Page 3 of Supernova

The strong smell of oud wood and roasted chestnut overwhelmed my senses, like a toasty fireplace. He smelt warm, comforting and capable.

“You’re back.” I happily mumbled in my sleepy state. I cosied up to him, basking in his body heat.

“I’m back, Vee.” He nuzzled his face into my neck, holding me tight against him.

“Everything okay with the pack?”

He squeezed me tighter. “Nothing you have to worry about, sweetheart.” He placed gentle kisses all along my neck and down my shoulder.

Everything was easy with River. We’d been inseparable from the moment I walked into Saint Claire Middle School and he gave me that lovable smile when I bumped into him at lunch. He invited me to his table like the caring soul he was and we became fast friends.

Everyone knew we would get together when we hit high school. It was only a matter of time considering we were basically tied at the hip. And it wasn’t an awkward transition either, there was no worrying if we’d ruin the friendship and certainly no one-sidedness. It was just the logical progression of our friendship. There was no one else for either of us. Yes, we both had other friends of the opposite gender; River grew up in the pack and had flawless girls like Sky around him his whole life, but it was never like that, I never had to worry. They were just his pack, and I was different.

And of course my eyes never wandered to another guy after they landed on Riv. Even at twelve I knew he was the most beautiful boy I’d ever seen with his soft, warm features and gentle soul. We were the ‘best friends turned high school sweethearts’—the ones that everyone shipped.

We were also that annoying couple; you know the one that was always together and finished each other's sentences. If you saw us on the street we were always holding hands or hugging—touching in one way or another. But we weren’t big on the PDA. We had an image to uphold in our little nosey town. River was the boy next door, adored and looked up to by everyone, so we kept things PG. The bedroom was a whole other story, that’s when his possessive nature often kicked in; the struggle between his dominating wolf and his loving human side. I’d never know which one I’d get. Which wasn’t a deal breaker for me, it kept things interesting.

That night I got the wolf.

???

The smell of coffee wafted in the air the next morning, River greeting me in bed with two steaming mugs. We lazed around, enjoying the morning sun that always lit up his room perfectly.

“You’re coming to the pack run bonfire tomorrow night, right angel?” He asked as he slipped back under the covers.

“Of course,” I smiled warmly at him, cradling my coffee like it was precious.

Every month on the full moon, River hosted a bonfire to celebrate the pack run, a time for the wolves to shift together and sprint through the surrounding forest as one. As the alpha, he would always invite the whole pack to his place for food, music and an overall good time. He and the boys would put on a barbecue, serving everyone a feast while others mingled or sat around the bonfire singing and playing music. It was a time of bonding for them and I loved that I got to be a part of it. Most of the time I would help organise everything; gathering supplies, setting up the drinks and serving the food while the boys did most of the cooking. Skylar and I were always happy to be their kitchen hands.

After everyone ate and drank and socialised, when the moon would reach its apex, the pack would gather together, shed their clothes and run off into the woods. It was truly spectacular, seeing them all shift into their beautiful furred beasts.

I’d usually stay back with some of the other partners or children and we’d sit by the fire and share stories until the wolves returned. Some of the wolves also had human partners so there were a few others like me that I usually hung out with while the pack ran, meaning I never felt alone or too out of place. And it was nice to see how others in a similar position to us made it work, although it was still quite rare.

“Did you want me to head out to the shops today and pick up some things?” I offered. “I’m sure Sky or Axel wouldn’t mind joining me.”

River rubbed his chin in thought. “You know what, I’m gonna send the guys out to handle some pack business today. There’s still a few things we need to get sorted and we can’t let the pack run distract us too much right now. But the guys can handle it, at least for a bit. Let’s go together.”

“Are you sure?” I didn’t want him to feel like he needed to if there were more important things he had to attend to.

“Of course. I hate to miss out on a chance to go grocery shopping with you like a normal couple.” He flashed his pearly whites at me as he got up. “Get ready, I’ll mind-link the boys to meet me for a quick debrief and then we can go.” Leaning back down, he gave me a quick peck.

“Alright, sounds good.”

I enjoyed a few extra moments in bed, savouring my favourite combination of sunlight and coffee, and then got up to get ready.

River’s bathroom was peaceful and serene, and I always felt like one with nature when I used it. I stepped into the large open shower in the beige room. All the walls and the sink were rendered in this beautiful cream textured concrete and the back wall of the shower was a large window that looked over the forest, letting in rays of natural light. The decor was light wood, adding to the natural aesthetic that was so very River. He would shower outside in a waterfall if there was one. That was where we differed.

Once I was done in the bathroom, I threw on a pair of blue jeans, a white tee and a matching pair of trusty converses to complete my errand look. By the time I started drying my hair, River was strolling into the bathroom. His large arms snaked around my waist and he hugged me from behind, gently kissing my cheek.

In no time he had showered and gotten dressed in a brown oversized tee and black jeans, letting his longer locks dry naturally so they got that air-dried wave to them. When he was done, he grabbed my hand and led me downstairs and to his car that was parked in the garage.

The alpha family, and thus the pack house, were pretty secured wealth wise. The house was a massive cabin style mansion in the forest. Everything was oversized, from the enormous front door to the open windows and the large expansive living areas. It was a treat getting to spend so much time in such a magical place.

What was also magical was River’s car. Considering he loved nature, and seemed like the type of guy that would rather walk somewhere—or at the very least own a hybrid—he didn’t shy away from enjoying the luxuries that being an alpha bought him. And that included his stunning black Aston Martin.

We sped down the paved driveway and onto the main road that led out of the forest with our windows down and our hair flying wildly. I snuck a look over at River who beamed back at me with his bright smile. It was the little things we did together that we cherished the most.

The main town in Saint Claire was far from big, yet not too small that there was nothing to do. The local supermarket had everything we needed for a barbecue but the town centre itself was full of life, everyone in our smaller community out and about at the cute little cafes or bookshops, diners and restaurants or the strip of boutique stores that ran down the middle. The high school we all went to was a few streets away and our favourite little diner—that we spent way too much time in—was just around the corner. Everything in Saint Claire was cosy. Comfortable.

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