WINTER ROGUE

CHAPTER 4 - SABOTAGE - JAYLA'S POV

I was leaving the Goddess temple after morning prayers on Sunday morning, when I ran into the Alpha's family talking the priest. I tried to sneak past them, but Alpha called me back.

''Damn it,'' I complained to Willow, before turning back, and plastering a fake smile on my face. I walked back and bowed, ''Alpha, Luna, you're looking lovely today.''

''You too, dear.'' Luna said just as fakely, ''Why didn't you sit with us this morning?''

''Because I was sitting with my family.''

''We're your future family,'' Alpha said firmly, ''Next week, you'll sit with us.''

''Yes, sir.'' I bowed, ''If you'll excuse me, I...''

''You're not going anywhere.'' Luna Erica, told me as she linked her arm through mine, ''We're having a small gathering, and you need to come.''

I stopped myself from exhaling in frustration, and walked with her to her car, where her guard opened the doors for us.

''Thank you,'' I smiled as I climbed into the car.

I awkwardly sat there looking out the window.

''Barret told me you left him high and dry on Friday night.''

''Well, if your son wasn't raised to be a spoiled power hungry pig, I wouldn't have.''

''Watch your tone, Jayla,'' Luna Erica warned me, ''My son isn't spoiled.''

''Of course you don't think so, you're the one who spoiled him.''

''ENOUGH!'' She shouted and grabbed my arm, ''Listen to me Jayla, you will marry Barret in three weeks, so get in line. I will not have you embarrass my son.''

''Luna, I show you respect because of everything you've done for the pack,'' I spoke as I stared at her hand on my arm, ''But I am giving you one warning to release me. I am a white Lycan, and while I might not outrank your husband, I do outrank you.''

She growled and pulled her hand back, ''Why are you fighting this? You'll be a Luna and our pack will be seen as one of the most powerful after this curse is broken. Everyone will come to be our allies because you're a white Lycan.''

''I am sick of telling you all this!'' I snapped, ''Marrying Barret will NOT break the curse.''

''Oh, there's just no talking to you, you stubborn child.'' She complained, ''Well, either way, you told Barret you'd give him a chance, so you will.''

''Fine.'' I crossed my arms and went back to looking out the window?

Frustration bubbled inside me. I needed a new approach. Nothing I was trying was working! What did I have to do to get Garret to call this stupid engagement off. That way I wouldn't be the bad guy and I wouldn't get banished.

I stood at the edge of the gathering an hour later, feeling the weight of the elders eyes on me. I had thought this was going to be a family gathering, but the moment I walked into the Alpha's home, I was bombarded by all the council and most of the elders.

I wanted to run. The pressure to marry Barret was mounting, and it was all the elders were talking about. Every time I past someone, I'd hear them speaking about our upcoming wedding. Their words blurred into a dull hum. I felt trapped, like a deer caught in headlights.

''My son marrying Jayla will only strengthen our pack,'' I overheard Luna insisting.

I glanced at Barret talking to Mia, his stalker, but when he noticed me looking, he offered me a weak smile, but I sensed no warmth behind it.

The elders chimed in, sharing tales of unity and strength, but their words felt hollow to me. I thought of my dreams, my own path, and this wasn’t it. I wanted adventure, not a husband who happened to be a pig.

When I was pouring myself another drink, Barret approached me, ''Jay, how are you?''

''I'm fine, you?''

''Good, good,'' He said, sounding awkward as he picked up a biscuit, ''So. I'm sorry about Friday night.''

''Whatever, Barret,'' I rolled my eyes and turned towards him for the first time, but I noticed Mia glaring at me, ''How's your little girlfriend?''

''Who?'' He frowned and followed my gaze.

''I've called it off with everyone, Mia included.''

I rolled my eyes again.

''Anyway, you said you'd give me a month, so can we try again?''

''I don't have a choice but to say yes, now do I?'' I asked, ''Not with being banished being held over my head.''

''I have nothing to do with that,'' He commented, ''Anyway. I have tomorrow off. Can I take you out tomorrow night?''

''Sure,'' I exhaled and drank to drink down, ''Right, well, I'll see you tomorrow. I'm leaving.''

''I'll pick you up at five.''

''Whatever.'' I said and left, dreading tomorrow.

I sat across the table from Barret, listening to him droll on about his fight training this morning where he beat two of the Betas. The restaurant buzzed around us, but I felt like I was being watched, and every time I look up, the person at the next table looked down quickly.

At first, I tried to be engaging and listen. I even faked a smiles at his stupid jokes, and made small talk, but it was obvious to everyone but Barret that we weren't compatible.

I had to kick things up a notch, so I cut him off mid-sentence, and changed the subject, trying to embarrass him as I told a story about his childhood mishaps, and followed it up with, ''I can't believe that kid that did that, has become such a skilled fighter. I hoped he'd get offended and leave, but instead, he laughed along with me and turned the story into a funny tale about my first fight training too.

''Damn it, how dare he turn it around on me!'' I complained to Willow.

When our meals arrived, Barret actually shocked me when he said, ''If you want to try something off my plate, just ask.'' He told me, and picked up fork.

Barret had chosen a steak with veg, while I picked a chicken penne pasta and garlic bread.

''Thanks,'' I smiled at him, as he reached over and took some of my garlic bread. Oh, I get it, he just wanted my food.

I didn't like sharing food. Growing up with a big family taught you to hoard your meals, but I let it go, and changed the subject again, and tried to annoy him for the rest of the date, and even ordered five different desserts, took a bite of each before pushing it away and complaining. I thought he'd get annoyed, but he just finished the dessert himself. I forgot how much Alpha's ate. Annoying him with food wasn't the way.

I was glad by the time he'd dropped me home, and we made plans for the next day. He had to spend the morning with one of the elders playing golf and wanted me to come. I suspected he wanted me as a caddy, but I was great at gold, and planned to kick his butt, and embarrass him in front of the elders. Which I did, and loved seeing all the men pouting like children, but even after our date, Barret still invited me out again the next day.

I spent the next two weeks sabotaging my relationship with Barret. I needed him to break things off, but nothing I did seemed to work. Every time I tried to push him away, he stood his ground. It was infuriating. I'd shout at him, make snide comments, or even ignore him completely, but he would just smile, that persistent, annoying smile, and say, ''I'll see you tomorrow.''

My first attempt was simple. I'd invited my closest friends over for a girls night of fun, hoping to make Barret feel unwelcome, by only inviting him and no other men. I scattered glitter, played loud music I knew he hated, and made him pain his nails. I thought he would storm out, but instead, he joined in, dancing with me as though nothing was wrong. He even ordered pizza's for us, and won over my jerk friends. My heart sank.

Every plan I made crumbled. I unleashed a series of small disasters, thinking he would get frustrated. I showed up late to dates, dressed in my most mismatched outfits I could find. I brought up my ex in some conversation, though he and I were never even close, but for the first time I saw anger in Barret's eyes, but then he'd change the subject.

At first, it felt empowering. I thought I could break through his thick skin. I envisioned the day he'd finally get fed up and leave me, but instead, he seemed to thrive on my attempts. Each time I threw a verbal jab, he responded with warmth. ''You're having a tough day, aren’t you? I'll order us some take out, and we'll just watch a movie,'' He would say. It was maddening. It was like trying to punch a cloud.

Each morning, I'd wake up with fresh resolve. ''Today is the day,'' I'd tell Willow, who was fed up with this whole situation. I'd plan my moves like a chess player. I’d deploy sarcasm as my weapon. I'd roll my eyes at his favorite movies, mock his taste in music, and even set up elaborate scenarios to embarrass him in front of our friends. Yet, he would laugh it all off.

I found myself in a spiral. The more I pushed, the closer he seemed to get. I ended up spending even more time with him. We went hiking, shared meals, and talked about everything under the sun, and what I hated the most, was the fact that when I was talking to him about my dreams for the future, I was no longer lying. I was telling him the truth about what I wanted out of my life. Even his laughter was growing on me. I knew I was losing my grip on the hatred I wanted to hold onto. Frustration bubbled inside me. This wasn't going according to plan.

I started to feel a strange shift. I still hated Barret, but there was something about his persistence that intrigued me, and I found myself looking forward to our time together. I almost forgot about my plan. Almost.

Then came the day when everything changed. We were on a hiking trip, surrounded by the beauty of the forest. The air was crisp, the mountains looming above us. I was supposed to be plotting my next move, but there was something about the way he looked at me.

The sun hit his face just right, and for a moment, I saw a vulnerability I had never noticed before. NO! Don't fall for his good looks. All Alpha's are attractive. Don't let it weaken your resolve.

We shifted and let our Lycan go for a run, but as we were hiding behind a tree, each of us re-dressing, Garret spoke.

''I know what you're doing by the way.'' He told me.

I paused and played dumb, ''What?''

''Enough Jay. Why do you keep trying to push me away?'' He asked, his voice steady. It caught me off guard. I had expected defiance, maybe even anger. Instead, there was concern. ''You said you'd give me a chance, but you haven't, and we only have one week before the wedding.''

I felt a lump in my throat, as guilt filled me.

I admitted the truth, as I walked back out into the clearing to find him leaning against a tree trunk. ''I thought if I could make you leave, then my problem would be solved, and I wouldn't get banished.''

''I said I'd speak to my dad about that.''

''And yet, when my dad asked him the other day, Alpha Percy said the banishment still stood.''

''I'm working on him.'' He snapped angrily, ''But you're not keeping up your side of things. So either give me a real chance, or you may as well leave the pack now!''

In that moment, my plan to sabotage everything crumbled. I couldn't push him away anymore. ''Fine.''