Chapter 1: Prologue

CLAIRE

~1. Stare down your opponent until they feel a little scared~

~2. Pretend to swing left, then go right~

~3. While they’re still surprised, land a right uppercut~

~4. Duck when they try to hit your face~

~5. Trip them with your leg~

~6. Once they’re down, stand with your legs apart to keep your balance~

~7. When they get up, land a final, hard punch to the face~

~8. Win!~

“Winner... White Wolf!” The guy I’d been fighting was now sprawled on the ground, probably knocked out. My hood was still up, hiding my light brown hair that fell to my shoulders.

Only my light hazel eyes were visible under my hood. I looked like a predator ready to pounce.

I was buzzing with adrenaline, and I could feel sweat starting to gather under my black crop top and matching shorts.

Every time I fight someone new, I use a different strategy. I size up my opponent and figure out the best way to take them down.

I wiped the sweat off my forehead and heard the crowd cheering my name.

A small smirk played on my lips as I looked at my opponent, bloody and bruised on the floor. I didn’t feel guilty. I never do.

He knew what he was getting into when he agreed to fight me. As a street fighter, I’m trained to feel nothing when I fight. That’s just how it works.

This was my fourth win tonight and I was starting to feel a little tired. But not ~too~ tired. The most fights I’ve had in one night is fifteen. And I won every single one.

I was basically ~unbeatable~. Guys usually hate it when they see me because I’m a girl, but I use that to my advantage. I show them just how “girly” I can be when it comes to fighting.

They think it’s a joke that I’m a girl. So, I show them the ~funny~ part of the joke: Me beating them to the ground. It’s not funny to them, but it sure is to me.

“Alright, White Wolf, you’ve made ten grand so far. Want to continue, or leave with the money?” Nancy, my manager, asked me, waving the cash in my face.

I smiled and took a swig from my water bottle.

“I’ll leave. I’m a bit tired,” I told Nancy. I took seven grand from her, leaving her with three.

That’s how it works between Nancy and me. She’s the only one who really gets me. She saw me fight one night and offered to help me get better, as long as she could be my manager.

I accepted, and over time, we became close. She’s like the older sister I never had.

I still have parents, but they’re both heavy drinkers. My mom smokes sometimes, and my dad smokes and drinks.

I don’t know what happened to make them change when I was younger, but that’s in the past. It’s better to leave it there.

Every other night, I go out and street fight. I’ve fought girls too, and they’ve left with bloody, sometimes ~broken~, noses.

Nancy nodded and went to tell the announcer. That’s when I felt someone watching me.

I turned around and scanned the crowd until I locked eyes with a pair of stormy grey ones.

I always keep my hood up so no one knows who I am. Not even the idiot who comes every other night to watch me fight and try to figure out who I am.

I stared back at him. Blake Johnson. The so-called ‘bad boy’ at our school. But I know that’s not true. He’s just labeled that way because he’s popular and a player.

Apparently, you’re a “bad boy” if you hang out with the popular crowd, play girls like they’re toys, wear leather jackets, and ride a motorcycle. I always stay away from that crowd.

I don’t make friends because I ~won’t~ risk them getting hurt. Like I said, I’m basically unbeatable. But that also means I have a lot of enemies who want revenge, and my blood.

Besides, I’ve learned what love is… and look how that turned out. As you can probably tell, he’s gone.

The boy I fell in love with—and thought loved me—left. That’s when I learned to protect my heart.

I won’t let myself go through that heartbreak again.

I glared at Blake one more time, then turned back to Nancy. The funny thing is, Blake’s always been interested in White Wolf.

I’m called White Wolf because white wolves are my favorite animals, and I’m, and I quote, “As ferocious and feisty” as a white wolf. So, that became my boxing name.

But Blake’s always been curious about White Wolf, and has been trying to figure out who she is.

The thing is, he’s closer to finding out than he thinks. We go to the same school, and we’re neighbors. That’s right: Neighbors.

My name is Claire Walker, and he doesn’t even notice me because I stay out of the crowd. I don’t want to be noticed.

Blake doesn’t pay attention to Claire, but he seems to have fallen for White Wolf.

~As if!~ I thought. There’s no way I’d ever give ~him~ a chance. I have my reasons for boxing, and doing it for attention is honestly one of the smaller reasons.

I box to show guys that they got beat by a girl ~and~ for my own reasons.

I’m seventeen, and in my last year of school, senior year. Seven months of school are left.

“White Wolf, let’s go.” Nancy was on her phone, signaling me to gather my things. I nodded, turning back to pick up my iPhone, gym bag, and water bottle.

I shot one last glare at Blake before following Nancy to her blue convertible.

“You’ve got a good technique. Three more matches in two nights. Be ready,” Nancy said, pulling away from the curb and heading towards my parents’ house.

I had a driver’s license, but no car. I could afford one, but that would mean spending time I didn’t have. Between school, boxing, and my parents, my plate was full. And that didn’t even account for the constant fear of being attacked or killed out of revenge.

I nodded at Nancy. “Thanks,” I said, keeping it short. I wasn’t in the mood for chit-chat.

I’m usually more talkative when I’m not so tired and grumpy, which is rare. Maybe on weekends when I’m in a better mood. Probably because I get the sleep I need.

As Nancy pulled up to my house, I gave her a quick hug and wave before stepping out and walking up my gravel driveway.

I glanced over and saw Blake’s bedroom light on. ~Typical.~ ~His light would still be on at one in the morning,~ I thought with a hint of sarcasm.

I quietly opened the front door and looked at the couch. My mom was asleep on her side, and my dad was passed out in his favorite recliner.

Deciding to be kind, I grabbed two blankets and draped them over my parents, hoping to make them a bit more comfortable.

My mom let out a soft groan and shifted before settling back into sleep. My dad didn’t stir, just continued to snore softly.

I kicked off my shoes and collapsed onto my mattress. It was Friday, so I had the whole weekend to relax a bit.

I quickly fell into a deep sleep. But I knew I’d probably have another stupid memory. I always do.

Every night, I have a small flashback from my past, and sometimes it gets so intense that I end up at the gym to train.

~Wouldn’t be surprised if it happened again,~ I thought, closing my eyes and hoping for a dreamless sleep.