The Queen of Canya

**Felicia POV

"No! Are you leaving already ? Stay a little longer"

"Come on Jade! I can't be late for my first day, baby You know this internship is important to me" I said as I put on my blouse.

"But I was just starting to have fun. Youre not going to tell me you don't want a second round. Your body is a dream" Jade said, kissing me on the shoulder.

"Hmmm, its very tempting but... no. I have to go, my love" I said as I got up from the bed.

"Okay, as you wish. Pizza tonight ?" Jade asked

"Don't forget the bottle of wine! Okay, Im going to take a bath. You can join me, I might need you to scrub my back" I added playfully, heading towards the shower.

"With pleasure" Jade said, rushing towards me.

My name is Felicia Springs. This year i'm turning 23 and my favorite color is red. Nothing too extraordinary, just like my life. I'm a beautiful, curvy brunette who's a little clumsy and hides her shyness behind her glasses.

I had to leave my family and the countryside after turning 18 to move to Newcastle to study psychology. Because, yes, people interest me. Their behaviors, their desires, and the ideas that can cross their minds.

I was starting my first day of internship at Mrs. Greys psychology practice. A woman I greatly respect for her work ethic. But sometimes I find her so hard on herself that I think a good night of sex would do her good.

"But for Gods sake, look where youre walking!" a passerby shouted at me after I bumped into him.

"Oops, sorry" I said as I continued running towards the building where I work.

I quickly took the elevator and a few minutes later, I entered my boss's office on tiptoe! Unfortunately, my bracelets made a noise that did not hesitate to betray my presence. Her tone, both calm and harsh, made me tremble as I tried to close the entrance door without being noticed.

"You're late for your first day, Miss Springs" Mrs. Grey said.

"I know. I-"

"Theres no excuse" she interrupted.

"I still want to apologize, Mrs. Grey" I insisted

"That better not happen again, okay? Its important that your patients find you ready and willing to take care of them. You need to be impeccable. And being on time is the least you can do" she said, smiling to reassure me.

She said it, but it sounded in my head like I was part of an escort group.

Being ready and impeccable to take care of them...

"I'll make it up, Mrs. Grey." I said

Mrs Grey complimented my intelligence and warned me not to disappoint her. I timidly accepted her invitation to sit at her desk, where a file awaited me.

She instructed me to open it, revealing that it contained information on Nathaniel Sullivan.

A 24-year-old ex-convict trying to turn his life around. Mrs Grey tasked me with assisting her during their meeting and providing my impressions afterward. Despite my nerves, Nathaniel was aware of my presence and had agreed to the arrangement.

Mrs Grey complimented my outfit before leading me to a mint-scented room with two white leather chairs and a small table. I sat behind Mrs Grey, and Nathaniel entered, greeting her before noticing me. We shared a long moment of silence, during which I felt drawn to Nathaniel's mysterious eyes.

Despite feeling anxious, I sensed that I was approaching something exciting.

We continued to stare at each other as if hypnotized, until the repeated calls from Mrs. Grey pulled us out of our immersion.

"Nate? Nate! Are you okay? If you want, I can ask Miss Springs to leave us" She proposed

"Um no. Well, she's bound by confidentiality, right"

"Yes, you don't have to worry about that. Besides, I chose you because you have made enormous progress since then" She said to reassure him

I snapped out of my dream and looked down at the floor to gather my thoughts.

What just happened?

"Miss Felicia? We're going to start now" Mrs Grey said

"Yes, maam." I replied, swallowing hard

I picked up my pen and kept my eyes fixed on the horizontal lines of my notebook. I could'nt look into his eyes again, for fear of getting lost in them.

Focus, Felicia, it's not the time to hallucinate

"So, Nate, how are you doing?"

" Fine" He said, his voice heavy.

"Are you sure ? I don't get that impression seeing your dark circles. You know you can tell me anything, Im here to help"

"Actually, I... I recently started working nights and it often prevents me from resting" He answered

I looked down at his polished black shoes, and as I slowly moved up to his torso, I saw his hands rubbing against each other. He looked nervous, and my intuition told me he was lying.

"Do you want something to drink? Maybe some coffee?" She said, turning her head towards me.

I understood her gesture and left the room to prepare her coffee. Standing in front of the coffee maker, I wondered about this strange man, and I relived that moment of eye contact. I lost myself in my thoughts again until the hot coffee overflowed and burned my skin.

"Are you okay, Felicia?" The secretary asked

"Shit! Yeah, I'm fine, its okay!" I said leacking my finger

Suddenly, I heard Nate shouting in the room and hitting the table. I realized that Mrs. Grey's coffee request was a way for her to stay alone with Nate and make him say what he couldnt say in my presence.

Maybe I was just in the way after all... The secretary's remark brought me out of my reflection, and I narrowly avoided burning myself again on the coffee maker.

"It's strange, usually he's very calm."

"Tell me, Suzy. You, who are used to seeing him. Don't you feel that he emanates something... strange?" I asked

"No, well, he's just someone very calm"

"Hmm, okay so"

I headed back to the consultation room, and as I reached for the handle, the door opened on me and I collided with Nate, who was rushing out.

My coffee cup spilled on him. I took a few steps back to regain my balance on my heels, but it was no use. I was going to fall.That's when I saw him rushing to catch me, his hands behind my back, just before I fell.I hadn't dreamed it. He had moved with great speed and dexterity.

I had created enough distance, though. He couldnt catch me that easily.

No, maybe he just has good reflexes...

His dark gaze locked onto my light brown pupils again, and in that short moment, I felt as if I belonged only to him.

"Are you okay, Miss..."

"Felicia... Um... Im fine, thank you."

I put my hands on his chest and let his strong arms pull me back up. He must do a lot of sports.Once in front of him, he removed his gaze from mine, and I felt a void left behind.

"The stain on your..."

He ignored me and left without saying goodbye or closing the door behind him.

"... T-shirt..." I said, my voice troubled

I then looked down at the floor and saw that I had dirtied it.

"Let me clean that up." Suzy said to me

I joined Mrs. Grey who was packing her things and taking a breath of fresh air.

"Is he okay?" I asked.

"I dont know. But I hope he hasnt started dealing drugs again. He claims that a strange animal bit him and that hes having hallucinations. Besides drugs, what other explanation do you see for that?"

"An animal? Like... a dog?"

"A wolf!" Mrs Grey corrected.

"But that's impossible. The police would have surely sounded the alarm" I said.

Leaning against the armchair, she raised her eyebrows to confirm my remark as she stared into space.

"What did you think of him?" Mrs. Grey asked.

"I... I barely spoke to him" I replied.

"Yes, but you have impressions, remarks. Tell me what you think."

"Well, I think there are things that make him anxious. The fear of facing reality. It's common among patients who want to change their lives, but very often the past ends up catching up with us and we refuse to face it"

"And so we hide behind our vices and fall back into the same old patterns" Mrs. Grey added.

"Yes" I said, putting my documents in my handbag.

"Well work on it together" Mrs. Grey said.

I spent the whole morning working alongside Mrs. Grey until I noticed the time.

"Its almost time, madam. If you'll allow me" I said gently.

"Very well! Try to be on time next time" Mrs. Grey replied

"Understood. Goodbye, Suzy" I said as I left.

What a busy life I led. I had to go back to Jades place to change into something more casual before heading to the university.

"No! Alicia, I'll be there, don't worry. Oh no, I already have plans with Jade tonight, sorry... I completely forgot" I said on the phone.

I rushed into the apartment and threw my bag on the bed.

"Yes, I'm coming, dont worry"

Hop! I undressed and got into the shower.

***

Thirty minutes later, I was in class and the calm atmosphere of the room made me feel evasive. I couldnt get Nate out of my mind. As I thought about his deep gaze, the noises around me became muted and disappeared.

I sat in my usual spot near the window that overlooked the university courtyard. Suddenly, the sound of a particular voice caught my attention and I looked around. The voice seemed almost faint, but I could hear what it was saying.

"Felicia.."

Someone was calling me, but I didnt know where it was coming from. I continued to look around until the loud thud of my professors book hit my desk and snapped me out of my daze.

"You scared me, professor" I said

"You seem distracted. Maybe the class is boring you!?" the professor said, causing the class to laugh.

"No, sir, sorry" I replied.

As he walked away, Alicia pinched me in the back.

"She's already thinking about Jade, the little minx" she whispered.

"Leave me alone" I said, smiling as I tried to focus on the class.

I heard a whisper in my ear that made me look beyond the window. My eyes scanned the courtyard and my heart skipped a beat when I saw him.

Is this a joke? What's he doing here?

I didn't remember seeing in his report that he was taking classes at a university, unless it was recent.

"Something's wrong ?" Alicia asked.

"Oh, no don't bother" I said, remembering that I was under professional secrecy.

"Hmm, Felicia? Are you hiding something from me?" She asked.

The professor announced the end of the session and gave some recommendations. I got up and left the class while Alicia followed me, taking my hand so that I would finally listen to her.

"Felicia! Whats wrong with you today? You seem... elsewhere! Are you sure youre okay?" She exclaimed.

I sighed and then smiled to reassure her. "Im sorry"

"Yeah, youve been apologizing since earlier... Maybe you..."

I didnt let her finish and hugged her tightly with love.

"Ah, you wont get me with that... no, no!" she said, laughing when she felt my hands tickling her back.

"I'm a bit distracted, but its nothing serious, I promise" I said.

"You would have told me if it was something serious, right?"

"Of course!" I replied.

"And what about the bowling with the others tonight?" Alicia asked.

I made a face at her proposition and she understood immediately.

"Yeah, it's okay, you have to see Jade, your handsome stallion. But you better not bail on my birthday" she said.

"Don't worry, I wont. Thank you for being so understanding" I said, giving her a goodbye kiss.

Fortunately, the apartment wasn't far from the university. I decided to walk there, and it was a good thing because I needed to walk a bit after this strange day.

The cool night air always left me with a pleasant feeling of freedom. I easily got lost in my thoughts until I arrived in front of Jades apartment building.

***

"Hey?" I said as I entered.

"I was about to call you. I thought you forgot about our pizza night and were still out with your friends" Jade replied.

"And how could I forget a pizza night with you?" I said, kissing her lips.

"How was your day?" Jade asked.

"Not great. Oh, by the way, you did remember the wine, right?" I asked.

"French wine, just the way you like it" Jade replied.

"Bordeaux?!" I exclaimed.

He smiled and kissed me again."Go take a shower" he said, tapping my ass.

***

We had an excellent evening watching a werewolf movie that reminded me of my mysterious encounter.

"Do you think a wolf could walk around the city streets without being noticed?" I asked, intrigued.

"The movie seems to be pleasing you, which is rare. No, its impossible. Wolves always travel in packs. The police in Newcastle would quickly put the city on lockdown. Besides, there are no wolves in the surrounding woods" Jade explained with a little smile

"Yeah, you're right" I said.

"Unless its a werewolf" he insinuated.

I immediately felt chills down my spine and sat up to look at him, worried.

"Are you kidding?" I asked.

"Of course! Don't tell me you believed me?" he said, laughing.

I grabbed the pillow next to me and tried to smother him with it.

***

After having some fun, we made love in the living room, and I eventually fell asleep in his arms.

In my sleep, I had a strange dream where I was being chased in the woods by something.It was dark, and I couldn't see anything except the full moon in the sky.

My heart was racing, and I ran without knowing where I was going. I eventually stumbled on a rock and fell to the ground. I tried to get up, but my leg was injured. I heard noises around me. A few meters behind the bushes, I saw an animal with eyes that were a deep black that turned to gold.

The moonlight then shone on it, and I saw it's jaw open on its long, sharp canines.

"Help! Help!" I cried, trembling.I tried to get up in vain.

I heard a wolf howl, and a few seconds later, I saw it leap towards me to devour me. I abruptly woke up from my dream, taking deep breaths.

A few seconds later, the sound of plates in the kitchen made me jump, and that's when I saw Jade appear.

"You had a bad dream, it seems. Relax, my love" he said, taking me in his arms.

The eyes I had seen in my dream resembled those of Mrs. Greys patient. But why did he intrigue me so much?

I snuggled back into Jades arms to fall asleep, unaware that my encounter this morning with Nate Sullivan had forever altered the course of my destiny.

All of this was not a coincidence. I was not ready

Not at all...

To be continued...

***Nathaniel POV

It is 7:30 in the morning and, as always since the evening I was bitten by that animal, I struggled to get out of bed.

The alarm kept ringing until my younger sister came to turn it off.

"How many times do I have to tell you, Rose? Don't come into my room without my permission" I said, covered up to my neck with the sheet.

She walked around the bed and opened the window wide. The daylight made me uncomfortable and I pulled the sheet up to my face.

"Mum always used to say that the early bird catches the worm. Come on, big brother, we have the world to conquer" she said, sitting down at my bedside without saying anything else.

Her silence intrigued me, and I had lost sleep anyway. I removed the sheet from my face and saw her looking at me with a smile.

"What are you staring at me like that for?" I asked.

"I'm happy you're finally out of prison. Since Mum and Dad died, I had no one else but you. Every day I come into this room to reassure myself that I'm not dreaming. I missed you so much, you know" she said.

"I missed you too. You took good care of the mansion while I was away" I replied, holding her hand.

"Hey, promise me you won't relapse again?" she asked.

"Promise, little sister. Mums death affected me a lot, and I didn't realize that you were my only family. Don't worry anymore" I said.

"Okay. I'll be waiting for you downstairs"

I then went to take a shower and hurried downstairs for breakfast.

"Nate! It's going to get cold" Rose said.

"I'm here" I replied, hanging my shirt around my neck.I arrived at the table and found toast and bacon and eggs, which I ate with appetite.My little sister hadn't changed.

She looked so much like our mother that I often mistook her for her when I watched her drink her coffee without sugar.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked, smiling.

"Nothing, forget it" I said.

Suddenly, her expression changed as she turned the page of the newspaper she was reading.

"What is it?" I asked, slowly swallowing a piece of bread.

"It says in the newspaper that yesterday afternoon the bodies of three teenagers were found dead in Tollymore Forest" she said.

"Too bad" I simply replied.

"Yes, but that's not what's strange. The wounds are all identical and look like those caused by an animal" she said.

"Let me see" I said, leaning over to her in a hurry.

"What kind of animal can cause such deep wounds?" she asked.

Flashbacks of the evening when I was attacked by that strange animal came to mind, and I turned my face away from the newspaper.

"In any case, don't go for a walk there these days, okay?" I said, putting on my t-shirt.

"Okay, are you walking to school?" she asked.

"As always"I replied.

"Hey, Nate! Mrs. Grey called. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah... dont worry" I said, leaving.

I was convinced that I wasn't dreaming. But how would anyone believe me? My wound had completely healed the next morning when I woke up.

Lost in my thoughts, I heard the honk of Oliver Wells Hyundai Tucson, which was following me slowly.

"Hey, buddy. Ready for biology class?" Oliver asked.

"Im not your buddy!"

"Yeah, were not just friends. Were brothers."

I sighed and continued walking, ignoring him. Among the reasons why I thought I had made a bad decision to go back to university was Oliver. I didnt know him and he was already acting like we were the best of friends. Maybe he felt lonely...

We arrived at the university and he parked his car before joining me in the hallways.

"Do you know what happened yesterday afternoon?"

"Yes, there was an attack by dangerous animals"

"I'm not sure it was just animals"

"What are you talking about ?"

"Come on, the Tollymore forest is way too secure. And according to the lab analysis, it was more or less wolf attacks."

"More or less?" Intrigued

"It seems that the victims defended themselves and managed to injure the animal in question. The analysis found genes similar to those of a wolf. A kind of derivative form, I dont know..."

"And how do you know all this?"

"My mother is a forensic pathologist."

"Um... You know it's illegal to go through your mothers work, right?"

"It is if you betray me" He pointed out

As we headed to class, I stopped in front of the door to look at it.Oliver, who had taken the lead, stepped back a few steps to see what had suddenly caught my attention.

"Who is that girl" I asked focused on her

"Oh, I forgot you're new here. She's Felicia Springs. She's one of the best psychology students. But that's all we know about her. And besides, no one is interested in psychology." He tapped me on the shoulder to bring me into the room, but I didn't react.

I couldnt explain how or why, but I felt something drawing me towards her.

She was talking to a friend and smiling at her. Her long hair covered her face and she gracefully pulled it back behind her ear. I remembered her gaze behind her glasses and I could imagine the scent of her perfume.The more I looked at her, the more my senses focused on her without me realizing it. I could even hear her laughing from where I was. I looked at her for a few more seconds and she eventually looked in my direction.

That feeling of symbiosis again...

Our gazes remained fixed on each other and we scrutinized each other.

"Naate?" Intrigued

"Yes?" I replied, looking at her

"Do you like her"

"No, shes too... innocent and pure for my taste."

"What vocabulary!" He chuckled

" Hmm, lets go" Entering the room

***

"Here, this is for you. You'll distribute them to the biology students. Hey! Felicia, I'm talking to you!" Snapping her fingers

"Oh, uh, nothing."

"Here's your batch of flyers to distribute."

"Do I really have to do this?" Felicia asked.

Alicia responded, "Yes, you're my best friend, aren't you?"

"Ugh, you're pushing it! But why do you always have to throw these huge birthday parties? Who invites the entire campus to their birthday?"

"I do. And make sure you give a flyer to Jacobs in person, okay ?"

"Please, why don't you do it yourself?"

"He plays football, Felicia. All the girls are crazy about him, so if I want him to fall for me, I have to act like he doesn't exist, you know? Hurry up before the professor comes" Alicia urged her.

"Ugh! Is he in biology?"

"Yes...now go!"

"That's just my luck" Felicia said, annoyed.

***

I was sitting at my desk listening to Olivers complaints when I saw her walk back into our classroom with flyers in hand, looking timid and slender.

I couldn't take my eyes off of her. She started handing out the flyers and stopped to talk to Jacobs for a few minutes.

The looks and smiles they exchanged left me slightly confused.

"Who's he?" I asked with a raspy voice.

"Who? That's Daniel Jacobs, you know him" Oliver replied.

"I know. But who is he to her?" I asked, feeling a bit jealous.

She finished talking to him and noticed us. As if she heard me talking about her, she took a deep breath and walked over to us.I couldn't stop admiring her graceful walk.

"Hi!" Oliver tried to get her attention.

"Um...sorry, I came to give you this" she said, looking at me shyly.

"A birthday party this Saturday night?" Oliver asked.

"It's going to be a great party, so if you have time..." she said, putting her hand in her back pocket.

"Who's Alicia?" I asked her.

"One of the most well-known girls on campus. She's the captain of the archery team. A pretty little snob who often steals the spotlight from the cheerleading team on campus" Oliver explained.

"Um...Alicia is my friend. And you are?" she asked, extending her hand

"Wells...Oliver Wells. And you're Felicia Springs. Majoring in psychology" He said.

"You seem to know a lot" she said, looking at him strangely.

"Don't mind him. He's very talkative" I said, staring at her.

"What but I..." Trying to defend hiself

"Well Wells lol...I have to go. See you on Saturday, if you'll be there of course" she said, taking a few steps back before turning around to leave.

"She has a nice ass, doesn't she ?" Oliver asked, but I gave him a death stare and he immediately understood that he needed to watch his words.

"Okay, I'll shut up now. Mr. Love-struck" he murmured.

"Good morning, everyone. Please take your seats, the class is about to begin" the professor said.

***

Once the class was over, I finally managed to get rid of Oliver and went to exercise a bit. I really needed it.The gym was one of the few places that helped me escape. I put on my headphones to let the music take me away.

Some good metal to let off some steam. Every muscle contraction, every drop of sweat, was one step closer to the world of my thoughts.

These thoughts in which I was no longer alone for some time now.

Felicia Springs...

Who is this girl ? and why do I feel such a strong desire to get to know her better?

Am I falling in love with her? It's impossible, I don't believe in love at first sight. And besides...falling for such a simple girl ?

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didnt realize that people around me had stopped to watch me run.

I eventually stopped the treadmill and one of the gym managers, whom I knew well, approached me.

"Man, did you become an athlete in prison?" he asked.

"Why do you say that?" I asked too.

"You've been running at 37km/h for over an hour and you don't even look tired."

I checked my watch and realized that time was passing and I was going to miss dinner with Rose.

"Damn! Thanks for letting me know," I said as I left the treadmill.

"You've become a machine, I swear!" he exclaimed.

I grabbed my towel and bag and headed towards my parents' mansion.

I wasn't already a fan of transportation, but tonight especially, my instinct told me to run all the way home.

I didn't yet realize what I had become since I had been bitten.

I ran so fast that I couldn't believe my own performance.

"Wow!" I shouted.

I eventually stopped on the alley that led to the mansion and had a bad feeling.

I looked around and saw that I was slowly being surrounded by men in masks.

A familiar voice called out to me. It was Ryan, the right-hand man of the Newcastle cartel boss.

The last time he came to me, they had fled because of some strange animal that had bitten me.

"So Nate, last time you escaped us. I'm glad to see you're still alive. I don't know what you sent after us the other night, but I can assure you that this time it won't be the same," he said, pulling out his gun.

I took a few steps back, scared.

"You don't go anywhere until you pay back all the drugs you owe to the boss," Ryan said.

"I don't owe you anything, Ryan. You set me up that day to end up in jail," I replied.

"Oh, but you do owe us, and guess what?" he said, pointing his gun at me.

I raised my hands, feeling anxious.

"Don't be stupid, Ryan. You're not going to kill me here."

"No, of course not. And you know what? The boss wants to do you a favor. Either you work for him and pay off your debt, or... well, you know Rose, your little sister, she's already a very beautiful woman."

"Listen, if you hurt Rose, I swear to you that..." I tried to threaten him, but his gun stopped me.

"Oh, oh, calm down, Robin Hood. You have until Saturday to give us an answer, otherwise... And don't even try to call the police or run away. The boss has eyes everywhere."

He put away his gun and calmly walked away with his men.

He was right, the boss had long arms. Even in prison, I couldn't say anything if I wanted to live. And I had escaped death many times.

I would never forgive myself if something happened to Rose. She was my only family.

I entered our mansion and found Rose who had just set the table.

"I thought you weren't coming," she said.

"Come on, sis," I said, struggling to smile.

"Hey? Are you okay? You look like you've received bad news," she said, worried.

"No, it's just that sports have exhausted me. What did you prepare for us?"

"Oh no, it's not me, I asked the cook to prepare us some turkey. But before that, you should go take a shower, you stink of sweat, yuck!" she said, holding her nose.

"Give me a hug, my dear little sister," I said, approaching her.

"Don't come near me!" she laughed.

I went upstairs and went into the bathroom.

In front of the sink, I thought about my fate when suddenly I noticed that the hair on my arms had increased.

I looked at my palms and raised my head to the mirror.

"Oh fucking shit!" I shouted.

The sound of Rose's footsteps approaching the shower caught my attention.

"Brother... is something wrong?" she asked, panicked.

"Uh, yeah, don't worry. I'm almost done."

"Okay, so..." She said

She turned around and I slowly walked back to the mirror to see my reflection again. My face had returned to normal and the hair on my arms had disappeared.

It was just my imagination playing dirty tricks on me.

I thought I had seen long fangs protruding from my mouth.

And my arms earlier...what was that all about?

I opened the cabinet above me and took some calming pills.

Then I realized that I might need to go back to Mrs. Grey's and explain more calmly what was happening to me.

With that thought, my mind turned to Felicia...

"Thinking about her wasn't going to solve my problems, damn it! Not now, Nate!," Growling at my reflection.

After my bath, I got dressed and joined Rose at the table.

***

"Felicia, my love?" Jade asked

"Yes?"

"You've been standing at the window for a while." He said all intrigued

"Don't you feel like we're being watched lately?" She asked nervous

"It's a building full of apartments and we're on the second to last floor. Unless you have problems with the CIA," He said, looking out the window

"Just now, I thought I heard someone call my name..."

"Hey, relax. You probably just need some rest. Between work and campus, it must not be easy for you." He said while kissing her

"Yes, you may be right."

"I'll run you a hot bath, okay?," He proposed

"Okay, thank you..."

To be continued

***Felicia POV

Finally, it was Saturday. At least that's what Alicia would have said, but with much more enthusiasm.

"The day of my incredible birthday!" I exclaimed. "Sometimes I wonder if I'm the weird one. Do you think I'm strange?" I asked Jade while searching for jeans in the closet.

Jade replied, "Of course not," as he playfully slapped my butt.

"Ouch! You pervert!" I exclaimed, turning around to kiss him tenderly.

I had just come out of the shower and was only wearing a bra and panties. I felt his hands wandering over my body, and desire rose with each touch.

He closed the closet with one hand and pressed me against it, sliding his leg between my thighs. I let out a slight moan and quickly removed his t-shirt. My hands roamed his back, scratching him with each spike of pleasure.

His breath quickened, and I could feel his erection behind his pants, eager to come out and ravage me. I moved my hands down to his jeans and undid his belt. The next second, my bra had come off, and he took my breast in his mouth.

I felt my nipples harden. He lifted me by the thighs, and I clung to his neck, feeling his erection swelling between my legs.

There was nothing better than a good sex session to start the day, and I was about to be served.

Or so I hoped until the sound of the apartment doorbell rang out. We continued to ignore it until my phone started ringing too.

DIIIIINNG!

Lost in our passionate kisses, I glanced at my phone and saw it was Alicia calling.

"Oh no!" I exclaimed.

"What's wrong?" Jade asked, kissing my neck.

Suddenly, someone started banging on the door. We had no choice but to postpone our moment.

"Felicia Springs! I know you're in there. I can hear your phone ringing from here, so you better open up!" Alicia shouted.

She didn't even finish her sentence before the door opened, and she stumbled into Jade.

"Oh, Jade. I didn't think you'd still be here at this hour. Aren't you at work yet?" Alicia asked, embarrassed.

"Alicia... Buon compleanno," Jade replied, wishing her a happy birthday.

He let her in, and she joined me in the kitchen as I made myself a coffee.

"Are you two...?" Alicia trailed off.

"Mmm-hmm," I confirmed.

"And I interrupted you?" she asked, mortified.

"Mmm-hmm," I replied.

"Oops... Sorry," she apologized.

"It's fine. So, what's the plan for today?" I asked, taking a sip of coffee.

"You're going to help me with the party preparations. I don't trust Julie. She's pretty clumsy," Alicia said.

"Okay, let's go," I said, smiling.

The day could still be salvaged. We couldn't ruin her majesty's incredible birthday.

I left in the afternoon to go to Mrs. Grey's office. I assisted her with another patient this time.

Everything went well, but I couldn't stop worrying about Nate. Once the session was over, I approached my mentor and expressed my concern.

"Well, for Nathaniel Sullivan's case, I'll take care of him alone. Especially if, as you say, he's enrolled in university. It would make him uncomfortable to have to confide in one of his classmates," Mrs. Grey said.

"Okay, and it's possible that he and I will be in contact sometimes. Is that a problem?" I asked.

"What kind of contact?" she asked, her tone sharp.

"Well, we could be good friends, I suppose," I replied.

She sighed and smirked. "That's not a good idea," she said.

"Why? Because I'll stop following him?" I asked.

"When you gain experience as a psychologist, you will understand why it's not a good idea." Mrs Grey said

"Because he could get ideas and become hesitant towards you!?"

"Among other things."

"I see."

"Miss Springs, I understand your desire to help him in your own way, but let me reassure you now. Don't do anything that could compromise his progress, okay?" She insisted

"I'm not trying to help him, I just want to be his... 'friend'."

"Do you know about the hero syndrome?" She asked calmly without expecting my answer

I eventually resigned myself to her advice. "Okay, Mrs. Grey," I said as I left her office.

Deep down, I knew her advice would be difficult to follow. This man intrigued me too much.

My phone vibrated in my bag.

"Hello?"

"No, Jules, Alicia hates pink. Light blue will do. I'll take care of the cake. Did the beers arrive?"

"Okay, that's the most important thing. She's at the spa. Nobody should disturb her, so you'll go through me, okay? I'm on my way."

I hung up and headed to the cake caterer. I also stopped at a jewelry store to pick up the gift I had chosen for her.

***

Night fell and Alicia's parents' house began to fill up.

Luckily, they were on a trip, otherwise this party wouldn't have been possible.

Everything was going as planned, music, alcohol, and boys having fun all around.

I was in the kitchen when Alicia joined me in her prom dress.

"So, has he arrived yet?" Alicia asked

"Jade? He must still be at work."

"No, silly. I'm talking about Jacobs."

"Ah! No, I haven't seen him yet. Neither him nor his gang. But your cheerleader friends are on time."

"Don't pay attention to those vipers! How do I look?" She asked a little stressed

"If Rebel was real, she'd be jealous of how you shine." I replied with smile

"Thank you. But we agree that I'm a better shooter than her, right?!"

"Yes, definitely! Come on, your brother is calling you."

I parted ways with her to arrive in the large courtyard, sipping my whiskey cup.

"Someone feels a bit lonely, it seems." Jade said, in front of me

"Hey, you took so long," I said, thrilled to see him, and kissed him, but when I opened my eyes, I saw Nate's gaze.

He was several meters behind, accompanied by Oliver.

I felt embarrassed and had a hard time holding his gaze.

"You'll never guess what happened to me at work today. Where's Alicia?" Jade asked

"She's... inside."

"Shall we go?"

"No... I... I came out to check a few things, I'll join you."

"I can accompany you if you want." He proposed

"No, it's not necessary..."

"Okay, don't take too long, okay?" He said kindly

"Don't worry babe"

He went inside, and I stood at the entrance of the courtyard, waiting for Nate.

But why was I waiting for him? I had no obligation to him.

I'd better join Jade instead.

"Good evening!" Oliver greeted

"Oh um... Good evening, Oliver... Nate?"

"Good evening," He replied coldly, and I felt a sense of guilt inside me.

But why, when it was about my boyfriend?

I was within my rights.

"I'm glad you could come."

"I had to go to great lengths to bring him here. And the atmosphere looks great, even a hot tub!" Oliver said with joy

"I'm not interested," Nate said and turned to leave.

But I didn't want him to go. Without control, the words slipped from my tongue."No, stay."

He turned around and looked at me with confusion.

"I mean... You just arrived. Can't you wait a little longer?" I said.

"I don't feel very comfortable in the midst of all this noise," he replied.

"I know. Me neither, so we'll be two bored people if you want."

"I don't want your boyfriend to see me in a bad light if we hang out too much."

Oliver apologized and said, "I'll get us some drinks."

"I'm sorry for putting us in this situation," I said.

"Why are you apologizing? You didn't do anything wrong," he replied.

"Oh, right. What was I thinking?"

Why was I so nervous around him?

"Fancy going inside?" I asked.

He didn't answer and walked towards the house. I followed him.

We joined Oliver, who handed Nate a cup.

"So where's the party queen?" Oliver asked.

"She's not far. Do you want to say hi?" I replied.

Oliver started to stress and chugged his drink before heading towards the hot tub.

I asked Nate, "What's wrong with him all of a sudden?"

Jade said to Felicia, "I was looking for you. Where have you been?"

"Oh, I was with... 'them'," Felicia replied.

Nate looked away and took a sip of his drink.

"I'd like you to meet Oliver and Nate," Felicia said.

"Your friends, I presume?" Jade asked, shaking their hands.

"Yes," Felicia replied.

Suddenly, Nate's face twisted when he saw some guys he seemed to recognize, "Ryan!? What is he doing here?" he exclaimed.

"Who is Ryan?" I asked curiously.

Meanwhile, Oliver had disappeared into the crowd.

Nate didn't answer me and walked towards Ryan, as if he was being called.

"Nate, wait!" I called out.

"Well, it's not all, your friend isn't doing well," Jade said, holding my arm as I tried to hold Nate back.

"What's wrong with her?" I asked.

"I think you might know," Jade said.

He led me to his room upstairs, and I stopped in front of Jules, who was already panicking.

"What's wrong with her?" I asked.

"I don't know. I wanted to talk to her about the cake when I saw her enter her room and lock the door. She's been crying ever since," Jules said.

"Alicia? It's me, open up, please," I said.

A few seconds later, the lock on the door lifted, and I entered.

"Give me a few minutes, okay?"

"Okay," They accepted

I found Alicia sitting on the edge of the bed, looking sad.

"My dear, what's wrong? We're waiting for you downstairs," I said.

"I saw them," Alicia said.

"Who are you talking about?"

"Daniel Jacobs. He was kissing Tasha."

"Tasha? From the cheerleading team?"

"Yes," Alicia said.

"Oh, my love," I said, hugging her to comfort her. Although I still didn't understand what she saw in that arrogant football player.

"You'll find someone better," I added to comfort her

"You're right. Sorry for bothering you with my problems," Alicia said.

"No, don't worry. It's my job, isn't it?"

She smiled at me and hugged me again.

"Shall we go back to the party? I'm afraid Jules might do something crazy. You know her," she said, laughing and wiping away her tears.

As we were getting up to leave her room, I felt a deep unease.

I was dizzy, I could hear voices, and I had flashes of Nate being stabbed by this supposed Ryan he had seen downstairs.

"I don't feel well," I said, putting my hand on my face.

"Felicia?" Alicia said, worried.

"I... "

"What's wrong? Felicia..."

"Nate... What... "

The discomfort was so strong that I ended up fainting.

"Help! Help!" Alicia shouted.

Jade forced the door and found us inside.

"What happened?" he asked.

"I don't know. Everything was fine, and then... she fell... I don't know... Oh, shit! What do we do?" Alicia said.

"Felicia! Felicia, please wake up!" Jade said.

What was happening to me? What did this discomfort and these visions mean?

***

Meanwhile, Ryan said to Nate, "Nate, my old friend!" in a mocking tone.

"What are you doing here?" He asked

"Oh, I had clients to supply. So, have you decided yet?" he asked, pulling out his Swiss Army knife.