Chasing His Scentless Mate Chapter 329 Earning Back Trust

Joseph’s POV

I couldn’t believe it. For the first ti in days, I had hope that Ava might forgive . When I stepped into the elevator and opened her card, I wanted to rush back out and kiss her senseless, but the doors had already closed.

"Make believe," she’d written. Those three simple words contained so much more aning than their face value, and I didn’t need anything else to reignite my hope. I still had a chance to win her heart back.

"What’s got you smiling like an idiot?" Dean, my wolf, asked within my mind.

"She’s giving us another chance," I replied silently, feeling the excitent course through my veins.

"Don’t screw it up this ti," Dean warned, but I could feel his happiness mirroring my own.

I attended a eting that couldn’t be postponed, then rushed back to the Storm Valley pack house. Before arriving, I made a quick detour to the mall.

At the candy store, I asked the clerk to arrange a special box. She positioned twelve red rose buds, placed a bottle of Amarula liqueur between the stems, and surrounded them with chocolate-covered strawberries. She closed the box and tied it carefully with a red ribbon. I attached a card that read: "I will do everything in my power to prove I can be the most important person in your life."

When I returned to Draven’s office and placed the box on Ava’s desk, the small smile that graced her lips was worth every penny.

But what started wonderfully ended in disaster. After they found Caroline and Liam and confird they were safe, they discovered I had purchased Sophia’s father’s ranch. The property was nestled between three other plots with difficult access. I explained I’d been there before and knew the area well, but the mont I ntioned I’d been there last week with Sophia, I noticed Ava entering the room.

The disappointnt in her eyes crushed . I’d been trying to explain things to her for days, only to make this massive mistake. The truth was, after Ava caught us together, Sophia had called crying, begging to et her and take her to the ranch. But I never t her. I just didn’t know how to explain that to Ava.

Before I could talk to Ava, I had to share all information with the investigators, which took forever. When I finally left the room, I went straight to find her.

But Ava seed to have left already. She was nowhere to be found.

Eleanor was busy comforting Caroline and Liam, Kyle was handling the arrangents for all the pack mbers who participated in the search and rescue, and Nina wasn’t around.

I finally found Ruby. When Ruby saw , she turned and walked away.

I imdiately called out to her, "Where did Ava go? I have to explain to her."

Ruby was a bit angry, but because I was her boss, she was still respectful. She patiently explained, "Ava heard that you went to that ranch with Sophia and broke down. Nina took her ho."

Without thinking, I wanted to go find her.

Ruby stopped , "Alpha Joseph, Nina has been exhausted these past few days because of Liam’s kidnapping and Caroline’s disappearance. Let her rest for a while. Don’t disturb her."

I stopped in my tracks. Ruby was right. Thinking about how she’d been so distracted these past few days while still having to arrange all kinds of work, but seeing those disappointed eyes looking at , my heart ached again.

Seeing that I was convinced, Ruby sighed and said to , "Ava may have a strong personality, but she’s been hurt a lot inside. You can’t think that begging and sending gifts will make up for it every ti you hurt her. That’s not how you love soone."

I listened in a daze. Before I t Ava, I had never seriously entered into a romantic relationship. Only sex, money, alcohol, and endless playing around. A ho, a commitnt, all seed so far away.

"Alpha Joseph, you can’t say you love Ava when you don’t know how to love soone. I suggest you think it through before you go find her." Ruby left after saying that.

Ouch. Ruby’s words were harsh but hit right where it hurt.

I definitely love Ava, but do I really love her? Did I give her what she wanted? Do I really know how to love soone?

Just like that, I went back to my quiet, lonely penthouse apartnt feeling lost.

I spent most of the night thinking alone, for the first ti not relying on alcohol to numb myself.

Then I went back to the pack house to seek relationship advice from my sister Flora and Scott.

Two days later, I went to Draven’s company again to find Ava.

"Ava, can we talk?" My voice was pleading.

"No, Joseph, we can’t. I’ve had enough!" Ava stated firmly.

"Ava, I can explain..." I attempted to defend myself.

"Don’t you think it would be better if you didn’t have to explain anything?" She stared at coldly.

"Ava, please!" I begged.

"Alpha Joseph, I’m working. This isn’t the ti." She spoke to in an ice-cold tone.

I felt lost and didn’t know what to do with myself. Just monts ago I thought I still had a shot at her forgiveness, but now it felt like everything was completely over. I’d beco so kind of villain who didn’t even deserve a chance to explain.

But I wasn’t ready to give up that easily.

"Ava, I’ll sit right here in this chair until you’re finished, but I will explain." I said seriously, sitting in the reception chair I’d pointed to.

But things got worse. My mother showed up unexpectedly—my father was still in town, but she wanted to support Draven. Of course, she had to throw so nasty comnts about my girlfriend.

Ava was angry, hurt, and disappointed. She had every right to hate , yet I wanted her to love . When I got the chance to be alone with her, I couldn’t resist grabbing her on the fire escape. Holding her felt incredible, but seeing the disappointnt in her eyes killed inside.

Afterward, during our remaining ti at Draven’s company, Ava took every opportunity to call an asshole and express her anger toward .

By the ti we left Draven’s company, I was exhausted, but thankfully Eleanor had cleared my schedule for the rest of the week. I needed to use this ti to talk to Ava, and I had to act fast—I had an idea and needed to arrange everything quickly. My male friends had promised to help, and I needed to take advantage of that opportunity.

But I decided to let her rest tonight; I was tired too.