The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy
Chapter 0517

I end each of my days with Blaze, who finally begins to teach me how to deliver a blow instead of just dodging them. Luca diligently comes along to all of Blaze's lessons, sitting quietly and studying while I work with my instructor and, afterwards, allowing me to practice on him in his incredibly different style. It's remarkably different, using the skills Blaze teaches me on a man nearly double my size and weight, but also very, very helpful. This, after all, will be my likely opponent if I ever get into a jam and need to use these skills - though Faiza has warned me to keep them as secret as I can. Apparently, my creampuff image will dissolve immediately if people sense that I can punch their lights out.

Tonight, Luca helps me practice an advance. He's been instructed to block my blows but not deliver any of his own - just as I've been practicing with Blaze. My entire goal is to land a single blow anywhere on Luca's body that's not his hands and arms. Unfortunately, Luca is crazy good. I snarl, frustrated, as my attempt fails for the eighth time.

"You're cheating," I scowl, crossing my arms as Luca grins at me.

"You want me to go easy on you?" he taunts, clearly pleased.

I sigh and shake my head, because obviously I don't want that. "Come on," I say, nodding back to the center of the room and heading in that direction. "Let's start again."

"You're signaling your next blow too clearly," Luca says, following me and setting up in his usual boxer's stance. "I can see it coming from a mile away."

"Yeah, well, my usual opponents aren't going to be boxing champions, are they?"

"You never know," he replies, his eyebrows going up. "Maybe you'll meet that big guy from Atalaxia that I fought - he's military too, after all. Then you'll be glad I didn't go easy on you."

I snarl a little, still rankled by the fact that I can't get anything by Luca and his long wingspan, his lightning-fast hands. "So, what do you recommend?"

"Keep your shoulders straight until the last second," Luca says, the instruction coming easily to him after years in the gym. "Like you've got a wooden board across your back. Or, surprise me," he shrugs. "Can't block something if I've never seen it before." "What?" I ask, straightening up a little.

"Quit delaying," Luca says, laughing a little, "let's go!"

And then, defying instructions, Luca takes an aggressive step towards me, swinging his left fist. I gasp a little at the change in plans but then anger riles in me not anger at Luca, who is just pushing me, but anger at myself for not mastering this yet. God, what's taking me so long? Why can't I land a single blow?

I fall back on my earlier training and duck quickly under Luca's arm, dodging forward and aiming my own jab at his ribs. But Luca's other hand is already there, swiping my hand away and leaving my body open for attack when he pulls his left hand back, aiming right for my face.

I dodge back, even though I know he wouldn't put any force behind it - not really - but even that makes me snarl in frustration - because I should be better at this by now! This whole system is about training me to use my smaller body and my skills against a bigger opponent, so why -

My train of thought is interrupted as

Luca comes @gain and I take

another step back, again dodging his blow, but then something in me snaps into place as I realize that I'm playing Luca's game - I'm giving him the ring, letting him set the rules as the boxer - letting him push me around like a little girl.

But we're not boxing, are we?

And I'm not just any girl.

My wolf snarls with excitement in me as my teeth elongate into fangs and I take one more step back, falling into a crouch instead of my defensive stance. I am gratified for a single instant by the look of shock on Luca's face as I quickly shift - faster than he can blink --and launch myself into the air, aiming right for his chest.

Luca's eyes go wide as he stumbles back a step, but it's too late - my snarl fills the room and my paws hit hard against his shoulders, knocking him to the floor, his arms sprawled out to the side. The breath heaves from his chest and I pin him down to the floor, my snarling jaws inches from his face.