After leaving the registration hall, we drove for only a few minutes before Soren slowed the car in front of a small shop tucked between two larger buildings. The sign above the glass door read "It's Cold" in bright blue letters that almost sparkled under the Night sky.
"They have the best ice cream in the entire pack," Soren announced proudly as he hopped out of the car with a grin.
I stepped out more slowly, staring at the shop. The windows were fogged a little from the cold inside, and the door chimed when Soren pushed it open. I nodded silently, still unsure of what to expect. I had never been inside a place meant only for treats. I didn't even know there was a place that sold ice cream.
"You've never had ice cream?" he asked again as if confirming he heard right the first time.
"No," I replied. "I've only seen it on TV, but that's all."
"Trust me, you're going to love it," Soren said, practically bouncing on his feet. "It might even become your comfort food."
"What's a comfort food?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"Uh…something you eat when you feel down?" Soren explained, waving his hands around like that somehow helped the explanation.
"Oh." I nodded. Food you eat when sad. That was new. In my old life, food wasn't about comfort; it was something you were given if you were useful.
We walked deeper into the shop. It was surprisingly empty for a place Soren called the best in the pack. Though, judging by his personality, his "best" could mean anything.
The entire place smelled sweet like chocolate, vanilla, fruit, and something buttery all mixed together. There were bright pastel colors everywhere, little cartoon drawings on the walls, and the soft hum of a refrigerator in the back. A young beta stood behind the counter, leaning on his elbows until he straightened up at the sight of us.
Soren placed the order confidently, and the worker started preparing it. I watched every movement from the scooping to the slicing to the drizzling. It was honestly interesting. I had never seen anything like that, at least not in real life.
The few times I had sneaked and watched the TV at the forest packs were the only times I had seen ice cream. I had seen people on tv licking it and all and I had always believed it was a human thing.
The boy behind the counter was a beta and wasn't human. I wondered where he learnt this but then again this was Novaterra pack. It was called paradise for a reason.
When the cups were finally ready, the worker handed them over with a smile. Soren paid before I could say anything, then led me toward a small round table by the window. I didn't even have money. How was I going to pay? Maybe when I made enough money I would pay him back.
We sat down, and I stared at the paper cup placed in front of me. Cold mist curled over the rim, and a tiny plastic spoon was stuck into the creamy swirl. I held the cup carefully. It was cold enough to numb my fingers, but the smell was heavenly. So sweet, rich, and warm even though the dessert was freezing.
I scooped a little bit and tasted it.
And Gosh.
It was like the world paused.
The cold hit my tongue first. It was sharp and shocking, then immediately melted into smooth sweetness. Chocolate and Caramel.
My eyes widened.
"Good?" Soren asked, watching me with an excited grin.
I stopped with my spoon halfway to my mouth. "Yes."
"Good or freaking good?" he asked, leaning forward.
"Freaking good," I replied without hesitation.
"Right?" He laughed. "The chocolate with the caramel is just…ugh… perfect."
"And the chunks of biscuit," I added, taking another big spoonful. "It makes it better… like layers of texture."
"Exactly!" Soren beamed. "It's my favorite flavor. Though mine has nuts in it. Want a taste?" He held out his own cup.
I froze. He paid for this. He was being generous enough already. Could I really take from his portion? I looked at him skeptically, unsure.
"Oh it's okay," he assured me with a warm smile, pushing his cup a little closer. "Go ahead."
I leaned forward and carefully took a small scoop from his. It had a richer taste but it was still chocolate and caramel, but with roasted nuts instead of biscuits.
I swallowed and stared at him with a stunned expression.
"Like it?" he asked.
I nodded with a smile that felt too big for my face. I didn't realize how starved I'd always been for simple good things. For sweetness. For something made just to be enjoyed.
Soren grinned back proudly. "Welcome to Novaterra, Holland."
The words settled into me slowly… like the warmth of caramel still coating my tongue.
Welcome.
To the pack.
To a place that wasn't trying to hurt me.
To a life I had never imagined.
I took another bite, savoring it.
"It's really good," I murmured, my voice softer than before.
"I knew you'd love it," Soren said proudly.
He went on telling me about all the other flavours and what to pair them with. He even explained how to place an order here. I don't think I can, at least not yet.
But it was fun learning how to.
He also told me about the other places in the pack that sold good snacks. He told me about hotdogs, burgers and other snacks I had never heard of.
Some I had seen on tv a few times and the others I had never heard of but I looked forward to trying them. If Ice cream tasted this good I wonder what the others tasted like.
Soren also told me about amusement parks. That was shocking a pack with that? How rich was Novaterra? They had everything and anything.
I looked forward to my stay here. I was interested in learning and seeing all this.