JACOB

I cannot believe this!

It's Friday evening in Texas. After a rather exhausting week in Colorado, during which I saw my beloved Jayden attack Skylar for simply pointing out that I shouldn't go to Georgia with him since my mother had refused to approve of him, I ended up accepting Seth's invitation to come to Texas with him for the weekend.

We have a week long break from school due to the Thanksgiving holiday. It seemed like a nice idea to spend some time with Skylar and convince my mother that I do not harbor any feelings for him - the reason she has given me for her refusal to approve of Jayden.

That was going well until Skylar announced that he wrote a poem for me.

What?

What does he mean by saying he wrote a poem for me? What the hell kind of sorcery is this?!

Does Skylar Stronghold strike you like a boy who writes poems?

Better yet, when was the last time a guy who liked you wrote you a poem?

Asking a real question here, because I have never had that in my life! I am baffled by this.

What type of mind even thinks about something like that? Especially if you consider that Skylar has never had trouble getting anyone in his bed before. He never had to work that hard for someone in his entire life. I am like... what the hell?

I cannot wait to see how this is going to turn out... *picks up a looking glass*

After a rather long drive from the airport, Seth, Skylar, and I arrived at their mansion in a small town in Texas, where their pack is located. We were welcomed by a brooding looking Frederick and a smiling Dahlia. I mean, his brooding towards me.

Immediately, Frederick greeted me with a snarky comment about rejecting his son. *eye roll*

Little did he know, I was not about to take anything from him lying down and answered him according to the provocation. I was confident and direct, without being disrespectful to him. Of course, then he made another poignant comment that I responded in kind.

Dahlia ran interference with her disapproving frown at him and we finally entered the three-story mansion as the chauffeur carried our luggage inside. I wanted to help him but Seth whispered to me it was not 'proper'. 'It was his job.' Whatever.

I did not notice the first time around, but I see now how heavily guarded their mansion actually is with warriors protecting it 24/7. It makes sense since the Alpha family lives here, but they mostly operate from outside of the house so I did not notice them the last time. The trick is to not interfere with anything happening inside, just to keep the place secure from any outside intervention.

Of course, the security system is state-of-the-art. Everything that money could buy was put in place to secure their home, including checkpoints in and out of the road that leads to their property. I am sure a man like Frederick Stronghold has enemies, so I understand it.

Like last time, we smelled the cooking being prepared inside the kitchen. It's almost dinner time, but before we get to that I am sure there will be questions to answer. As our bags were being carried to our suites - mine was already prepared prior to my arrival - we sat down in the living room for a chat with the Alphas. This oughta be good...

"It's so nice to see you again, Jacob. A lot has happened since the last time you came here." Dahlia was welcoming me with her signature charming smile. She is the definition of the expression 'Luna material'.

"Tell me about it, Luna. All I wanted was for your son to stop belittling me. I never expected him to fall in love with me instead." I said in a joking tone, causing Skylar to get flustered before his parents.

"Yeah, no one saw that coming, young man." Frederick stared at me with his judgmental gaze and frankly, I was already over it.

"Son, please explain to me why you invited a boy who does not want to be your prospect, instead of inviting students who actually want to be with you?" He questioned Skylar, ignoring my presence as if I was nothing.

"Dad!" Skylar shouted at him, protesting his way of speaking.

"He didn't invite me, Seth did. However, maybe that was a mistake. If you are bothered by my presence here, you should have said so before. I could have saved myself a long trip and gone straight back to Boulder." I snarled at him, irritated at his condescending tone.

Dahlia was fuming at her husband. She was not amused by his antics.

"I am not bothered by your presence, kid. I just think my sons should be bringing me prospects at this point. It's a waste of a journey if you ask me!" He snapped at me as if I was a nuisance to him.

"Enough!" Dahlia shouted and even the kitchen staff could hear her - not that they would ever interfere. Nobody would.

"Jacob is a guest here and you will treat him with the respect he is owed! Even if he is not Skylar's prospect, he is still Seth's roommate and friend. Since when do we welcome people into our home like this, Frederick?" Dahlia glared daggers at him, furious and embarrassed for him.

"Now, I know you have expectations for your sons to make a good match there in Ravenwood. I want that too, but that in no way should reflect in our welcoming of our son's friend here. If you want to speak to your sons about prospects, you can do so at another time. Jacob has nothing to do with any of that and he is blameless in the whole situation. I will not stand idle while you vilify him as a scapegoat! Behave yourself, husband, or your presence will not be required in this house!" She yelled at him with a menacing tone.

Skylar and Seth were staring wide-eyed at their mother as she put her husband in his place. Frederick gasped in shock at her not-so-veiled threat of turning him away from his own home. The two Alphas gazed at each other as Frederick absorbed her disapproving glare.

Finally, he took a breath to calm down and spoke looking directly at me.

"I apologize for the cold reception, Jacob. My wife, as usual, is right. We welcome you into this house and my personal feelings as a father should have come in second place. It's just that I've never seen my son reacting to anyone like he does about you. It's unprecedented." He apologized to me, taking stock of his behavior.

Well, I am not going to criticize a father for caring about his son. I wish I had that as well.

"It's okay, I understand, Alpha. I never expected Skylar to come on to me as strong as he has been lately. No boy has ever behaved towards me like he does. It's very endearing." I melted at the Alpha sitting next to his brother. I have to admit the truth, he is one of a kind.

"That should be telling that you ought to listen to your heart and admit that my son is the one for you. Not that other boy, no offense." He advocated for his son passionately and for a man who would never approve of me in the first place to be saying that... It really moved me to tears.

My eyes were filled with water, feeling emotional at his passionate plea. It's not that I think he is wrong, it's just that I wish I had that kind of fatherly love in my life. I am sure Frederick is a hard man, but from what I have heard so far, no one could accuse him of being a bad father.

I excused myself to go to the nearest restroom, I needed to get myself together. I don't usually get so struck by my daddy issues, but for some reason, they are flaring up at seeing how much Frederick cares for his sons. I should have known coming back to Shawn's pack would bring all my inadequacies back with a vengeance.

I just did not imagine it would happen so soon...

I locked myself in a small washroom and bawled my eyes out. This shouldn't be messing with me the way it is, I keep a lot of stuff bottled up inside. It's not like I never saw a decent father in my life, my grandfather still calls my mom every other day to ask her if she arrived home safely.

For some reason, Frederick reminded me of Shawn and...

I spent a good five minutes crying inside the washroom before I washed my face, soaped my hands with an incredibly expensive liquid soap, and then dried my face and hands with a towel so soft it was like touching a cloud up in the sky. Rich people have it best.

When I returned to the living room, Skylar was irritated at his father for bringing me to tears. Seth got up from his seat to meet me halfway. He looked troubled for my sake.

"Are you okay? It looked like you were about to cry." He asked me, sounding concerned.

"I am fine. Sorry for being a freak in front of your parents, it's–"

"You are not a freak, Jake!" He raised his tone to affirm that, sounding distraught.

"If anything, my dad was the freak for forgetting his manners." Seth stated, irritated at Frederick for his reception of me.

"Do you want to stay in a hotel? We don't have to stay here if you don't want to." Skylar approached me with a concerned expression on his face.

"No, I don't. I wasn't crying because of the way your father treated me, I was just very moved by how much he loves you. I promise you, I am okay. He just touched my heart in a way that I wasn't expecting, that's all." I declared, much to their collective surprise.

Skylar and Seth kept staring at me a few feet apart from me, small steps away from each other in the corridor that led to the living room. Both of them already picked up on what I was referring to. I didn't need to say anything else for them to start pitying me over the parental abandonment.

In a moment, I returned to the living room with the twins where Frederick welcomed me back with a remorseful expression on his face.

"I am sorry if I made you feel bad, Jacob. I promise you that was not my intention." He was also pitying me.

"You didn't, Alpha. If anything you showed me what happens when a father stays and cares for his son." I informed him, trying my best not to cry again.

The room was filled with an awkward vibe as uncomfortable stares were being exchanged until one of the maids came into the living room to announce that dinner was served. Saved by the bell.

We adjourned to the luxurious dining room where we sat down for a gourmet meal. I had eaten on the plane, but I was peckish. We began eating in silence once all the food was served - traditionally, the Alpha served himself first. It's easy to forget that this is a family.

If you take all the money and power, it's a family at heart. A loving family, even if the Alpha couple don't share much love for one another anymore. They do respect each other a great deal. I know why Frederick chooses to not get divorced as I know why Dahlia remains with him. They have an understanding and it's better this way.

"By the way, mom, I need to tell you the latest from your other son." Seth teased Skylar about his brother's latest antics. Both their parents stared at Skylar in anticipation of what was about to be revealed.

"Or you could just be quiet. How about that?" Skylar glared at Seth, bothered that he was about to bring up the...

"Apparently, he wrote a poem for Jake." Seth declared, catching both his parents by surprise.

"What?!" They both gasped in shock.

"My son, who once told me I should be glad he got a "C" in English Literature, wrote an actual poem?" She sassed him, impressed by his move.

"Who are you and what have you done with my son?" Frederick stared at him, incredulously.

"I'm in love, dad." He replied, glancing at me with hearts in his eyes.

Isn't that the most adorable thing ever? *swoons*

Later that night, I was alone in my guest suite - it was prepared in advance of my arrival here. Sorry Seth, no sleepovers this time! - when Skylar knocked at my door.

At first, he asked me if I had settled in okay and apologized once again for his father's icy reception. I told him I was fine and I understood he was only behaving that way because he loves his son. I get that.

He asked me if he could enter my suite so he could read the poem he wrote to me, of course I said yes. I have been dying to listen to it since this morning.

As Skylar professed his love for me in poetic words, my heart was swelling with a profound sense of love that was irradiated from him. It was as if I could feel his love for me in every word, every rhyme. It was mesmerizing!

He stood there in front of me, reciting the poem as if we were in another century and that was how people expressed their sentiments. Well, some people at least. I was moved by his every syllable, entrapped by his improvised rhymes.

It was so beautiful, I was moved to listen to his heart beating fast, accelerated to match this moment. Skylar was nervous to recite the poem to me, anxious. He looked oh so dreamy as he did. I was transported to another time, another era.

"Jacob, my darling, I am hopelessly in love with you." He concluded, looking deep into my eyes as he did.

Why is this getting to me? Why do I feel so connected to him? I can feel his skin ablaze with fervorous love and his vulnerability towards me. He does love me, though I never actually doubted that.

"Just kiss me already!"

"I thought you'd never ask!"

When I felt Skylar's lips touching mine, I was electrified by a jolt of sensations all at once.

What is happening to me? And why oh why are his lips so wonderful to kiss?

He kissed me like I had never been kissed before, so hungrily but tenderly. He savored my taste, our tongues danced around each other while his firm Alpha arms were wrapped around me in a warm hug. I could feel the warmth of his love for me and I never wanted it to end...

https://youtu.be/yCC_b5WHLX0

A|N: BOOM!

Ironically, this song wasn't even on my radar but I read a comment on my Patreon about Jake's need to listen to his heart and it was all that it took.

Warning: this Texas trip is the gift that keeps on giving and there will be trouble in Paradise. Turmoil is ahead of our favorite characters. You can hardly wait!

But if you want to kill your curiosity, my Patreon account is ready for you with SEVEN chapters already cleared for your delight. Buckle up, my darlings! A storm is brewing!

www.patreon.com/LeonardoMontero

I had tears in my eyes as I wrote Jake's breakdown in this chapter. It was all too relatable to me, as I said before. Hopefully, he can recover from the shock that is coming soon. Twist? No, that is not a twist. It's a betrayal! *gasp*

Next is "Treasure".

Love,

Léo.