Skylar

It's a pipe dream.

I am not delusional, I promise you. I know what I am up against.

Despite how well Jake hit it off with my parents over the weekend he spent in our home in Texas, I know full well that if he would ever be revealed as my prospect, the level of scrutiny on him would be that much higher. My parents would turn their focus on him and that weekend would have gone very differently.

When I told Jay that he is basically a spineless man afraid of his grandfather, I did not actually mean that. For starters, his grandfather is an intimidating Alpha and from what I heard, he painted a pretty nasty picture of Jake way before he was even allowed to meet Jay's parents. That's messed up!

I just had to tease my roommate, but I would not have acted differently than he did. That's the truth. I must confess that I also did not mean it when I said that if my father does not sign off on my contract with Jake, I would marry him anyway and take my chances.

There is a small chance my father would produce another heir just to spite me. Maybe not with my mother but with his mistress, who is not pregnant yet by some miracle. Probably because there is a clause in my parents' marital contract that both of them are prohibited from procreating with other people.

As in, my mother would leave my father and take half of his money. He'd still be an incredibly rich man, let's not get carried away here, but there is a line you cannot cross. Fidelity can be negotiated, but having an illegitimate child is another matter altogether. My mother is a sweet, caring woman but she is proud and my father knows it.

She is not afraid of enforcing the penalty clauses on their twenty year old contract.

I am not saying I am afraid of my father, I just respect his opinion and I know the man. He is not going to take me marrying Jake against his will, he is going to cut me off and leave me to fend for myself. I am sure I would be supported by my mother who would never truly cut me out of her life, but I was born to be Alpha of the Stronghold pack.

I am not going to do anything to jeopardize that. And who gets to be Alpha is my father's decision. That is also in the contract. It's non-negotiable with any Alpha you sign a contract with. It would be the same with Jake if we ever were to become contracted partners.

With all that being said, I wasn't just speaking out.

I have every intention to fight over Jake and to convince my parents to let me have him. Of course, I also need to convince Jake but that is a different matter. If I turn on my charming self he won't be able to resist me. I just know it.

But right now all this is a pipe dream.

Someone could say I took a huge gamble by dismissing Victoria to take my chance on Jake, a person who would not so easily be accepted by my father. I know what I did could be considered crazy by some. But it's November, if I don't take a chance now then when?

Of course, I could crash and burn and get no partner at all. Now that I burned the bridge with Victoria, she will never be mine again and most of the other candidates of note will have been prospered by one of my Alpha colleagues. I know the risk I am taking.

But you know what they say: the higher the risk, the higher the reward.

Or the higher you fall spectacularly. Who knows? Let the games begin!

It's Friday, 1st of November, late in the morning. I am driving Jake back to Boulder, the city where he was born and raised, right here in Colorado. We don't have classes today, so we are making a move on early.

Last night, at the Halloween party, I told him I wanted him to be my partner. It took some convincing for him to give me a chance, but after some debate, he agreed to let me go with him to his house for the weekend.

Given the special occasion for Ravenwood students - most of them are going to take prospects to meet the parents, it's the only way to avoid having to dance with everybody at the Harvest Ball next week - no one stayed at the school over the extended weekend.

It was either going with him or facing my parents who will not be happy that I am not taking a prospecting partner to meet them like my brother is doing at the moment. He is taking Sean, the foreign exchange student from England, as his candidate. Good luck to him!

I was supposed to take Victoria, but I broke up with her instead. And now I am on the road driving a rental car because I didn't want to take the bus. It's not that I am such a spoiled brat that being on a bus is too much for me, I just wanted to take advantage of the trip.

I had almost three hours with Jake until we arrived in Boulder and I am making the most of my time with him. The battle for his heart starts now. Wish me luck!

"I have a confession to make." I started after half an hour on the road of small talk.

"Let me guess, you are not going to marry me against your father's wishes because if you do that, he will probably cut you off and you'll never be Alpha. Or rich." He conjectured in a smug tone as if making fun of me.

"I am pretty sure I will always be rich, but yeah... I can not marry someone against my father's wishes. It would destroy our relationship and any trust he has in me." I admitted, painstakingly.

"Huh. So, Jay is not a spineless brat after all for respecting his mother's decision?" He pretended to be thinking as he looked at me with a 'deep in thought' expression on his face.

"No, he is not. I just had to tease him about it. I am not going to let those guys win or think that I can not be with you just because he couldn't." I told him, not letting it get to me.

"Right. Except for the fact that now that you broke things off with Victoria, on the eve of what was supposed to be your trip back home, your parents will be mad at you for not bringing anybody when you should have. I am pretty sure you didn't tell them about me and when you do, they will say that you are crazy for dismissing such a perfect candidate for Luna. And they will most likely prohibit you from prospecting me." He pondered, ever so wisely.

"I didn't tell them about you because there is nothing to tell. You barely said yes to this trip." I argued, not wanting him to dwell on self-doubt.

"Yeah, there is nothing to tell because there can never be anything between the two of us. I will never be approved by your father, especially after that embarrassing scene with Shawn at the Stronghold Headquarters back in Texas." He spoke, embarrassed about it.

I could tell he felt self-conscious about the episode. I understand that, I do. But I do not want him to beat himself up about it.

"You did not embarrass yourself, Jacob. You handled the situation as best as anyone would in your shoes." I tried to put him at ease, turning to look at him tenderly.

"I appreciate the thought, but again, your father will never approve of me." He reiterated, sounding convinced of that fact.

"Let me worry about that, please. You shouldn't have to concern yourself with my parents' approval." I argued, wanting him to not feel so apprehensive.

"I wouldn't if your parents' approval did not mean so much. But I appreciate your attempt to make a play for me. Maybe this will finally convince some of your peers that I am worthy." He spoke, riddled with low self-esteem.

"YOU ARE WORTHY, JAKE! DON'T EVER LET ANYONE MAKE YOU FEEL OTHERWISE!" I shouted at him, trying to make myself sound convincing. He was startled by the loud voice inside the car and I apologized for that.

"I would hate for you to think that you are less than any other student at Ravenwood. You may not be able to afford to go there if it wasn't for the scholarship, but that is the only difference between you and them. You are a prize, Broderick. You should be proud of that." I smiled at him with an encouraging tone.

"Don't call me Broderick." He reprimanded me, angrily. Oh right, I forgot about that. O.o

We arrived in Boulder around one in the afternoon, hungry for some lunch since we did not stop in the middle of the road except for a quick bathroom break. Jake told me to go straight to his house where his mother would have lunch ready for us.

Well, who would say no to a home cooked meal?

We walked into a two-bedroom condo downtown. The place was well located in a residential apartment complex. There was no space for my car in the garage, but I found a spot for visitors not far and we walked back. Jake had a key to the gate, so he walked right in and went straight to the stairs.

I walked with him to the third floor where his apartment was and was welcomed by a suspicious looking Beta werewolf, who was pleased to see her son again. Jake introduced me to his mother and we greeted each other, then we placed our luggage in his bedroom.

I washed my hands and was ready to eat the lunch she prepared for us. I am hungry after driving for nearly three hours. At first, Jake told his mom about his week in Ravenwood and...

"I am sorry but I have to ask: what are you doing here, Skylar? Last I heard, it is your brother who is a friend and roommate with my son. I am just curious." She asked me point blank, just like Jake had warned me she would.

"Well, to be honest, I am here to avoid going home because I didn't want to face my parents' disappointment for not having a prospecting partner to introduce to them." - I replied as honestly as I could. A smart adult woman like her would sense any bullshit from me even before I opened my mouth...

"You are a Stronghold. I highly doubt you are having a tough time finding a prospect. Last I heard you were being heavily disputed at the first mixer. I must have seen a dozen pictures of pretty girls with you on Instagram." She sassed me, fully determined to get to the bottom of the question.

"I was required to dance with them per Ravenwood rules." I clarified, but I am sure she knew that before I spoke.

She kept staring at me across from the table where we were eating, looking curious at me. I will have to come clean to her because she is not letting this go. I was sweating under her scrutiny, but she was not letting go of her intense gaze.

"I want your son to consider being my prospecting partner." I finally gave in, blushing to have to admit it to her. She gasped in shock.

"What? But your parents will never approve of him!" She exclaimed, jaw dropped.

"That's what I told him." Jake rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"I am determined to make it work. I will not take 'no' for an answer." I declared, staking my claim.

"It doesn't matter what you think, it's not your decision. Your father is the Alpha and he has to approve your contract. It's written in Ravenwood's bylaw that was written by Alphas of the National Council." She informed me in a matter of fact tone. She is as smart as I thought she would be. I knew a simple answer would not satisfy her. She frowned at me as if I was talking crazy.

"I realize that, ma'am. But I still think I can get my parents to see that I am better off with someone like Jacob, who is smart and brave, honest and dedicated. He has a strength of character unlike I've ever seen before and I know he is the one for me." I affirmed confidently.

"You also thought Carla and Victoria were the ones for you. What is different now?" She challenged me and I gasped in shock at her intensity. Wow. Are we sure she is not the Alpha of the pack?

"I was mistaken, ma'am. I admit it. I thought I had to go after who my parents would approve of. Jake is who I want to be partnered with, regardless of their approval." I replied, sincerely. She wants to get to the bottom of it, so I shall bear my soul if I must.

"But you still need their approval." She declared the obvious.

"I do. I guess I have no choice but to convince them that Jake is the best for me. He is the only candidate who will never treat me differently on account of who I am or how much money I have." I argued, trying to persuade her with my open heart.

"He was well raised, despite not having a father. Which reminds me, what are you going to do about Shawn if Jake were to become your Luna?" She quizzed me in a deadly serious tone.

"Nothing! It's Jake's decision what type of relationship he wants with him, not mine. He works for my father's company and that is it. They don't have to interact unless your son wants to." I replied, taken aback by her probing question. She is not letting me off the hook today, is she?

Finally, she took a breath and resumed eating. I did the same while Jake looked proud of me for being able to handle that. I guess his mother is acting like any other parent whose kid presents a prospecting candidate. I am not mad...

After lunch, we adjourned to the living room where we rested for a while. I might have eaten too much today because I was hungry and nervous at all her questions.

"Skylar, you are welcomed into my house. I have no opinion on whether or not my son should give you a chance because I think it's his decision, not mine. But I will say this... Even if you use the best arguments in the world, your father will never accept my son as your partner. It's too much of a power gap. But again, I will not oppose it. All I ask is when your father does make his inevitable decision, you let my son know as soon as possible. It was already hard for him when Jayden broke up with him, he doesn't need that again. I just hope you know what you're doing." She told me while we were sitting on the sofa on opposite sides of each other.

"Thank you, ma'am. I know it will be an uphill battle. I am well aware of the mighty odds stacked against our union. But I feel it in my bones that your son is the one for me. I am sorry if I was blind before, but now I see. And I will give my all so that we could be together lawfully." I declared, trying to be as positive as I could right now.

I am overwhelmed by all this, but I am more determined than ever to make this work. Come hell or high water. I will give everything I have to be with Jake, I know that now. And I have never been so determined to get what I want.

https://youtu.be/mIhI23gBBPQ

A|N: BOOM!

Prepare yourself, my darling Skylar. It will be a battle unlike anything you have ever experienced before.

#MomsRule

OFF: I said this once, but it's worth repeating it. Whenever I am browsing to pick a model for my characters, I always go by the eyes and what their gaze is telling me. This was no different. Skylar's model is handsome, but his eyes seem so kind. There is a vulnerability there I was drawn to. I don't know his real name, but I was sold. He is perfect for the character.

Next one is the day after tomorrow. Another unforgettable experience in Boulder. It's called "We Are Young". Prepare for the twist that will leave you gasping for air...

Love,

Léo.