The Genius Delta
Chapter 8 - Persephone

It was rather endearing that Jonathan kept forgetting Milas name. I don't even care if he does sointentionally or not. She can eat her heart out. I may mean that literally because he's mine. She's awerewolf, so she better start respecting that. If she doesn't, we are going to have serious problems."You know what would put her in her place.’ Sara commented as we entered a little bistro a coupleof blocks from the office.

“Kicking her ass?’ I offered.

“Well, that could help. But the best way to get any she-wolf to leave our mate alone is to mark him."Sara licked her lips.

I couldn't help it. I looked at Jonathan's neck and tried to picture a mark there. I'm Beta by blood,but he is a Delta. So, whose mark would it be? Would his neck bear the Fayte dove, or would it behis family’s mark? That made me ponder his family’s mark, and more than that, I wanted to knowmore about him. I only know a little from what others have told me.

"What's your family like?” I found myself blurting out as we took a seat in a booth.

He blinked at me for a second, then frowned. “I just meant that I don’t know much about youbeyond the few things others have mentioned. No one talks about your family. And well, you knowplenty about my family. But you don't have to tell me if you don't want to.” I tried to backpedal.“It's fine. Just seemed a little random to go from silence to asking about my family.” He assured me.“My family is the pack.”

I furrowed my brow, trying to understand that answer. “That's a vague answer. I know everyone,generally speaking, feels like family in a pack. Especially if you are someone of rank. That's not whatI meant when I asked about your family.”

“I don’t remember my family. All I know is what the Kinsley family has told me. My family’s pack wasattacked, and I'm the sole survivor. My mother was barely able to escape and get me to Bloodmoon.She died shortly after Logan found us.” He shrugged while picking up the menu.

It was strange how casually he could talk about it. I still get choked up if I speak of papa and mama.Hell, I get choked up thinking about them and how we lost them. Yet he’s still here talking aboutlosing his family, like he's discussing the weather.

"How old were you?” I asked. “It had to be young not to remember your parents.”

“I was six when it happened. I remember bits and pieces. Like I know my dad was white, and mymother was an indigenous person. I remember my dad was a scientist.” He sighed, putting themenu down.

“I can't remember his face, but I sometimes have dreams about him. Of being little and rushing intoa lab and a man in a lab coat with a thick beard smiling at me as he lifted me and started explainingwhat he was working on. I never remember what he says beyond when he first greets me and callsme Jonny.” He frowned.

“I'm sorry... I didn't mean to dig up painful memories.” I apologized as I reached across the table tohold his hand. “But it's good to remember things. Even if it's vague or small and insignificant tosomeone else, it's how they stay alive in spirit.”

“It's okay. I know you didn’t ask to be mean or something.” He nodded as he squeezed my hand.“We're mates, so it makes sense you'd want to know more about me. It's just been a long time sinceanyone's asked. Even the ranked females haven't asked about my past. They know what their matestold them, and I think they wanted to let me decide if I opened up further.”

“Well, I don’t want to force you to open up. We don't have to talk about anything you don't wantto.” I assured him.

“I told you, it's okay. You're like me in that you have an inquisitive nature. You like to have answers.And we have some common points like we both are inventors, and we've lost a lot.” He shrugged.He is right. Not just about my inquisitive nature but our commonalities. Not that having a similartragedy is a great foundation for love, but it does mean we will understand each other better. Helost his family when he was so young that we won't understand each other to some degree. But itstill helps us be considerate of each other's pains.

"And you're right that I know a lot about you already. I may or may not have done a full backgroundcheck on you after John said I would be your liaison.” He admitted with a subtle blush on his cheeks.“Seriously?” I laughed, not sure if I was offended or impressed.

“I wanted to be prepared for dealing with you. I'd already raised some flags at work when Irequested you to be assigned to me.” He chuckled.

"Well, for as excruciating as being trapped in a lab with you all day, I'm glad they gave in to yourrequest. I can suffer through not being close during the work day as long as I can still be aroundyou. It's like a catch twenty-two.” I chuckled.

“Yeah. Blessing and a curse to share a lab with someone I'm insanely attracted to.” He admitted, andI blushed.

Goddess, what is wrong with me? I'm blushing because he said he’s attracted to me.

“Insanely. Jonathan said he's insanely attracted to you.’ Sara unhelpfully chimed in.

“I know the feeling,” I admitted.

I sighed in relief when we were interrupted by the waitress, and we had to choose our lunches. Itgave me a chance to focus on something that wasn't his handsome face and this urge to jump himhere in the restaurant. Yeah, I need to get that shit under control ASAP.

Everyone in my family would happily say, “I told you so’ if they found out I let sexual desires overriderational thought. Hell, André would throw a party mostly because he loves a party, but he'd makethe theme “told you so.’

While we ate, the conversation was lighter. I didn't try to dig further into Jonathan's parents. He toldme what he could remember and what others had told about them. His father was Daniel Weaver, ascientist, and his mother, Jacira, was a shaman in the pack.

Otherwise, he told me about growing up in Bloodmoon and how John Sr and Elizabeth Kinsley werehis foster parents. But in his opinion, John Jr, Logan, and Charles all took on a big brother/fatherrole in his life as they are whom he looked to more than John Sr.

He told me about growing up with Kurt and how some in the pack were mean to Kurt because ofhis douchebag father. People started to accept Kurt because Jonathan was his friend, and soon Kurthad people like David, the guy I met this morning, and Mikali joined their merry band of friends.

It was so cute how animated he became when he talked about his friends. His eyes lit up, and hetalked with his hands nearly as much as André does. It was tough to resist leaning across the tableto kiss him.

We were finishing our lunch when the familiar scent of my sister hit me. I turned in my booth andgrinned, waving my arm as I spotted her and a guy I remember from the war. He must be Scott, theliaison Kurt told me about. He didn’t look super thrilled to be escorting my sister but whatever.That's on him. My baby sister is as sweet as sugar.

“Delilah!” I shouted, waving for them to join us.

“Persephone!” Delilah beamed at me as she hurried over, Scott trailing behind.

"Oh, you must be Jonathan. I've heard so much about you through Isis.” Delilah smiled, offering herhand to Jonathan. “I'm Delilah Fayte.”

"Hi, Delilah. Nice to meet you.” He smiled and shook her hand.

"Hey, Scottie. Stop looking so down in the dumps. Logan catches you looking like someone ran overyour dog. He's going to think you don't like your job.” Jonathan teased. “Remember what you couldbe doing instead.”

I'm not sure what the alternative to escorting my sister around is but based on the look on Scott'sface, it's not pleasant. “Don’t even suggest that, Silverclo....” Scott's eyes went wide as he clapped ahand over his mouth.

Jonathan growled at Scott and then looked at me with concern and regret. Delilah eeped, unsurewhat was going on but picked up that it wasn't good. I was stunned. My brain was processing whatjust happened, and then it clicked. Scott called him Silvercloud. Why would he call him that? Heworks there, but why call him that? And why does Jonathan look concerned and regretful?

I suddenly stood from the booth and grabbed Delilah’s arm. “Let's go for a walk. I need some air, farfrom people that keep secrets.” I declared, half dragging my sister out of the restaurant before I didsomething I regretted.

“Persephone?”

"What's wrong?”

"Why did we leave?”

“Where are we going?”

"Could you slow down?"

“You're starting to hurt my arm.”

My sister kept asking questions, but I was ignoring her, the sound of my angry blood pumping fastthrough my veins drowning everything out. He's Silvercloud. MY MATE IS SILVERCLOUD! He didn'ttell me his real last name! He LIED to me!

And because of a slip-up from his packmate, I found out. If his packmate knew, that means others inBloodmoon knew. That means Kurt knows! Kurt knew all this time his friend was Silvercloud andnever told me!

Why?! Why wouldn't anyone tell me!? I've talked about Silvercloud, my love for the company, andhow I wanted to meet the founder someday. They let me ramble on like that for YEARS and neverthought to say that the Bloodmoon Delta is the Silvercloud. Darren would have known the truth.Does that mean André knows? How could he keep that from me? From anyone, if I'm honest, sinceAndré doesn't keep secrets that aren't his own.

I thought Kurt and Isis were my friends, but they kept something like that from me. Why? And whywouldn’t Jonathan tell me? We're mates, and he LIED! I don't know if I'm more pissed or hurt. I'mboth, and I don't know how to express it. I tugged Delilah into the small alley and let out an angryhowl as I punched the wall.

"PERSEPHONE!" Delilah exclaimed, rushing over as I slumped down to the ground, no longer caringif my work clothes got dirty.

"What's wrong?” Delilah asked, holding my hand and checking it to ensure I was okay. Of course,I'm okay. I'm a werewolf, so I heal.

"You are so overreacting. You ran out on our mate without letting him explain himself." Sara huffed."He lied to me.” I sniffled, hating myself for crying.

"Who? About what?” Delilah asked as she pulled me into a tight hug

“My mate..." I choked out the words as I cried in my little sister's arms.

“Your mate?” Delilah gasped

“Jonathan...or Silvercloud... or whatever his name really is. He lied about his name.” I tearfullyexplained.