JACOB

It's Christmas Ball day.

The last day of the year for students to secure a match before tomorrow's Parents' Day and the school breaks for Winter next Wednesday. It's do or die here at Ravenwood as we all know tomorrow will be the best chance for any of us to have all our parents in one place at the same time to negotiate our partnership contracts.

It is a time-honored tradition dating back centuries, when fathers negotiated their daughters' marriage with the best suitable candidate they could find. History is filled with King's daughters being matched to crown Princes to secure a much-coveted alliance.

Though we live in modern times, with the mate bond's downfall, that tradition surged in the last few decades or so. At least for the people who matter in society. Common people can still do whatever the heck they want and marry whoever they want, but these people cannot afford to do that. Not with so much to lose.

A good partner - in most cases, Luna - can make or break any pack. You can either be a respectable leader like Dahlia or Jayden's father are, or you could embarrass your Alpha partner instead of helping them do their jobs. It's easy to see how the choice of partner means everything for leaders of today.

People like the top 20 most powerful packs of the country cannot afford to drop the ball in that regard. Well, in ANY regard, but especially in the choice of Luna. It's easy to see why people like Victoria Livingstone and Helen Matarazzo are the two most coveted females of our current class - and were so quickly matched. One is a United States Senator's daughter, and the other is as rich as the Strongholds.

Even if you prospect a scholarship student like me, that does not mean it is a bad choice just because I lack pedigree or money. History is also filled with stories of people who married into money and did great. As long as you do your absolute best by your partner, there is nothing to fear.

Seth and I walk out of the second tower toward the first one for our daily breakfast. As we were still yawning from having gone to sleep later than usual last night, we overheard people making plans for tonight and last-minute, desperate attempts at partnerships.

"I think it was Sky who said the other day that Ravenwood is starting to look like the Hunger Games, now so more than ever, with just one day until our parents arrive." I commented, sensing the apprehension among the single folks.

"Yeah, I agree. On that note, the only person who is not nervous is Kyle. Does he have a secret prospect that we don't know about? I mean, not counting the Brazilian hottie." Seth noted, looking around the crowded corridor.

"Well, maybe he is hoping to secure one tonight at the Christmas Ball. He will have to dance with every eligible student once again." I stated, observing that those who are not secured on a partnership are obligated to dance with all the available candidates who have yet to secure a prospect.

"I don't know, honestly. But now it's the desperation ball or leave this place single." Seth spoke, mildly awkward because Kyle was just a few feet away from us, listening to us talking about him.

A FEW MINUTES LATER...

"Have you given up on finding a prospect here? Why don't you present Roberto to your parents?" Skylar asked Kyle at the Alpha section of the cafeteria.

"Because I don't want my father to laugh in my face for presenting another Alpha to him. Unless Beto is secretly an Omega, in which case now would be a great time as any to reveal this information." He responded in a snarky tone.

Both of them looked at Roberto at the other table next to Jayden. He smirked at them.

"If I were an Omega, I would have already been pregnant by now." He said in a snarky tone. Kyle gasped at his response, while Skylar widened his eyes, like most of the other students who heard that.

"I guess now we know. And here I thought you were the bottom." Skylar snickered, staring at Kyle.

"He didn't say he'd be pregnant by me, asshole!" Kyle rebuked him, irritated.

"And bottom shaming is so outdated! You should let Jake top you to see what it's like." He suggested and I gulped awkwardly, though I was far away from their eyesight. Seth was just as embarrassed as me by that quip.

"I'll give that a thought one day." Skylar surprised everyone by saying that. I low-key expected him to have a snarky response ready.

"I'm sorry that you don't have anyone to present to your mom tomorrow, but please tell her you made friends here. And I still would like to meet her." Jayden told Roberto, feeling sad for him. Not to mention mildly embarrassed for this line of conversation between Skylar and Kyle.

"It's fine, Jay. I didn't come here with expectations of that kind anyway. But I will introduce you to her, rest assured. She doesn't speak English, but I will convey your words to her." Roberto smiled at him, despite the grim prospect for tomorrow.

In reality, the foreign exchange student is much more excited to see his mother than any one of us. He has been away from his family since late August, so that is understandable. I miss my mom as well, but we spent Thanksgiving together less than two weeks ago.

"Can I ask why isn't your father coming? Isn't he the Alpha of your pack?" Jayden asked Roberto, tentatively.

"He said he can't get away from his business right now, but he will see me when I return to Brazil for the Holidays next week." He replied, a bit disappointed, but not totally surprised by that.

"I'm sorry, man. That sucks." Jayden felt bad for him.

Deadbeat dad? Relatable.

"You should go on a shopping spree with your mother using his credit card." Jayden told him with a mischievous grin. Roberto laughed at that suggestion out loud. He snorted.

"If I do that, I won't get to return next year. Even though I won't get to claim anyone on April, I wanna see if either you or Skylar will break the curse. I wouldn't miss it for the world." He spoke, still laughing at the suggestion.

Aww.

"I did not expect to relate to Roberto as much as I do, but he is such a nice guy. I feel bad for not giving him a proper chance when he was courting me back then." I commented, feeling a connection with him despite our circumstances being different.

"I know, right? If I were an unpaired student, I'd be all over him." Seth declared, looking at some people in our section who are not yet matched. Scholarship students.

"Yeah... I'm thinking tonight's Christmas Ball is going to be eventful for your... hookup." Skylar said, looking at Kyle as he did, with a pregnant pause between the last two words.

"If he can do better than me, then go for it." Kyle snapped at him in a snarky tone.

"I'm sure all he wants is someone who he can introduce to his mother. Trust me, I wouldn't want to be anybody's dirty secret and I'd bet money that any other student here wouldn't want that either. Especially queer people who have fought for decades to live free and love without judgment." Skylar stated with a firm conviction.

"My grandfather tried to straight wash my choice in prospect. That is why he put Shawn up to block me from being able to prospect Jake. Now I love my grandpa, but if he can't accept my love for Jake, then he will no longer be a part of my life. I won't be made to feel ashamed of who I am. I will love my Omega out and proud. Too many people have died for me to have that right, and I will not squander it." Skylar continued, emotionally.

This has taken a turn. I am emotional right now because I understand where Skylar is coming from - though Kyle isn't embarrassed to introduce Roberto to his parents because he is gay. After all, he is an Alpha as well. There is a clear difference in the situation.

"Dude, are you crying?" Kyle was baffled, staring at Skylar misty-eyed.

"No, I'm just emotional. I did not expect your story to hit me the way it did." He told him, on the verge of tears.

"My father knows I'm gay, dude. He is not embarrassed about me, he just wants me to find an Omega." Kyle declared, rather annoyed at Skylar for making this about him.

"Yeah, yeah, I get it. I'm sorry. I don't know why I am so emotional right now. I guess I really want tomorrow to go well." He said, taken aback by the whole thing.

Wow. Who said breakfasts can't be an event? Certainly not me.

The last day of exams for most of the students - not for me, Seth, or Skylar who missed classes, alongside all the students who were rescued on the day of the avalanche - went as well as could be expected. Night falls and everybody is getting ready for the ball.

The ballroom in the third tower was beautifully decorated with Christmas ornaments, it was a thematic event after all, and everybody was ready to dance the night away. It will be a Friday night to remember.

As hordes of students dressed in the finest clothes I have ever seen in my life entered the room, we were marveled to find the space fully prepared for us to have a good time. As usual, the faculty presence here is minimal, but Acting Headmaster Lockwood was there in a beautiful gown fit for the Oscars red carpet.

When all the students were crowding the spacious lounge, she addressed the crowd to give a short speech.

"Good evening, everyone. I hope you are all as excited as I am for the last ball of the year here at Ravenwood. For those of you who are prospected, I wish you to have a great date night. And for those of you who are yet unpaired, stay strong. When I was a student here, someone who turned out to be a good friend of mine only got prospected in January. I wish you all the best of luck, don't forget all eligible Alphas and Betas have to dance at least once with all available Omegas and Gammas. Enjoy your night!" She encouraged us, dazzling. Her husband, who despite not working at Ravenwood refused to leave Colorado without her, took his wife by the hand and pulled her into a corner to...

"Wow. Your mom looks amazing!" Seth commented to Jayden, mesmerized by how beautiful she looks tonight.

"I know, right? Way to go, mom, put us all to shame!" He was equally baffled by how well she put herself together for the occasion.

"Your parents are so in love with each other!" I noted, embarrassed to watch them make out like they were the teenagers in the room, though they tried to be discreet about it.

"They really are, it's so annoyingly sweet. That is exactly what I want for us. To still be all over each other even after 24 years of union." He spoke, glancing at Seth — who, by the way, was dressed like a prince tonight. Both he and his brother were dressed to impress, as always.

Seth smiled widely at Jayden and leaned in for a kiss. That is my cue to take my prospect somewhere else and leave them be. So many beautiful people tonight, but I am glad to not be one of the people who have to dance with every available student again.

No tea, no shade, but I am done with all that. Hopefully for good.

All I want is to be with my Alpha and make the most of our relationship.

Skylar takes me to the dance floor, they are playing what is now our song — I think he requested that song to the DJ, but I'm not mad about it. Oh my, the Alpha is looking so dreamy tonight. I feel like the luckiest Omega on Earth right now.

I don't know why I am feeling so emotional right now, but this is probably the happiest I have ever felt in my life.

*Skylar squeezes my hand as we dance*

*Our bodies get closer in a symbiotic movement*

*He leans in and kisses me*

It feels like I am floating around the ballroom.

https://youtu.be/0YjSHbA6HQQ

A|N: I guess you should all brace for impact.

The twist you won't want to miss is coming like a hurricane!

OFF: I literally got so emotional as I wrote Skylar's speech that I thought of this song. I am an empath for my characters' feelings. Darn it!

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Next is "Ego".

Love,

Léo.