Joseph’s POV
I couldn’t believe what Ava had done—she’d actually put an aphrodisiac in my juice. Sothing felt off imdiately; my body was burning up, my heart racing, and I had an inexplicable, painful erection. After she went upstairs, I searched the trash and found the pill package barely hidden at the bottom. My blood boiled with anger.
But what really cut to the core was that she was leaving again! I loved her so much, but I was exhausted by these gas, tired of her keeping on a string with "I haven’t forgiven you yet, but I’m getting there." Damn it, if she couldn’t forgive , she should just let go instead of torturing like this!
I had apologized countless tis, explained myself over and over, and yet she was just toying with . It hurt more than I could express. That’s why I gave her an ultimatum and left, my pride wounded and my body betraying .
I drove aimlessly through the city, Dean growling in my head the entire ti.
"She’s the one, Joseph," my wolf insisted. "You can’t just walk away from Ava like this."
"She drugged , Dean! She wanted to punish . I’m done being her emotional punching bag."
"You love her," Dean persisted. "And she loves you. You’re making a mistake you’ll regret for the rest of your life."
"Enough!" I slamd my hand against the steering wheel. "I’ve had enough."
I ended up checking into a five-star hotel downtown. I needed space, needed to think. I’d considered going to my yacht but quickly dismissed the idea, too many beautiful mories with Ava there. Just thinking about them made my chest ache even more.
I spent a sleepless night in that hotel room, tossing and turning, my body gradually overcoming the effects of the drug but my mind still in turmoil. By morning, I was exhausted but functional. I showered, ordered room service, and decided I needed to get back to work—the one constant in my life that never disappointed .
When I arrived at the office around ten, I imdiately noticed I couldn’t find my phone. I must have lost it or left it sowhere during my emotional exit. No matter, I’d already bought a new one. The fewer ssages from Ava I had to ignore, the better.
"Joseph, I’ve been trying to reach you since—" Eleanor began the mont I stepped off the elevator. I stopped dead in front of her.
"If you finish that sentence, you’re fired. Don’t test today." There wasn’t a hint of humor in my voice. Then I walked into my office.
It wasn’t long before she followed in.
"Joseph, you—"
"Eleanor, not today! If you don’t have anything work-related to tell , go back to your desk. Actually, if you do have sothing work-related, send an email or a ssage. I don’t want to talk to you today."
She left looking deflated. I sighed heavily. I was hurting, and she was partly to bla. She’d been filling Ava’s head with too many ideas and making my life more difficult.
As I worked, I received a ssage from Jared, my Beta. Alpha Kenneth was interested in a business partnership, and the figures he proposed were very tempting. Although sothing about the Alpha gave an uneasy feeling, business was business, and money talked.
"I’ll consider it," I replied to Jared, then rembered the file on Kenneth that Jared had compiled in the pack house study.
I decided to head to the pack house to review Kenneth’s background. The information was interesting—his pack wasn’t ancient but had sohow grown rapidly in the last few decades to beco one of the major packs on the West Coast.
The strangest thing was that Alpha, now in his fifties, had no children or Luna, which was practically unheard of. Pack traditions placed enormous value on bloodlines and succession. How had he managed to maintain his position without the elders pushing for him to step down?
Overall, though, there didn’t seem to be anything that would make him a problematic business partner. I ssaged Jared that I would consider the collaboration, and he inford that it would require a business trip of about two weeks. I’d need to visit the partner company on-site to assess their scale and operations firsthand.
Perfect timing—I needed to get away, clear my head. I agreed imdiately.
I’d barely finished making travel arrangents when my phone rang. It was Ryan.
"Dude, where have you been? Everyone’s worried sick." Ryan sounded genuinely concerned.
"Ryan, just around..." was all I offered in response.
"Want to talk about it?"
"Not now."
"Call when you’re ready."
"Thanks."
Ryan knew well enough to understand I needed ti alone with my thoughts. He would keep everyone else at bay until I was ready to talk.
But my peace was short-lived when my sister called.
"Joseph, you disappeared yesterday. What happened?"
"Flora, I’ll make this quick. Ava left , and I need ti, so be a good sister and give so space. I’ll reach out when I’m ready."
"Do you need anything?"
"No, thanks."
"I’ll tell the kids not to bother you."
Less than an hour after hanging up with my sister, my mother walked into my office.
"I know you don’t want to talk. But you will listen, and I’m only saying this once," Mom said with an authority she rarely used.
"Fine." I tossed my pen onto the desk.
"I know you love her, and I know she loves you, and right now things are hard. But here’s my advice. Go away for a few days, clear your head, and when you co back, fight for her again."
"Mom, I’m already planning a business trip. I need to et with so clients. But as for the other thing, that’s not happening. It’s over. Ava and I are done, period."
My mother sighed.
"Son, take your trip. We’ll talk when you get back."
After saying goodbye to my mother, I threw myself into preparing for the trip. I would leave tomorrow. But later that afternoon, Draven’s call caught my attention. I was certain Ryan had told everyone not to call , so if Draven was calling anyway, sothing must be wrong. I answered quickly.
"Draven, is everything okay?"
"Joseph, Nate was found unconscious in an alley. Looks like he was beaten pretty badly. I’m heading over now to tell Eleanor in person. Can you arrange for her and Luke to et ?"
"What a ss! Yes, I’ll have them wait in my office."
Draven shared a few more details, then we hung up. I called Luke, and he arrived with Draven. They went to my office to break the news to Eleanor, who was devastated. Ava was with them too, but she didn’t even look my way. Not that it was the ti for us to talk anyway.
"Co on, Eleanor, we’ll go to the hospital," I said, placing my hand on her shoulder. "You’re on leave until Nate recovers."
"Thank you." She looked into my eyes with a forced smile. "You’re still angry with ."
"Elle, I couldn’t be angry with you if I tried. Focus on Nate now." I said, and she nodded.
We went to the hospital, and it was agonizing. After leaving Nate in intensive care, we went to Draven’s pack house to et with the investigators and learn what had happened. We developed a safety plan for everyone, and Ava would stay at Ryan’s house, which gave so peace of mind.
The next morning, after hearing that Nate would recover, I boarded a flight. I would be gone for fifteen days. I needed this ti away more than anyone could understand.
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