"So? Have you ever seen a werewolf?"

It was a simple question so why was her grandfather looking at her like she had grown another head? He was the one who always told her stories concerning the woods so why was he so surprised? She watched him as he ran a hand through his greying hair letting out a deep annoyed sigh. Pacing the living room back and forth, Elara's grandpa was probably trying to find a way out of this as his teenage granddaughter was fixing him with the greenest eyes.

"Grandpa?" Elara raised an eyebrow "What aren't you telling me?"

"What makes you think I'm not telling you anything?"

He snapped at her in such an aggressive way that Elara had to take a step back. She knew he would never hurt her, he was her only family and she was his. But seeing him so distant, so irritated wasn't a sight she was used to.

"I'm sorry Elara... I didn't mean to scare you" he told her in a softer tone but the anger was still in his eyes and Elara knew he was stalling.

"Don't be. I just asked you a simple question grandpa, and I only want a simple answer, have you or have you not ever seen a werewolf before?"

"Why do you want to know that? I mean what would it change? You already told me you knew they existed so you don't need me to certify it!"

"You've always told me stories about them, without really telling me anything specific, you just know so much grandpa, and it feels like you're not telling me everything... you're hiding something from me!"

"Why now Elara? I've been telling you those stories since you were eight! Why the sudden interest now?"

How can he not know why? Elara threw her arms in the air and let out a soft groan. She couldn't blame her grandpa for not noticing all the changes in her, she was barely around anymore. But he had just told her he heard her scream in her sleep, wasn't that reason enough? She looked at him and found him lost in thoughts. She had never seen him so unsettled and she wasn't used to it. He was always so calm and peaceful and she felt like she was looking at someone totally unknown to her.

She took off her denim jacket and threw it aside before sliding her black t-shirt off her shoulder showing him the still very visible bite mark "This! This is what makes me looking for answers! I was bitten by a werewolf! Everyone keeps telling me it was a mountain lion but we both know it wasn't! If they are supposed to be protectors, why would they do this to me?"

Her grandpa looked furious but mostly out of answers. He didn't know what to say to that.

"I don't feel safe anymore grandpa, I just don't! And knowing that they really exist I can't go back to have a normal life! We don't live in a normal world! And even though I don't show it but I'm scared! What if the fiction I read is all true? What if I become one of them? A million questions are racing through my head and I don't know who to go to!"

Her words were as shocking to her as they were to Daniel Bell. They both had never really thought about this, was she going to become a werewolf? The realization hit her hard as she stumbled back and sat on the couch trying to catch her breath. Learning she was a witch was one thing, she was still human, but becoming a werewolf? That wasn't something she wanted. She let out a sob and covered her mouth looking pleadingly at her grandpa.

"Am I going to be one of them?"

"I don't know... we'll have to wait for the full moon next week and we'll see what happens." He was composed and speaking gently but Elara knew he was as scared as she was.

"You never answered my question Grandpa..." he rolled his eyes and grabbed his keys.

"You seem to know enough Elara..."

"Yeah" She cut him off "I know they live in packs, and I know the one in Pine Hill is the biggest in the US, and I also know that my school is full of them! And my friend is one of them! So yeah I'd like to know more about them in order to know how to confront her tomorrow!"

"First! You stop yelling young lady! And second, you don't and absolutely not confront her! You don't want to anger a werewolf Elara! Just stay away from her or anyone else you suspect!"

Elara noticed the change in his eyes, the change in his posture as he became menacing all of a sudden. She took a step back and watched him leave the house slamming the door so hard behind him it might have even cracked. What the hell did I say to him?

She shook her head taking her jacket and her bag. She couldn't believe what just happened, she was scared of her grandpa for the first time in her whole life! What if I told him I'm a witch? He'd probably behead me! She rolled her eyes making her way upstairs. She still couldn't know why he was so angry and why he yelled at her like that, but she was determined to find out.

If her grandpa taught her anything since she was little, it was to follow her gut. And her gut was telling her Daniel Bell was hiding something from her and she had to get the truth out of him one way or another.

Once in her bedroom, Elara pulled off her t-shirt and let it fall to her feet, she kicked her shoes off and pulled down her tight jeans. She stood in her bra and panties watching her reflection in the mirror. Her red hair was a mess, her eyes red from crying, her freckles were showing more since she spent the afternoon under the sun. She traced the bite mark on her shoulder and wished she at least knew who the beast was... maybe it would give her some sort of closure.

She looked at her tiny waist and gasped, she had lost weight again and her ribcage was visible. Tiny... Why the hell does he have to be so charming? She pushed back the tears and turned away from the mirror. Nolan was nothing but a jerk to her since day one, and after one kiss... one stupidly hot kiss, she felt like she belonged to him. Maybe they were right, maybe she did obsess about Sean and was now obsessing about Nolan?

Refusing to give into those stupid thoughts, Elara walked into her bathroom and turned the hot shower on. A hot shower before doing her homework would help. It wasn't long after that she found herself splayed on her bed watching a movie on Netflix instead of actually studying.

Piercing blue eyes were holding her gaze, Elara looked around and found herself in the forest, under the full moon's light. She focused on the blue eyes in front of her, and made out Nolan's features. Next to Nolan there was Nora with her intense blue eyes who was standing closer to Sean. Elara frowned focusing on Sean's eyes, they were ice cold blue. She made her way to him and reached for his face but he bared his teeth at her in a menacing way.

"One of you bit me... I'm going to find out who!"

As if on cue all three leaped at her and she woke up with a jolt a high pitched scream coming out of her mouth. She reached for a glass of water and drank it in one gulp. She looked at her window finding it open. With a frown, she got out of bed and closed it shut. It was only four in the morning, and she had to wake up in a couple of hours to get ready for school. But it seemed she wasn't going to get any sleep.

"Homework here I come!" she said in a sarcastic tone as she sat on her desk and started working.

Sophie: Are you ready?

Sophie: Elara are you up?

Sophie: I'll be there in 5 min! please be ready!

Elara looked at her phone and her eyes widened, it was almost seven and she was nowhere to be ready, she was still studying oblivious to the time. In a matter of minutes, she had brushed her teeth, pulled on a denim skirt with a white tank top. She wore her white converse and applied so little makeup on her eyes. She was about to leave her room when she noticed her hair. With a groan she pulled it in a messy bun unable to tame it any other way.

Elara: Yeah I'm on the porch.

Just as she sent Sophie the text, she saw her friend pulling up the driveway.

"Thank god you're awake and ready! I have to go see Mr. Hawkins and explain why I missed school that's why I'm so early."

"It's okay, I've been up since four." Elara told her about the dream "There's this creepy feeling I can't seem to shake. Laura told us Nora is a werewolf right? What does that make of her brother? Or all the cousins that came with them when they transferred to Pine Hill High?"

"We can only know if we ask Laura but since she's not talking to us... that is going to be hard."

Reaching the parking lot, Sophie and Elara spotted Laura with Cindy. She always did that. Every time they would have a fight, Laura would start to hang out with the cheerleaders. It was the same pattern over and over again.

"Do you think she'll try to join the squad this time?"

Elara laughed shaking her head "I hope not! Let's go get her. She needs to stop that."

On their way to where Laura was, Elara bumped into Nolan. He looked down at her, his gaze soft for a few seconds before turning into a full-on glare.

"Move it Tiny!"

Elara smiled and moved away surprising him. He didn't say anything further and just entered the building. Her intentions weren't to be nice to him, she just knew he'll get another detention for vandalizing school property and that was satisfying enough.

"Hi Laura, Hi Cindy." Sophie smiled and hugged Laura who ignored her. Elara joined the hug and they started laughing.

"Come on don't be mad! We are sisters, that's what we do! We argue we fight, we disagree, but at the end of the day, we still love each other very much! Don't be mad. I'm sorry!" Elara pouted hoping it would get to her friend since she meant every word she said.

Laura avoided looking at them for a few seconds but gave in and hugged them again "I love you too you crazy bitches!"

Sophie pulled out of the hug first "Okay I'm happy we worked it out, I'll see you guys later I need to meet with Mr. Hawkins! Bye" she rushed into the school building followed by Cindy leaving Elara and Laura laughing.

"And you say she's the wise one, I swear she'll turn out to be the craziest between us" Laura picked up her bag from the ground. "Are you feeling better?"

Elara laughed "You're the craziest you just don't want to admit it" she smiled shaking her head "I have so many questions... Will I turn? If Nora is a wolf, what does that make of her parents and relatives? You know so many questions like that."

"I'm not sure you're turning, have you experienced enhanced hearing? Or speed or anything like that?"

"Not at all, I'm the same old lazy turtle I was."

"We'll have to wait until the full moon to be sure. But we'll have to take precautions, like lock you in some old dungeon" Laura burst in laughter "Oh my god! I'm kidding! You should have seen your face!"

"Morning girls!!" Nora joined them "You seem like you've seen a ghost El, are you okay?"

Elara couldn't stop remembering her dream, and how cold Nora's eyes were in it. She gave a smile and nodded.

"I'm fine, just didn't sleep so well. We're going to be late, see you around?"

"Sure! But before you go, tonight is my birthday and since this year I'm turning eighteen, I'm allowed to invite whomever I want. So you, Laura and Sophie are invited! I'll send you the address and time!" she smiled at them and left.

Laura grinned "We're going to a werewolf party!"