She Wolf

Today start like any other. I wake up. Head out to early morning training. I shower and get dressed. Breakfast. Then go to school. As I walk into the cafeteria, I spot my friends sitting at our usual table. I sit down and start opening my lunch. The girls are talking about the upcoming winter dance. Gushing over dresses and their dates. Making it hard for me to pretend to be interested in such things. "Please come to the dance Jo." Marie whines - for what feels like the millionth time. "It just won't be the same without you there." Jess joins in. "You know it's not my thing ladies. " I say, looking at their moping faces. "Besides, isn't it like this weekend? I don't have a dress... or a date." Okay, the part about the dress is a lie. But they don't know that. There. That will keep them quiet. No date, no dance. Conversation over. "If you have a date, would you go?" Cara asks, c*****g her head to the side and wriggling her eyebrows. Sneaky little thing. Shocked that my comeback failed, I took too long to answer and, like she already had someone in mind, her face lights up. "How about Marcus?" "No! " I shout out. I clear my throat. "No." I say again. Firmer this time. "It might be fun Jo. You never go to dances. This is one of our last." Marie says. "Marcus lives in your neighborhood, right?" No, it’s called our territory. "You said you still see him sometimes." Everyday. "You should ask him." she went on. Less whiny. "I - ." The school bell rings. Perfect timing, I thought. "I have to get to class. See you girls tomorrow." I said, relieved while rushing towards the cafeteria door. They are my human friends. Like most others at our school, they do not know I'm a wolf. Not that it changes anything in our friendship. To them, I'm just their friend. We do sleepovers, lunch dates and shopping trips. They have even met my parents and some of my other friends from the pack - unknowingly, of course. One quarter of our little gang. There have been many occasions where I wished I could just tell them my secret. It would make life so much easier and make me not to have to endure the occasional awkward stare when I accidentally say stuff they don't understand. But telling them of our existence, not a chance. Relieved this day was over, ready to head home, I get into my car and drive off. Soon the town is behind me and lush forest start passing by. The smell of trees and moist ground start filling my car as I near our territory border. Home. I park my car in the parking bays by the pack-house. I walk past the kitchen, through the dining hall, out to the patio, towards the large pool - and I see him. Marcus. Our future Alpha. My best friend. The girls at school does not know of our true relationship. We have been friends since I was 12. We met when I was promoted to the Advanced Junior Training group. I was by far the youngest in the group. All the others were at least three years older. Marcus was 4 years my senior. I was new. Fresh meat. And a girl. "A little girl with pretty ribbons." one of the older boys teased. "Are you going to dance your enemies to death?" another one joined laughing. I was shy back then. Training with kids older than me. Not knowing what exactly made me so special to move on to the next level of training before anyone else my age. "C'mon little girl" the older boy said. "There must be a reason why you are here. Are you going to show us, or would you rather play with your dolls?" he teased. I was overwhelmed and completely shocked. Never has anyone my age talked to me this way. Teasing me. Was this what grown kids do? In that moment, I forgot how to talk. All I could think was I had to show him. I had to fight. When he saw that I was taking a fighting stance, his face got serious. His body got ready. He did not wait long to make the first move. Underestimating the girl in front of him. Not caring to calculate his moves. Or anticipate whatever mine were. He lunged forward with his fists ready to hit me hard. As I saw him coming, I moved a step back and one to the side swiftly, making his entire body miss mine. He got up. Confused as to what just happened. He tried again. But this time I hit him. A quick few jabs to his body and a final hit in the chest, hard enough that it made him stumble back and fall on the ground. A silence fell over the group standing by. Shocked. They were waiting to see his next move. He stared at me in silence for a while, trying to grasp what just happened. Then he threw his head back and let out a loud laugh. "I underestimated you. " He said while getting up. He held out his hand. Confused, I reached for him not really knowing what to expect. "I'm Marcus"