Nolan

Last night's party was a bummer. His parents had invited the whole pack and even some of the neighboring pack members to make it easier for him and his sister to find their mates. They were now eighteen and he was supposed to find his mate after midnight but he didn't. Nolan was frustrated. He knew he could find her at any age now, and it didn't really matter when he found her. But he was waiting for this his whole life. He never had a girlfriend before just to make his encounter with his mate special. he even hated himself for being attracted to Elara and kissing her.

Stepping out of the car, a breeze blew right into his face hitting him with this amazing aroma. It was a mouth-watering sweet delicious smell. Realizing what was happening; Nolan's eyes were wide with shock as he searched the parking lot, looking for the source of this addicting smell. My mate is here... she shouldn't be here, is she human? Being next in line for the Alpha title of his pack, he couldn't have a human mate. He needed someone who understood their ways and who could help him lead the pack.

His anger disappeared for just a few seconds when he laid his eyes on a laughing Elara. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. She made his heart race, and he always wanted to be close to her. Oh hell no! He stomped his foot on the ground and made his way to her.

"Elara Bell, we need to talk!" Nolan ignored the sweet smell of vanilla mixed with caramel, she looked perfect, she smelled perfect, but she was just a human, making her imperfect.

She looked at him with the biggest eyes with fear evident in them as he grabbed her wrist and lead her away from prying eyes or ears. He couldn't let anyone from his pack know she was his mate. But he also couldn't ignore the bond so he had to break it.

Nolan had stopped walking when they were far enough. He looked down at her and let his emotions get the best of him for a few seconds his eyes becoming softer. He held her by the shoulders and held her gaze breathing hard. He was going through a mixture of feelings, he wanted to end this before it even started but he remembered the kiss they shared and how amazing it was. He let out a low growl and spoke before he could change his mind.

"I, Nolan O'Brien, reject you Elara Bell" He said his voice breaking a little as he felt a sharp pain shoot through his chest.

"Reject me?" she whispered rolling her eyes "I didn't even ask you out, you idiot!" Of course, she doesn't know what I'm talking about.

"Elara! Just say you accept the rejection!" the pain was growing with every second and the only thing holding him together was the fact he was still touching her. She was calming him and comforting him without knowing it. "Say that you Elara Bell, accept my rejection! Please I beg you!"

"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.

She looked up at him questioningly as her breathing hitched, just as Nolan fell to the ground next to her and held her gaze. His eyes were wet as he held back the tears.

He had alpha blood, he sure could endure a little pain. He groaned feeling the need to concentrate on his breathing feeling the impact on this whole rejecting thing. He had heard about it before but never thought it would be so hard and so painful. He felt heartbroken and shattered.

He was still a little concerned about Elara which was weird, they just severed their bond, he shouldn't care about her or her feelings. With a frown, he held out his hand for her to help her on her feet. As soon as her hand came in contact with his, Nolan felt sparks erupt through his body. What the actual fuck? He shouldn't feel that way anymore.

"Are you okay?"

"What the hell did you do to me?" she was holding onto her stomach still feeling the impact of the rejection. "What was that? Was it magic?"

"Magic?" Nolan raised an eyebrow at her "What do you mean by 'magic'?"

"You hurt me without even touching me, that's what I mean by magic!"

"What do you know about magic Elara?" he looked at her suspiciously.

"It doesn't matter! What matters is you hurt me, and if this is a part of your sick plan to help Sean giving me a hard time, you win! Just leave me alone!"

"That... Elara I was never helping Sean... I just like teasing you... I never wanted to hurt you this bad. And if it's any consolation I specifically told Sean to leave you alone... I'm sorry I hurt you."

"Yeah... I'm sorry too. I thought you were better than him." She shook her head and wiped her tears before straightening herself up. She looked toward the woods and for a second Nolan thought she was going to run in there but she didn't. She glanced at him one last time shaking her head slightly and holding back the tears before she walked away.

Nolan looked at his watch and saw the first period was over so he didn't bother going to class. He'll attend the second period. The principal was probably going to give him detention again. He kept stalling in the woods until it was time for the second period and went into the school building. For some reason he was trying to find Elara, he was looking for her and even trying to pick up her caramel vanilla scent. It was weird but her scent was addicting.

"Hey Hulk!" Nolan turned around to find his annoying twin sister grinning ear to ear.

"Since when do you call me Hulk?"

"Since Elara started calling you that and it just seemed so right" She grinned bumping into his shoulder.

Nora found her mate after midnight. David was a warrior in training in our pack. And she was so happy about it. Nolan doubted they even flirted before knowing they were mates, they just seemed too friendly. Unlike him, Nora didn't believe in waiting for her mate. She lived her life as normally as she could and had a few boyfriends, but she knew she'll have to commit to her mate once she found him.

"Is David transferring schools?" Nolan asked ignoring the comment about Elara.

"No, he's not. School ends in June and we're in April. I told him he didn't have to do that, we'll have time to see each other every day after school."

Nolan nodded understanding how Nora was thinking. He envied her just a little that her mate was a werewolf whereas, his was just a human. A beautiful human that is. He remembered what she said about magic and looked at Nora stopping her from going into the classroom.

"You said Laura is a witch, what's the probability Elara is one too?"

She thought for a moment and shrugged "I've never seen or heard anything out of the ordinary around her. It was just Laura really. But come to think of it, I saw her with a book about African witches... I'm not sure that is any proof though. Why?"

"Did you see her today? You two share almost every class."

"No, I haven't actually, I think she didn't come to school."

"Nora!" Laura called from behind and rushed over to them "Have you seen Elara? I can't find her and she's not picking up her cell." Laura seemed worried.

"No I was just telling Nolan I didn't see her, I thought she didn't come to school today..."

"No, she did, she came here with Sophie. Okay if you see her let me know!" She picked up her phone and called Sophie. "Soph, Nora didn't see her. Yeah, I'll check it out!"

"Let me know when you find her!" Nora called out after her. "That's weird, where would she go!"

Nolan shrugged feigning indifference as he walked into his class and took his usual seat.  Looking at Elara's empty seat sent him a wave of guilt. She must be in so much pain without even knowing why. Nolan fought the urge of going out and looking for her himself. He knew he was the reason behind her disappearance and he knew she must be feeling lost. Maybe he shouldn't have rejected her... maybe he should have accepted her and tried to teach her everything about them.

"Hey, stop that" Nora whispered so low no one else heard her.

"What?"

"Stop shaking like you're about to wolf out any minute. Everyone is looking at you. What's up?" she mind-linked him not wanting to risk anyone hearing her.

"I'm not doing it on purpose" Nolan got on his feet "Excuse me Mr. Edisson, I'm not feeling well and I need to go to the infirmary".

Mr. Edisson looked at him suspiciously, he still thought he was the one that trashed his classroom and Nolan really didn't know who did it but it sure wasn't him. The principal wanted to expel him, but thanks to his dad who donated more money to the school's library, that didn't happen.

"Sure Nolan." Mr. Edisson said before resuming his lecture.

Nolan surely didn't go to the infirmary. He walked out of school and took in a deep breath and released it. He had put her in so much pain and was feeling worse than her since his emotions were stronger. He ran a hand through his hair and caught a glimpse of Elara's hair tie on his wrist. He shook his head and took it to his nose smelling it.

Without wasting any more time, he jogged toward the woods and took off his clothes. Folding them neatly before shifting into his wolf form, Nolan grabbed his clothes between his teeth and started running further following Elara's scent. It was faint, but he had a feeling he was close.

Nolan kept running fast until that delicious aroma hit his muzzle. He stopped running letting go of his clothes and inhaled the sweet smell of caramel and vanilla. He ignored the fact that he could still smell her, and shifted back into his human form. Dressed again, Nolan started walking around keeping an ear out. He heard the sound of water, he had reached the stream. He focused his hearing and heard her.

Elara was sobbing.

"Elara!" He called out her name so he wouldn't scare her by appearing out of nowhere. She didn't respond so he called again.

"Go away!" She finally said and he showed himself.

"What in the world are you doing here in the middle of the woods all alone?" He realized just how brave she was by being here after she nearly died almost a month ago.

"Avoiding you obviously!" she snapped at him and wiped her tears away. "What do you want?"

"Everyone is looking for you, they are worried and concerned."

"And you're not?" that took him aback.

"I'm here aren't I?" He said softly and sat next to her "what happened to you? I mean, why aren't you in school?"

"I'm not sure. It feels odd. I'm feeling like crap and I don't even know why! I feel like I had a boyfriend and he broke my heart but I didn't have a boyfriend and no one broke my heart! Well except for my mom who pretended to be dead for so long!" she realized what she said and covered her mouth looking away.

Nolan didn't know she was going through that kind of stuff. Had he known, he would have never broken her like that.

"I'm sorry" he whispered looking into the water.

"It's not your fault... don't be. I mean you are a jerk, but you're not the reason behind my pain."

"I actually am..."