Oblivious

Mia Jane Rochette

Present Day

"Don't forget to take this, MJ." Her mom handed her a glass of orange juice and two tablets; her everyday supplements. Though they had a distinctive taste, she took them without any complaint.

"Thanks, mom. See you later." She said in a hollow voice, gathered her books and backpack, exited their showcased kitchen, striding confidently to their foyer. A butler opened the door for her with a flourished and bowed. She mentally winced. Two cars were park at the driveway, one hers, a Bentley Continental, the second one an SUV for her security detail, her driver and childhood friend opened the door at the backseat for her with a smile, closed it with a soft thud then occupied the driver's seat before looking over his shoulder, waiting for instructions. "Starbucks then Uni, please."

This was her second year at UCLA but nothing much had changed. At twenty, she was yearning for independence her legal age should have given her but her parents were still treating her like she was in pre-school. 

They were loaded, she lived an extravagant lifestyle, her dad gave her anything she asked for.....except her freedom. She was not a brat. Far from it. Despite the privileges wealth had provided her, she had tried to live a simple life.

Dating was out of the question. Let alone frat parties and clubs. She was forbidden to go out without at least three bodyguards plus her driver. It was so constricting for her soul and she felt like throwing a tantrum every time it happened.

-How I wish I could be anywhere I want. Be with anyone I want.-

She dreaded the day her father would announce she was to be married to a stranger and spent the rest of her life miserable. There were hints thrown in here and there which she had tried to ignore since her 18th birthday.

She had always been a good girl. Though not timid, she always chose her battles and know when she could win an argument. Her mom had always said she would be a great ambassadress someday with her people skills, kind nature, and soothing personality. This was the main reason she was taking International studies. Maybe someday with her degree she could travel and explore the world.

Later though, she had one battle she had yet to win. She planned to approach her mother once more. She could count on her to be on her side.

"We are here, miss." Her driver's deep voice jolted her out of her reverie. She was so busy contemplating on how to tell her parents about her predicament she didn't realize they arrived at her favorite café.

"I will be quick. No need to accompany me." Not waiting for assistance, she exited the vehicle quickly.

The door chimed softly when she pushed it open, a pleasant aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled her senses, almost energizing her. Almost.

"Hey, MJ. The usual?" A familiar cute barista asked her. She has had a girl crush on him since forever. Tall, blond, blue eyes. -Yum.-

Blushing, she nodded. "Venti, this time and extra cream. I'll also have five fresh chocolate croissants."

"Hectic week, eh?" Cutie asked with a smirk.

"Yeah. Pre-finals and all."

"You could use a break." A subtle hint.

-Don't I know it, buddy.- 

"Who knows," she shrugged. -Please ask me out. We could be great friends.-

He nodded. His eyes kept returning to her while he prepared her order. "Here, you go. That's $17.00." She handed him a fifty. "Oh. Um...this Saturday..."

"Miss Rochette, your father wants to talk to you." Fuck!  There goes her date. Her prospect for a new friend vanished.

"Sorry. I have to go. Keep the change. Bye." He was about to ask her out and she blew it. Cutie must think she was a stuck-up snooty bitch just like everyone else did. "Couldn't it have waited, Oliver?" She addressed one of her guards. Irritation in her voice.

"Sorry, miss. Your dad said it's urgent." As it turned out her day was full of sorry.

"I apologize. I didn't mean to snap."

"No need, Ms. Rochette. Here, let me help you while you take your father's call." The guards surrounding her have the patience of a saint. He handed her a smartphone which she gracefully fetched from his grasp.

"Dad." She greeted in a low voice while she climbed into her car.

"Hey, sunshine."

"What's up." She smiled when he snorted his disapproval of her slang.

"We have dinner guests tonight. Logan and Marcus will be coming over. Be home early, okay?" She rolled her eyes. Her cousins of sorts. Overbearing and overprotective. Well, at least the other two were out of the country.

"Did something come up?"

"It's just a family dinner, kiddo. Nothing to worry about."

"You owe me one, dad. I was supposed to visit the theater this afternoon after class for my thesis." She could hear an exasperated breath on the other line.

"I know, princess. Anything you want."

"Anything?" MJ perked up. Maybe this was her chance. This was better than Les Misérables.

"Yes. Listen, I have to go. I'm in a meeting. See you later, okay?"

"Laters, dad. Bye." Yes! She had leverage. This was her one chance. She knew her father. He would never back out on a promise. Her gloomy day brightened.

***

No other man should be allowed to touch her even platonically.

It was the one golden rule her father had to impose she had to follow without question. As it happens, her cousins, the four of them were not exempted as well. That was the only time she agreed with her dad. For some reason, she felt repulsed, and every inch of skin protested. She wanted to gag at the thought of men touching her. At one time, she even considered herself a lesbian. Though there was nothing wrong with it. She was a realist after all.

MJ had crushes here and there, a simple admiration for the fine specimen of the opposite sex. However, that was it. She had no desire to touch and explore her sexuality with them. Maybe she was one frigid bitch.

She remembered one time when it happened. Her senior year, she had crashed a local prom night. The theme was perfect. A masquerade ball. MJ and her mom had planned and planned well. Or so they thought. Feeling like true royalty, her hands and arms encased in immaculate white gloves, gowned in muted gold, although dateless, she attended. Her gold mask hiding her identity. Ecstatic when she was crowned the prom queen, the school quarterback, her king. They had laughed and talked freely. Until he wanted more.

Her father as well as her cousins almost chew the head off of the boy who grasped her arm and ravenously kissed her thinking they were alone at the campus's fairy-like botanical garden. Pain pulsed inside her and she sobbed from the intensity of it.

Homeschooled until high school, she was so excited to start college and mingle with peers closer to her age. Innocent of the hormonal lustful gazes following her every move. She knew she was beautiful and attractive, not blind to her assets though she had never been vain about it. Besides, beauty was skin deep. Her worth should be based on her actions, her intelligence, and her emphatic nature.

"Hi, princess. Just in time for dinner. How was school?" Her dad hugged her briefly then looked down at her with a huge grin on his handsome face. One of the things she was also grateful for was they had really good genes. Her father and mother looked to be in their late twenties instead of their true age at 40 and 45. Maybe the strict regimen of exercise and healthy foods helped.

"Pre-finals was a bitch, dad. And my brain is one puddle of shit." She answered truthfully.

"Watch your language, MJ." He warned sternly. Though she knew it was done half-heartedly. He was always secretly proud of her sass and her ability to speak her mind freely.

Her attention went to a male voice chuckling behind her father. "Someday you will get your mouth washed with soap, kid." She snorted.

"Hey, Logan. It's been a while." The tall and lean man approaching her with dark hair and dark brown eyes was simply stunning. Underneath his signature suit were all hard-defined muscles as she had seen during one of his training. Another beauty of a man followed him out of her father's study.  Marcus. Broad, heavily muscled in his Armani, nodded his head to her in greeting. He rarely talked and she had never heard his voice. Preferring to communicate in emails or texts. Come to think of it, her two other cousins were also eye-turners. A pity they couldn't join then tonight. She liked bantering with them. "Hi, Marcus. Welcome home, guys."

"What are you going to cook for us tonight, princess?" Logan asked with mischief in his eyes.

"Um...boiling water?" She answered in all seriousness. She couldn't cook to save her life no matter how many cooking classes she attended. Only giving up when she caused a fire on one of the institutions.

The men threw their heads back and laughed heartily while Marcus grunted in amusement. She huffed, glad she could entertain them. "Yeah. Laugh all you want. I do hope when you get married, your future wives will give you a merry chase, twist your guts, make your head spin until you are brought to your knees."

"Damn, princess. I pity the man to win your hand." Logan jested, though he was smiling broadly.

"Hmmph," she rolled her eyes. "He'd better be something. Laters. I will help mom in the kitchen, I'll let you know if dinner is ready."

"We'll be in my study, kid." Her father waved.

"Okie, dokie." -Now, let's see if I could come up with a scrumptious dessert. Or order one.-

__________________________

Warrior Ron

"Her scent is getting stronger." Logan, Alpha East murmured while he sipped his favorite brand of bourbon.

"Yes, Alpha. We had been trying to suppress her wolf with the pills you sent us, doubled the dosage but it seems her beast is really powerful." His brows furrowed. Worried for his only child. She had yet to decipher her true nature.

"She is our queen after all. She is as strong as any Alpha." Marcus growled his words, his lycan simmering on the surface. Warrior Ron immediately tilted his head to show his neck. "Carry on. Don't mind me."

"We have some urgent news for you and we couldn't risk it over the phone." Restless, Alpha East stood and begun to pace. "Our trackers had found Octavius. The Royal beta is now on palace grounds."

Fuck! It meant one thing. It's time. "When will I start her training?" More importantly, how to break the news to his precious daughter. They had hidden so much from her. She had been brought up as a human for her protection. If their enemies truly knew who she was, they would move heaven and earth to get to her. And kill her. Then all would be lost.

"As soon as possible. We still have a bit of time since Octavius is at the transitioning stage, nonetheless, we know what will happen if he finds our king. MJ must be ready." Ron would be needing his wife for this.

"Mia will stop taking the pills tomorrow." He breathed out trying to release the tension in his body.

"Don't worry, Marcus and I will be around to help with her wolf." If only it would be that easy.

Mia was a force of nature. They would need to thread slowly. Or they would lose her.

_____________