JACOB

I am tossing and turning at night.

It's only been a few days but the fact that Jayden has been suspended from Ravenwood for attacking Skylar has weighed heavily on me.

I understand it's very frustrating to hear that my mom did not approve of Jayden because she thinks I have unresolved feelings for Skylar. It was probably because I dreamed of him, which she wouldn't have known if Jayden hadn't asked her opinion about it.

If you ask a psychologist for an opinion, you must be prepared to listen to that opinion. Well, she certainly has voiced hers now.

Now, do I agree with her?

Not particularly, no.

Anyway, now Jayden is gone from Ravenwood and this weekend which was supposed to be about my trip with him to Georgia, got tainted by his own actions.

I say it again, I was not about to let my own mother stand in the way of our happiness together. I had plans to confront her about it and convince her that Jayden was the only one for me.

But now everything is up in the air. I am no longer convinced about Jayden - though I still love him very much - and I have no way in hell of convincing my mother about letting him prospect me.

If anything, now she is way less convinced than before. Even if I still went to Georgia, I don't have it in me to look the Johnsons in the eyes and tell them what I had told Alpha Lockwood only a few weeks ago. I am no longer as convinced as I was.

Is Jayden really the one for me?

The jury is still out on that one. But I will say that he still remains the one in my heart. However, I can no longer deny the chemistry between Skylar and me.

I don't know if my mother will ever change her mind about Jayden unless I confront the reason why Skylar has been populating my dreams lately.

Like I said before, my mother's refusal to approve of Jayden was never about him. It was about me, her son, and the alleged feelings she thinks I harbor for Skylar.

Since Seth invited me to go with him to Texas for the upcoming week long break from Ravenwood, I figured I might as well take my chances now before Jayden returns from his suspension. Maybe if I spend some time with Skylar alone, I can figure this out.

I mean, not completely alone but far from here. Goddess help me!

It's Friday at noon. As the students talk about how excited they are to come back home for Thanksgiving and their family traditions, I am still looking back on the talk I had with Jayden last night. He was still trying to get me to come to Georgia and spend the weekend with him, but I was not so sure about that.

I told him it is not like I am dissuaded by his actions against Skylar, I can forgive him for that, but I should not give myself to our relationship while this doubt lingers in my mind. I mean, while I can not prove to my mom that I have no feelings for Skylar.

Let me tell you, Jayden was not amused when I told him that I was going to Texas instead. He raged while on the video chat about loyalty and what the hell would I even do in Texas unless I was considering what my mother said to be true.

I tried to convince him that I was doing this to prove to her that it isn't. I told him it was the only way to determine that she was wrong and that we could clear the path for our prospecting. I wouldn't be able to convince her otherwise.

My mother is a psychologist by trade. She does not see patients, but she understands therapy and how it works. * I've seen therapists during my infancy because of the daddy issues that I so clearly still have *. But my point is even if I don't go with the Strongholds, I know that my mother will never be convinced unless I explore this connection that I seem to have with Skylar.

Of course, if this is all a simple infatuation and it turns out that my feelings for Jayden are stronger, she will no longer be in our way. I know this about her. I know my mother. But try telling Jayden that! He has tunnel vision when it comes to Skylar, which is interesting to me because I stayed with Skylar for one entire weekend together and we never even kissed.

Skylar survived my heat, my rage, me calling him out in front of his parents, and with all of this, he easily could have turned abusive or violent towards me, but he never did. I wasn't kidding when I told Seth that when he showed up inside my guest suite of his house in Texas, I thought he was going to assault me. One way or another.

I know it would seem extreme to commit an act so violent in the confines of your own home, but I could not put it past him. I did not know him well enough then, and all I saw was a spoiled brat who never faced a challenge in his life and had everything handed to him on a silver platter.

When you think about it, it would be kind of hard to explain how I would show up bruised in front of his parents. Especially after what I had just accused him of, but I don't know. When you have everything to lose, things can take a dark course. I was on his turf. Goddess only knows what kind of stuff he could get away with in his own land.

But he never did any of the things I thought he would. Like he said himself, he controlled how he reacted to my actions. That is truly the mark of a man. Everybody makes mistakes. But it's what you do afterward that counts.

"You look distant today." Seth snapped me out of my spell as I ate my lunch quietly at the Omega section, sitting across from him as always.

"I was thinking about something Jayden said last night. He accused me of wanting to spend time with your brother because I want to and not to disprove my mom." I told him, rather peeved by that.

"But how can you disprove your mom if you don't spend time with Sky?" He looked at me puzzled.

"Exactly! If I wanted to spend time with Skylar, I would just go upstairs to his room now that he is sleeping alone. I don't need to offer some bullshit excuse!" I exclaimed, irritated at the insinuation. This is not the first time I have been accused of doing something behind his back and I am getting tired of having to constantly prove myself to him.

Why can't he take my word for it? It's not like I lied to him about anything except for omitting my last name, which is inconsequential unless you work for the government, and I might add, that he did the same to me when we met. I fail to see the issue here. If I wanted to do something behind his back, I would have started by not telling him I was going to Texas in the first place.

It's not like he is giving me a play by play while he is back in Georgia... *eye roll*

At the same time, at the Alpha section of the cafeteria, Skylar spat out his food and coughed when I mentioned going up to his dorm room now that he is sleeping alone. Boys, am I right?

"Calm down, Alpha! He is not actually spending the night with you, he was just joking." Kyle teased him, playfully. Skylar glared at him.

"I know, dickhead. I was just caught off guard. I miss sleeping next to him, I am not going to pretend otherwise. Those were the best nights of my life." He breathed out a sigh that expressed his longing for me. Somehow, I felt that immediately.

"Better than the weekend in Houston and the Beyoncé show?" He teased him.

"Beyoncé is amazing. That weekend was phenomenal! But yeah, it was. And if someone told me that I would ever be saying that about a person I didn't even kiss, I would have asked them how high they were." He declared jokingly.

"Wow. You got it bad!" Kyle was perplexed, seeing Skylar so smitten like this.

"I do. I even wrote a poem for him." He announced and Seth gasped in shock.

"A POEM? YOU?!" He turned around to stare at his brother several tables away from us. We are on opposite sides of the large cafeteria with all the Gammas and Betas in between us.

"Can I read it?" Kyle was eager for it. Skylar scoffed.

"Of course not! Are you crazy?! Only Jake will know what it says when we're back in Texas." He dismissed it right away.

Seth kept his mouth agape for a while, unable to eat. To say that was shocking to him doesn't quite cover it. He was flabbergasted, jaw dropped, stunned, in awe... - well, you get the picture. - I am having trouble imagining Skylar writing me anything that is not a text. What the hell!

I am seriously questioning all the things he has ever said and done so far. I don't know what to make of this new and improved Skylar. But I will say that it is getting harder to deny his true feelings, whatever they may be.

After a long car drive, we finally arrived at the airport to board their private jet. The service was excellent, the conversation with Seth flowed nicely. Meanwhile, all I could think about was... did he really write me a poem?

As we disembarked at the Texas airport, the family's chauffeur was there to pick us up. There was another long car drive until we arrived at their small town. I can easily see why these trips can be hard to go through on a weekly basis. It's a lot of miles to cover.

Finally, we were greeted by the Alpha couple who were standing by the door to greet us. I bowed my head to the Alpha, as I must, and was happy to see Luna Stronghold smiling at me. Frederick was less welcoming to me.

"So kind of you to come here, Jacob, even after you rejected my son." He was salty, apparently. Dahlia glared at him for that.

"I did not reject him, Alpha. I was never available to be prospected by him in the first place. Rejection implies a choice. I simply had to move on with my partner who I was previously committed to. I am sure a man like you can appreciate loyalty." I snapped back at him, going toe to toe with the Alpha, not lowering my gaze at him as he did me.

Seth, Skylar and Dahlia - even the driver and the maids inside - were impressed by my comeback.

"I see why my son is head over heels for you. You're feisty." He said in a condescending tone, while smirking.

"Oh you have no idea, Alpha! Skylar doesn't know half of the trouble I can cause." I smiled at him with a wicked grin.

"Wow. Who are you?" Seth was perplexed by my spunk.

"Someone who's not afraid of the Strongholds." I replied, defiantly. I am not here as a prospect candidate, I am here as a guest. I should be treated as such, not as a second class citizen for even daring to say 'no' to Skylar. Who the hell does Frederick think he is?

"You have nothing to fear from us, Jacob. My husband was just being a poor host." Dahlia ran interference with her absolutely gorgeous smile and impeccable blond hair perfectly complementing her pink tailleur.

*flash forward to much later that night, inside my guest suite in the mansion*

Skylar and I were talking alone for a minute until I asked him about the so-called poem.

"Promise me you won't laugh." He demanded, frightfully.

"Cross my heart and hope to die." I would never make fun of his attempt to write me a poem. It's too darn adorable. *swoons*

Skylar took out his phone from the front pocket of his jeans and like a true GEN Z, he read from it but looking me in the eye as he did. I'm all ears.

"Jacob, my darling, my love, where have you been all my life?

Your irresistible charm and adorable smile stole my heart.

I don't want my life without you, loneliness is sharp as a knife.

All I can see, it's just you and me, together and never to part.

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

Jacob, my darling, my love, where have you been all my life?

All I can think of is to be close to you and kiss your luscious lips.

I cannot hide, you're the one that I want. To me, there is no strife.

I need to feel your loving touch and caress you with my fingertips.

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

I need you to hear this message that only my soul could send.

I could spend my life by your side, just to smell your sweet scent.

I don't know what to do, my heart is broken in two. Only you can mend.

One smile from you, I'd be whole again, and my heart's content.

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

Oh sweet Jacob, why don't you let me love you?

You're all that I want, let's have fun, please end my misery.

I could make you happy if you'd only let me, come on boo.

Give me a sign, I'll make you mine, my heart is full and jittery."

He looked deep into my eyes as he said those words...

"Jacob, my darling, I am hopelessly in love with you."

So what if he is not the next Walt Whitman? I could tell it was from the heart. That counts for something. I was perplexed by him at that moment.

Skylar bore his soul to me and there was honestly only one thing I could say to that...

"Just kiss me already!"

"I thought you'd never ask!"

Then he lunged for my lips in a way that I had never been kissed before. It completely took my breath away. Oh. My. Goddess. *mind blown*

https://youtu.be/AqeIiF0DlTg

A|N: BOOM!

This trip is going to be unforgettable!

Just not for the reasons you might think.

Buckle up, my lovelies. It is going to be a bumpy ride!

Next is "Listen To Your Heart".

Do you want to read more? Do you want to know what happens next?

Check out all the twists and turns on my Patreon right now:

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Love,

Léo.