The Genius Delta novel Chapter 8

It was rather endearing that Jonathan kept forgetting Mila’s name. I don’t even care if he does so intentionally or not. She can eat her heart out. I may mean that literally because he’s mine. She’s a werewolf, 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 couple of 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 be his family’s mark? That made me ponder his family’s mark, and more than that, I wanted to know more 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 you beyond the few things others have mentioned. No one talks about your family. And well, you know plenty 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 what I 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 was attacked, 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 about losing 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 my mother was an indigenous person. I remember my dad was a scientist.” He sighed, putting the menu down.

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

“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to dig up painful memories.” I apologized as I reached across the table to hold his hand. “But it’s good to remember things. Even if it’s vague or small and insignificant to someone 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 since anyone’s asked. Even the ranked females haven’t asked about my past. They know what their mates told 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 want to.” 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 similar tragedy is a great foundation for love, but it does mean we will understand each other better. He lost his family when he was so young that we won’t understand each other to some degree. But it still 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 background check 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 I requested 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 your request. I can suffer through not being close during the work day as long as I can still be around you. 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, and I 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. It gave me a chance to focus on something that wasn’t his handsome face and this urge to jump him here 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 override rational thought. Hell, André would throw a party mostly because he loves a party, but he’d make the theme ‘told you so.’

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