Chapter 306

Chapter 306 Life in Hell
Joseph’s POV

Ever since Ava caught me with Sophia, I’ve felt like absolute shit. I can’t focus on anything except drowning myself in whiskey. I used to lecture Draven about how drinking wouldn’t solve his problems with Caroline. Now that same advice has come back to bite me in the ass.

“You’re being pathetic,” Dean growled in my mind. “Our mate is out there hurting, and you’re here wallowing.”

“She’s not our mate,” I shot back. “We broke up!”

“You sure you’re not the reason we broke up? You know, because you cheated?” Dean fired back.

I fell silent.

“Good thing we didn’t mark her back then, or she’d be in agony from your betrayal.”

Damn, my wolf was right. But his words stung with humiliation, so I just blocked him out before he could piss me off even more.

Of course, aside from having to deal with my wolf’s constant mockery, what really makes me sick is my goddamn leech of a father.

The bastard won’t stop demanding money, insisting I fund his European getaway with whatever skank he’s screwing this month. I thought once he got his monthly allowance, he’d fuck off, but apparently not. This time he seems hell-bent on destroying both Flora and me completely.

My mom just finished one trip and immediately booked another. She swore to me that she won’t set foot in this city again until “the demon is exorcised.” Moon Goddess, she’s not wrong. Since he crawled back into our lives, everything’s gone to hell.

The worst part? I’ve turned into exactly the kind of pathetic asshole I used to despise. I didn’t just lose Ava; I fucked up so spectacularly that I became everything I hate about weak men who can’t handle their shit.

My phone screen lit up, showing a message from Flora, but I didn’t immediately check it. Suddenly, a mind-link request came through from her. I accepted it.

“Joseph! Why aren’t you answering my messages?!” Flora’s angry voice echoed in my head.

“Flora, what is it?” I responded, rubbing my temples.

“Why is Sophia telling everyone you two are together? What the hell is going on?”

“Flora, Sophia and I aren’t together. I’ve just been sleeping with her these past few days…” I explained, immediately regretting my words.

“Joseph, did you just say what I think you said? You’ve learned quite a bit from our father, haven’t you?! And you have the audacity to criticize him,” Flora was furious.

“Flora, Ava and I broke up,” I blurted out, and she fell silent. “So can you please chill?”

“No, Joseph, I can’t,” Flora’s voice became even more severe. “I cannot accept someone like Sophia, spoiled and arrogant. All she cares about is men and looking beautiful. I’m not saying beauty is bad, but how could she possibly be the Luna of our pack? We need someone smart, kind, brave, and strong as our Luna, like our mother Luna Hedi.”

I nodded silently, knowing Flora was right. Sophia lacked the qualities needed to be a Luna.

“What about Ava?” Flora suddenly asked.

“I told you, we broke up,” I repeated.

“Joseph,” Flora’s tone grew even angrier, “if you’re trying to make me more willing to accept Ava’s flaws by choosing to be with Sophia, then congratulations, you’ve succeeded. Go get Ava back right now!”

“Flora, we’re really not compatible. Look, I’ll come by your place later, and we can talk face to face.” I tried to end the mind-link conversation.

“Joseph, you’d better come, because I don’t believe a word you’re saying.”

I disconnected the mind-link, feeling mentally exhausted. What a mess! What was I supposed to do? My sister definitely wouldn’t let this go. I decided to head to a bar. Staying here was a waste of time; I couldn’t concentrate on company work at all. I grabbed my jacket and phone and left, telling Eleanor I had personal matters to attend to.

I headed to the bar where Draven, Ryan and I used to hang out. Draven is busy trying to win Caroline back, hovering around her every single day. Ryan’s busy pursuing Ruby. Apparently, I’m the only miserable bastard who needs to drink his problems away.

I sat down at the counter and ordered a whiskey. Before long, I heard a voice behind me. Damn, I can’t even enjoy a drink in peace anymore.

“Baby! It’s so good to see you,” Sophia said, hugging me from behind. “I’ve missed you.”

“Oh, really?” I replied disinterestedly, downing my second whiskey in one go and ordering a third. “What do you want to drink?”

“You know what? I want you,” Sophia said, resting her hand on my shoulder.

I finished my third whiskey in one gulp and stood up. I put money on the counter, turned to her, and said, “Sophia, you want to hook up? Let’s go then.”

I took her hand and walked out, her face beaming with a victorious smile.

I walked into the first motel I saw. Once in the room, I didn’t even bother taking off my clothes or using the bed. I pushed her against the wall, lifted her skirt, unzipped my pants, put on one of the condoms provided by the motel, pushed her panties aside, and thrust into her roughly.

“This is wrong,” Dean growled, his disgust washing over me. “She’s not our Ava.”

But that was it, I felt absolutely nothing. It was not like what I had with Ava. With her, there was this incredible connection of mind, body, and soul, like we were soulmates destined to find each other.

So I closed my eyes and thought of Ava, the only woman who made my heart race and my blood boil. I came quickly and pulled out of Sophia. I knew she hadn’t reached climax, but I didn’t care. There would be time for that later.

Just then, my phone vibrated with a text notification. Seeing who it was from, I quickly opened it.

“Come to my place right now. We have a serious problem. Kyle.”

What now? Kyle wouldn’t sound the alarm without good reason. She was Beta Ryan’s assistant, very intelligent and strong, similar to Eleanor but more composed and mature.

It seemed there was indeed something important that needed my immediate attention.