Elara

"I actually am..."

"Not to burst your bubble Hulk but the world doesn't revolve around you" she smiled bumping into his shoulder and throwing a pebble into the water. Surprisingly, she felt better being around him. But she wouldn't admit it out loud of course.

Nolan chuckled and bit his lower lip "I need to tell you things. You might not understand, you might hate me, well more than you already do. You might run away from me, but I can't keep it from you anymore. That would be unfair."

"I don't hate you... I tried but I can't" she shrugged "what is it you need to tell me?" she noticed him smiling, maybe he was happy she didn't hate him? For some reason, this silly thought gave her a little hope.

"I was given a gift for my 18th birthday, it's a special gift that I've been waiting to have for so long. I was happy at first but then I realized how unfit this gift was for me. And I had no choice but to return that gift... that is why you are hurting Elara. And it's killing me."

Elara was staring in the distance not really sure she understood anything he just said. Why returning a gift that was given to him would be hurting her? It made no sense and she was about to tell him so when he surprised her by taking her hand in his. For someone who didn't like to be touched by girls he sure touched her a lot.

"You were my gift Elara... I know I sound crazy, but it's complicated. In my family, we get a gift at 18 and that's a mate. Sometimes we get that gift right away sometimes it takes time. I found you this morning... I was happy it was you until I realized you are just a human... you can't be my gift..."

"Just a human? And you're not?" Elara knew he wasn't but she wanted him to admit it. "And how exactly could I be a gift to you? I'm sorry but I'm no one's property Nolan, this is just messed up."

"You are my mate," he said simply as if she was supposed to understand that.

"Which means?"

"It's like a girlfriend for life, a partner that you can't push away even if you want to. It's your other half. But I pushed you away, I rejected you and made you accept the rejection to break the bond." He was breathing hard at this point and he was holding her hand a little tighter.

"Let me get this straight" Elara smiled "I'm your mate... but I'm not good enough for you so you rejected me causing me this pain and this void I'm feeling...is that it?" Nolan stared into her eyes silently "Oh wait I'm human and you're not." Elara reached over and rested her palm on his forehead as if to see if he has a fever. And strangely he didn't pull away from her. He just smiled looking into her eyes.

"You don't mind me touching you?"

"I never minded when it came to you. I never teased a girl before, I never even kissed a girl before. But with you, it all came naturally, and I realized that after the kiss so I went and acted like an ass because for a few minutes I forgot about the pact I made to myself, never mess around with anyone who isn't my mate."

"I'm not good enough for you am I Nolan?" she gave him a weak smile before pulling her hands to her lap "The fact that you think I'm your mate and decided to not spend the rest of your life with me..."

"It's not like that! You're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen, your hair alone is to die for. And your eyes... are so captivating. As for your soul, you have the purest heart I've ever known..."

"But..."

"But you're human" he looked down ashamed.

"And again, so are you!"

"I'm part human, yes, but I'm also part wolf." Nolan was looking everywhere but her. She thought about taunting him but she noticed how much saying it out loud was hard on him. Maybe he never told a human about his secret before?

"I knew that you can relax. I just wanted you to say it out loud and realize that you think I am worth less than you do because I'm human."

"What?" to say Nolan was shocked was an understatement and Elara couldn't blame him. "You knew about me?"

"And Nora... and last night when we went to your party and saw the students that you invited we knew they were werewolves as well... but trust me I'm new to this whole werewolf universe thing..."

"And you're okay with it?" Elara shrugged rolling her eyes, as long as they didn't bite her again she couldn't care less. "I don't think you're inferior to me Elara. Never. But I'm the Alpha's son, meaning when he decides to retire, and that could be any day, I'd have to step up and take his place along with my beta. My mate is going to be Luna of the pack, she needs to be strong, she needs to know our ways and be able to lead the pack when I can't. That is the only reason I rejected you."

"Are you ready to take over?"

"No" He chuckled nervously "I haven't even applied to colleges yet because when my dad retires I'll have to drop everything and go back to the pack. So my beta and I have been training since we were fourteen."

"Your beta? Do I know him from school?"

Nolan hesitated but nodded "Sean."

"Sean..." Elara whispered her hand flying to her neck "Sean" she said louder as she realized Sean was with her the night of the attack and he's a werewolf, "Oh no he didn't!"

Elara started shaking without realizing as she absorbed power from the ground beneath her with her fingers dug into the dirt.

"Elara? What are you doing?"

Leaves started twirling around them as the wind heavily picked up whirling around them. Elara's hair started flying with the wind, her eyes became a shade darker as she stood up. The water wasn't running smoothly in the stream anymore, there were small waves hitting the sides of the stream.

She knew it was her doing, but she couldn't stop it! He was the one that bit her and instead of apologizing, tried to make her life a living hell! Thunders exploded in the sky as the clouds started darkening. The wind was so strong that Nolan had to grip the tree next to him but Elara was unaffected by it all. She looked at the sky and let out her anger screaming her lungs out.

Trees started swaying and raindrops started falling just as tears came rushing out of her eyes.

"Elara!" Nolan screamed at her "Elara if you're doing this stop it! You'll kill us both!"

"I can't!" she screamed back crying "I'm just so mad! I can't! I need to let the anger out!" with a wave of her hand she pushed away a tree branch that was coming toward Nolan. "I don't know what I'm doing and how! I can't control myself!" She confessed more tears spilling out of her green eyes.

Nolan reached out and grabbed her hand pulling her to him. Once she was secured in his arms he crashed his lips on hers, kissing her fervently. The kiss spoke for itself, he wanted her, he needed her...

Out of breath Elara pulled away just a little and looked at him with a frown. The wind had died down, the water was back to normal and the sky had cleared out. She rested her forehead on his chest inhaling his perfume, feeling at peace and it felt like this was her safe place. She could hear his heartbeat and it made her smile.

"You helped me control it."

"No, I distracted you, you certainly didn't control whatever the hell that was." He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and looked around "That was impressive though, you must come from a very powerful lineage of witches, and you can control water and wind. How long have you known that you're a witch?"

"Not long. I still can't control anything... I had my doubts but that day at school we got detention... well after you kissed me and hurt me... I kind of trashed the classroom." She bit on her lower lip "I'm sorry I pinned it on you."

"That was you!" Nolan burst into laughter "I almost got expelled because of you" he shook his head and kissed her forehead "Don't be sorry, I was a jerk I deserved that."

"You totally did." They both laughed for a moment before Elara pulled away from him completely "I have to go... and don't worry I won't tell anyone you're a werewolf. No one would believe me even if I did so..."

"I'm not worried... how about we walk out the woods together and maybe we can go to the Burger hut in town? I can hear your stomach growling." Nolan smiled at her extending his hand for her to take.

Elara looked at his hand for a moment and smiled taking it. She was not just hungry, she was famished. And just as he said burger, the image of that delicious burger meal they serve at the Burger Hut wouldn't leave her alone. As they walked down a trail her stomach made funny voices filling the silence making them both laugh. Nolan didn't tease her about it, he stayed silent the whole way out of the woods. He knew the way and got them out of there in less than ten minutes. Elara was grateful; she suspected she would have gotten herself lost if she was alone.

Although her skin was tingling all over, Elara loved having Nolan's hand in hers. She looked at their intertwined fingers and smiled forgetting the fact he rejected her. She knew what being mates meant, she had read about it before. But reading it was different from feeling it. She didn't know what it meant regarding their relationship. Nolan rejected her, and she accepted it, which meant they weren't bound anymore. But why was she so happy just by the simple fact of him holding her hand in his? Why did she feel so giddy?

She didn't realize they were in the Burger Hut until Nolan asked her where she'd like to sit. Looking around she chose a booth at the end of the diner and started walking to it. She'd been here with the girls before, but she liked it and loved reading the engraved names and quotes on the wooden tables.

Sitting on the bench facing her, Nolan grabbed a menu from the table and handed it to Elara.

"I'll be taking the Grand special with extra-large coke and fries," he told the waitress who showed up instantly as they sat down without looking at her.

"Hi Nolan," She said in a flirty tone.

Nolan looked up and smiled "Oh, hi Alice, I didn't know you worked here."

"I started last week, it's nice seeing you."

"And I'll be having the special cheeseburger with medium drink and fries please,"  Elara told Alice reminding her she was here.

Alice nodded taking their orders and gave Nolan a wink before making her way to the counter.

"That was rude..." Elara whispered rolling her eyes.

"Are you jealous?" Nolan smirked relaxing in his seat.

"Not at all, it just disgusts me that a pretty girl like her would be throwing herself on strangers." Elara was tapping her fingers on the table as she watched the waitress.

"You're not gonna go all witchy witch on me now are you?" Nolan joked "I'0m not a stranger to her. She knows me well." Nolan reached out and took her hand in his "Are you okay? I mean... the stuff you said about your mom?"

"Yeah... I guess. I haven't wrapped my head around it yet, but I'm so mad at her for leaving. She might have her reasons, but leaving me behind was cruel. No offense to my grandpa, he's been amazing to me, but it's different than having my mom with me. Anyway, I think I helped her disappear from the face of the earth" Elara said remembering her vision when she created that world for her mother and her friends. She didn't know why she was telling him, her mom specifically told her no one should know about her powers. But Nolan wouldn't hurt her, she had that strong feeling in her gut that he would do anything to help and protect her.

"Using magic?"

Elara nodded and tried not to glare at the waitress when she brought their food over. She purposefully brushed Nolan's shoulder as she set his tray in front of him.

"Do you know what coven you're part of?" Nolan asked ignoring the waitress's attempt.

"Sadly no. But I had a vision of my mom, she told me to look for the Tiassili elders and I have no idea who they are and where to look."

Nolan almost choked on his food. He cleared out his throat and took a sip of his drink "The Tiassili coven?" he looked as alarmed as surprised.

"Yes, you know them?" Elara asked feeling hopeful again about knowing where she came from.

"I do, and to be honest, I wish I didn't."