Page 33 of Supernova

“Was that your impression of me?”

“Maybe.”

“That was pathetic.” See.

He leaned against the rack of boxing gloves, his smile causing his eyes to twinkle. “Did you know as hunters, ones with a direct original bloodline, we have abilities beyond that of normal humans. We were made stronger, faster and with better senses—the predator to the ultimate predator. To beat them, we needed to have a fighting chance.” Confusion and awe overtook me as I continued to keenly listen. “Today I’ll try and show you how to use them. As a born Knight, you can access these skills, you just need to open your mind to it and break that initial barrier. You’ve probably always used it in some sort of way, maybe you were a bit more athletic during school or had a stronger intuition; a sixth sense.” It was clear the sixth sense wasn’t one of my strong suits, otherwise I may have been more aware that something was off with the wolves and got out of there sooner. But I did always feel like I kept up with the guys at boxing, and the wolves, to a certain degree. So maybe strength? Or speed?

“How is that even possible?” I questioned him.

“Nature knew it needed a rival to the wolves. They couldn’t live in our world amongst humans with no consequences. So nature forced our bodies to adapt; to transform. We were gifted with abilities to help keep up.” He spoke the words with so much knowledge and confidence, like the answer was obvious. “In new Knights, it might take a generation or two before the powers kick in. My grandfather, being the founder, didn’t have the power, but Thea does. Likewise, Kit and Billie’s parents do. But Carter was the first in his bloodline to inherit the gift.”

I was eager to become in tune with these powers. “Show me.”

I had always felt so very average around the wolves. But maybe I wasn’t as average as I assumed. Maybe that was why I was even able to be around them—why they let me in. Maybe I wasn’t as breakable as I always thought, as River always treated me. I just didn’t know how to access it and he was probably aware of that too. Because if I did, I would have for sure told him. That was the type of relationship I thought we had. The key word here being ‘thought’.

Griffin explained how to locate these powers within me. “I want you to meditate for a second. Go ahead, and feel deep within your body. When you throw a punch, put intention behind it. Think about the power of your muscles as you extend your arm. Imagine it in your head before you undertake it. And when you imagine it, imagine it with five times the power. Once you master this, you’ll be able to put that power behind the punch. Same goes for kicks, or any attacking move you make. Try that and then throw a jab at me.”

He readied himself, taking his stance and blocking his face. We didn’t have gloves on, he wanted me to get a feel for pure battle, like we would if we were facing a real threat. But he did have pads to help me direct my energy to a single target.

I did what he said. I closed my eyes. I visualised myself hitting him. When I punched, there was force but no extra strength. “Try again,” he commanded.

I tried again and again. Nothing changed.

“You’re not focusing hard enough. Picture your muscles. Picture each individual strand they’re made from.” He paused for a moment and then came around my body, tracing the muscles of my bicep. “Do you have that?” I nodded, trying to swallow my nerves subtly. Satisfied with my response, he came back around to face me, taking his starting position.

“Visualise the power. However you want to see it. Maybe it's a flow of energy, a physical strand of your aurora, bending and twisting around your arm. Or maybe it’s tiny glowing dots being pulled to you and forging with your muscles, making them grow.” I pictured a purple streak of power, emerging from the air and wrapping around my arm as his deep baritone immersed into the mental image I was creating.

“Now manifest it. Use the strength the power is giving you and throw your punch.”

I did what he said. This time, my fist connected to the pads with a loud boom. Shock crossed Griffin’s face as his body moved back a few inches. I had heard similar loud noises coming from certain warriors throughout our training, heard them from Griffin, but I always assumed they were just way stronger than me. He contemplated me for a quiet moment before his mouth twitched upwards into a proud smirk.

“Good.” His tone was satisfied which in turn caused me to smile. We practised that a few more times and the purple visual in my head became clearer and clearer with each strike.

“Let’s try using your senses next. Close your eyes. Listen and feel for when I’m going to attack you.” He pounced and I did not sense a thing as he tackled me to the ground, his heavy body landing firmly on top of mine. I hit the mat with a thud, the wind fully knocked out of me. Griffin did not get up but instead rose onto his shoulders, boxing me between them. “You didn’t use your senses,” he dryly stated.

“Thanks, Captain Obvious,” I grumbled. “You can get off me now.” I was struggling to catch my breath and the weight of his body was not helping.

He scoffed. “You know you want me.”

This guy was salacious.

“Please. You realise you’re the one who manhandled me the other night and went all alpha-male when you saw someone else was interested,” I spat back, attempting—and failing—to push him off. My hands pressed against his solid chest, trying to put space between us before I did something I would regret later. Or just flat out passed out from the lethal combination of my anxiety and the large mass of muscles encroaching into me.

The next words to come out of his mouth were said with so much conviction it sent tingles through my body. “If you won’t have me, you can’t have anyone.” Literal fucking tingles.

I schooled my face to hide how turned on I was. “That’s bold of you. You know you might not be a wolf but you sure as hell can be possessive like one.” Then I realised how hypocritical what he said actually was. “But it’s okay for you to have whoever you want. I saw you with all those girls.” My words were impassioned.

“I didn’t go home with any of them, did I? I barely touched them,” he argued. He did have a point. He continued, “When I want something, I get it. And I want you, Cosmo.” There were those fucken tingles again. He knew exactly what to say to get me all hot and bothered.

“Keep dreaming,” I managed to mutter back all flustered and pathetic under his body weight.

“You know I do. Every night.” His voice was raw and he bit his bottom lip as his grey molten eyes bore into me. “When you’re ready again, I’d be more than willing to be the first,” he stated. Desire laced his voice. “And if you’re still hurting then maybe I can offer some help? Take a bit of that pain away. Or at least add a bit of pleasure—I can’t guarantee there won’t be pain.” A wicked grin was plastered to his face. His eyes twinkled mischievously.

I was glad when the gym door slid open and people started filing in, interrupting our discussion before I had the chance to respond. I didn’t know what I’d say and didn’t trust myself around him. Plus, he just admitted that he wanted me? What did that even mean in his books? That he just wanted to sleep with me and then his need would be satisfied? But why was he all protective and jealous the other night at the club? Was it just some male ego thing or did he feel more for me? I shoved at his chest again.

The corner of his mouth imperceptibly rose as he stared down at me for another beat. “You know, I’m not usually the one to ask. So don’t take this lightly, gorgeous,” he added, leaving the words hanging between us before lifting himself off and heading back towards the racks where his stuff was.

I lay on the floor for a minute longer, waiting for my heart rate to get back to a normal level. When it finally settled, I rose and dusted myself off.

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