Part C: Chapter 59

“You have to accept her as your mate, that is final,” Gerald said as he budged into my office.

I rolled my eyes at him. He had to be kidding me. Of all the days to come and make a tantrum he chose today of all days as if he didn’t know what today was. “No, and if that’s the only reason you showed up then I suggest you show yourself out, because I have important things to do and they don’t include dealing with a temper tantrum,” I said and went back to staring at my laptop. Today was an important day but Carter had suggested I show up at work and after that we would have a memorial for Mum’s passing.

“Don’t you dare speak to me like that,” Gerald barked as he limped his way to my desk. “I am still your father and you will show me respect. Do you understand?” His face was crunched up in anger as he pointed a finger at me, trying to intimidate me.

“I have no respect for you nor will I have,” I replied without giving him another look. “Now if that was all you had to say, I suggest you leave and have your temper tantrum where someone actually cares.”

Gerald slammed his fist on my desk, making my eyes snap up to his and he looked livid. “Are you trying to tarnish the Carmichael name with your insolent behaviour?” he growled, “because I will not tolerate such behaviour, especially from a pathetic boy like you.”

He was starting to get on my last nerves but I had to control myself for Mum’s sake. I wasn’t going to disrespect such a memorable day that was dedicated to the only woman who had taught me to be the man I was. “Don’t test me Gerald, I really have no time for any of this nonsense,” I said, biting back my tongue from what I actually wanted to say. “You chose today of all days to throw a tantrum and I can’t handle it.”

Gerald slammed his fist against my desk once more, riling me up more than I already was. “You will listen to me and I don’t care about your problems with your runaway mate. All I’m trying to do is prevent you from staining the Carmichael name all in the sake of someone who left you. You are just as pathetic as that mother of yours.”

That was the last straw because I stood up so fast that my chair toppled over as I rounded the desk and grabbed his shirt collar. “Don’t you dare say such things about your mother. She was the best woman and you were lucky to have her by your side,” I growled as I breathed in front of his face. “If you ever so much as say anything to make her look bad, I will have your head and I’ll be damned at the fact that you are unfortunately my sperm donor.” My chest was rising up and down in fury. Mum had taken care of me and always shown me what love was but after she died, a piece of me died until I found Jemila.

“That woman was a slut and not worth your time. She taught you to be weak while I taught you to be the person that you are today,” Gerald said through clenched teeth as I wrapped my fingers around his neck. “I don’t want you to make the same mistakes I made when I made her my mate because I thought that was what the Goddess wanted me to do. But she was just testing me, trying to see if I was worthy enough and I failed her.”

“Don’t you dare,” I growled, tightening my grip on his neck. “You weren’t worthy of her love and it’s because of you that she’s gone. Why didn’t you just join her like everyone thought you would?” All I could see by now was red. I wanted to watch as his life force dwindled and faded.

“You will regret this Aidan,” he croaked. “That girl isn’t worthy of you and your title. She is a nobody and I will not sit and watch you do something as stupid as that when you have Shelly already by your side.”

Not this crap again. I felt my wolf fighting against me to come out and finish the job but I could faintly hear Mum’s voice calling out to me and telling me to not go ahead with it. Even in her death, she always managed to stop me from doing things I would end up regretting.

I let go of his neck and flung him to the far wall. “I’m not biting whatever crap you and Shel are cooking up nor will I give you the satisfaction of killing you on Mum’s memorial. She doesn’t deserve that,” I said as I grabbed a handkerchief from my pocket and wiped my hands. “Leave.”

I turned around and watched as he crawled back to his feet from the wall and picked up his cane. He was truly a disgrace to all lycans and I wondered why the Goddess still kept him live.

“You will regret this,” he said. “The only reason you two met is because she was testing you and you are failing. It’s time to let her go before you end up joining your pathetic whore of a mother in the ground.”

I took a deep breath to calm myself down. I was not going to stoop to his level and desecrate the memory of today. I pressed the receiver. “Ivana, send over the security so they can have Mr. Gerald Carmichael escorted off the premises,” I said into the receiver without turning to face him. “Yes, that will be good.”

Moments later, security came rushing through the door and walked over to where Gerald was still trying to keep his balance and held both his arms.

“Take him out and only allow him when he’s with other board members,” I said as I walked over to my chair and righted it. “And as for Shelly, ensure she is also allowed only upon accompaniment of other board members. Got it?”

“Yes sir,” they replied as they escorted Gerald out of my office and he went without so much as a fight. But as the door was being closed, I saw him turn around and say.

“You have failed. You choose her over your own people,” And then the door closed.

I stood up and walked over to the bar where I poured myself a glass of whiskey and downed it’s contents. Today was turning out to be one of the worst days but I had Mum’s memorial to look forward to. Though I hoped no one would piss me off between now and then, otherwise I had no idea how I was going to keep my wolf at bay for long enough.