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Only broken by a love that's death.
25
Elara
Elara sets her purse in her passenger seat as the sun begins to set. According to the story, she told her parents she's supposed to be studying with her friends and then heading over to Laith's house for another movie night.
Lying is too easy. She hates that she has to do it, but her friends were already hard enough to get on board with what she is now. Elara can't imagine trying to explain to her parents she’s a wolf and has magic. She can’t bear the thought of the expressions on their faces. Horror. Dismay. Then grief as they conclude she’s lost her mind. They’d believe the best thing they can do is send her away. Have her admitted.
Her worry isn't just about hiding what she's really doing, though. It's about if the plan will work and how the turn will be. She knows the first one didn't go well. She’d panicked and possibly turned someone else into a werewolf. It isn't something she wants to repeat. She’s already living with the consequences of that. Denzel keeps telling her with all the training she’s done with him she should be able to better control her mind, especially with him and his pack around to share sight withher, something she just recently learned wolves can do. But she still has doubts. Even if there’s a small chance she can’t control herself, the consequences could be catastrophic.
Crawling under her skin, though, are thoughts of Kade. She’s beginning to believe he’ll be a part of her life forever, although always on the fringes. Elara is sure that's why she's so obsessed with him—his mysterious behavior and lack of communication.
Until last night when he’d given her a glimpse. The closest to an answer he ever has.
Elara brushes her fingers over her lips, wondering if the echo of the heat will ever leave. Their kiss had been…soul-scorching. She felt Kade’s searing passion, his strength, his barely-there restraint. But she also felt his pain, the anguish she’d already suspected, the one he tries to hide. She’s never felt more cherished or safe.
Or like knowing the truth about him is the only thing that matters.
She shakes her head. She can’t afford to think like this. Not when she should hate him.
Not when she possibly will when tonight is done.
Starting her engine, she knows what she needs to do next before calling Denzel. She needs to implement her own plan, one that won't have anyone looking at her car with suspicion this time, and one that involves solving some of the Kade mystery once and for all.
Elara drives the car to the shopping center across town and parks near the back of the lot. Behind her, in her rearview, she can see the edge of the forest separating Mercy City from the next town over. That's where her night will begin.
Where it will end remains to be seen.
She pulls out her phone, leaning her head against the headrest of her bucket seat as she forces air to move slowly in and out of her lungs.
Dialing Denzel’s number, her body shakes with nerves, knowing it's close to time. Will it hurt? Will Laith make it through the transition? All the thoughts swirling in her head nearly cloud her ability to form the appropriate words when Denzel picks up.
“Elara, are you ready for the full moon?” he asks.
She can't help but chuckle darkly. "I don't know if there's a good answer to that question, but I've left my house and parked my car near the southern woods. You said the pack’s out and going to help, right?” she asks, hoping they'll be willing to go a little further to help her even though she's not an official member yet.
“Yes, just in case."
“Good. I have an idea, and I’m going to need some help, if one of your pack members might be willing." Elara chews her lip, glad Denzel can’t see her face. She needs to be confident, but challenging her mentor and only possible friend in this new life isn't something she's too keen on. It could lead down a path of loneliness and confusion even worse than she’s already been facing, but she has to be strong to get answers. That way, maybe she can put Kade behind her. Or even better, force him to respond to her.
"My pack isn't something for you to just use, but tell me the plan and I'll consider,” Denzel growls. “Remember, we don't have a lot of time."
Elara glances up at the moon starting to dominate the sky. It reaches its apex in an hour, something she knows thanks to a handy tracking app on her phone. "You said there’s some connection between a wolf and their sire which is why you think if Laith turns, he'll come to me no matter what. Would the same work the other way around? Would the sire sense the wolf they created?" she asks, holding her breath for the answer.
"Hmm," Denzel says thoughtfully. "It often works that way if the wolf sired is in danger. A sire can track a wolf even easier if he or she has turned them. So, in a way, it might work. What are you thinking, Elara?" he asks, caution lowering his tone.
“I'm going to need someone to injure me. I’m hoping my sire comes to my rescue.” She draws in a steadying breath, wanting to do this, yet terrified at the idea. “I’ll be gone, so whoever arrives will need to be detained. I’ll learn who turned me, but if I’m on my own somewhere else, we’ll see who Laith runs to.”
Will it be Kade who arrives at the location she was injured?
And will it be her who Laith searches for?
Elara rubs her brow. She’s fast learning that having answers is as scary as not having answers.
There's silence on the line for a few moments, and Elara wonders if Denzel's hung up on her, offended by her plan. But then, "It's not a bad idea. I'll have two of my pack members meet you at the edge of the forest. Once you're bleeding, you need to run and get as far as possible while still maintaining your cover. And please, focus on tapping into the wolves' sight. It will help keep you in your head. Pack or not, we can't manage you, Laith, and…your sire all at once."
Elara shivers, afraid she won't be able to control herself even with all of them there to ground her, but she has to try. "Understood."
