SKYLAR

Owned.

When I arrived at my house in Texas last Friday night, the first thing I did was hug my mom tightly. I whispered in her ear that I was thankful to her from the bottom of my heart and that I would never forget this gesture. I never doubted that my mom was amazing, but even her capabilities are limited when it comes to my dad and his stubbornness.

I knew that their contract had to be respected and my dad's word on my prospect was final. Like I said before, it was a non-starter for my father to see me prospected to Jake. So, I deeply appreciate the miracle that my mom pulled off to get my dad to approve of him.

"What are you thanking her for, I was the one who sent the email approving your little crush as your prospect." Dad said, sulking at the five minute long hug I gave to my mother.

"Yes, dad. Thank you, I truly appreciate you for doing that." I conceded, hugging my dad next. It is only fair otherwise he would sulk forever. Seth took his turn hugging our mom.

While the driver took our luggage upstairs to our suites, Seth and I walked inside the house to find dinner ready for us, as expected. But first, curious minds wanted to know...

"How was it? Tell me everything! Did Jake surrender to your arms and now you two are happier than ever?" Mom was giddy with excitement for me and I truly loved her for that. Alas...

Seth and I exchanged a 'twin' glance that told us exactly what each other was thinking right now.

"Unfortunately, Jake decided to stick with his previous relationship with Jayden, so no. We are not together, nor did he accept me as a prospect." I declared, sounding hurt by this fact, that I could not believe I had to report to my parents.

"What? You cried every day to your mother to get my permission only for that kid to reject you?" Dad gasped in shock at this information, revolted that his son was rejected.

"First of all, I did not cry every day... to mom." There was a pregnant pause between the last words, as I am deeply embarrassed to admit this to them.

"Jayden already had a previous relationship with Jake, I told you guys there was another guy in the mix for him. But I haven't given up hope just yet that he is lost to me. Until Jake's mother approves of Jayden there is still hope for us." I argued, fiercely.

My mother and father exchanged a glance that also told me they were thinking the exact same thing. And I know exactly what they were thinking...

"I see. And when is Jayden supposed to be vetted by Jacob's mother?" Dad asked me with a bored expression on his face.

"They are already in Boulder as we speak." Seth informed them, pitying me with his stare.

"Listen, sweetheart. What is meant to be yours will happen for you. If Jake is supposed to be with you, then he will be. But you need to be prepared for the possibility that Jake belongs with someone else. I am sorry, but you can't make someone fall in love with you." Mom cautioned me, warily.

I grimaced at the thought behind that statement. I know what she means by that. There is a high probability that Jayden will be approved by Dr. Anderson at the end of this weekend.

"I know, mom, but I can't give up on him." I pouted, heartbroken at the mere thought.

"Of course not. Who can resist this face?" She squeezed my cheeks playfully. I love my mom.

My parents, brother, and I sat down for a quick talk before dinner was served. But dad wasted no time in asking his sons about what was next for us.

"Assuming that boy prospects the one who he's taking to see his mother, what are your plans going forward? Do you have a backup plan?" He asked me in a concerned tone. Mom also looked worried for me.

"I don't have any backups, dad. I want Jake, nobody else." I asserted, slightly peeved at him. Though I guess it's a fair question.

"Son, I did not send you to Ravenwood to sleep around and goof off. I sent you to make a good match. If I wanted you to do what you're doing now, I could've just sent you to college. At least, you'd be getting a degree." He stated, rather irritated.

"I know, dad. I'm sorry, it's just that I never felt for anyone what I feel for Jake. It has to be him. I can't bring myself to be with anybody else." I declared, vulnerably.

You could see it in my face the state I was in. I am not putting up a front. I am not some virginal teenager looking to hook up nor do I want him because I don't want Jayden to have him. This isn't some silly competition with another Alpha.

I confess I played the game of love before. But to me, it was always about the next conquest, nothing serious. But I knew once I got into Ravenwood things would get serious for me.

So no, I don't have any backup plan. I am dead serious about Jake. It's either him or nobody.

"What about you, Seth? Are you moving on from that criminal?" Dad grunted in annoyance at me, so he turned to his 'more favorable' son. Well...

"He is not a criminal! Weed is legal now, how would that make anyone unfit for me?" Seth protested, loudly. He revolted at my father for doing that. Oh boy!

"I don't make the laws, son. It's not my fault if it is illegal in England." Dad defended himself, annoyed at his son.

"Yes, but it's not like he was high on meth! Show me a teenager who never tried drugs!" He challenged him, irritated.

"I don't care that he did drugs, I care that he was caught. Sorry, Seth. I aim higher for you. Much higher than him, no pun intended." He declared and I was low key wanting to laugh at his choice of words.

"That was so unfair to me!" Seth pouted like a spoiled brat.

"No, what was unfair is for a boy with a criminal record to be admitted into Ravenwood. I hope they did a background check on your brother's prospect before he was considered for a scholarship." Dad stood his ground, turning the conversation back to me with a judgmental look.

"Do you expect me to believe you didn't do your own background check on him?" I rolled my eyes at him, not buying that rhetoric.

"I didn't have time to do anything! Your mother was convinced you were going to kill yourself if I did not approve of him!" He shouted at me with a desperation that was crystal clear in his voice. I could tell how worried both my parents were about me.

I turned to my mother, mortified about giving that impression to her. No parent should ever feel responsible for their children's death. And in case no one ever told you before, you are valuable. You are important. You make a difference in people's lives. It can not always be cut and dry, but even if you don't see it now, hold on. It'll become clear soon enough. *blows a kiss to you*

"I am sorry if I ever gave you that impression, mom. I was in pain for not being able to be with Jake, but I shouldn't have put it on you like I did. I never meant for you to feel like I would waste my life if I could not be with him. I am sorry for dumping this on you." I apologized to her, moving to hug her on the sofa we were all sitting on. She looked properly disturbed by this.

"I am your mother, Sky. It's my job to look out for you and if my son is in pain, of course I will try to make it right." She reassured me, not wanting me to feel bad for how I behaved.

"I am sorry, dad. I didn't mean to sound so desperate when I last talked to mom, but I was in a lot of pain over losing the love of my life." I was mortified before him, who is not a man who takes decisions lightly. Ever!

"It's fine, son. If you feel that strongly about this boy in such a short amount of time, then he must mean something to you. I am sorry that I didn't see it right away. I should have known better when you showed up at our doorstep on a weekday." Dad did his 'mea culpa', taking some of the blame to himself. Something we don't see every day.

"Yeah, not to pile up on it, but I've never seen Sky talk about anybody like he talks about Jake. It's mind boggling to me if I am honest. He even went into town just to buy him flowers, and that was before dad approved of Jake. He just bought him flowers to apologize for bringing up Shawn in a conversation during breakfast." Seth argued, sounding impressed by me. But mostly, he was slightly distraught.

"Speaking of which, I haven't told him about any of this yet. He keeps asking about his son in our meetings, but I have nothing to report. I only know what your mother tells me because my sons never text or call me unless something is wrong." Dad sulked at our lack of communication with him. It's not our fault if he is the taciturn parent.

"I am so disappointed that he abandoned his girlfriend while still pregnant. How does someone not show up for the birth of his own son? I can't wrap my head around this! I could never do that." I exclaimed, perplexed by his callous attitude.

"It's not our place to judge him, son. I am sure he had his reasons, but–"

"Jake is his son! He is innocent of whatever happened between him and Dr. Anderson! I don't care if he never saw her again, but his own flesh and blood! That's unforgivable!" I cut my father off, irritated. Shawn was always a role model for both Seth and me, but now I am deeply disappointed by his abandonment of Jake. I don't fucking care what his reasons were, to be frank. He is still his child.

The uncomfortable vibe filled the room until one of the maids announced that dinner was served. Quietly, we adjourned to the dining room where we took our seats to eat the delicious meal. My dad employs a chef who studied at Sorbonne.

Some time later...

"You never answered my question earlier, you do have a backup plan now that Sean is back in England, right?" Dad is like a dog with a bone, he will not let that go.

"I will think of something until the next ball, father. I promise you, now give me time to grieve. I don't see you hassling Sky to pick a partner!" Seth replied, throwing me under the bus in the process. I was like... where is the loyalty? We're twins!

"Oh... don't worry about your brother. If he's not prospected before January, I will travel to Ravenwood and pick whatever is left for him myself. Neither of you is to leave Ravenwood without a contract! Am I making myself clear?" Dad raised his tone to DEFCON 1, and both my brother and I gulped awkwardly.

"Yes, father." We responded in unison. When he gets like that, there is only one answer that he wants to hear and it is one of the following: YES SIR, NO SIR, SORRY SIR, IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN, SIR. I cannot challenge my father, but I will be damned if I lose Jake. Not after all this trouble I went through for him to be approved by my dad.

Let me be clear: I did not think that my dad would ever approve of Jake. Not ever. No matter how much I cried about it. He is not the kind of father who gets soft when he hears his sons crying. I am not saying he is a monster or abusive, but he is just not that type of parent.

"If it makes you feel any better, I don't think Jake will be able to resist you any longer. Look at this face." Mom consoled me like only she could right now. I know that my dad would never allow me to leave Ravenwood unprospected. He is just not going to let us waste time and money like that, even if Ravenwood's tuition is less than what he pays his personal chef. Whose food is really good by the way!

"Yeah, not to rain on your parade but Jake is very loyal to Jayden, mom. He is not gonna drop him unless he gives him a reason to. He is not that kind of a guy." Seth spoke, pitying me.

"I didn't imagine he would be, but no one can control the affairs of the heart. If he is the boy who looked your father and me in the eyes and told us that our son was bullying him, I am sure he has the fortitude to follow his heart. Just wait and see." She opined with her female wisdom.

"I love you so much, mom!" I melted to the voice of reason, hearts in my eyes for my adorable mother.

"That's because she only says what you want to hear." Seth taunted me.

"I do not!" Mom raised her voice, aggravated at Seth, who scowled as he saw her disapproving glare.

"I don't tell him what he wants to hear! I listen to him and express my opinion, but when he is wrong I make sure to tell him too! I am not a 'yes, mom'! I was not about to raise a son without a clear conscience of his duties as a man and as an Alpha. And I told him how disappointed I was in him when Jake said what he said of my son." Mom ranted, pissed off at my brother. Seth lowered his head in remorse. Her motherly glare was evident as it targeted my brother.

"I am sorry, mom. I didn't mean to sound like you are a bad mother, not at all. But you are more of a cuddler. There's nothing wrong with that." He tried to walk back his declaration, but it only made it worse. Oh, brother... O.o

"Of course, I am a cuddler. I am your mother. Life will give you plenty of reasons to be sad, it's my job to be nurturing. Like it's your father's job to look out for his sons and make sure you make the best decision for your future. But if my son is heartbroken, of course, I am gonna cuddle him. What kind of a mother would I be if I didn't?" She snapped back at him.

"You should stop before you lose more, son. I haven't been able to win an argument against her for twenty years, I don't think it's going to be you who will. No offense." Dad advised Seth, who was gasping for air at the comebacks from her.

"You should hear the speech she gave to convince me to approve of Jacob. She even said he could be a better Luna than her. And that's saying something!" Dad spoke, impressed by her powers of persuasion.

"Really?" I gasped in shock at hearing that.

"Yes, really. He looks very promising to me." She defended her point of view.

"He does, mom. I agree with you, just not better than you." I sucked up to her because she deserved it.

"Wow. Everybody seems to be caught by the Jake bug." Seth snickered.

"You were the one who brought him here, this is all YOUR fault." Mom pointed out, proverbially pointing the finger at him.

"Me? If only I'd known he was going to cause that much of a stir..." He laughed it off.

Yeah, sorry bro, but mom is right. If Jake had never been here, then I would never know how he would act around our parents and I probably would be happy with Victoria right now. But you know what? I wouldn't trade it for anything!

I do have the utmost respect for Vic and I wish her to make a great match in Ravenwood. But I want love, I want to feel what I am feeling right now even without the faintest hope to ever receive the same. I cannot trade the experience of falling in love with Jake for anything or anybody else.

I don't want to ever go back to settle for a political match. No tea, no shade, but no.

I have been bitten by the lovebug and I don't ever want to NOT feel this way again. Now all I have to do is to rush against the clock before Dr. Anderson approves of Jayden. But who's desperate? Me? Why should I be desperate? Just because Jay is a great guy that any mother would like for their son... Imagine that. Let the Games Begin!

Oh right. They have already begun. Wish me luck, y'all. I am going to need it when I return to Ravenwood the day after tomorrow.

https://youtu.be/MKpCDz0UjW4

A|N: Race you to the 60th chapter?

Before I forget, there is a twist coming that is going to rock your world and shatter all your dreams. *gasp*

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