Chasing His Scentless Mate (Caroline) novel Chapter 346

Chapter 346: Chapter 346 Broken and Healing

Ava’s POV

"That’s why we’re here today, to talk. You promised to listen, and I’ll clear all your doubts," he said calmly.

"I thought we came here to have sex?" I teased him.

"Oh, Ava, I would love to get lost in your curves, but I won’t do that until we talk and resolve everything," Joseph sighed. "Ava, you excite me beyond words, but I won’t touch you intimately until you forgive me. The next time I undress you, we won’t have sex—we’ll make love."

This bastard knew how to use his words, almost persuading me. But I needed to be strong. No matter how much I wanted this man, how much I loved him, I needed to understand everything that had happened and figure out if I could forgive him.

"Why did you believe those rumors, Joseph? Why didn’t you talk to me?" I asked, feeling the pain still burning in my heart.

"Because my father messed with my head and my life. That’s what he does," Joseph sighed. "Ava, it’s always easier to believe the worst. He always manages to get to me. I can’t count how many times he’s mocked me, how many times he’s created trouble for me, made me doubt myself..."

Joseph’s eyes were filled with tears, and I couldn’t help but stroke his hair. His father was an open wound in his heart, and despite not showing it, he suffered because of his father.

"I never had a father," I began speaking without realizing what I was saying, just venting. "When I was a child, I fantasized that all fathers loved their children. I thought it was nature. But hearing about what your father did, I realize not everyone deserves to be a father."

"Mmm..." Joseph expressed his discontent. "We’re taught to romanticize family."

"Your father doesn’t deserve to be a proper father, much less an Alpha of a pack. A true Alpha should protect and support their children, not hurt them." I looked into his eyes as I spoke.

"My father is garbage, Ava! I don’t want to be like him. Help me." Joseph looked at me, a tear rolling down his handsome face.

"I’m not your saving grace, Joseph. I can’t be. But I can be by your side, holding your hand whenever he messes with your head. More importantly, you need to remember that you’re already so much better than him. You’re what he could never be. But to achieve that, you need to trust me more than you trust his destructive ways." I looked into his eyes as I spoke.

"I know that already, but why did you sleep with her after we started seeing each other?" I sighed. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"That was my next question—why didn’t you break up with me before sleeping with her?"

"Because I didn’t have enough courage to hear you tell me he was better than me, because I couldn’t bear the pain of thinking I’d lost you, and I didn’t want to hear the breakup words." Joseph was shedding large tears.

"No one is better than you!" I assured him.

"But the outside voices always tell me otherwise, and I believed them." Joseph had a lost look in his eyes, perhaps trapped in some painful memories.

I pulled him into my embrace, feeling his tears dampen my shoulder. This tall, strong Alpha, the master of his own pack, was in that moment just a little boy who needed comfort.

We stayed like that, embracing, and I lost track of time. He was lost in his thoughts, and I was lost in my doubts. Would I be able to forgive him and heal the pain of betrayal in my chest? Could I be as honest with him about all my secrets as he was being with me?