WINTER ROGUE

CHAPTER 2 - DATING - JAYLA'S POV

My parents rushed me out of the Alpha's home quickly, while an argument erupted between all the council members, coming up with ways to force me.

My family were tense the entire drive home, no one talking, but I could tell by the vein popping out on my fathers neck that he was building up, and I was right, the second we arrived home, and I stepped through the door, the shouting began.

My parents and brother stood in a tight circle, faces twisted with anger and they towered over me.

''You have to marry Alpha Barret!'' My father shouted, his voice echoing off the walls. ''It’s the only way to save our pack from the curse.'' My mother nodded vigorously, her eyes pleading.

"Think of our future!'' My brother chimed in, ''Our children will never find their mates if you don't do this!"

''Baby, I know it's a sacrifice,'' Mom rubbed my arm gently, ''You'll never find your true mate, but your father and I never found ours, and we're deeply in love, and you'll get to be a Luna.''

''A Luna to a pig who f*cks anything that moves and abuses his pack members.'' I argued, how could they not see that they were pushing me into a cage? The fact that it was made of gold made no difference.

''Barret's a little spoiled, but he'll be a good Alpha once he grows up more.'' My stupid brother defended him.

''You've always been blind to how horrible he really is.'' I frowned angrily, ''But open your eyes Harvey, he's a monster, and you're literally forcing your sister down an aisle to be shackled to him!''

''It's for the pack.'' Dad said, ''Just marry him and mark each other, and.''

''Enough!'' I cut him off, my voice trembling. ''You don’t understand! I don’t love Barret, and I'm not wrong about the curse. Barret's not the Alpha in the curse! I won’t marry him.''

The room fell silent for a moment, the tension thick enough to slice. My brother stepped forward, eyes narrowed. ''You're being selfish. This isn’t just about you. The pack needs you. You're a white Lycan, you don't get to pick your own destiny, the Goddess put you here for a reason.''

''Yes, I am a white Lycan!'' I shouted, ''Which is why you should trust my powers!'' I took a deep breath. ''I am not marrying him!'' I snapped, ''It will not break the stupid curse, and I will not be used as a cure!''

I pushed past my family, and ran upstairs to my room, where I laid down on my bed crying. I felt the weight of my family's expectations pressing down on me.

''Maybe we should do it.'' Willow suggested.

''No,'' I shook my head, ''I won't do this, and I need your support now more than ever on this. Will, can you feel it too, I'm not wrong, and can you imagine being stuck with that pr*ck for the next hundred and fifty years?''

There was a gentle knock on the door, and I smelt my grandfather's scent, so I got off the bed, and opened the door.

''May I come in?''

''Why does dad always send you after every fight?'' I sighed in frustration, and pushed the door open more, so he could walk inside.

''He didn't send me.''

''Are you going to gang up on me too?'' I asked as I sat down on my bed again, hugging my pillow.

''When have I ever ganged up on you?'' He asked, as he sat down.

''Grandpa, please tell me what to do.'' I leaned forward and grabbed his hands, ''Please, you've always steered me in the right direction.''

His eyes sparkled with pride. ''You are strong. Follow your heart, and all will be well. You don't need me to tell you what to do.''

''I'm not wrong about this feeling. Marrying Barret won't end this curse.''

''Then you already have your answer, now you have to stand by your choice, no matter what it costs you.''

''How will I make everyone else understand?'' I asked, ''I don't want to be banished, and it's not like I can join another pack.''

''We'll talk with the Alpha and try to save you, but you know there's nothing we can do if he kicks you out of the pack, ''He told me, sounding frustrated and upset. ''And in the meantime, why don't you spend some time with Barret, maybe spending time with him alone might change something.''

''I really doubt that.''

''Just try, being a Luna isn't a bad gig.'' He said, as he leaned over, kissed my forehead, ''Get some rest and think it over,'' He ordered, before leaving my room.

I groaned and laid back, just staring at the ceiling of my room. While I thought things over, I wish I could see the future. Some white Lycan's could do that, but I'd never been able to, which was more frustrating than ever right now.

I gave up on my very busy schedule of staring off into space, and went to stare off into space in the tub, going over everything again and again in my mind.

Marry him and spend the rest of my life being cheated on and saving the pack from his greedy claws, or refuse and be banished. I didn't know which was worse.

I was still unsure of what to do by the time I went to bed, and I tossed and turned all night, before falling to sleep, and I woke up to the sound of raindrops tapping on my window. The morning felt heavy already, as if the world knew something was about to change. I brushed my hair back and checked my alarm clock, it was still early, too early for anyone else to wake up, so I decided to put on my workout gear and raincoat and go for a run, but when I walked outside, I found two guards sitting under the covered area on the porch.

''What is going on? Why are you here?''

''The Alpha ordered us to stay with you, Luna.'' One of the men, Jacob told me.

''I'm not the Luna!'' I growled angrily, and started running.

''Luna, please, it's raining, you should stay in the warmth!'' Nick called out.

''Go back, or you'll both get a cold!'' I called over my shoulder and sped up, there wasn't a Beta on the planet that could mate a white Lycan's speed.

''LUNA WAIT!'' Jacob shouted, and when I didn't stop, he tried linking me, but I cut him off after he called my name.

I ran until my lungs burned, going around the entire pack, before continuing back home soaking wet despite my raincoat, and found the guards looking angry, back under the porch.

''Luna, do you have any idea how much trouble we could get into if the Alpha learns you ditched us!'' Jacob complained.

''Then don't tell him.'' I shrugged and continued inside for a hot shower.

As I numbly prepared breakfast, my mind raced to thoughts about Barret. No one was talking to me as everyone came into the kitchen, and we sat in silence at the dining table, my father and brother glaring at me the whole time.

The doorbell rang, and when Annette, our housekeeper, walked back in, Barret was standing behind, drenched from the rain but looking determined. He stepped inside the dining room without waiting for an invitation. His smile felt forced, and I noticed his eyes darting around the room.

''We have to talk.'' He said as he looked at me.

''No we don't.''

''I WASN'T ASKING!'' He shouted, and I rolled my eyes.

''Did you forget that your command doesn't work on a white Lycan?''

''Just get up, or I'll have your family beaten.''

''Yeah, that's a great way to get me to marry you.''

He exhaled angrily, and slammed his hands on the table, ''JAYLA! Don't push me!''

I rolled my eyes, put my coffee down, and rose to my feet. I led him into the private living room, and shut the door, before sitting down.

''Well? You wanted to talk.''

''I’ve been doing some thinking about this whole marriage thing,'' He said, his voice steady. ''We should at least spend some time together and try to see if we'd work.''

''We wont. I'm not marrying you.''

But he growled and leaned closer. '' You don't have to, but if you don’t agree, there will be consequences.''

My stomach twisted. ''I'm aware of the banishment, and I'd still take that over marrying you.''

''And what about your family'' He asked, ''Are you going to make them suffer, knowing you're banished and alone, because I promise you, you will not see them again until you give in.''

''What is your damn problem?!'' I snapped, and my hands clenched into fists ''It's not like you actually want me either! Why can't you just back off!?''

''Who says I don't like you?''

''You've treated me like trash for years, don't pretend you like me!'' I shouted, and stood up, ''You only want the power a white Lycan can give you. Just like your ancestor. Or is that the real reason you want to marry me. You feel guilty because your damn ancestor screwed us all!''

Barret rose his hand to strike me, but I thrust up my leg, and kicked him in the stomach, causing him to stumble backwards.

''TRY IT AND I'LL KILL YOU!'' I warned.

Barret growled, ''I won’t let anyone else have you!'' He shouted back, ''Either you agree to spend the month dating me, or I'll banish your grandparents!''

I felt trapped. Was he really threatening my loved ones?

''You can’t threaten me like this.'' I argued, ''Do you really think I'd ever marry someone who threatens my family and tries to hit me?!''

Barret growled and ran his fingers through his hair, but then he calmed down, ''I'm sorry.'' He said, shocking me more, ''I shouldn't have tried to hit you, but I can't let you go. Do you have any idea the pressure on me to fix this curse? If you don't agree to marry me, everyone will hate us!''

''Marrying you won't cure the curse!'' I told him, ''You're not the alpha.''

''Of course I am!'' He argued, ''Everything's lining up, you're the white Lycan with the mark, I'm an alpha from the line who was a part of the original curse. If it's not me then who? My father?''

''Ew, of course not!''

''Watch it, Jayla, don't insult my father.''

I took a deep breath, and calmed down. ''I'm sorry, I didn't mean to insult him, but I'm not lying. I know in my bones, that our marriage wont fix anything.''

''Maybe because we're not in love.'' He suggested, ''But if we spend time together, you might fall for me, and you won't get banished, and have your family hurt.''

I had to protect my family from the pain of seeing me banished.

''Okay, fine!'' I growled angrily, ''I will give you one month, but I have conditions.''

''Name them.'' Barret commented, as he crossed his arms.

''One, you're not allowed to kiss or touch me without my consent,''

''Fine,''

''Two, if you ever try to hit me again, I'll use all my powers to burn you alive.''

Barret looked annoyed, but nodded, ''I will never try to hit you again.''

''Good. Three, you're not allowed to throw your weight around anymore. I'll never marry an Alpha that thinks he's above his pack.''

''I am above them.''

''No you're not.'' I told him, ''But if you think your power makes you better, then I guess you're beneath me. You should bow down every time you see me.''

Barret growled, but he got my point and exhaled in defeat, ''Okay, I will work on being better. Is there anything else?''

''Yes, if after a month, I'm not in love with you, then I'm not marrying you, and you can't banish me!''

Barret took a step back, and the anger melted away, replaced by uncertainty. I watched as he processed my words.

''It's not up to me if you're banished or not, it's up to my father, but... I'll talk to him and ask him to spare you.''

''Great, and we can track down the real Alpha,'' I held out my hand, ''Do we have a deal?''

''Deal.'' Barret shook my hand, but I quickly pulled away, ''I will go tell my father, and I'll pick you up on Friday, you're coming to Logans party with me.''

I groaned angrily, ''I hate Logan, he's such a pig.''

''True, but his parties are good.'' He smirked, ''See you Friday.''

At least we had something in common, I thought as Barret walked away. I took some time alone to compose myself before returning to my family.

''Well?'' Dad asked.

''I've agreed to date him until the wedding, and if we can't connect, I don't have to go through with the wedding.''

''And the banishment?'' Grandfather asked.

''It's still a worry, but Barret will talk to his father.''

''Okay, well it's a better outcome than I thought after your mood last night.'' Dad nodded, deep in thought.

''I don't want to talk about this anymore. I'm going to class.''