down to the other end of the bar and started moving among the occupied tables as Jenna watched. Earlier in the day, another sled team had arrived, this one all the way from Nenana. Most of the team had already found company for the night and were either at the bar or out on the dance floor. When Aleu walked up behind the two remaining runners and put her arms over their shoulders, though, they were eager to offer her a seat. Jenna chuckled softly to herself and took another sip of her wine. Just then, a familiar voice came from over her shoulder. 

"Good evening, Miss Jenna."

She swung around in her seat and smiled at Kira when he tipped his hat.

"Hello again, Kira." 

"Has Aleu decided to stay at home tonight? I had hoped we might continue our mutual dance lessons."

"No, in fact, she's sitting right over there."

Kira's eyes followed her gesture and he quickly spotted her sitting with two members of the visiting sled team. For a moment, Jenna thought she saw a frown cross his face, but when he turned to address her again, he was as calm and level-headed as ever. 

"It seems she's made fast friends with our visitors from Nenana," he commented, pausing to order a glass of vodka. "When they arrived earlier, I thought I might finally get a chance to meet the famous Balto."

"I thought they would be here, too, but their team is stuck in White Mountain because of a storm. The Nenana team just barely got through it." 

"What a shame," Kira replied, taking his drink from Kaltag. "Do you know anyone on the visiting sled team?"

Jenna shook her head.

"Why do you ask?"

"Only because Aleu seems to know those two very well."

Jenna glanced over at the table. The shorter of the two sled dogs, a light gray husky, had come back from the bar with a pair of drinks. When he set one down in front of Aleu, she smiled. Jenna couldn't tell what Aleu said, but the meaning came when she ran her hand up his arm and laughed. Jenna had to use her drink to hide a look of both shock and amusement. Kira made no such attempts.

"Very well, indeed," he chuckled, taking another sip.  

"So, um..." Jenna muttered, fumbling to change the topic. "Did you see much of Alaska before you ended up here?"

"Yes, Juneau is quite a bustling city for being so far north." He paused to take another drink as his eyes shifted back to Aleu. "But I must say the scenery is better here." A burst of laughter made Jenna turn her head, though she already recognized Aleu's voice. Kira downed the rest of his drink in one gulp and stepped back from the bar. "Excuse me, Miss Jenna."

With a tip of his hat, he headed toward the sled team's table. Jenna chuckled and ordered another glass of wine.

"...and the woman says, 'Well that's alright with me, but how are you at catching mice?'"

The two sled dogs laughed and so did Aleu.

"That's one I haven't heard before, Aleu," said the smaller gray husky who'd bought her a drink. "How about I trade you one?" Aleu smiled and motioned for him to continue. "So, three dogs walk into a bar-"

"You'd think the third one in line would have seen it," Kira interjected with a chuckle. 

Aleu looked up and beamed when she spotted him just behind the two sled dogs. They weren't nearly as happy to see him as she was, glaring over their shoulders at him. Kira ignored them.

"Good evening, Miss Aleu. I hope you'll forgive my interruption."

The larger of the two sled dogs, a black and white malamute, pushed back from the table and turned to face Kira. 

"Easy, Sammy," the smaller husky said, grabbing the malamute's wrist as he looked at Kira. "We're just in the middle of a conversation here, pal, so take a seat and wait your turn."

"Or better yet, take a hike," Sammy added with a low growl.

"I certainly didn't mean to offend," Kira replied, taking a step back and tipping his hat to the malamute. "My apologies." He then turned to Aleu. "I was hoping we could continue our mutual dance lessons."

The malamute curled his hand into a fist, but Aleu interjected,  

"Kira, it's good to see you again. Why don't you join us?" She leaned forward and changed her tone to a softer, more imploring one. "Buck, you still haven't told me about your trip here. That storm must have made it absolutely miserable." 

The malamute half-turned his head and looked at Aleu. She met his gaze and put on her saddest puppy pout. With a sigh, Samuel shrugged off Buck's hand and sat back down. When Kira hesitated, he jerked his hand at the free chair next to Aleu. 

"Well?"

Kira walked around the sled dogs and sat down next to Aleu. Setting his hat on the table, he folded his hands together and looked attentively at Samuel.

"Well then, let's hear this riveting tale."

Buck nudged Samuel, and the malamute cleared his throat.

"We were about an hour out of White Mountain when the sky started to get dark, and we knew there was a storm coming. But Buck here..." He jerked his thumb at the smaller husky with a grin. "...he says turning back would just be a waste of time."

"That was a team decision, and you know it!" Buck interjected, pointing a finger at Samuel.

"Sure, anyway, we're still three hours out of Nome when the worst of it rolled in..."

"...and that is the only reason that we are sitting here talking to you today."

Nearly an hour of unnecessarily extensive details, extensive background stories and inside jokes later, Buck finally finished his story. 

"Wow, you two must be pretty lucky to have survived that."

Kira pushed back his chair and stood up, taking his top hat.

"Thank you, gentlemen, for that spectacular story." He turned to Aleu. "Miss Aleu, would you care to dance?"

Before she could answer, both Buck and Samuel had shoved back their chairs and stood to confront Kira.

"Look, pal, Aleu sat down with us first," Buck snapped.

"You're a real piece of work," Samuel growled. "What makes you think you can just waltz in here and steal our girl?"

It was at this point that Aleu stood and glared back at the two of them.

"What makes you think I'm being stolen? Just because you bought me a drink does not mean you've bought my company for the evening," she snapped back. "I am not some bottle of gin that you can pass around as you please. I belong to no one!" By now, many patrons had heard the commotion and had turned to see what all the fuss was about. "Keep that in mind so that maybe the next girl that decides to sit with you isn't disgusted by how desperately jealous you both are." She turned to Kira. "Yes, I would love to dance."

Kira looked at the two sled dogs, who were caught with expressions of stunned anger on their faces. Aleu's words had effectively silenced them.

"My apologies, gentlemen, but it seems Miss Aleu has made herself quite clear. Please allow me to buy you both a drink before we part ways." 

He started around the table toward the bar, but Samuel stepped into his path. Kira looked up just as Samuel landed a right hook across his muzzle, sending the black collie stumbling back a few steps. Aleu cried out in shock, but he didn't seem to notice. He was hunched down with one hand on his face as Samuel closed the gap between them, but as the big malamute raised his fist again, Kira sprang up and smashed him right in the nose. Samuel stumbled back, clutching his muzzle, as Kira picked his hat up off the floor. 

"Are you quite finished?" he said, straightening his jacket. The malamute nodded. "Good. And you can forget about the drinks." Kira turned back to Aleu and clasped his hands together. "Now then, shall we dance?"

Aleu rushed over to him and put her hands on either side of his muzzle, turning it from side to side.

"I don't believe it. There's not a scratch on you."

Kira reached up and gently pulled her hands down.

"Well, between you and me, that Samuel hits like a pup."

Aleu couldn't help but laugh as they walked out onto the dance floor. 

Jenna, who had been watching them both from the bar, smiled and nodded to herself. Leaving a tip for Kaltag on the bar, she quietly excused herself and left the boiler room.

After a few songs, Aleu began to lose track of time, but she couldn't have cared less. The hours seemed to blend together in a perfect mixture of dancing, talking and laughing. It wasn't any particular sound that finally made her look up from the corner table she and Kira were sharing, but rather the quiet around them. Much to her dismay, she realized that the rest of the crowd had left, and all the chairs were stacked neatly on clean tables. Only Kaltag remained, wiping out the water marks on what must have been the last glass. He paused, and held it up to the light over the bar, then returned to cleaning it. Though his eyes never left his work, he pulled out his pocket watch and glanced at the time. Aleu looked to the clock that hung over the door and gasped.

"2 o'clock already!" 

"Time flies when in good company," Kira offered with a sheepish smile.

"We should be leaving, then, before Kaltag throws us out."

The two got up, collected their coats and headed toward the door. Aleu stopped to apologize to Kaltag, who looked up, smiled and nodded. Once Aleu had turned to leave, Kira left a 20 dollar bill on the bar and wished him a good evening. 

Though the night sky was filled with clouds, the waxing moon illuminated the deserted streets of Nome like daylight. Aleu kept sneaking glances as they walked; Kira pretended not to notice. Just then, a gust of wind caught them from behind, and Aleu leapt closer to Kira. He looked over at her and saw the color rush to her cheeks; with a smile, he put his arm up around her shoulders and Aleu happily snuggled close to him as they kept walking. When they reached Aleu's home, they stopped in the glow of the porch light and she turned to face him. 

"Thank you, Kira, for such wonderful night," Aleu said softly. "I had a great time."

"You're quite welcome, Aleu. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. I certainly did." He folded his arms behind his back and stepped closer. "How could I not, when in the company of such a beautiful girl?" 

Aleu giggled and tried to hide the red flush on her cheeks. 

"You're a shameless flatterer, you know that?"

"Now there's something I haven't been called before." He paused to scratch his chin in mock contemplation before turning back to face her. "Is it working?"

Aleu had to cover her muzzle to muffle her laughter, but she sighed and smiled at him. Then, in a voice that was barely a whisper, she leaned forward and said,

"Yes."

Almost before he could react, she cupped his muzzle in her hands and kissed him. 

Her lips were cool, but behind the chill of the night air he could feel the warmth of a desire brought on not by lust or any of the lesser emotions, but by love. The realization caught him off-guard. A moment later, Aleu pulled back from the kiss. She looked at him for a long few seconds, but her smile never faltered. Instead, he felt as though her happiness had spread to him through those fleeting moments of connection, and he smiled a genuinely happy smile. Aleu's arms slipped down to his shoulders and she embraced him, tucking her muzzle under his ear. This time, Kira stepped closer, feeling Aleu's chest press against his as he wrapped his arms around her. And for a long few moments, they stood still, enjoying the feel of each other's embrace. He felt Aleu shift, and then the touch of her lips on his cheek. Then her arms dropped away as she stepped back, taking his hands in hers. 

"Good night," she whispered, turning toward the door. 

"Good night," he replied, catching himself taking a step to follow her. "Will I see you again soon?"

Aleu stopped with her hand on the doorknob and shot him a grin over her shoulder. 

"You most certainly will." Kira's smile widened, and Aleu blew him a kiss. "Good night, Kira."

Then, slowly, almost regretfully, she walked inside and shut the door behind her. The porch light went out a moment later. Kira stood where he was for a few long minutes, watching the door as if he expected her to come waltzing back out. He didn't expect it, but even as he turned and strolled back to his shop, he found himself hoping that she might reappear. That he might hear her call out to him in the stillness of the Arctic night, rush back into his arms and press her lips against his again. Kira shook his head and took off his hat to wipe his brow. He turned and started for home, silent and calm by all visible signs, but at war within himself. He still wasn't quite convinced he'd made the right decision.

Why did he have need of her desire when he could summon her to him with the tiniest inclination of thought? Aleu was beautiful, there was no denying that, but it was not her beauty that kept Kira's mind working so furiously. There was real desire, real passion behind that kiss, however brief. A passion he hadn't felt since...

Kira stopped and looked over his shoulder to the house at the end of the row, then pulled out his pocket watch and sighed. It was already nearly 3 in the morning. He couldn't talk to her tonight. 

"Tomorrow," he sighed, unlocking his store and stepping inside. "Tomorrow will be the day." 

The following day rushed by for Kira. Despite the rush of new customers the previous day, plenty of Nome's canine citizens were still hearing of the new tailor, and he was kept busy through lunch and into the afternoon. Early in the evening, just as Kira was preparing to close the store for the day, the bell over his door rang, and he came out from the storage room in back to find Jenna, Aleu, and tall, brown and tan wolf-dog waiting by the counter.

"Ah, my two favorite customers," Kira called out. "I must say, I am quite assured of the quality and price of my wares, but I did not expect such a sudden increase in business. I believe I have you two to thank for that." He noticed that both girls were wearing their recent purchases, and the wolf-dog was wearing the jacket Jenna had bought for Balto. "Does your new attire fit comfortably?"

"Yes, quite," Jenna replied. 

Aleu likewise nodded her approval. Kira turned to address the brown and tan wolf-dog.

"And you, I presume, are Balto."

The wolf-dog laughed and nodded.

"My reputation precedes me."

"As well as your wardrobe," Kira laughed. "I sold your wife that jacket just yesterday. It fits well, I gather?"

"Yes, it's very comfortable. You're quite a good tailor."

"Ah, thank you, but your thanks should go to your wife, for choosing the jacket. You both know each other well." He stepped up to Balto and extended his hand. "And may I say that it is a great honor to meet the hero of Nome, Alaska." 

Balto grinned and shook his head. 

"I really don't deserve any special thanks," he said, politely declining the handshake. "I was only doing what anyone else would have done."

"That may be, but it was you that actually did it," Kira countered, keeping his hand outstretched. Seeing Balto's discomfort, he added, "But your modesty speaks well of you. Perhaps we could simply shake hands as new acquaintances?"

Chuckling, Balto took Kira's hand and shook it firmly. 

"Agreed. Welcome to Nome, Kira."

"Here an entire week, and everyone has greeted me with great kindness. I have certainly chosen a fine town for my craft." 

"Well, we hope you're happy here," Jenna chimed in.

"I feel at home already," Kira replied with a tip of his hat. Balto and Jenna joined hands and turned to leave. "Good day to the both of you." The couple replied in kind and left. Aleu, however, stayed behind. "Is there something I can help you with, Aleu?"

"Maybe." She looked over at the blue dress still displayed in the window. "How much is that dress?" 

"That one? It's rather expensive. Were you interested in it?"

Aleu sighed and looked away.

"No, I was only curious." She turned back with a smile. "But... Would you like to go the cafe again tonight? I really enjoyed talking with you last night." 

For a moment, Kira couldn't decide how to respond, but just as Aleu began to furrow her brow in confusion, he smiled and nodded.

"I would love to," he replied. Aleu nodded and turned to leave, but he called after her. "Aleu, if I could ask one favor of you...?"

"What would that be?" she said, stopping at the door.

"Come see me tonight, here, before we go to the cafe. There's...something I'd like to talk to you about." He paused, and felt a few beads of sweat gathering on his forehead. "Something private."

Aleu looked down for a moment, seeming to consider his request, then looked up at him with a small smile.

"Alright, Kira. I'll meet you here after supper."

"Thank you, Aleu," he sighed, a nervous smile crossing his muzzle.

Aleu giggled and waved as she walked out.

	"You're going to meet him at his house?"

	Aleu sighed as her father stood from his seat in the living room, crossing over to where she sat on the couch. Her mother stood in the doorway to the kitchen, watching them both. 

	"Yes, Papa. He just wants to talk in private before we go dancing. What's wrong with that?"

	Balto leaned down to look her in the eye.

	"It doesn't feel right, Aleu," he replied. "How long have you known Kira?"

	"Since the day he came to Nome, Papa."

"Less than a week, from what I understand." 

"What difference does that make? There's nothing wrong with him. He's patient and kind and a real gentleman. I really like him." Balto sighed, which only made Aleu furrow her brow. "What?"

	"That's what I was afraid you'd say, Aleu."

	"Papa, you've met him. He's a nice man! He gave me and Mom our new things for free, just because we were his first customers."

	"It could be a ploy."

	Aleu groaned and stood up, moving around her father toward the door.

	"You're impossible." 

Balto anticipated her move and blocked her at the door. 

"Young lady, you're not leaving until we resolve this."

"Resolve what? I'm not doing anything wrong! Why can't you just let me talk to him?"

"Because you hardly know him, Aleu, and more than that, I hardly know him," Balto walked up to her and put his hands on her shoulders. "I don't like the idea of him asking you to meet him at his home. His home, Aleu."

Aleu didn't even address her father, but turned to Jenna. 

"Mom, you met him. You talked to him. What do you think?"

Jenna froze, avoiding Aleu's gaze. Yes, she'd met Kira, and he did seem nice, but that wasn't the whole of it. She was worried about the dreams that Aleu kept telling her about, and her own part in them. That was the real reason Balto was so apprehensive about Aleu suddenly taking an interest in the new tailor. She'd sworn to Aleu that she wouldn't tell a soul about her daughter's dreams. Balto had been worried with how stressed Jenna seemed and asked her about it; how could she lie to her husband? She'd told him everything, making him promise not to let Aleu know what he knew. It wasn't that Kira had been in the dreams, of course. Neither Aleu or Jenna could seem to remember what their nighttime rendezvous looked like. Still, to have these dreams start not long after Kira moved to town was almost too much of a coincidence.  

Yet, in spite of it all, a part of her sympathized with the love-struck young girl. In her mind's eye, she saw herself arguing with her parents just minutes before Balto had shown up at their door for their first date. It took three months for them to consent to inviting the 'mangy wolf-dog' over for dinner. Well, they'd been wrong about him, so maybe she and Balto were wrong about Kira. A chance was the least she could give Aleu. She deserved that much.

"Aleu, your father and I only want what's best for you," she began, pausing when Aleu sighed and hung her head. "But I think you're old enough to make your own decisions now."

Aleu's head snapped up, and her eyes went wide in disbelief. Balto couldn't help but do the same. Aleu rushed over to her mother and threw her arms around her.

"Thank you, Mom! Thank you, thank you!" 

Jenna returned Aleu's embrace and looked over her shoulder at Balto. The brown and tan wolf-dog had furrowed his brow in clear disapproval. Jenna tilted her head toward Aleu and raised her brow as if to show surprise. Balto sighed and shook his head, but the frown vanished, replaced with a small, unnatural smile.

"Alright, go on," Jenna insisted, giving Aleu a gentle push toward the door. "Your father and I will see you and Kira at the bar in a little while."

Aleu nodded and slipped out the door. She didn't even acknowledge her father.

Once the door shut behind her, Balto turned to Jenna with a scowl. 

"Why did you do that?"

"Balto, I know you're worried, but she's not our baby girl anymore." Balto looked out the window after her, and Jenna crossed the room to put her arms around his waist. "She's growing up, Balto, in ways you haven't always been around to see." 

Balto's head snapped around, an accusatory look on his face. 

"You know I don't always have a choice."

"It's not your fault, Balto, I never said it was," Jenna soothed. "But you need to realize that she's a very capable young lady. She'll be fine."

Balto sighed and looked out the window again, though Aleu had passed out of his sight further down the street.

"She used to be so shy. What did I miss?"

Jenna paused and thought for a moment.

"It took me by surprise, too," Jenna admitted. "The other night in the cafe, she asked me what the best way would be to tell if a guy liked her." Balto turned back to Jenna with a raised eyebrow. "I told her she should see how he reacted to her with someone else, and she went and sat down with the sled team from Juneau."

"You're joking."

"No, she got them to buy her a drink, too."

"As nice as that is, that's not why I'm worried," Balto said, turning to put his hands on Jenna's shoulders. "It's these dreams she's been having, they're not normal."

"You're saying you've never had a sensual dream growing up?"

"I'm saying that it's not normal for you and our daughter to share a dream, especially not one of that kind."

Jenna blushed and nodded slowly.

"It's strange, yes, but do you really think it's so serious?"

"I mentioned it to Boris earlier." Seeing shock on Jenna's face, he added hastily, "Nothing explicit! I just told him that you and Aleu had been having some strange dreams. Don't forget, he grew up in Russia, and his head's full of their old folklore. He should be able to help us figure out what it means."

And with that, the two headed out into the night.

At the same time, Kira stood tending the fire in his home above the tailor shop when he heard a soft knock on the door downstairs. He found Aleu waiting at the door and hurriedly let her in. 

"Thanks," she panted, stamping her feet as he shut the door. "There must be another storm blowing in. It's absolutely frigid outside."

"So I gather," Kira chuckled. "Why don't you..." He cut himself off and cleared his throat. "I mean, would you like to come upstairs and warm up by the fire?"

Aleu laughed and nodded.

"That sounds like a good idea." She paused and glanced around the dimly-lit shop. Her eyes fell on the empty window sill. "Have you already sold that blue dress?"

Kira stopped and turned back toward her.

"Oh... Yes, I'm afraid I had to set that aside for someone. I'm sorry, Aleu."

"It's alright," she sighed. "Mother never would have let me buy it anyway." 

She followed Kira up the stairs in the back of the shop and into his living room, where a roaring fire awaited them. Aleu accepted Kira's polite offer to take her jacket and sat down on his couch close to the fireplace. Kira sat down in a chair across from her and stared at the fire, wringing his hands.

"So, tell me, Kira," Aleu began, moving up to the edge of the couch and leaning toward him. "What is it you wanted to talk about?"

"Well, Aleu, it's...it's not an easy thing to say," he murmured, swallowing hard. "It's something I wish I could have told you sooner, but I didn't know until last night how much you really meant to me."

Aleu furrowed her brow.

"Kira, if this is about our kiss-"

"No," Kira interrupted. "It's not, not entirely." Aleu cocked her head to one side. "Forgive me for interrupting, but... Aleu, I'm afraid I haven't been entirely honest with you. There's something you should know about me. I'm... I'm not normal. I'm not like you."

"Kira, I'm about as far from normal as you can get."

"No, Aleu, that's not it." He put his face in his hands and thought for a moment. "I'll just say it. Aleu, I'm...a vampire."

At first, Aleu's expression stayed puzzled, then to his surprise, it changed to one of amusement. This was not exactly the reaction he was hoping for.

"Kira, why on earth would you say that?"

For a few stunned seconds, all Kira could do was look at her. 

"Because it's true."

Aleu frowned and stood up.

"Well, if that's the best excuse you can come up with for not wanting to be with me, then I've truly wasted my time."

"Aleu, wait, please!" Kira cried, jumping to his feet to stop her. "It's no excuse, you have to believe me." 

Aleu glared over her shoulder at him.

"And why is that, Kira? A vampire? Really? You must think I'm stupid."

She turned to leave again, and had her hand on the stairs railing when Kira replied,

"Aleu, I think you're beautiful." She froze and looked back at him. "You're a charming, attractive, intelligent young lady, and you deserve to know the truth." Aleu slowly turned and walked back into the living room, skeptical curiosity written on her face. "Here, let me show you something. You've seen my smile." He grinned, baring his teeth. "But now, look closer at the top row, on either side of my nose." 

He parted his rows of teeth and waited as Aleu moved closer, peering into his open maw. When her eyes widened, he knew she'd seen them. A pair of much longer, pointed teeth now seemed plain as day. 

"Well, yes, those are rather large teeth, but that doesn't mean..."

"Of course it doesn't," Kira said, closing his muzzle and smiling. "You're much too smart to be convinced by dental evidence." He walked over to the cabinet by the stairs and returned carrying a small metal ball. "I'll place this in your hands, and when I tell you to, close your hands." He placed the ball in Aleu's open palms and took three steps back from her, putting his hands in his pockets.  "I guarantee that I will take the ball before you can close your hands around it."

"Kira, that's not even a fair thing," Aleu laughed. "You're too far to even try."

"For a normal man, perhaps it would be, but a vampire is granted remarkable speed. Are you ready?" Kira grinned and Aleu nodded. "Then, one...two...three...Go!"

Aleu clasped her hands tightly and smiled, shaking her head. Kira stood where he had been, his hands in his pockets.

"I told you, Kira..." she said, opening her palms to find...nothing. She looked up in shock. "But how...?"

Kira grinned as he pulled the small metal ball out of his right pocket. 

"That's impossible!" Aleu gasped.

"Not impossible. Just improbable."

Aleu's gaze fell to the floor, and she put a hand to her head. 

"This is incredible."

Kira replaced the ball in his pocket and walked up to her. 

"There is one certain way to show you that I'm telling the truth." Aleu looked up and he offered his hand. She took it, and he led her over to his wardrobe, where he pulled a full-length looking glass out from behind the cabinet. "There's a reason the mirrors downstairs are far from the counter, far from me." He turned the mirror toward him and leaned it against the wall. "A vampire has no reflection."

	"Oh my God..." Aleu gasped, putting a hand to her muzzle.

	Though she was clearly visible in the dusty glass, all that could be seen of Kira was his clothes, seemingly suspended in the air. 

	"Now, to show you this isn't some parlor trick..." Kira turned around, and Aleu watched as the mirrored clothes did the same. Then, he removed his jacket, followed by his vest, leaving only his shirt. He turned to Aleu, who looked at him with a mix of fear and disbelief. "Do you see now why I was so hesitant to tell you?"

	Aleu nodded.

	"This... This is a lot to take in."

	"I'm sorry to shock you like this, but I thought you deserved to know." He took a step back and folded his arms, looking at the floor. "I understand if you want to leave now." 

	Aleu was quiet for a minute, and he turned to collect his vest and jacket when suddenly he felt a gentle hand on his. He looked back to see Aleu beside him.

	"I'm not going anywhere, Kira. You're the first person that made me feel...normal. Everyone tended to shy away from me before you came. I guess seeing me with the handsome new tailor changed people's minds a bit."

	"You have yourself to thank for that, Aleu," he replied. "It was your confidence and kindness that drew me to you. You're a very special girl, and I really enjoy the time we spend together."

	"That makes two of us," Aleu said with a smile. "It may take some getting used to, but I'm not going to stop seeing you because of who you are."

Kira smiled broadly, and felt as though he might cry as he drew Aleu into an embrace.

"Thank you, Aleu. I can't tell you how happy you've made me."

Aleu returned the embrace and nuzzled against his neck.

"You're welcome," she whispered. They broke the embrace, but kept hold of each other's hands. "So, what do we do now?"

	"Well, we could always go to the cafe and continue those dance lessons," Kira offered.

	"I was kind of hoping we could have some private lessons here," Aleu admitted, smiling sheepishly as her cheeks turned pink. "You do have a record player, don't you?"

	Kira's smile widened and he walked over to the cabinet by the stairs and opened it, revealing his old record player. He pulled one of the flat blat discs out of its case, setting it carefully on the player. Before he set the needle down, though, he stopped and turned to Aleu. 

	"Before our dance, I have something I want to give you."

	He disappeared into an adjacent room, and Aleu heard him shuffling through what sounded like stacks of garments. Just as she was about to follow him, he returned, carrying a long, thin box, which he laid in Aleu's outstretched hands. She gave him a puzzled look, but he nodded to the box. Once she pulled away the tissue paper, she couldn't contain a gasp of surprise. Inside was the blue silk dress she'd seen in the window sill.

	"Kira... I couldn't possibly accept this. This is too much."

	Kira only smiled knowingly and pulled the dress from its box. 

	"Somehow, I knew you would say that. Please, don't worry about the price. Just consider it a gift from someone who cares about you very much." 

	He held out the dress to Aleu and she set the box aside to accept it.

	"Oh, Kira, it's beautiful. It must have taken days, weeks to make it."

	"All of them worth it," he replied. "I thought you might like to try it on."

	"Yes, of course I would," Aleu said.

	"Please, use my room. I'll be just outside."

	Meanwhile, on the other side of Nome, Balto and Jenna sat across from Boris at his kitchen table. The old goose had been listening attentively as Jenna described, with some hesitation, the nature of the dreams that she and Aleu had shared. When she finally finished, the three sat quietly as Boris appeared deep in thought.

	"This is very strange," he said finally. "I have only heard of something like this a few times."

	"What do you think is causing this, Boris?"

	"Usually these strange dreams coincide with an unusual occurrence. Something out of the ordinary. You say these dreams started last week?"

	"Yes, that's right," Jenna replied.

	"Was there anything else that happened around the same time?"

	"Well, there were a few heavy snow storms, but nothing unusual for this time of the year."

	"Are you certain? Think very carefully," Boris insisted. "The smallest detail may be important."

	Jenna looked at Balto and then stared at the table for a minute or so before shaking her head.

	"I don't know, Boris. The only other thing I can think of is Kira."

	"Kira? Who is this Kira?"

	"The new tailor. He moved in this past weekend."

	Boris leaned forward.

	"Last weekend? Are you sure?"

	"Yes, I'm sure. Why does he matter?"

	"Miss Jenna," Boris replied, his voice slow and deliberate. "It may be that it is not a something that is responsible for your dreams but someone."

	"You mean Kira? How can he possibly be behind my dreams?"

	"Tell me everything you know about him."

"What do you think?"

Kira turned from the fireplace. Aleu stood beside the record player, clad in the blue silk dress he had given her. The sleeves cut off just above her elbows, while the neckline was somewhere between modest and revealing. The dress itself matched Aleu's curves almost perfectly, and stopped a few inches above her heels. No lace or frills were added, leaving the dress smooth and soft. Kira took all of this in with a smile. 

"You look beautiful, Aleu."

"Thank you," she said softly, walking over to him. "Now, Kira, I believe you owe me a dance."

"Of course."

He brushed past Aleu, feeling a gentle squeeze on his hand when it passed hers. He looked back, only to be met with an innocent smile. Shaking his head, he switched on the turntable and set the needle on its track. After a few scratches, the slow melody of a waltz began to play. Kira took Aleu's hands in his and together they began to dance. As they matched their strides to the bass undertones, they spun and swayed as the violins' melody echoed around them. And though Aleu had never heard the song before, she soon began to hum along. Kira joined her and together they added their own music to the orchestra's tones. As the song rose in a crescendo, the two spun faster and faster, their grip tightening on each other and their bodies inching closer together. At the pinnacle of the piece, their noses touched, and with a quick glance and a smile, Aleu leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. This time, there was not a second's hesitation in Kira; he tilted his head to kiss her more deeply, parting his muzzle. When he felt her tongue graze his teeth, he slowed his pace to focus more of his attention on her sudden forward behavior. Aleu, however, did not slow her dancing, and collapsed against Kira, who lost his balance and fell back on the couch, taking Aleu down with him.

Kira stared up at Aleu, who gazed down at him with the same shocked expression. And they laughed. Aleu made no move, though she was sprawled on top of him, and Kira didn't even consider moving. They just lay there, shaking with laughter as the waltz played on. When they finally calmed down enough to control their breathing, Aleu cracked a sly smile. Before Kira could say anything, she leaned down and kissed him again. Gently at first, then in earnest, breathing through her nose in slow, heavy pants as she moved against him. Without breaking their kiss, Kira lifted Aleu fully onto the couch beside him, sliding his hands up her back to her neck. Hearing Aleu's breathing speed up, he rubbed her neck with one hand while the other reached up to stroke her cheek. Not to be outdone, Aleu let her lips wander down the side of Kira's muzzle, kissing his nose, his cheek and drawing back to kiss him between the eyes. Then, she cupped his muzzle in her hands just the way she had the night before and kissed him tenderly on the lips. Kira recalled the first time she had kissed her, and cupped the back of her head in one hand to hold her against him, as if he was afraid she would stop. As it was, he had no reason to fear such a thing. Aleu took his insistence as a cue to go further, and ducked under his muzzle to kiss his neck. Kira sighed and sank back into the couch, tiltinghis head back to give her easier access. She responded by nipping him playfully. Kira allowed himself a chuckle, the warmth of her breath making him shudder. Just as he was getting used to the feel of her teeth on his neck, the music sopped, and the needle scratched against the record's edge, a soft, demonic hiss. He nearly cursed out loud when Aleu's ears perked up and she backed away to glance over at the record player. She shrugged and looked back at him.

"I guess that ends our lesson for tonight," she said with a grin. "Would you like me to turn it off?" Kira shook his head. 

"No, I'll get it," he sighed, hauling himself up and walking over to the cabinet to stop the turntable. 

With a flick of a switch, the record quickly slowed its spinning and stopped. The only sound to be heard was the crackling of the fire. Kira slowly replaced the record in its sleeve, thinking the mood had been ruined, when he heard small footsteps behind him. Suddenly, two arms wrapped around his waist and he felt Aleu rest her muzzle on his shoulder.

"Aw, don't look so glum," she murmured, pushing her muzzle under his. "Just because the music stopped doesn't mean we have to. I'm sure we can find some way to have fun." 

He felt her teeth brush against his neck again, and almost dropped the record. Putting it quickly back in the cabinet, he put his hands over hers and half-turned his head to glance at her.

"That sounds good. What do you want to do?"

Aleu's eyes flicked up to his, and out of the corner of his eye he saw her lips curl into a grin.

"You," she whispered, releasing her hold on him and backing away.

Stunned, Kira turned around, only to come nose-to-nose with her again. She gave him a quick kiss on the nose, the grabbed his hand and guided him back over to the couch. She motioned for him to sit down, and once he had, she straddled him as best she could and put her arms around his neck. Kira smiled up at her, and she did the same as they came together. With his hands, he traced a path through the blue silk up her sides, then slid under her breasts, stroking them gently. Aleu could help but let out a low moan, even as she kissed him. The silk fabric of the dress made every touch on her body more soft and delicate. When he reached up and pinched one of her nipples through the fabric, she squeaked and pulled back from their kiss. At first, she scowled at him, but quickly her muzzle curled into a sly grin. 

"Somebody wants to play a little rough, huh?" she murmured, jabbing him with her finger. "Well then, we won't be needing this..."

Her hands went to the buttons on his shirt, and deftly undid them all, almost before he realized what she was doing. She pulled his shirt open and gasped, seeing the pentagram scar across his chest. When she looked to him, worry written all over her face, he smiled and put a hand on her cheek.

"That's from a long time ago, Aleu. You don't have to worry about it."

Nodding, Aleu bent down and kissed him, gripping his shoulders at first, and then sliding his shirt off his shoulders and down his arms. Kira slipped his arms out of the sleeves and put one hand in the small of her back to pull her closer while the other stroked her cheek as their tongues danced between locked lips. Aleu slipped her hands around his back, running them through his charcoal-black fur. He felt her tense up when her fingers traced across the claw marks that ran down the length of his back. When she backed away for a moment, he just opened his eyes and met her concerned gaze with a smile and gently drew her into another kiss. Aleu wrapped her arms more tightly around him, pressing herself against him. Kira responded in kind, putting a hand behind her head and on the small of her back. Their kisses became longer and deeper, neither of them wanting to stop for something as insignificant as air. Finally, Aleu drew back from a particularly heated kiss, and as Kira leaned back, he found Aleu's chest right in front of him. He glanced up at Aleu, who said nothing, but he thought he saw her eyes widen ever so slightly. Figuring on the best next step, he leaned forward and nuzzled against her bosom, digging his cool nose into the silk of her dress. Above him, Aleu hummed happily, gripping his hair a bit tighter. Kira heard her heartbeat speed up when he nuzzled against her other breast. Feeling playful, he touched his nose to the tip of one of the twin peaks in her dress, and then pressed his lips against it. Aleu gasped and put her hands on his cheeks, turning his muzzle up to hers.

"Keep that up, and you'll ruin this wonderful dress," she whispered with a smile. "But if you insist..." Releasing his face, she pushed one shoulder strap off, then the other, letting them hang on her curled arms. The slightly-loose-fitting dress sagged, exposing her bare chest. "Go on."

Kira wasted no time, running his tongue around her ample curves. While he kissed and suckled on one breast, his hand squeezed and caressed her other, making sure that she was always attended to. Alue's humming moans grew into ragged pants and gasps whenever his muzzle found her nipple. The eager young hybrid began rolling her hips back and forth, grinding her growing wetness against Kira's growing hardness. And as much as Aleu was enjoying Kira's attention to her chest, there were certain other parts of her that cried for attention.

"Seems like someone's getting a little excited," she observed, reaching down between her legs to grip the bulge in his pants. "I'll have to do something about that. But first..." 

Aleu slid off of Kira's lap and stood up, then let the dress' shoulder straps slid off her arms. When the dress hit the floor, rather than pick it up immediately, Aleu turned her back to Kira and then slowly bent over to retrieve it. She looked over her shoulder to see how Kira was reacting to her shameless display, and saw him loosening his belt. With a seductive smile, she took the dress and strutted around him to the bedroom door, her tail swishing back and forth. She stuck the dress neatly back on its hanger and hung it in the doorway, still waiting to hear Kira's footsteps as she turned back toward him. To her surprise, he stood naked in front of her with a familiar grin on his face. Before she could so much as gasp, he pressed her against the wall and met her lips in a smoldering kiss. Aleu gave a startled squeal, but quickly adapted, sliding her arms under his to caress his back as she felt his trace down her sides to her white cotton panties. As his fingers curled around them, she reached down and put her hands over his. He stopped and pulled back from the kiss, raising his brow. Aleu simply smiled.

"I know what you want, Kira, but you better be ready to work for it."

Kira's slack-jawed stare became a knowing smile, and he nodded, slowly kneeling down until her dampened panties were just inches in front of his nose. He glanced up at Aleu, who nodded, then leaned forward and kissed her stomach. Aleu cooed happily as he kissed his way down to her panty line, then ran his tongue just above the cotton. Kira put his hands up around her waist, then slipped them under her panties to give her rump a firm squeeze. Aleu yelped, throwing back her head and gripping the back of his head tightly. Seizing the moment, Kira yanked her panties down to her ankles and plunged his tongue into her sacred cavern. He felt Aleu shudder as she cried out in delight. 

"Kira!"

Kira backed away for a moment, glancing up at her. When she looked down, he winked at her.

"Finished already?" he asked.

"Not even close," she retorted, guiding him back up to her level. With a quick kiss on the muzzle, she whispered, "I think you owe me a bit more than that."

Then, she slipped out of his grasp - and her panties - and dashed over to his bed, pristinely kept because he never slept in it. Throwing back the blankets, she knelt on the sheets and beckoned to him. Kira was at her side in less than a heartbeat, and they shared a fiery kiss. 

"Lay down," Aleu said, nodding to the bed, and Kira obliged her. She crawled on top of him, grinding her wet snatch against his achingly hard cock. And when they were nose-to-nose, with her holding his waiting shaft just beneath her cunny, she grinned. 

"Are you ready to give me what I asked for?" 

"You have no idea," Kira growled back. 

Aleu returned the grin, guided his tip to her opening, and lowered herself onto it. As his shaft parted her outer lips and slid into her sacredness, Aleu moaned and put her hands on Kira's chest, gritting her teeth as he pressed deeper into her. Kira growled and took hold of Aleu's hips, gently guiding her down as he gloried in her cunny gripping his cock. Though her passage was soaking wet, she was still so tight that he found it hard to push any further in. When he paused to give her time to adjust, though, she looked up at him and whined.

"Kira, don't stop. You're not going to break me. Keep going!"

	Kira's grin spread wider, and he nodded, tightening his grip on her waist and gently pulling her down onto his tower of dog meat. Every inch seemed harder than the last, yet she just groaned and urged him deeper. Just when he thought her young body couldn't take any more, he felt his shaft nudge against the back of her cavern. Aleu let out a long sigh and panted as she opened her eyes again.

	"There, you see?" she gasped. "Now, take me, Kira." The charcoal black collie hesitated, and Aleu drew herself up, straddling his cock. "Alright, I'll start, then."

	Shifting up onto her knees, she began lifting and dropping her hips, taking his shaft up to the hilt each time their bodies touched. She moaned, clutching her breasts and panting. Kira let his hands slide from her hips down under her legs and gave her rump another playful squeeze as he helped her ride his shaft. Aleu barked at his touch, rolling her hips faster with his help. It was almost surreal for her. She knew her first time would be special, and that she would be really tight, but Kira's shaft felt enormous!

"Oh my God, Kira, you're so big," she moaned. "This feels so good!" 

Kira grinned and began thrusting up into her as she dropped her hips on his. Aleu's cries doubled in volume, and she rolled her hips faster until she was practically bouncing on his lap. Every stroke was like a lightning bolt of pleasure from her loins to her brain, and she leaned down to plant her hands on either side of his him. Kira matched her every move, pounding his length up inside her just as fast as she would let him. When she leaned down, met her gaze and she smiled. He couldn't help but smile back as she slid her hands up onto his toned chest. Using her balance as leverage, she began working her hips around in circles, forcing his cock to grind against every sensitive spot she could find. Kira groaned and grit his teeth, but kept the grin on his face because he knew what was coming next. Aleu's sudden cry only confirmed it. He glanced down between their flailing bodies and saw her desperately grinding against his swollen knot. He looked up at her, but as he opened his muzzle to speak, she leaned down and touched her nose to his.

"Don't hold back," she whispered. "Knot me, Kira. Make me yours."

Kira couldn't think of a word to say. It was as though she'd read his mind. He nodded. 

Aleu slowed her pace and lowered her posture until she was almost laying on top of him. Then, she began slowly sliding her cunny back and forth along his length, each time pressing a little bit more against his knot. Kira helped her, pushing her gently against his swollen doghood. Gradually, her outer lips parted, and she groaned as his knot pushed into her. But suddenly, Kira froze. Aleu gasped, wanting to throw her body back onto it, but looked to Kira.

"Are you sure you want this?" he said.

"Absolutely," she whispered, leaning down to kiss him. 

As the two lovers locked lips, each pressed against the other, and seconds later his knot slipped into her. They broke their kiss, each moaning the other's name. With their bodies tied by Kira's knot, they wrapped each other in a needy embrace and grinded against each other, moaning and yelping with each flash of pleasure. Moments later, it happened. Aleu cried out and bit down on Kira's sheets, muffling what would have been a piercing scream as she soared to climax. Kira barked and held Aleu tight against him as her love fluids coated his hypersensitive shaft, bringing him to climax with her. Aleu's cry melted into a moan as she felt Kira erupt inside her, his throbbing cock painting her insides with stream after stream of his seed. Her grip around his cock was so tight that their fluids began spurting out of her cunny in bursts. Aleu dug her muzzle into Kira's neck, breathless, and kissed him under his muzzle. Kira nuzzled and kissed her between the ears. She murmured something, but when he looked down she had fallen asleep on his chest. 

"Boris, you can't possibly be serious," Balto whispered.

"I have never been more serious about anything in my entire life," the old goose replied. "This new tailor, Kira, is a vampire."

"And he's chosen Nome as his new hunting ground," Balto said, putting a hand to his head.

"Oh my God," Jenna sobbed. "What if he's taken Aleu? She's been there for hours!"

"Boris, I need to know how to stop him. How do you stop a vampire?"

"A wooden stake through the heart will kill him."

Balto leaned back from the table.

"Fight a vampire hand-to-hand? Boris, I've been in my share of fights, but you said they were usually very, very strong."

"They are," Boris replied, standing up from the table and motioning for them to follow. 

He lead Balto and Jenna outside his small cabin to a storm cellar dug into the permafrost. The room was lit by a single bare light bulb and in the far corner sat a large wooden chest with a  padlock on it. Boris pulled a key from a chain hung around his neck and opened the lock. 

"How do you know all of this?" Jenna asked, covering her muzzle. 

The goose turned around with a grim look on his face.

"Here, vampires, werewolves, demons, are all stories; nothing to worry about. In Russia, they are not just stories. It was not just revolution that forced the Romanovs out of power. Not just the Bolsheviks that made me flee my Mother Russia." Balto and Jenna exchanged worried looks as Boris turned back to the chest and pulled it open, taking out several long, thin bundles wrapped in blankets. "The fastest, best way to kill a vampire is with silver." 

He unrolled the blanket from around one of the packages, revealing a bolt-action rifle. He handed it to Balto and began unwrapping the next one. 

"Boris, if silver kills him, this won't work," Balto snapped. "The bullets are made of led."

Boris handed him a second rifle and reached into the chest again, pulling out a smaller, heavier box. He undid the latch and held it up to the light. The cartridges shimmered.

"Not these bullets," Boris countered. "Specially made for just such a purpose."

Balto and Boris hurriedly loaded the rifles as Jenna paced the room, and Balto pocketed a handful of extra rounds. Boris then unwrapped a smaller bundle that contained a Colt revolver. After loading the six chambers, he handed it to Balto along with twelve extra rounds. 

"Are you sure these will work?" Jenna interjected. 

"I am quite sure they will work," Boris replied, turning back to Balto. "Try not to miss."

Balto tucked the revolver into his jacket pocket and slung the two rifles onto his shoulder. Then, he turned to Jenna.

"Were Buck and Dingo at the bar earlier?"

"Buck's on a supply run to the mines, but Kodi and Dingo should be there."

"Okay, I'll bring them with me." Balto turned to Boris. "Do you have another pistol, old friend?"

"Yes, here," Boris replied, pulling out a second revolver and quickly loading it. 

He handed it to Balto, who then held it out to Jenna. At first, she recoiled.

"Please, Jenna, for me?" Jenna looked at the loaded revolver as though it might go off at any second, but finally took it from Balto's outstretched hand. "Alright, let's go. We haven't a moment to lose."

	Kira opened his eyes when he felt Aleu shift against him. Looking down, he saw her head resting on his chest as she looked up at him with a lazy smile. His knot had shrunk enough for his shaft to withdraw back into its sheath, but he missed the comforting warmth of her cunny. Seeing him awake, she reached up, turned his muzzle toward hers and gave him a soft kiss. From her head to her toes, she was covered in a mist of sweat, making her fur shimmer in the moonlight. It seemed that he had never seen anything so beautiful in his life. 

	"What did you say earlier?" Kira said, running his hand down her back.

	Aleu laughed softly, a sound Kira was already getting used to hearing. 

	"Thank you," she whispered. "That was amazing."

	Kira smiled and returned her kiss.

	"You're welcome."

	Aleu rested her head on his chest, softly humming the waltz they'd danced to earlier. Kira let his head fall back on the pillow and closed his eyes, convinced he'd found happiness. 

Only a few minutes had passed when he felt Aleu stir again.

"Kira," she whispered. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course," he said, sitting up slightly to look down at her. "Of course, anything."

"Who turned you?"

Kira paused for a moment. He knew the answer, but it had been a long time since anyone had cared to know his history. 

"No one did. I was born this way."

"Born a vampire?"

"Yes, I was the youngest, the runt of the litter, you might say."

Aleu crawled up and lay beside him, with her hand on his pentagram scar. 

"I was the odd one out in my litter, too. The only one that looked wolf." She laughed. "You'd think out here, that might actually count for something, but people still get hung up on pedigrees."

"Then you and I are alike in more ways than I thought."

"Tell me about your life, Kira. What was it like growing up?"

"I wasn't born a runt for no reason; my parents told me it was because I had morals." He frowned and wrinkled his nose. "They actually cringed when they said that. Morals. Like it was some disease I might pass on to the rest of them."

"What happened?"

"My parents left me with my portion of their family wealth and left me, taking my siblings with them. Only my adopted sister Narissa, a succubus, stayed behind with me."

"They left you?" Aleu gasped, raising her head to look down into his eyes. "But why?"

"At first I thought it was for my own good, but in the end I was just a distraction for their enemies," Kira sighed. "I rarely heard from them, but as far as I could tell, my siblings and they were expanding, spreading the bloodline across Russia and beyond. Meanwhile, Narissa and I were almost constantly besieged by hunters and mobs of panicked, short-sighted peasants. After a few bloody raids that accomplished nothing, they finally left us alone. It was only then, when I was not daily patrolling the grounds, searching for intruders, that I realized how terrible being alone truly was." He put his hand on Aleu's. "That was about the same time that word reached us of what your father had done during the diphtheria epidemic. I had always hoped to travel the world, start again somewhere new. This was just the push I needed." He paused, and his expression became sorrowful. "Narissa encouraged me to journey to America. She always told me she would be fine without me... I guess she was right." He sat up, brushing Aleu's hand off his chest and shifted over to the bedside, facing away from her. Behind him, Aleu made to follow him, but thought twice and rested her head on her crossed arms, watching him. "I know I'm not mortal, but all I want is to live like one. To find a place where people won't run in terror when they see me, to find friends, to find...love."

Aleu got up and moved behind him, wrapping her arms around his chest as she nuzzled his neck.

"You don't have to be alone anymore," she whispered. "If you'll have me, I will love you until the end of time." 

Balto rushed into the bar and quickly spotted Dingo and Kodi at the bar, talking with Kaltag. They were discussing buying partnerships in Kaltag's bar when Balto interrupted.

"Kodi, Dingo, come with me, now."

"Now? Dad, isn't it a little late-?"

	"Don't argue with me, Kodiack. Now. You too, Dingo."

	Reluctantly, the two boys took out there wallets, but Balto slammed a twenty on the bar and told Kaltag to keep the change before hustling them both out into the street.

	"What's the big idea, Dad?" Kodi asked, once the door had shut behind them.

	"Yeah, what's going on?" Dingo chimed in. 

	"Ahem."

	The boys turned to see Boris standing holding a pair of bolt action rifles and a small satchel.

	"A little late in the day for a hunt, Dad," Dingo laughed.

	"Boys, your sister is in danger," Balto said. "I need you both with me."

	Dingo and Kodi looked at each other, and then grabbed the rifles. 

	"Still, Dad, why the guns?" Kodi persisted. "You could scare most guys into leaving town with a scowl and a curled fist." 

	Balto motioned for them to come closer, and his voice dropped to a whisper. 

	"What I'm about to tell you, no one else can know. Do you swear to keep silent?"

	Again, his sons shared a glance, and nodded hurriedly. 

	"She's been taken by a vampire."

	Kodi and Dingo stepped back, and though they may have questioned his sanity, his expression was enough to silence their doubts.

	"Alright, so where are we going?" Dingo said. 

	Balto turned and pointed up the street.

Kira turned to face her, shocked.

"Aleu, do you mean..." He hesitated, still not quite believing what he had heard. "You want to...become like me?"

Smiling broadly, Aleu cupped his muzzle in her hands and kissed him tenderly.

"Yes," she whispered, touching her nose to his. "I'm ready."

Taking his hands in hers, she laid back on bed, guiding him to her side. He curled up against her, holding her chest against his. Aleu draped her arm over his side and looked up at him, moaning as he kissed her neck.

"Will it hurt?"

Kira met her gaze, and saw a tiny trace of fear in her eyes, but he could tell that even if he said it would be excruciating, ten times worse than the worst pain she would ever endure, she still would have said yes.

"Only for a moment," he soothed, kissing her neck again. "Then you'll feel better. Alright?"

Aleu nodded, then turned her head away, baring her neck. 

Kira leaned down, grazing her skin with his fangs, then bit down, piercing her flesh. Aleu cried out, gripping his arm tightly. Kira held her against him, stroking her back. She began to go limp in his arms, and whimpered softly. Caressing her cheek, he kept drawing out her blood. Only another few minutes, and then she would be drained. Then all she would need is a small amount of his own blood to regain her strength and join him. 

As he drew out the last of Aleu's life blood, Kira's thoughts ran wild. He'd fed on people for hundreds of years, but in all that time, he'd never actually turned one of them. Of course, his parents had trained him in all the arts of being a vampire, but this part was one thing that they could not fully show him. Their instruction was sound, but he was still unsure. If he did this wrong, he would live until eternity knowing he'd killed the one girl who'd ever make him happy. For a moment, he almost hesitated, but over the fading heartbeat he could feel in every crimson drop, Aleu squeezed his hand. His gaze met hers and she smiled as her last living breath escaped her lips.

Holding her steady with one paw, he dug his claws into his hand until he felt blood graze his finger tips. Cupping his hand, he cradled her head with the other and let the crimson liquid drip into her open maw. Despite how long he'd lived, time suddenly seemed to slow to a crawl as she lay in his arms, unmoving.

Then, a flutter of movement. Had he imagined it? No! She blinked, and as her eyes came into focus she smiled again.

"Did it work?" she murmured.

Kira couldn't help but sigh in relief. "You're back."

"It didn't seem like I ever left," Aleu replied, sitting up, then drifting her hands out to steady herself. "But this does feel...different."

Kira slid off their bed and offered his clean hand to her. "You'll find it's quite easy to get used to." When she took it, he gently drew her up to full height. "How do you feel?"

The gray half-wolf looked herself over. "Alive." Kira's quizzical expression made her grin. "I mean, really alive, like I've been doing nothing but shuffle along before. Does that make sense?"

"Of course, my lady," Kira soothed. "If you are ready, I can teach you a few things..."

"I'm ready!" she cut in. "What can you teach me?"

The charcoal black collie raised his brow, then stepped back. "The first thing every vampire should know is when and how to retreat. We may be powerful, but we are not invincible. Once you've learned how to run, no one will ever catch you..."

After what could have been hours, but seemed like only moments, they were interrupted by a pounding on Kira's shop door. It was impossible to mistake Balto's shouting. Kira stepped over to the window and glanced down.

"Judging by the rifles, I'm guessing he's not here for a social call." Extending a hand Aleu again, "Join me in a midnight walk about town, my dear?"

Aleu took his hand and he drew close, slipping through the window as the crack of his door caving in echoed though the store. "What if he sees us?"

Kira grinned, baring his fangs. "He won't. Trust me." A quick leap, and they were in the street. "Just remember what I taught you."

Without another words, he took off, and Aleu dashed after him. At first, it seemed to her that nothing had changed. Any moment, she expected her father to see her and come after them. With all the times he'd run the mail, he'd catch her easily. A few steps ahead, Kira seemed to sense her feelings, and looked back with a smile.

"Look ahead."

Aleu followed his gesture and saw a sled team coming into town, but something was wrong. Though their legs were in full stride, it was as though they'd been frozen in place. She might have believed that, too, except that their panting breath hung in the air like fog. As the pair ran by them, Aleu finally realized that the team was moving after all, but she and Kira were moving faster. So fast that the team couldn't possibly see them. Kira nodded into an alley, and skidded into the shadows. Out in the street, they heard the sled team rushing on without missing a beat.

"Incredible," Aleu gasped.

"Do you still feel alright?" Kira whispered, drawing her into an embrace.

Aleu nodded, then licked her lips. While her body no longer seemed to register fatigue, it certainly knew hunger. Kira grinned, and his ears snapped around at another cry on the wind. Aleu listened, too, and her muzzle curled into a snarl. Before Kira could say a word, she took off down the alley and into the street. He caught up easily, and by then he'd recognized it, too. They came to a stop a few houses down from Kaltag's bar, and Kira followed her gaze around the corner. A towering akita had a younger shepherd gal pinned against a fence, and thought she struggled, he barely budged.

"He's mine," Aleu growled, striding quickly behind them.

The first thing the akita knew, Aleu had clamped her hand around her wrist in a vice-like grip. His hold on the girl loosened, and before he could speak he was pinned against the house with her arm crushing his neck. He raised a hand to strike, and she snapped his wrist with contemptuous ease.

"Do you feel that? A little more pressure..." She raised her arm, physically lifting the burly dog off his feet. "...and your neck will snap." Aleu's eyes narrowed. "You will never lay your hand on a woman in anger again, or it will be the last thing you do." He nodded hastily, and she smirked, lowering him slightly. A quick glance over her shoulder told her Kira and the girl were gone. "A little something to remember me by..." Jamming his muzzle shut, she sank her fangs into his neck.

A few hours later, Balto trudged into his parlor to find Jenna and a young girl seated at their table. "He's got her," he snarled.

Jenna looked down.

"I won't let him get away, Jenna." He threw open the living room chest and drew out a handful of the silver bullets. "He can't have gone far."

"Balto..."
Still loading his riffle, "Kodi and Dingo and I will follow them-"

"Balto!"

The half-wolf looked up and for the first time realized that Jenna was practically cradling the young shepherd girl. "Carrie was almost raped last night." As her husband's brow furrowed in rage, "Almost, but two Samaritans intervened. She couldn't see the man who helped her up, but she recognized Aleu." Balto froze. "When she came here, I found this on our bedside table." Jenna held up a sheet of paper, and Balto crossed the room in two strides to take it. As his eyes scanned the page, Jenna spoke from memory.

"Dear Mom,
Kira and I are leaving Nome tonight, and I cannot tell you where we are going. I know you're worried about me, and I'm sorry I caused so much grief, but I want you to know that I'm happy and I'm safe. We'll take care of each other.
And Papa, I will always be your little girl. Please give me this chance at happiness. I cannot say when I will write you next, but please know that I love you. I always have, and I always will.
- Aleu"