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Chapter 6

Divina couldn't ignore the nagging feeling that she was meant for something more than just being a college student. It had been gnawing at her for a while now, growing more and more persistent. She couldn't shake it off, no matter how hard she tried.

Adding to her unease was her mother's strange behaviour - nervous and furtive. And then there was that dream, haunting her like a spectre.

Divina's phone vibrated, jolting her out of her thoughts. It was Melissa, insistent as ever. Divina glanced at her mother, who was busy with groceries. Divina knew better than to press her, as her mother had a bad temper.

She went to the sitting room and picked up the phone. "Hey!" Melissa's voice was loud and urgent.

Divina braced herself for whatever was coming next. She was sure of one thing - secrets rarely stayed buried for long, especially in the world she suspected she was a part of.

"Hey there," Melissa's voice came through urgent-like. "Why didn't you give me a ring? I've left you zillions of messages. How is your pa?"

"He wasn't himself," Divina replied, thinking of the way he'd hollered about Lycans. "It was strange, to say the least."

"Fingers crossed he'll come back to his old self soon. Please give him my love," said Melissa with sincerity.

"Listen here, girl," Divina said gratefully. "I can't thank you enough. You saved my hide, really you did."

Melissa laughed, "I did?"

"Cleaning up after the party," Divina explained, laughing too.

"Oh, I didn't do much of that," Melissa admitted ruefully. "I couldn't tear my eyes off one particular jutting arse."

Divina chuckled along but felt an unexpected pang of jealousy. Why did she care if Melissa had an easy time of it? Maybe it was because Melissa didn't seem to have the same inner turmoil that Divina herself had been struggling with.

"Anyway, did Mr Steel help out too?" Divina asked, genuinely curious.

"Boy, did he ever," Melissa replied, feeling a smile tugging at her lips. She wondered how she could thank him properly.

Divina needed to see him in person, and put a stop to these foolish dreams. He wasn't hers, and never would be. She had to remind herself of that and stifle the sadness she felt at the thought.

Why did she feel that way anyway? She didn't even know the guy. And on top of that, one look at him had her convinced he was a total putz. Divina shook her head, done with the drama. "Thanks again, Melissa. I'll catch you later." With that, she ended the call.


The following day, she decided to venture out into the woods by herself, seeking a respite in the arms of nature and the symphony of its inhabitants. There, amidst the forest floor, lay fallen trees of a time bygone, uprooted during the tempestuous storms of seasons past. Following the wooded trail, she found herself at Melissa's temporary sanctuary, a place that held many fond memories of countless summer holidays.

Those days of her youth were rife with tales of princes and fairy godmothers, dreams of being swept away atop a pure white steed. It all seemed so far away now, a naive and trusting girl lost to the hardships of life. Love, the notion that had once held such great promise, had proved a fleeting fancy; an illusory concept that her own parents had failed to grasp, caught up in the throes of constant bickering and shouting matches.

What was the point of love, she wondered, if it was destined to fail? And yet here she was, indulging in the fantasy of an unknown and distant stranger, pining for the hope and promise of love. It was time to pull herself together, she chided herself, to regain her composure and forego these childish whims.

Taking in a deep and cleansing breath of the forest's morning air, she felt an immediate sense of rejuvenation. Something magical permeated the air, an organic sweetness suffusing her senses. The towering, ancient trees, the rocky caves and the towering canopies of foliage all worked in unison to create a realm beyond imagination. The chirps and trills of woodland creatures filled her mind with the essence of nature's oneness, transporting her to another place and time.

Her path crunched underfoot, the fragile twigs and wispy moss the only sounds as she made her way through the verdant undergrowth. The peaceful calm that enveloped her was both soothing and restorative, a place where predator and prey alike began their daily routines of survival. The forest pulsed with life, and for a moment, she felt as though she too was part of that heartening rhythm.

Each sound was distinct, a symphony of nature that surrounded her. The rustling of leaves underfoot, the scuttling of a snake into the underbrush. Divina was not afraid like some of the people she knew. To her, nature was a thing of beauty, shrouded in mystery and wonder.

The river glistened before her, tempting her with its cool embrace. She giggled, memories of swimming with Melissa dancing through her mind. They had imagined themselves as mermaids, lost in a world of their own making.

The water flowed like time, an endless journey forward towards its destiny. Divina found herself pondering her own future. Was becoming a doctor truly her calling? She had been certain when she first started college. Now, uncertainty weighed heavy on her heart.

There was more to life than this, she was sure of it. But what? The beginning of summer had left her with more questions than answers.

She shed her clothes, revelling in the sight of her toned, imposing figure. The gym had been a perk of college, and she had devoted herself to keeping in shape. The cool water caressed her skin, sweeping away her worries and doubts about its current.

She swam laps within the embrace of nature, feeling whole and alive. The sun beat down on her skin, and she surrendered to its heat. The world around her was silent, the only sounds were the gentle caress of the stream and the swaying of the branches in the breeze.

But suddenly, a rustling from the forest alerted her to the approach of an interloper. She was naked and exposed, and panic gripped her. Not now!

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