Joseph’s POV
"Joseph, my boy, there you are!" Steward exclaid, his arms spread wide. "Martha told you were here with a guest."
My jaw clenched involuntarily. "Father. This is unexpected."
"A father doesn’t need an invitation to visit his son, surely?" His eyes shifted to Ava, scrutinizing her with an intensity that made my skin tingle unpleasantly. "And who is this lovely creature?"
"This is Ava Flynn," I stated curtly. "Ava, this is my father, Steward Garcia."
"Enchanted," he declared, taking her hand and kissing it before I could react. "Truly enchanted."
Dean growled nacingly inside , and I fought to keep him contained. My father’s presence always triggered the worst in .
"We were just leaving," I lied, placing a protective hand on Ava’s lower back.
"Nonsense! Flora tells dinner is almost ready." He settled into a chair, clearly intending to stay. "So, Ava, tell about yourself. How did you manage to capture my son’s attention? He’s notoriously difficult to pin down."
"Wonder where he gets that from," I muttered softly.
My father laughed, but his eyes remained cold and unwavering. "Like father, like son, they say. Though I hope you’ve learned from my mistakes, Joseph."
The room felt suffocating. My relationship with my father had been strained ever since I was eighteen, when he had stolen my first girlfriend, Nicole. She was twenty, we’d t at a party and dated a few tis. I was quite smitten with her and told my father about her. I didn’t understand my father’s true nature then. He wanted to et her, so we arranged lunch. A week later, Nicole broke up with , and a month after that, my father left our family for her.
The worst part wasn’t just the betrayal. It was what ca after. My mother nearly lost her wolf from the pain of her mate’s betrayal. The bond between mates is sacred among our kind, and when broken, the pain can be devastating. My mother barely survived it. And my father had the audacity to justify his actions, claiming it was simply a man’s nature to want multiple won, that n inevitably sought mistresses or freedom.
Since then, I’d feared becoming like him—a womanizer incapable of commitnt. Until Ava ca along and occupied all my thoughts.
"I think I’ll check if Flora needs help," Ava said, clearly sensing the tension between us.
"Excellent idea," my father said, smiling. "That will give us n a chance to talk."
Once Ava had left, my father’s facade dropped.
"Wolfless, Joseph? Really?" he sneered. "Have so dignity."
"Don’t start," I warned. "My choice of mate is none of your business."
"Everything you do reflects on this family, on our pack," he replied. "The Alpha of Nightbane Pack taking a defective mate—"
I was across the room in an instant, my hand at his throat. "Call her that again and you’ll regret it."
He laughed, even as he struggled to breathe. "Look at you... so defensive. You actually care about this one, don’t you?"
I released him, disgusted. "Why are you here? Need more money?"
"Is that so wrong?" he asked, straightening his collar. "I am your father, after all."
"You lost the right to call yourself that years ago," I spat. "The monthly allowance I provide is more than generous. If you’ve blown through it already, that’s your problem."
"Such disrespect," he tutted. "What would your mother say?"
"Don’t you dare speak of her," I growled, Dean pushing dangerously close to take the control. "You nearly destroyed her."
A knock at the door interrupted us. Martha announced that dinner was served. I walked past my father without another word.
My brother-in-law Scott and Anthony also returned for dinner.
Dinner was a tense affair, with my father dominating the conversation, criticizing everyone except Louise. Poor Antonio beca the target of jokes and cruel comnts, being called a mama’s boy who needed to toughen up.
After dinner, I confronted my sister.
"For Goddess’s sake, Flora, can’t you see how much damage this man causes? Why on earth do you keep inviting him to dinner?" I demanded. "I can’t stand him, your husband can’t stand him, and your children certainly can’t stand him either."
"Joseph, he’s our father," was all she said.
"Sister, that doesn’t give him the right to make our lives hell."
"Speaking ill of , dear son?" My father approached with that repulsive, sarcastic tone he always used with us.
"Of course, Father," I replied.
"Joseph, haven’t you gotten over the fact that Nicole preferred ?" he asked, my sister looking confused.
"Congratulations! Actually, I should thank you," I answered, turning to leave, but he grabbed my shoulder.
"Wait!" he commanded, as if he could order around. "I want to talk to you about money and travel."
"Steward, the money’s gone, and so is the travel. Your allowance will arrive at the beginning of the month. Do whatever you want with it then," I replied.
"Joseph, I need money. I’m broke! The money your sister gave is only enough for a hotel," he complained.
"Then get back to that house I bought you, a million miles from here!" I answered simply. "By the way, I’m curious. I send you a substantial amount every month, how do you manage to spend it all and have nothing left? Did your recent little adventure clean you out?"
"That’s none of your business!" His face paled, and I knew I was right. "Look, Joseph, I need to get away, clear my head. I want to take my new girlfriend to Europe. If you grant my request, I’ll disappear from your sight."
"Rest? Please, don’t talk nonsense. You’re just an idle man who does nothing. I’ve said it before and I won’t change my mind—you won’t get a penny more than your allowance from ," I affird again.
"Then we’ll be seeing a lot of each other!" Father flashed a cold smile as I turned away. I knew he would do everything possible to make my life miserable.
When I returned to the living room, Ava was nowhere to be seen. Louise told she had gone to the bathroom.
"I don’t know how to make your sister understand that your father only hurts her," my brother-in-law complained. "He drains everything from her, throws our family into chaos, then disappears. After he leaves, she’ll suffer again."
"I don’t understand Flora. Thank goodness she has you," I was genuinely happy my sister had found a kind, honest husband who supported her in everything.
"Whenever this man shows up, my dear mother-in-law is better off traveling."
"This ti I’m actually a bit jealous of her," I laughed with my brother-in-law. "Scott, I’m going to find Ava. Sorry, but I think we’re leaving."
"Go ahead. Antonio still wants to go with you..." My nephew looked like a puppy eager for attention.
"I don’t mind, we had a great week, and he’s excellent company," I smiled at my nephew, who bead back, eyes shining. "If you all agree, this kid is mine." Scott laughed.
"I think it’s better if he goes with you, if that’s okay. I don’t like how your father treats him. I’ll deal with this with your sister later," Scott said. "Son, go pack your things."
Antonio ran ahead of . As I approached the bathroom area, I heard my father’s voice. He had found Ava and backed her into a corner. Her face turned toward ; he was standing too close to her.
"I promise I’m much better than him. Call ," he handed her a business card.
"Honestly, you don’t compare to him in any way," I heard Ava say as she pushed him away and walked toward .
"Is there a problem here?" I asked angrily.
"Nothing I can’t handle," Ava answered, then took my hand. "Can we go now?"
"Yes, we just need to wait for Antonio," I replied.
"I’m ready," Antonio stopped beside us with a bag and backpack.
"That was quick," I comnted.
"I already had my things packed, in case I needed to escape this gentleman again," Antonio explained. "Look, Uncle, I’m not leaving your house until he’s gone."
"Oh, I don’t know, Antonio, maybe we’ll adopt you!" Ava joked with him, and they embraced as they walked out.
I went to find my father and warned him.
"Stay away!Don’t you dare approach her."
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