Chapter Six

Alpha John's POV:

"John, where are you coming from?" my mother asked as I walked back into the grand foyer. It featured high ceilings, grand staircases, and impressive architectural details and decor, such as chandeliers and large art pieces of my parents, my brothers, and me.

"Mom," I groaned, catching sight of Julian and James in the dining room. The guests had all left the house, and night had fallen.

"I went to check on something," I lied, avoiding her eyes.

"Why do I feel like you're not telling me the truth? Anyway," Mom said, her voice bubbling with excitement, "I have good news for you."

She added, and I scowled, "What's the good news, Mom?"

"Come over; let's sit at the dining table to talk before we have dinner. It's getting late," she said.

"Alright, Mom," I replied before following her to join my brothers at the table, where they sat discussing matters with our father, Alpha Sunny.

"So, John, your dad and I have decided that you should pick a chosen mate since you and your brothers haven't found your real mates. We went to the Silverado Pack and saw the pack princess. She's very beautiful and would make a good luna for you. She gave us a warm welcome, and she's a good girl too," Mom said, and I breathed out heavily.

"John, I know you'd prefer to be with your mate. But you and your brothers aren't getting any younger. You're 25-years-old. You need to get married—and after you, Julian, and lastly James," Mom said, her tone soft, making me sigh heavily.

"I'll need some time to think about this, Mom," I said, not wanting to dismiss her suggestion outright, but my wolf wouldn't approve of any other woman. I didn't know his reason for desiring Tonia, but like Julian said, she was a good plaything.

"That's fine. Once you approve of her, your father and I will invite her to come and pay you a visit," Mom said, her tone bubbling with excitement, and I forced a smile.

"What's her name, Mom?" Julian chimed in, his ears perked up with interest.

"Stephanie Bennett," Mom said, and I sighed.

"Fine. I'll need some time to think about her. When I decide, I'll give you my conclusion," I said, regardless of the fact that my wolf didn't approve of her.

James chimed in and asked, "Stephanie sounds good. What's her occupation, Mom? How old is she?"

Mom peered at us and said, "She's still a student, but she's training to be a nurse. I'm sure when she marries John, she can apply to work in our pack's hospital."

"Mmm," I scowled but didn't protest.

"That's fine. John will need to give it some thought. But for me, I want no other woman but my mate," Julian said, but Dad cut him off.

"Even you, Julian. I spoke to Elder Victor just now. He said his daughter doesn't have a mate, and he wants a good match for her. So I'll invite her to the palace to meet you. She's a lawyer, so I'm sure she'll be of better use working in our law firm," Dad said, his tone firm, and Julian's jaw dropped.

"Dad, you don't have the right to matchmake a woman for me. I have the right to pick my wife, not the one you want me to pick. My wolf won't accept her. Don't forget, I've always had an aversion to women," Julian said, but Dad scowled.

"Aversion to women, indeed. Do you think I'm not aware of what you do in the clubs and how you shamelessly host young women to sleep with them?"

"Dad…" Julian's jaw dropped in speechlessness; he hadn't expected Dad to say that.

"That's not true. I only visit the clubs to have a drink. I won't approve of any slander against me. Whoever told you that must provide proof of me hosting different women," Julian said, clearly pissed off, but Dad brushed him off.

"Now is not the time to provide proof. But get ready to meet Elder Victor's daughter by Monday. If I leave you boys to wait until you find your real mates, who knows how many unwanted babies are out there that you've fathered!" Dad spat, and our jaws dropped.

"Dad, that's not true. You have the wrong information," I said, but he cut me off too.

"I won't wait for any of you to make a choice. As the alpha and your father, my decision stands," Dad snapped, and we all fell silent.

"Fine. Do as you wish, Dad," I said, and he nodded.

Mom sighed and said, "I know you boys will have a say in it. But if you don't like these girls, we can invite more. Who knows—you might find your mate among them."

Mom sounded excited, but I didn't want to continue the conversation. The more we talked about mates, the more my mind wandered to Tonia Marco. Why was she always on my mind, even when I tried to reject her? Her tears, her pleading not to dump her, and how she pleasured my cóck. Before I could say a word, Julian cut in, "Mom, let's have our dinner. I don't want to discuss mates again."

"Alright, alright," she agreed and waved for the maids to bring our dinner.

After dinner, I rose to return to my room first, but my father stopped me.

"John, wait for me in my office. We have something important to discuss," Dad said. He always called on me as the oldest triplet, believing I'd relay what he had to say to my brothers.

"Alright, Dad," I replied calmly before going to my father's home office on the first floor to await his arrival.

A few minutes later, Dad walked into his office. His expression was frosty as he took his seat.

"What were you and your brothers doing while your mother and I were away? Do you think I'm not aware of what goes on under my roof?" Dad asked, and I lowered my head, avoiding his eyes.

Of course, he was the alpha, and he knew when I was lying.

"Take a look for yourself," Dad said. He turned on the flat-screen television in his office and set it to display the mansion's CCTV footage.

"John, I expected better from you. Just this one month that your mother and I traveled, you took turns sleeping with a maid." Dad paused the footage on the screen, and I couldn't reply.