It's been a week since Nolan rejected Elara. She thought it was going to be hard on her after everything she went through but she was surprisingly okay. Not her best but still managed to smile and interact with other students like she used to. She spent the whole week either getting busy with school projects and homework or at her treehouse with Laura and Sophie.

Laura was helping her control her powers and teach her a few tricks. She was amazed when she learned that Elara could control both Water and Wind, she explained that not all witches are able to control the elements, some of them can't control any. Elara still wasn't in total control of her inner powers. According to Laura, she had too much negative energy within her and she couldn't have full control over her magic until she had control over her feelings. After everything she went through, it wasn't easy.

Even Sophie had a few tricks up her sleeve and was helping her with yoga sessions and meditation. She also taught her the spell that helped them calm themselves in the car the day Nolan rejected Elara. She would use it at times at school when she got mad over something or at someone to prevent any disaster from happening. The spell came in handy many times when they were at the Burger Hut and Alice would start talking about Nolan to her co-worker in front of Elara on purpose.

Elara was forever grateful for her friends that did everything they could to help her. They also made sure not to mention Nolan who purposefully avoided her at school. He didn't even tease her as before or called her Tiny, it was like he never knew her. That detachment was breaking her heart to pieces but she said nothing about it to anyone. She kept it to herself and always ignored the pull she felt to him. Sometimes she would be wandering the school halls not knowing where she was headed until she would see him and realize it was the mate bond that should have been broken by now. She constantly felt like she was fading, but she knew she wasn't alone. She had her friends.

For some reason, Nora was being weird and distant as well, she would still text and call Elara but she didn't sit with the girls at lunch and during class, she would take a seat in the back. Instead of spending her free time with them at school, she would be with her twin brother at all times.

Elara missed having her around and wanted to ask her what it was about but Laura told her to let it go. She needed to focus on her life and her own issues in order to chase all the bad energy from her body and regain control.

"Are you nervous?"

Elara snapped out of her thoughts and looked at Laura who was collecting her books from her locker.

"Why would I be?"

"It's the full moon..." Laura whispered closing her locker "We've discussed this. You need to be locked up in case you turn into a werewolf."

"Yeah I know, I've talked to my Grandpa, he's probably setting the basement as we speak."

After what happened with Nolan, Elara tried her best not to speak about werewolves to her grandpa. For some reason, it was a touchy subject and every time he ended up being mad at her and leave the house. So she decided she was going to find her answers elsewhere, and since then, they were on the same page and didn't argue.

She knew it was a full moon, Laura made sure to remind her every day of the week and Elara knew there was a possibility of her being a werewolf. She decided she needed help to make sure she doesn't hurt anyone in case it happens and she loses control. The only person able to help her was her grandpa. He knew about the werewolves, and he was waiting for the full moon as much as her.

"Are you and Mr. Bell on good terms again?"

"You can say that" Elara opened the door and walked out of the main building "As long as I don't ask about 'the protectors of the woods ' we're fine."

"Protectors my ass..." Laura scoffed scanning the parking lot "Where's Sophie?"

"I don't know she said she was going to meet us outside." Elara pulled out her phone and called Sophie but she didn't pick up. "Voicemail."

"Code red, Nolan is coming our way," Laura whispered so low that Elara barely heard her.

She pretended to be busy with her phone trying to avoid eye contact with Nolan who came over and stood right in front of her blocking the sun. She looked up at him and raised an eyebrow. It was time to look strong and unaffected by his gorgeous greyish blue eyes or his sexy dimples.

"Hulk?"

Nolan chuckled "Hi, can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Sure, what's up?"

"Not here... alone?"

"No way O'Brien! You want to speak with her, you do it while I'm around."

Elara chuckled shaking her head "You heard her."

"Fine... Do you have a place to stay tonight? You know it's..."

"Full moon. I know." She rolled her eyes. Everyone seemed to be more concerned about the full moon than she was. She just had a feeling she wasn't going to turn, she didn't know why but she felt safe. Even though she daydreamed about turning and being accepted by Nolan as a mate but that only lasted two seconds before she shook the idea from her mind.

"Don't worry Nolan, I'm not one to hurt people so I'll be safely locked up and hopefully I don't turn."

"Would it be so bad if you did?"

"Well, she'd lose her powers for one," Laura muttered still trying to call Sophie.

"What?" Nolan and Elara said together.

"Elara not knowing about it makes sense but you're a wolf you should know these things. It's either being a witch or a wolf. Once bitten and turned, a witch loses her powers. Usually, the wolf genes are stronger, unless the witch comes from a powerful lineage."

"That's good, if Elara really is from the Tiassili Coven, she's on the safe side right?"

"I don't know Nolan, she was bitten by a Beta" Laura snapped at him "Shit where is she?"

"What if she's in a trance or something?" Elara asked as worried as Laura was.

"That's what I'm worried about, her car isn't here, what if she got one while driving?"

"Why would she be in a trance?" Nolan frowned. He didn't know Sophie had powers and they weren't going to tell him or anyone else. They both ignored him and sighed in relief when they saw her park the car in front of them.

"Thank God!" Elara said before turning to Nolan "See you around Hulk." She rushed to the car and climbed in wanting to be as far as possible from him even though her soul was crying wanting to be as close to him as possible.

"Hey! Where were you?"

"Laura, you need to calm down" Sophie giggled "I was trying to reach Elara's mom to make sure she isn't dead.

"You know she's not." Elara scoffed looking out of the window and watched Nolan speak with Nora.

"Yep! She's not. Couldn't find her anywhere. There was even one lost soul who pretended to be her so I would bring her back" Sophie sighed "That was scary. Anyway, you were right, she's alive and breathing."

Sophie drove out of the parking lot. They were all silent. Elara knew Sophie meant well, but it upset her she did it even though she had asked her many times not to. She knew her mom was alive and wanted to speak with her and get some answers but as soon as her memories unlocked she didn't get a single vision of her mother. She tried touching her drawing again but it didn't work.

Elara was still mad at her mother for putting her through this, but that didn't change the fact that she was relieved her mom wasn't really dead. She wanted to see her, she wanted to feel her hand on her hair, she wanted to have her around, and she wanted her mom back and was ready to put all her anger behind. She just had to figure out a way to contact her mom and ask her to come back. Elara doubted her drawing played a role in this, so she carefully hid it in her bedroom so it wouldn't get lost.

"So, did you check the 'African witches' book? Have the pages appeared?"

"No. I've been checking it every night, still blank pages." She let out a sigh "Did you ask your mom about the Tiassili witches?"

"Yes, she said they migrated from Africa, they are known for using dark magic. They are the reason the werewolves exist... but you already knew that. Anyway, she told me they still lived as a coven in Nevada and some of them live in Oregon." Laura bit her lip "I don't know why your mom told you to seek the guidance of the elders, but my mom said you should stay clear of them. She doesn't want you to be taught by them, they'll lead you onto the dark magic path... She was extremely worried Elara."

Sophie parked the car and looked at Elara who wiped a tear sliding down her cheek. "Have you ever thought about asking your Grandpa? I mean he practically lived with her for years, he might know about her roots..."

"No way! When I was at the hospital and saw her, she looked like she didn't want him to know I was speaking to her, she left as soon as she heard grandpa's voice. So no, talking to him about it isn't a good idea." She saw her grandpa holding shackles and chains as he walked back to the house.

"Do you guys think those are for me?"

Sophie bit her lip "I think so. But hey, we got you snacks and books and a comfy mattress so forget about the chains."

Rolling her eyes Elara gathered her backpack and opened her door "Thank you for everything girls, it really means the world to me." She gave them both a hug before getting out of her car and going to her house.

"Grandpa" she smiled at him "Everything ready?"

"Oh you're home. Yes, everything is in the cellar, I just got these just in case."

"Cellar? I thought you'd lock me up in the basement?"

"I wanted to do so, but then remembered your dad had built a cell in the cellar, It would be safer if you're behind bars."

"Wait... why would your son build a cell in the cellar?" she never called him dad. Always refer to him as 'your son' when she would talk about him with her grandpa. And he got used to it and never pressured her about it.

"I have no idea, my child. But I know you'll be safe there, and I'll be at peace knowing that if you shift, you can't break out and hurt someone. The mattress and quilt are already there, along with your snacks and books. I didn't put your laptop there... I mean if you shift you might break it." He was hiding the fact that he was terrified, he didn't want her to shift. He made it clear on many occasions that's he'll accept her however she is, but he wishes she doesn't turn.

Elara took a shower and put on comfy clothes. She opened the book of witches and checked the pages, they were still blank. She hid it in her closet and lay in bed for a while until her grandpa knocked on her door.

"It's time."

Elara grabbed her phone and followed him out of the house as he headed to the cellar. He opened the door and went down the stairs before she did, turning the lights on so she wouldn't trip. Elara walked down the steps with her heart beating so hard she thought it might break at some point. She didn't stress about it the whole time until that moment her grandpa locked the cell and gave her a smile before going out and locking the door behind him.

Elara looked out of the window and saw the moon high up in the sky.

"This is it..."