Paw Prints

The little improvised boxing studio was overcrowded and all eyes on me. I can already guess how many of those guys have bet against me. Today I make the rent of the month. Okay, I have to admit. The guy standing in front of me looks intimidating, two heads taller than me, far bigger, towering over me like a bear. But I know how to handle that. A Guy in an old holey shirt screamed "GO!!!" and I let my instincts overtake the control. I smelled the bitter scent of confusion between sweat and a far to high testosterone level. A doper. But one who doesn't want to hit girls. I can make it easier for him. I pretend to hit him, kick him instead. He stambled a little backwards, but it woke him up. He tried to land a hit, obviously not aware of how much faster I am. I ducked away just to grab after his now defenseless laying shoulder. And now I got him, kicking my knee in his stomach, once, twice, a third time. I put all of my strength into it, a scream, like a growl escaped my lungs. I love underground fights. No Rules. The bear guy was dropping to the ground, holding his stomach. He will not get up any time soon. The crowd started cheering while a man who must be bear guys trainer helped the poor giant from the ground. I won. It's part of the plan. My plan. Okay, my plan is mainly running away from home and doing underground boxing, but it is a start. I was never good with people. You know, this socializing stuff. I am simply too emotional, too stubborn, I start fights. My parents are nice people, but I love them the most if I am far away and seeing them is a nice visit and no living situation. They always wanted me to fit in, to be a good member of society. That's just not who I am. The place I fitted in the most was my kickboxing club, I guess the people haven't all liked me, but they respected me. As the underground boxing guys here do too. I went on purpose to this little sleepy city, I am not yet 18 and hiding out alone isn't truly legal. But with a few fights a month and an old lady who isn't asking to many questions in her B&B I can make a living. The police doesn't has enough imagination here. I go to Jack, the owner of this little place. He is as well kind of my manager. "Princess, your knee is Gold. I haven't seen it here so crowded in the last 15 years. My badass princess." To prove it he handed me my share of the day. 1000$ it's double as much as it was the last time. "Are you crazy, I made all of that today?" "Princess, some of those guys have been hours to watch the fight. Believe me, you can become superstar in this, if you want to." That's the Problem. I don't know what I want. I don't feel like I know already what makes me happy. Sure, I like fighting, but honestly I think I like particularly that I am good in it. I want to fight for something, something bigger, I want a meaning. Beating up some bulky dudes is fun, I just feel this is really not everything. I am respected here, but I am kind of a freak as well and being a freak makes you lonely. "Thank you Jack." I make my way out of the studio heading back to the B&B. That was enough starring at me for the day. It is nice starring, respectful starring. But it is scaring and that reminds me of high school. It's not that I really hated school itself, it was more the people I couldn't stand there. You are always too fat, too skin, your hair is curly or too straight, you wear too little make up or too much. Everyone seems to have nothing better to do than judging you. It's just a stressful place, not good for emotional people like me. I feel far better here, walking through the nearly empty streets. I have a 3 Miles walk back to the B&B, that's relaxing. When I was growing up, I lived in a far more vibrant city with many bars and night clubs. I miss that a little but I have to admit the nature in my new home has some advantages. I can't remember when I started feeling the nature around me so strong, but now I can sense the nearby forest breathing. Oakleaves whisper in the wind, a little river splashes in the far and even the shining full moon over this sleepy place seemed far more intense. Step for step I walk over the still slightly warm asphalt of the street. It has been a nice summer day. But then there was another noise. Not my steps. I turn to my right, rise my hands in defense in front of my face. Is something moving there? My body is immediately going in defense mode, every muscle is ready to hit, block or dodge, my breathing accelerated. Till I realize that the wiered movement is simply my own reflection in a window. My Blonde, nearly white hair in glowing back at me. I can watch myself blushing in the Glass. A bit embarrassed of myself, I am continuing my way home. But the atmosphere has changed, I feel not that strong and invincible like just after the fight. I feel like someone is following me, but I just can't see anyone. The B&B lies a little remote of the city directly bordering to to forest. It can be a little creepy here. A c***k, like a little stick breaking in pieces. I turn around, my body back in defense and I see a nearly naked guy standing in the middle of the street. He was tanned, wearing just a sports short. Even if he was as tall as my last opponent, he looked different, not Luke a bear, far more agile, but with well defined muscles. He is coming closer, obviously knowing that I see him, that I am prepared. "Leyla" Why does this stranger know my name. "Layla, I think we have to talk" I glare at him as an answer, hoping he would maybe simply go away. Without success. "Layla, my Alpha is sending me. You don't know what you are doing, but we need to talk. As I see it you don't have a pack and you fight with humans. That's dangerous." Okay,that was strange. Was this guy from the police? And why this bizarre outfit? Barefoot on the streets. "Mind your own business." He was coming even closer. Maybe five steps between us. "Little one, this is Alpha Mathews territory, you are exactly what my business is." Now the guy was close enough for me to catch his scent. I could have smelled him before, but I was distracted by his unconventional outfit. Here the scent was strong enough to get my attention. There was something I never smelled before, Something wild, savage, strong. Like Iron an a rushing mountain river. "Who are you?" I make a step back. "I wanted to ask you the same little Leyla. Who are you and how do you justify Bringing Alpha Mathews in trouble with the humans." Not the answer I wanted to hear. But the full situation overwhelmed me. I just don't understand what this guy wants from me. "What do you want? Those fights are not official, but I am 18 in a few days and noone is forced to do anything. What is an Alpha? Are you a crazy cult?" For the first time I saw his face expression changing. He seemed surprised. His undone, dark brown hair was waving in the wind. "You have really no Idea. A late shifter, maybe growing up among humans." I decided to say nothing, it doesn't seem like a question, but at least he stopped, and stood still. Just one or two steps and he could grab me. And I don't like to be that close to this guy, even if I find him kind of interesting. There is something familiar in his movements and in the way he interacts with his environment. He doesn't just look an me, I know he is watching, listening, smelling, feeling the air on his skin. Like me. "You need to come to the pack house. It's not save for you to stay here. We have rules." I don't know why, but something was making me angry, this guy telling me what to do made something inside of me scream. 'He can't tell us what to do. We don't submit.' I heard my own voice but it wasn't me talking. And the guy in front of me hasn't heard it. Shit, I hear voices. 'No, Leyla. You are not crazy. I am you, I am your soul, I am your wolf." The new conversation in my head wasn't making any of this easier. On top of that the guy in front of me started getting unsettled. "Girl, you are coming with me, you have to submit to the pack. Trust me, it's better for you." But than he was making a mistake. The half naked guy took the last step towards me and grabbed my wrist. In a heartbeat my wiered wolf voice was growling and screaming furious in my head, while my fighter instincts took over. He was aware that I wouldn't follow him nicely, but he as well hasn't expected such a hostile reaction. I pulled his arm down and hitted with my free hand directly into his chin. The smelll of blood mixed with his already metallic scent and he couldn't help but releasing me. The voice in my head growled confident. I wish I would be that confident. The situation was still kind of out of control and contrary to the bear guy this man was far from breaking down. The hit should have knocked him out or at least made him dizzy, but he was just glaring and had a little bruise on the lip. His hazelnut brown eyes darkened and his face froze. An animalic growl echoed through the clear, fresh nightly air. Ohoh, this guy could be more like me than I thought. He jumped right towards me and I dodge away. I hate to admit it, but running seemed to be the most reliable solution. I am fast, I can maybe outrun this weirdo, his bare feets will slow him down. I tried to seek shelter in the forest, jumping over dead tree stumps and dodging low branches. Normally I run here to stay agile and fit. Now this could be my advantage. However, it seemed that my pursuer knows as well how to run in a forest. He is always just shortly behind me. My body felt strong, agile, energized. This must be the endorphins, runner are talking about. But I felt as well a little uncomfortable. My jaw started hurting, as if some of my teeth would grow too big for my mouth. "Stop, little one. Running from the pack will not serve you anything good." The bizarre guy took a last attempt to end this with words. Too late. I can't control my anger now and something about him makes me really angry. My head felt like exploding. For a millisecond I could feel all the bones in my body, first breaking than burning. I screamed, my legs stopped moving, I started falling, my face was already close to the ground. I raised my hands to protect myself from the rough forest ground. But when I looked at my pale fingers, I just saw two shiny white paws. I turned around and growled instinctly at the guy behind me. He seemed impressed, but not as much as I expected. I have claws, why isn't he losing it? I growled again at him, but the real danger came from another direction. A little dart shot into my right leg, not thicker than a needle. Nearly immediately, I became dizzy, sleepy. My eyes closed themselves and I could only hear the guy talking to someone else. "Thanks man. I don't think she's a classic rogue. She seems to be on her own, but she doesn't know..."