PREAMBLE

Friday morning in Texas. Frederick and Dahlia are having breakfast together in the dining hall of their mansion.

"Seth texted me. He said Skylar gave up on prospecting anyone else for the rest of the school term in Ravenwood." The Luna spoke with concern in her voice. Her husband scoffed.

"Skylar is just sulking. He will not stand the loneliness for six months. He will have another one in his arms in no time." He dismissed the alarming statement by his son. Dahlia glanced at him with a mixture of irritability and pity for his ignorance.

"He also said that he never heard his brother talk about anybody before like the way he talks about Jacob. It is as if he was an entirely different person. He is romantic and attentive to him. He speaks of Jacob like he was in love and they have never shared a kiss yet." She relayed the message, sounding impressed by her son.

"That's probably why he's acting this way. If he had his way with him, he would have already moved on by now and we wouldn't be hearing about this boy anymore." He countered, sounding dismissive.

"Have you ever heard our son talk about anyone the way he spoke about Jacob? Having known Sky for eighteen years, how many times did you see him going the extra mile for someone he wanted? Who could possibly have touched him in such a way that would make him travel all the way from Colorado to Texas in the middle of the week, just to talk to you? That whole conversation could have been had through a video chat, but no. He wanted to be here to have that talk, to look you in the eye and beg you to approve his choice of a prospect. Does any of that sound like this was on a whim? Or lust for a boy?" She challenged him, causing the Alpha to gasp in shock.

Frederick kept staring at his wife of twenty years in utter shock, baffled by her words.

"I am just saying... maybe, just maybe, this is about something bigger for him. Perhaps he did find an unicorn as you put it. Perhaps he wants something more than what his parents have. Marrying for money is fine, I am not unhappy with my life and I am certainly not complaining. But maybe our son wants something different than what we have. He went there to find a great match for him, that's true. But nobody ever told him that he could not marry for love. Nobody said he could not strive for something else. He just never thought that was in the cards for someone like him. But maybe, just maybe, he found that in Jacob. A boy who not only doesn't care that he is a Stronghold or about sucking up to you, he also doesn't care about money. At least, not in the sense that you'd think." She continued her speech while her husband was baffled by her arguments.

"Everybody cares about money, my dear." He scoffed, ever so smugly.

"Sure. But why didn't he take your check for the medical bills? You had no way of knowing he was on his mother's health insurance policy. He could have just kept his mouth shut and left here with enough money for his first year of college tuition, room, and meal plan. But he didn't. That, my dear, is called integrity. Honesty. I wonder who would benefit from having such a strong willed person as a Luna?" She provoked him with a sarcastic tone.

Oh, my Goddess! I love her. Women are the best! *hold for applause*

"Also, just a thought, Skylar promised to do everything you ever wanted him to. He was so desperate for your approval that he even offered you the chance to pick his college and major. Can you imagine the benefits of having something like this over him? A debt that could not so easily be paid? Can you imagine the kind of future he would have if he did everything that his father wanted him to?" She enticed him, who was wide-eyed at this.

"He will do that anyway." He scoffed.

"Sure... - She rolled her eyes, annoyed at him. - He will leave Ravenwood with no prospects. Go to the furthest college he can think of to get away from his father and resent you for the rest of his life for costing him what could easily be the love of his life. Trust me, he will never forgive you for this. He might not ever find a person that could like him for who he is and not his last name." She declared, convinced of the harrowing truth.

Even after twenty years of partnership, Frederick is still baffled by his wife. She has been dropping truth bombs left and right this morning. But nothing she said so far is wrong or lies. At this point, he would know if she was lying. No, she is just that smart.

"Why are you so hellbent on your son prospecting a loser?" He questioned her, irritated at her insistence on the matter. Dahlia laughed at his choice of words.

"Trust me, my dear. Jacob is far from being a loser. He is just a kid like any other trying to do his best to secure a future, but doing so the right way. Doing it with integrity. That is not being a loser, that is being righteous. He is much more successful than you would be, had you not been born a Stronghold. He certainly had better grades than you did in high school. Because he had no other choice but to study hard or he would never have a chance for a scholarship. No, Jake is not a loser. On the contrary, people like him are the ones who shape our future. History is filled with figures who came from humble backgrounds but changed the course of humanity. From the black female mathematician who was responsible for putting a man on the Moon to the queer man who was behind Germany's defeat in World War Two [and computer science]. I would wage money that Jacob would be a better Luna than even me. Maybe the best that this pack has ever had." She lectured him with a fierce conviction. Frederick gasped in shock at her speech.

Yeah, bruh. I don't think you're winning that argument, Fred. The more you try, the stronger the comebacks are. I think it's better if we move on from this conversation now.

No tea, no shade, but Dahlia just owned you! Wow, I am gobsmacked! This day promises to be a bumpy ride. *grabs the popcorn*

SKYLAR

I am miserable.

Jake has been approved by Jayden's mother and now they have a clear path to be prospected to each other. There is just a matter of Dr. Anderson approving Jayden, but that is a done deal. Anybody would approve of my roommate. I am not expecting anything different.

I cried from the moment Headmaster Lockwood announced their names to the rest of the night in my dorm room. I am not going to lie, I also hit the bar inside my mini fridge. I drank myself into a stupor to help me forget the heartbreak, but even that didn't help.

I cannot shake the feeling that Jake is the one I was supposed to be matched with.

I cannot help but feel shortchanged of an amazing experience that we could have had.

It's not about lust, I am not some Don Juan who wants to take his virginity for a bet. It's literally the last thing I want if you can believe that. I don't need sex, but I do need Jake. That's the honest truth. How I miss his head on my chest and his sweet scent next to me.

I am dying from heartbreak. I feel so down right now. Pain is my new best friend.

It's not like I have never been rejected in my life, trust me, I have. But Jake did not reject me, that is not what this is about. A rejection I could deal with, I was raised with a clear notion of consent and how important that is for a person of my position. Even in high school.

The worst feeling in the world is that I was not rejected by him. He did not select Jayden because he was a better man than me. My father stopped us from being together. Not me. Not him. My dad. That is what is killing me inside.

I feel like Zac Efron in the film "The Greatest Showman" in which he can't be with Zendaya because of the color barrier. He was a high-born society boy and she was black at the beginning of the last century. They wanted so desperately to be together, but couldn't because of the rules of society back then.

How is that okay? How could that ever be okay?

Tears come to my eyes.

I feel a sharp pain as I am flooded by all the emotions of being blocked from being with the person I could love. Or maybe I already do, I am not so sure. I am all over the place, to be honest. But I am in so much pain that I should probably tell Santos [my personal assistant] to mail me some painkillers or something. It's hell to withstand such heartache.

I guess alcohol will just have to do.

It's Friday. November 8th. The day of the 'Harvest Ball'.

I overslept today and lost the first two periods of classes and breakfast. I took a quick shower to wake me up, grabbed some granola bars, and sped through the hall on my way to my third class. The last thing I need now is to be expelled from Ravenwood for exceeding the legal amount of absences.

Seth looked worried for me as soon as he laid eyes on me.

"Do you not wake each other up in the morning?" Jake questioned Jayden from his seat in the classroom. They are far apart, but our voice carries for people with superhuman hearing ability.

"We are not that kind of roommates. I asked to switch rooms, but even a Lockwood can't call that kind of favor in here." Jayden replied, glancing at me with disdain.

"Yeah, we are more of... I wish I could kill him in his sleep, kind of roommates." I joked in dark humor. Jake and Seth widened their eyes as they listened to that.

"Please don't. I know you're hurting, but I kind of need Jayden." Jake told me, humorously.

"Trust me, Jake. You have no idea of the kind of pain that I am in. It is as if my heart is being ripped from my chest. At least if it was, I would stop feeling so much pain." I declared, rather incisive. Students gasped in shock at my words.

"I am worried about you." Seth spoke with a frightened gaze in my direction.

"Don't worry, little brother. I am not the murdering type. I could never hurt another person and I wouldn't be able to live with myself if Jake fails to get prospected because of me. I want him to be happy, even if he cannot be with me." I stated, looking at the adorable Omega. Well, both of them. They sit together in class.

"This too shall pass." Professor Roberts told me with a pity stare.

"I don't think it will, sir. Gideon's life would never be the same without Bidziil and neither will be mine without Jake." I refuted his attempt to make me feel better.

"He's not your mate, dude! Get over yourself!" Jayden sneered at me.

"Now we'll never know if he is. We could be the ones who would break the curse." I said, glancing at Jake from my seat. We exchanged a longing glance that had my heart palpitating.

Later that day, something odd happened. We were on the line for lunch and I asked Seth if he heard his and Sean's names in this morning's announcements. I was sleeping during breakfast, so I obviously missed it.

"Actually, Lockwood didn't do any announcements just yet. I imagine he is waiting until all the emails are tallied." He replied, not particularly worried about the lack of response from our dad. He is supposed to approve Sean for my brother but hasn't as of yet.

"Oh, right. That must be it, then. I am so excited for you." I winked at him, trying to be there for my twin who has nothing to do with my broken heart.

"Thank you, Sky. I am excited for me too. Who would have known I'd be prospected by an Alpha from another country?" He said, giddy with enthusiasm.

The cafeteria was buzzing with excitement - or dread - about tonight's ball. Those who are excused from it, will still probably attend it but without the pressure of having to dance with everybody. I will not have that option. It's either dancing or cleaning toilets for the rest of the weekend. I don't mind dancing, but I would prefer if Jake was available.

"I need you to come with me, please." Mr. Kirchner showed up at the cafeteria with two of his men. There are always Security Officers roaming around the corridors of Ravenwood or guarding the students during group activities outside of the classroom. There are always people here at the cafeteria as well. But we rarely see the Head of Security.

"Can it wait for me to finish my lunch?" Sean asked him, puzzled as to why he was here by his table in the Alpha section.

"I will give you five minutes to swallow your food." Mr. Kirchner said in a snarky tone.

"I am sure whatever it is, it could wait until he finishes lunch." I told him, feeling uneasy at this.

"Stay out of this, Stronghold!" He reprimanded me with a death glare.

Okay, then. Goddess... what would be so important that Sean could not eat lunch in peace? I hope it has nothing to do with his family or an emergency in his pack.

After Sean was taken by the Security Officers, Headmaster Lockwood said through the intercom system.

"Attention, students. I received a very distressed email today from Alpha Stronghold. It appears that his son's prospective candidate has a criminal record. Therefore, he can no longer be a suitable alternative for Seth. Having known this fact, I have no other choice than to terminate his tenure here in Ravenwood. I can not let him stay here to prospect any of our students and compromise our reputation. I apologize for the oversight and I wish him the best of luck on his journey back to England."

The announcement dropped like a bomb on my brother's hopes and dreams.

"Oh, my Goddess!" Seth cried out in utter shock.

I got up from my seat and rushed to comfort my brother. He was destroyed by that revelation. How could they miss this? A criminal record? Did he seriously think my father would not run a background check on his son's prospect? Come on!

"I am so sorry, Seth!" I consoled my poor brother, who was devastated over this shock. He was in shambles after that, crying copiously.

Brother, I did not want you to know what heartbreak is. I did not want you to feel what I was feeling.

From the bottom of my broken heart, I really wish you never had to relate to this state that I am in right now. You deserved better, Seth. I can only hope you bounce back from this. Goddess knows I never will... *sobs*

https://youtu.be/fHPnGqXXUmI

A|N: BOOM!

I haven't felt so inspired to write in a while. I could never have imagined how this book would take off In the way that it did. I am loving this story more than I anticipated.

The twists and turns are here to make your head spin!

And I am far from done yet. The secret is out!

But maybe, just maybe, there could be more on the way.

Who knows?

OFF: It's the first time ever that I've written a preamble, but I loved every minute of it.

Next is "Cheek to Cheek".

Love,

Léo.