SKYLAR

"Something has changed within me. Something is not the same.

I'm through with playing by the rules of someone else's game.

Too late for second guessing. Too late to go back to sleep.

It's time to try my instincts. Close my eyes and leap.

It's time to try defying gravity. I think I'll try defying gravity."

* * * * * * * * * * * *

JAKE

It's Saturday evening.

I am in Texas for the weekend because Seth invited me to spend it with him at his home.

Everything was going well until we went to the headquarters of his father's company, 'Stronghold Oil'. Apparently, Frederick wanted to show Skylar something, so he made an offer that we could not refuse. I didn't mind going there because it is a Fortune 500 company so any inside information would be good for a future career.

Frederick and Dahlia, the Alpha couple, have been nothing but welcoming and kind to me since my arrival, even when I complained to them about their son's behavior towards me and his constant reminder of my scholarship status at Ravenwood.

Skylar was called out by his parents and he even apologized to me privately inside my suite. I was legitimately shocked to hear just how vulnerable the Alpha heir could get and was left reeling from him bearing his soul to me.

If only that was the most shocking thing that happened on this trip...

Upon arrival at the company building, we accompanied Alpha Frederick as he walked towards the Chief Engineer's Office. He had something important to show him. Little did I know that his employee would turn out to be my birth father.

Yeah, I am talking about the man who got my mother pregnant and subsequently abandoned her, leaving no contact with either her or me. He never once came to pay me a visit or even requested me to visit him. Ever.

Needless to say, that was a dramatic situation that nobody could ever predict. I was so stunted by meeting my birth father that I climbed down the fire escape stairs abruptly and ended up stumbling down, injuring my head in the process.

After a trip to the hospital and a visit by Shawn later, now I am back at the Stronghold residence. Unfortunately, with the blow to the head, there is not much that I can do tonight. I am healed physically and the doctor ruled out a concussion, but she told me that I should not overexert myself for now.

Instead of going out, we are having a family night in. Meaning the Strongholds and me.

I was not expecting to be invited to a rager while I was here, so I am not completely opposed to the idea. Alpha Frederick felt guilty for forcing me to confront my father - unknowingly, of course - so he asked me what my favorite things to eat were that he would order the maid to cook for me.

He also offered to pay for my medical bills, but I am still on my mother's insurance plan, so I will have to tell her about it as soon as I see her. She will definitely be notified by the insurance company if she hasn't been already.

I do not look forward to the conversation about me finding Shawn right here in Texas, but it is unavoidable. I have to tell her as soon as possible and I will do that as soon as I go back home. Maybe next weekend if Jayden doesn't rope me into going to his pack.

We were supposed to go to Georgia together this weekend, but it was his grandfather's sixtieth birthday, so he decided against me tagging along the trip. It was a wise decision without a shadow of a doubt. It's too soon anyway, nobody starts taking prospective partners to present to their parents until the second week of October to the first of November.

There is plenty of time until April's claiming ceremony.

The game night is going well here in Texas and true to his word, tonight was about what I wanted to eat and drink. He didn't offer me any alcohol - I am 18 and he is a responsible parent - but other than that, I was spoiled rotten.

Even dessert was what I wanted. I am partial to strawberry cheesecake, so I ate it hungrily. Aside from my recent traumatic event, I was having the best time of my life. Skylar has taken a 180º turn and he was being nice to me.

Earlier in the afternoon, he carried me down the stairs towards the underground parking lot - I am not heavy and he is an Alpha werewolf - and took me to the hospital with Seth. He hasn't left my side since then, except when his brother and I were alone inside his suite.

He did not make any derogatory or snarky comments about my father. He has been kind to me and it was really freaking me out, to be honest. Dahlia and Skylar teamed up against Seth and me for a game of charades that had me hysterically laughing.

You should see Skylar trying to mimic "Basic Instinct" to try to get his mom to guess the film. By the time he tried to perform the iconic crossing of legs by Sharon Stone, I was coughing up my lungs. Tears were in my eyes, I was laughing so hard.

It's been a while since I had good, clean, family friendly fun, and oh how I've missed it!

My grandparents hosted epic game nights where my mom and I would battle against them in a fierce game of trivia. You can't tell me that tomatoes are not fruit, grandma. It is! Look it up! *LOL*

On Sunday, we had a nice breakfast when Luna Dahlia inquired about my health and how well I slept. I told her I slept great because I had won Charades. She asked me for a rematch and I graciously promised her one. I can see why Seth is so well-adjusted the way that he is. For a couple of their importance and wealth, Frederick and Dahlia Stronghold have been nothing if not welcoming and kind to me. I can see where Seth gets his good manners from.

I am in awe of them.

Once again, a driver took us all the way to the airport and once we were in Colorado, I was surprised to see that we were going to be flown in a helicopter back to Ravenwood. Something I have never done before in my life.

As predicted, students heard the helicopter landing with a loud commotion for their sensitive years, but they were surprised to see me arriving with the Stronghold twins. The majority of the students weren't aware that I was spending the weekend with them in Texas.

After I dropped my bag in my dorm room, I looked around for Jayden but didn't see him. I even asked Skylar at some point, but he told me that he did not see him today either. Has he not arrived yet? Well, he is certainly going to be back for the mandatory assembly.

"Good evening, students. For those of you who sent me birthday wishes, I thank you humbly. I spent a lovely weekend with my family and I could not have asked for a better way to celebrate my six decades on this planet." Headmaster Lockwood started his speech in the packed auditorium later that evening.

"As we start another week of classes here in Ravenwood, let us rejoice this month of October which hopefully will come with fruitful trips now that our students are starting to select their prospective partners. I wish you a great week and as usual, I am always here if you need me. Dismissed." He finished his speech, seemingly in a great mood.

As the students started to file out of the auditorium, I looked for Jayden around where he normally sits - with the other Alphas of his House - and found him, gloomy. Immediately, I noticed that he did not want to talk to me, which was weird.

I rushed out of the auditorium and hastily tracked him down with the other Alphas.

"Jayden, what is going on? Why are you trying to get away from me? Did I do something wrong?" I questioned him, turning people's eyes to us in the busy corridor. I did not want to do this in public, but we are almost always in public here in this private school.

"No, Jake, you did nothing wrong. It's me." He replied in a somber tone, avoiding my gaze. I could tell he looked distraught, but I could not figure out what was troubling him.

"What happened?" I questioned him, positively intrigued.

Jayden started crying and it broke my heart to see him saddened like that.

"My grandfather filled my mom's ears with lies. He told her you were not an appropriate suitor for me and didn't leave it alone until she told me I could not pursue you anymore." He replied and my heart broke in a thousand pieces.

"What? Oh, my Goddess!" I cried out, revolted by this. Literally, the entire corridor full of students with enhanced hearing abilities gasped in shock as they heard this. I was beyond gobsmacked by the horrifying information.

"My mother had nothing to go on, so she took his words at face value. He didn't stop until she told me I could no longer pursue a marital contract with you. If her father told her that you were not appropriate for me, then she had to respect his opinion. Not only is he her father, but also the headmaster of Ravenwood." He explained, as my eyes filled with tears.

"I am so sorry, I tried to argue with her but he was too convincing." He continued, heartbroken to be forced to do so. He was weeping from the heartbreak.

Tears fell from my face at a rapid progression. I am devastated. It happened just as Skylar had predicted. The writing was on the wall all along. I knew he wasn't going to allow me to be with his grandson. I just knew it deep down.

I am sobbing so hard, I am hiccuping. I am broken beyond words. This cannot be happening to me! To us!

Jayden rushed out of the corridor back to his dormitory while Seth hugged me, trying to comfort me. I should have known I did not deserve to be with such a prestigious Alpha. What the hell was I thinking? It was just a fairy tale after all.

"I am so sorry! I swear, I was rooting for you." Skylar swept me off my feet in a tight, comforting hug that had everybody around us wide-eyed. What the hell?

I hate to say it, but he has a way of comforting me with his Alpha presence that my Omega spirit rejoices in the tight hug, albeit a friendly one. Let's not get carried away here.

"Thank you, Skylar. It happened as you told me. You won." I spoke, tears falling down my face.

He gently dried my tears and tenderly kissed my cheek. Seth was looking at the scene completely shocked. As was everybody else witnessing it, for that matter.

"I did not want to win. For once, I was hoping to be wrong. And I am so sorry that this happened to you. I truly am." He comforted me with his words that for once I believed that he was coming from a place of empathy and honesty.

"Thank you." I smiled weakly at him, a tad uncomfortable from the kiss on the cheek. It was a brotherly kiss, but still.

"If you need any assistance, I am around. Please text me." He said, moving to walk away next.

Seth kept looking at me like...

"What the fuck just happened?" He whispered in my ear, baffled by this.

"I have no idea where this came from!" I replied, equally perplexed by the turn of events.

Unfortunately, I did not have much time to feel my heartbreak because soon after it was dinner time. I wasn't feeling very hungry, but it was only seven o'clock, if I didn't eat now I would starve until tomorrow's breakfast. I had to eat at least a salad or something.

I dragged my way to the dining room only to find that our breakup was the talk of the school. Whispers were buzzing about Jayden's speech and the Headmaster's guile. That sleazy son of a bitch. I should have known he was not going to let that slide.

Jayden was more silent than ever as he danced around his plate, barely eating anything. Skylar tried to encourage him, but every time he spoke Jayden growled at him. I guess it is difficult to believe that he is being genuine with his remorse.

I, on the other hand, barely had enough strength to lift my fork towards my mouth. I am devastated by this.

I am destroyed beyond words. I am completely wrecked by this devastating heartbreak.

My plate was seasoned by tears that I could not control or fight off.

Jayden was my only chance of happiness in Ravenwood, if he can not be with me, I might as well give up now because there is nobody else for me here. I am in so much pain right now that even Seth is having trouble eating his dinner.

"I am so sorry, my friend. I really believed in the two of you beating the odds." He tried to encourage me while I was washed with pain and sorrow.

"It was just a fairy tale, Seth. Your brother was right all along. I just wish I didn't love him so much." I said, completely heartbroken.

Eventually, I dispensed with my food and went back to my dorm room. I am in no shape to be with anybody right now, especially so close to Jayden. I am broken inside, a sorrow unlike anything I have ever felt in my life is wrecking my entire being right now.

You know what they say...

Nothing breaks like a heart. *sobs*

https://youtu.be/A9hcJgtnm6Q

A|N: No, you're not crying. I am.

Poor Jake can't catch a break in this book. First his father, now this.

I blame @mailee99 . She wanted drama.

Next is "Owner of a Lonely Heart". More drama.

PS: Did you catch Skylar's surprise appearance earlier in the chapter? I wonder what that was about... but if you are curious, hang tight. I am sure it will become clear eventually. That lyric is from the "Wicked" soundtrack. An iconic song from an iconic play.

Love,

Léo.