Elara was walking out of her first period looking for Laura. She was ready to kill her! She went to see Nora and was about to tell her she won't be going to her birthday but Laura butted in and said "We'll be there! I'll make sure of that" with that sweet annoying smile of her. She liked Nora a lot, and wanted to be friends with her, but going to her house on her birthday wasn't a good thing. Being Nolan's twin meant it was his birthday too, and she was avoiding Nolan at all costs.

Turning a corner, she stopped walking for a minute just to search the crowd but had no luck. Laura probably knew Elara was mad at her, and she was surely hiding somewhere.

"Nice bun!"

She turned her attention to Nolan with a raised eyebrow "What?"

He kissed her, told her it was bad, didn't speak to her since then and now he was commenting her bun? What is wrong with this guy?

"Your hair, you don't seem like you put too much effort on it today" he smirked pointing to her bun.

"Didn't feel like it, what's it to you?"

In a fast motion, he had her hair tie off and her hair cascaded around her shoulders framing her face. Elara glared at him and took a step forward to him as he took a step back laughing. She couldn't understand him! Anything about him for that matter. Am I a joke to him?

"Give me my hair tie back!"

"I won't, your hair is prettier like that," he said casually as if it was a normal thing between them to comment on each other appearance.

"I don't care if it's prettier or not, that's my favorite hair tie and I want it!"

"You're more concerned about the tie? I mean, don't you care how you look like right now?"

Elara groaned and she was about to launch herself at him when she saw Mr. Hawkins doing one of his random check-ups of the day. She shook her head trying to tame her hair with her fingers a bit.

"You'll pay for this Nolan" she whispered not sure he heard her before making her way to class.

Overly frustrated, Elara entered her English class spotting Laura hiding behind her book. At that moment, Elara wished she knew she was a witch long ago, at least she'd be capable of controlling her magic and maybe give Laura a taste of it. A small smile played on her lips as she handed her homework and took her regular seat next to Laura who of course avoided her the whole period.

Nolan showed up late to class just as Elara was using a pen to hold her bun in place. His eyes locked on hers and he smirked as he purposefully waved at her so she would see her hair tie around his wrist. She gasped covering her mouth and glared dagger at him. Just as Laura did, he ignored her for the rest of the period and dashed out as soon as it was over.

After school Elara, Laura and Sophie were gathered in the parking lot. Elara was still mad at Laura and was trying to reason with her to change her mind but her friend was determined to go to that party. They all went to Elara's house to get ready and just by 6 pm they were on the road.

Elara was still not sure it was the right thing to do. She wanted nothing but to turn around and drive back home and maybe read more about the Tiassili witches. She didn't get a chance to check the book and see if the missing pages were visible again. But, Laura was driving and she couldn't do that.

She looked at Sophie in the back seat and noticed how her hands were opened up to the sky as if she was saying a prayer or something and her eyes were closed. Elara nudged Laura and pointed at Sophie. Laura looked back for just a second and nodded.

"Don't worry she must be communicating with someone."

"You mean... a dead someone?"

Laura nodded after rolling her eyes and Elara was amazed at how comfortable she was with all of this. She was still confused about so much and didn't feel like she'll ever be totally okay with being a witch.

"I can't believe we're going to Nora's party. I thought you didn't like her? She's a wolf! That means she probably invited other wolves..."

"She probably invited the whole pack. I don't know what her rank is, but let's hope she's important. It would help us know to see their faces, know everyone that is a part of the pack." She grinned.

"But that's stupid... we're human, she invited us. Maybe she invited other humans, that won't be so easy. And what did you mean by rank?"

"We'll be able to tell trust me. Packs have ranks, just like you read in novels. They have an alpha who is the leader..." the GPS started beeping. "We're almost there!"

"I still think it's a bad idea, we should just turn around and leave please!"

"Too late, we're here" she gasped while driving through the huge open gate. It was made of wood panels and metal ornaments. The gate was painted in white. What they saw behind the gates was even more impressive, it was a vast land decorated with flowers and trees. There was also a play area for kids.

Parking in front of the house Laura looked at Elara with wide eyes. It was a white Victorian house big enough for at least five or six families to live in. it was more of a mansion.

"I can't believe you dragged me here, What if Nolan is mean to me? Or Sean?"

"Then I'll punish them without anyone noticing" she winked and climbed off the car before Elara could whine again. She looked at Sophie who now had her eyes opened. She was there physically, but not spiritually so they had to wait for her to come out of it. Laura explained to Elara that a necromancer in a trance should never be awakened by force, it might sever the link between the spirit and the body. They could hear the music blasting and Elara looked around the driveway noticing how many cars there were. She started panicking again.

"I'm sure it's crowded inside."

"It sure is, looking at the house I'd say they are pretty highly ranked."

"So... Nolan is a werewolf too?" She whispered.

Laura burst into laughter "You just figured that out? How do you get A's?"

Before Elara could respond, Sophie gasped blinking a few times "Sorry girls, I had something to take care of. Do any of you have some water? I'm parched."

Laura smiled and gave her a bottle of water from the trunk. "I always keep these with me, after doing magic I always seem to have a great need to hydrate."

"Excuse me? Can I help you, girls?"

The three girls snapped their heads to the right and saw an elegant middle-aged woman, who must be in her early forties, standing between the front porch and Laura's car. She was wearing a white summer dress that did her justice. The similarities between her and Nora were striking, she must be her mom.

"Hi! I'm Laura, this is Elara and this is Sophie in the back. We are friends with Nora and she invited us to her birthday party" Laura said brightly and was already bringing the gifts from her trunk. She gave them to Nora's mom.

"Oh, how nice of you. I'm Annabelle, Nora and Nolan's mom. I'm sorry I didn't know she had invited any... anyone from school." She gave the girls a nice smile "Well, what are you waiting for? Come on the party is happening outback. But we won't cut the cake until midnight... that's our tradition."

"But it's a school night?"Elara raised an eyebrow. How could a parent be okay with throwing a birthday party on a Wednesday night? And leave the cake till midnight? That was just crazy. Annabelle didn't say much after that, she just lead the way through the house and set the gifts on a huge dining table. The house was decorated elegantly and it was clear there were no little kids living in it since it was so organized and neat.

With each step they took toward the backyard, the music and the chatters and laughter became loud and louder. Elara's nervousness started growing and she held in a gasp when she saw the crowd in the backyard. It was a huge garden, and still, there were more than three hundred persons out there. The backyard seemed smaller.

As soon as she met Nolan's frowning eyes, her heartbeat picked up and her breathing hardened. I can't be here!

She grabbed Laura's hand and looked at her pleadingly "Please let's go, you saw what you wanted to see. Please I can't stay" She said looking at Sean who was glaring daggers at her. It was his territory and she couldn't do anything to him here. They'll probably eat her alive! Next to Nolan, there was a familiar face staring at her intently. The man had the same piercing blue eyes as the twin. Elara focused on him and remembered seeing him the day she went to Sean's house. He spoke authority then, but now he looked laid back and friendly. 

Laura saw the distress in Elara's eyes and gave her the car keys "You and Sophie wait in the car, I'll just make up some excuse to Annabelle and she'll tell Nora we came by."

That being done, Elara felt all the relief in the world as her friend drove them back to town. She felt a little bad knowing Laura really wanted to be there, but she was suffocating and couldn't stay another minute. She was glad she had understanding friends as Laura and Sophie. They always had her back, and she always had theirs.

She didn't see her grandpa when she came home, his truck wasn't in the driveway either. She found a chicken pie on the kitchen isle but wasn't really feeling like eating so she put it in the fridge, made herself a cup of chamomile tea, and went upstairs. She was in the mood to read a book and get away from her own life even if it was for only a little while. She lightened a few candles and dimmed her bedroom lights only keeping the one on her nightstand. After taking a quick shower and drying her hair properly this time, she snuggled in bed and started reading 'Marrying Winterborne' by Lisa Kleypas. It was romantic, funny and very sexy. It was the best way to forget everything about the obnoxious Nolan O'Brien.

Thursday morning, Elara woke up to her alarm blazing in her ears. She hastily turned it off and sat in bed stretching before rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. She had stayed late last night, waiting for her grandpa to come home, and only went to sleep when she heard the front door close at two in the morning. It wasn't like Daniel Bell to be out this late, and she wanted to drill him with questions but they were still not speaking after their argument on Tuesday night.

Elara got ready for school and even got the chance to eat breakfast before Sophie picked her up. I have a good feeling about today! She climbed into Sophie's car and put on the radio which was something she never did. She wasn't really a morning person.

"Who are you? What did you do to my friend?"

Elara giggled and kept dancing to the songs and singing along with them until Sophie parked the car.

"Thank God!"

"Awww don't be mean, I have a pretty voice".

Stepping out of the car, her bubble of happiness vanished the moment she saw an angry Nolan making his way toward her. She looked at Sophie for help but her friend was already heading for the main building not wanting to be late as usual. Shit! What did I do this time? Maybe it was about the detention he probably got for trashing the classroom?

"Elara Bell, we need to talk!"

Nolan grabbed her wrist and pulled her away from everyone, he was taking her to the woods near the school and Elara was starting to feel alarmed and her free arm was starting to shake. That can't be good! She thought as she felt a surge of power run through her veins. She tried to push it back not wanting to expose herself.

Before she knew it, Nolan had stopped walking, his eyes were softer which allowed her to calm down a little. He held her by the shoulders and held her gaze breathing hard.

"I, Nolan O'Brien, reject you Elara Bell" He said his voice breaking a little.

"Reject me?" she whispered rolling her eyes "I didn't even ask you out, you idiot!"

"Elara! Just say you accept the rejection!" He seemed to be in real pain and Elara wanted nothing but to comfort him, but he was being his normal arrogant self. "Say that you Elara Bell, accept my rejection! Please I beg you!"

She didn't understand why she had to say it, but she felt like she didn't want to say it but also felt like if she didn't say those words Nolan would still be in pain. She was so confused.

"I, Elara Bell, accept your rejection" A pain shot through her whole body as she slid down to her knees and tightly held on the ground. Something in those words affected her whole being, body, and soul.

She looked up at him questioningly as her breathing hitched, she felt confused and heartbroken.