Page 24 of A Master's Destiny
He stares at the portrait thoughtfully. “He was known as Little Wolf.”
I carefully study the painting. The look of masculine confidence on the man’s face strikes a chord in me. It almost feels as if he is a presence in this room.
“Little Wolf was a great leader of my people, and he is someone I continue to learn from.”
I make a mental note to look into Little Wolf because of Master Nosh’s open esteem of the man.
“Sit,” the Head Trainer orders, gesturing to a chair beside the desk.
I sit down in the large chair, expecting him to ask about my run-ins with Slater.
Instead, Master Nosh surprises me. “I know Maestro Leo spoke to you about the Headmaster’s daughter.”
“He did,” I reply, still reeling from that revelation.
“You need to know that as a student of the program, you represent the Training Center. Therefore, as one of our students, you are not allowed to fraternize withanyof the submissives you partner with during your training, including the Headmaster’s daughter,” he informs me. “Not here at the Center, nor outside these walls.”
I stare at him in surprise. “Why?”
“Anything less than your full commitment to this course is a waste of our time and yours.”
I sit forward, rubbing my pants nervously, as I bare my soul to the man. “You should know that I have no interest in collaring anyone, Master Nosh.”
He frowns. “Why is that?”
I sit back in the chair, feeling uncomfortably vulnerable. “If you are familiar with my history, then you understand why.”
“I know of the tragic circumstances surrounding your father’s death.”
I flinch as images of blood and my father’s lifeless eyes flash in my mind. I clear my throat, struggling to regain my composure. “I signed up for the Dominant Training course to learn from the best of the best, Master Nosh. That is the only reason I am here.”
He nods, accepting my answer. Glancing at the portrait on the wall, he states quietly, “Perhaps, in the future, we can talk about the lessons I’ve learned from Little Wolf.”
“I look forward to it.”
I leave his office feeling both relieved and confused. On one hand, I’m grateful the trainers trusted my abilities enough that they felt comfortable pairing me with Headmaster Kennedy’s daughter, but I feel as if something bigger is going on.
Alana begins the evening by referencing a previous lesson. “I spoke to you about the term sub-drop. That many submissives experience an emotional or physical low after enjoying an intense scene, which is why aftercare is so important.”
She smiles and asks the class, “Have you ever heard of the term Dom-drop?”
Slater snickers.
Alana raises an eyebrow, giving him a hard stare. “Only a fool would laugh.”
Slater immediately wipes the grin off his face and apologizes to her.
Alana leans against her desk. “Dom-drop is something rarely talked about, but it can happen to any Dominant after a scene. Unless you understand that it is completely normal, it can take you by surprise, leaving you unprepared when it happens.”
Pushing away from her desk, Alana walks around the room. “Imagine riding the powerful high of a well-executed scene and then suddenly crashing when the endorphins wear off. That crash can leave you feeling unusually irritable, tired, or mentally exhausted.”
She says with a note of sympathy, “But that is not the only hurdle you face as a Dominant. We often enjoy activities that society tells us are wrong or perverted. For some of you, that may trigger feelings of depression.
She returns to lean against her desk. “Then there are the perfectionists. Because they are responsible for the wellbeing of their sub, they are often overly brutal with themselves when something fails to go as planned.”
“Guess what?” Alana pauses, before stating in a gentle tone, “We are only human.”
She begins walking the room again. “I have found there are times when aftercare is as much for my benefit as it is for my submissives. The simple act of holding your sub is soothing, and caring for them after an intense scene can help to strengthen your bond and open deeper lines of communication between you.”
