Skylar

It's Saturday, November 2nd.

Last night, Jake took me sightseeing here in Boulder. We went to the mall, ate at an exquisite restaurant, and later went to a bar to drink and have fun. In reality, this is the weekend when we should present a prospect to our parents. Though it could not be described like that, I can safely say that I survived Jake's mother's scrutiny.

As far as I am concerned, she gave me her stamp of approval. So, I am good to go.

Of course, that was not the challenge ahead of me. I knew that from the start. My challenge is to conquer Jake's heart and convince my provincial father that he is Luna material, even if he does not have any money or a powerful pack backing him.

In all honesty, I did not know what to expect from an interaction with Jacob. I know him from school, but we are not friends nor do we really talk to each other. There was the day of his heat episode, but we did not do much talking at that time. *blush*

So far, I had a blast. It has been only a day, but we have talked, walked together, shopped, danced, drank expensive cocktails, and had a lot of fun teasing each other. Mostly I teased him, especially after he had a sex dream about me.

Since I couldn't drive last night after the drinks, we took an Uber to his house around one in the morning. Jake was slightly drunk because he is not used to too much drinking and I was mildly altered. It takes a lot to get me drunk, so I was mostly okay.

Once we were in his apartment, we tried to keep it silent for his mother's sake. She worked all week, so she deserved some peace and quiet. She is an associate professor of psychology at CU. I thought my father was tough, but you try being grilled by a psychologist. *gasp*

Jake was stumbling all over the place, but I kept him from falling over. I kept him grounded. Once we were in his bedroom, he started taking his clothes off unceremoniously and I hoped he would keep some of his modesty. Fortunately, he kept his underpants on.

When I was getting ready to sleep, he asked me to sleep with him - the operative word being 'sleep' - and I was a tad resistant to sharing his bed. I knew he was drunk, so it was important for me not to take advantage of the situation. I was raised better than that.

I laid on his bed with pajama pants and no shirt on and he snuggled up to me in his boxers. I could sound like a hypocrite, but I promise you I am not, I am glad he did not act any further into creating an intimacy between us. In other words, I am happy Jake did not get handsy with me. He rested his head on my chest and slept comfortably.

I am not going to lie, I absolutely loved that.

There is something to be said about an Omega being close to an Alpha that does something to me. We are complete opposites of the spectrum, as far as werewolves are concerned, and that is so enticing to me for some reason. Not only did I have so much fun with Jake during our outing yesterday, but I actually like him as a person.

I felt fulfilled to have him by my side, sleeping next to me. I did not want to do anything else, I did not require for us to have sex nor would I expect that to happen. I know full well this is not going to be like the women I dated before. Omegas can not have safe sex without risking pregnancy.

I mean, technically they can, but it's too risky. And I know for a fact that Jake never did that with anyone before. Neither did Seth for that matter. Unfortunately, it's too much of a liability for them and I understand that.

Like I said before, if I was looking for sex, I would not be pursuing Jake. It will be great when or if that ever happens, but I am aware that can only occur after we sign our contract. If my father approves of him, of course.

I don't really care. Honest to Goddess. I just want Jake to rest his pretty little head on my chest and I am good to go. If it sounds corny, I don't mind. It is how I feel. This is heaven to me. Yesterday was one of the best days of my life - apart from the Saturday night we spent with my family back in Texas.

"Good morning, Jake. Sleep well?" I noticed his eyes fluttering open as I scrolled through my phone with his head still on my bare chest.

"What are you doing in my bed? I thought I told you to stay away." He questioned me, apparently not in a good mood, removing his head from my chest and laying on a pillow while glaring at me.

"You asked me to lay here with you, remember?" I answered him, a bit annoyed at being treated like a pervert. I was invited to his bed, I did not come here voluntarily.

Jake frowned in deep thought at my rebuttal.

"Whatever. You can go back to your bed now." He expelled me from his bed, shooing me off with his hands.

"If you could stop treating me like I ever gave you any indication that I would ever act without your consent, that would be great. I am not going to molest you because you are sharing a bed with me. If I could resist your heat, I am pretty sure I can resist anything. You don't have to worry about me putting my hands on you or anything of that nature. I told you before, I am all about radical consent." I ranted, annoyed at his treatment of me.

Jake widened his eyes at my statement, especially the part about his heat episode.

"I am sorry for being overprotective about myself. I know you are not about that. But I still would like for you to sleep away from me." He spoke, self-conscious about the whole thing.

"It's fine by me, but again you asked me to sleep with you. Out loud." I reiterated, annoyed at him.

"Breakfast?" He spoke, getting up from the bed and changing the subject.

"Sure. Let me just brush my teeth first." I said, getting up to walk to the bathroom. There is only one bathroom here, so we have to be mindful of sharing. I mean, apart from the one in his mother's suite.

"Race you to it." He challenged me. Yeah, I am not a person to be challenged. Sorry, Jake. I have long legs and I cannot deny that I like to win.

Sometime later...

The three of us are having breakfast inside the kitchen. Jake's mother is asking all kinds of questions about what we did yesterday, so he is answering most of them. Tonight there will be a dinner party for her mother since it's her birthday. They were nice enough to invite me since I am already here and it's not like I know anybody else in this town.

His mother seems to be content that her son looks happier than he has been in a while.

"Wow. You had a busy night last night. I can see that Skylar's visit is going well." She commented, glancing at me who blushed at her gaze.

"I did not expect to have so much fun with Jake. Every second that we spend together reassures me that he is definitely the one for me." I declared, causing the Omega to get flustered.

"Shut up, Sky!" He was blushing under his mother's intense gaze at him.

"I am glad you feel that way. It is going to make you work that much harder to earn your father's impossible approval." She smirked, convinced we were doomed as a couple.

"Nothing is impossible, ma'am. The only thing that hasn't been conquered yet is death. Where there is a will, there's a way." I refuted her, sounding determined.

"What are your plans for the day?" She asked Jake, curiously.

"I am taking Sky to do tourism in town. Yesterday, we went to a few places but he has yet to see what Boulder has to offer in terms of adventures." He replied, looking at me with a mischievous grin.

"Wherever you want me to go, I'll go." I winked at him, taking a bite of my bread.

"Prepare to be amazed! You will never want to leave Colorado again." He told me with a charming yet menacing voice that I found so adorable for some reason. I should be making him fall in love with me. Why do I feel like it's the other way around?

After breakfast, Jake took me to explore Boulder and everything good to do here. We walked a trail, climbed a mountain, and walked around town. By the time it was one p.m., I was starving. We stopped by a restaurant downtown on our way back and had lunch. There is nothing like walking a mile to whet your appetite.

Later that day, I returned to take a relaxing shower and rest before the dinner party. The whole time we were out, Jake spent engaging with me in conversations about the town, its history, and the small pack of werewolves. He made sure I was always entertained, which I found totally adorable.

We watched some TV inside his room while his mother was out doing some errands. I was on my improvised bed just chilling when I noticed him texting my brother on his bed.

"How is my brother doing with his prospect?" I inquired about him since I knew that was what they were talking about. When we return to Ravenwood, that is all everybody will be talking about. Their prospects and the reaction from their parents.

"So far, so good. Your dad likes Sean, despite him being a foreigner." He replied, looking away from his cell phone and gazing at me.

"Great. I am happy for them. Maybe now my father will be more amiable when I go talk to him." I said, feeling optimistic.

"Oh, he is angry at you for not bringing a prospect. Seth told me that your father asked him a thousand questions about you and Victoria and why the hell did you break up with her." He informed me and I gasped in shock. I don't know why I thought it was going to be different. I should have seen that coming.

"I imagined he would be pissed about me not doing my duty. I am sure I will have a lot of explaining to do once I arrive in Texas." I muttered, feeling discouraged from speaking to my father. It will be a battle I am not prepared for.

"Yeah. Good luck with that." He rolled his eyes, foreseeing a bloodbath between me and my parents when I tell them about him. I do not look forward to that conversation, but I love having the opportunity to spend time with him. Jake is so sweet. *swoons*

It's evening. We dressed up to go to his grandparents' house. It's less than an hour away from downtown Boulder. Obviously, they already knew I was coming so it was no surprise when I showed up at their door. The twist is the house was packed.

Cousins, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, there must be thirty family members to commemorate the patriarch's sixtieth birthday. Not that Mrs. Anderson looked a day older than 50.

"Happy Birthday, ma'am. I am sorry for barging in on your celebration." I greeted the elderly woman, who had a nice smile. And her mate of forty-two years. Can you imagine being together for more than four decades? I can only pray...

"Welcome, young man! Make yourself at home. I am glad you could join us." She smiled at me after I handed her a gift. Of course, I knew what I was getting into, so I shopped for a gift for her. I was not born yesterday.

"You did not have to give me a gift." She said, surprised by the present.

"Of course I did. But you can return it if you don't like it. I don't know your personal taste, but I hope you enjoy it." I told her, fully expecting her not to like it but feeling fulfilled nevertheless.

Jake and his mother greeted the birthday woman and her mate. I was introduced to his family members lying around the nice three-bedroom house. It smells nice here and the cooking must be wonderful.

"Hi. I am Skylar Stronghold." I introduced myself to Jake's cousin.

"Of the Stronghold pack?" She frowned at me, sounding surprised. I nodded to confirm.

"Wow. It's very nice to meet you." She kissed me twice on each cheek and I was slightly uncomfortable but took it. It's not the kiss in itself, it is the way she was all over me all of a sudden.

"How did you nab a millionaire? Does he know that you are poor?" She snickered, looking at Jake with a shocked look on her face.

"Trust me, there isn't a person in Ravenwood that doesn't know that." He rolled his eyes in annoyance at her comment.

"Mom, Dad, I want to go to Ravenwood too. Jake just nabbed a millionaire hottie!" She called out to her parents, who were in another room. I started to get uncomfortable being here...

"Can you stop pointing that out? It's rude! Plus, last time I checked you were already rejected by Ravenwood. You are older than me." He demanded, irritated at her.

"Maybe they can still accept me next year, jerk! I can reapply." She rolled her eyes at him, annoyed.

"Sure, Susan. Whatever you want to believe." He is getting fed up with her already.

"Auntie, your son is already stuck up now that he nabbed a millionaire." She turned to complain to Jake's mother. The nerve on that girl... O.o

"Susan, my dear, I did not bring my son's prospect here to be scrutinized. He is just a boy like any other. Money doesn't change anything. In fact, that's not even why I sent my son to Ravenwood. I wanted him to find a partner, but he didn't have to bring a rich boy. Just a decent person." She responded, wisely.

"But it doesn't hurt that he looks that good!" She said in a snarky tone, gesticulating for effect. She was giving me a naughty grin that was making me feel like a piece of meat.

"It doesn't really matter to me what he looks like. If he treats my son well, then he is good enough for me. That's who I sent my son to bring home. A decent guy who wants him to be his partner. Nothing else." She reiterated.

Oh, I love her.

"She's right, you know? We have been spending some quality time together but never once he made me feel lesser. He likes me precisely for who I am and not what I can bring to him. That's all I could ever hope for. To be appreciated for who I am." Jake declared, looking at me enchanted.

"I couldn't possibly agree with you more. Thank you for showing me what is possible. Thank you for accepting me in your life. It's only been a day but I am having a blast so far." I told Jake, completely smitten by him. *swoons*

https://youtu.be/_IbX3LbHrbs

A|N: BOOM!

I love how this song encompasses the whole theme of the book. It doesn't really matter, does it?

Next one is this Friday and it's going to rock your world. It's called "The Reason".

Love,

Léo.