Chapter 19 - Silvercloud

HOLY SHIT!

Many things have blown my mind in my life. Usually, it has been some new discovery I've made. But

nothing, and I mean NOTHING, has blown my mind like sex with Persephone Fayte. I was so caught

up in the moment that I forgot a condom. Though saying I forgot a condom implies I have

condoms. I've never required them.

I bought a few boxes of condoms once. I bought multiple boxes of different sizes, types, and brands

for an experiment when I was fourteen. Luna Elizabeth, unfortunately, came across my experiment

and had a total meltdown over a minor having condoms. She called it improper and scolded Logan

for “raising a heathen.’ She didn't care that I was running scientific experiments.

Logan rolled his eyes and said she should be happy I was learning about safe sex. He also pointed

out that I was in college getting my master's degree, so the fact that I was doing such a lowbrow

experiment showed that even if I'm a genius, I'm still a kid. Logan was big on the idea that kids

should get to act like kids. I guess that included experiments on condoms. He asked for the results

from my findings and would probably buy stock in the brand I found most effective.

After reviewing my findings with John, they bought the one I deemed the best instead of simply

investing in a brand and then made improvements to the product based on my results. It's funny to

think about now. That was sort of what gave birth to the eventual founding of Silvercloud Industrial.

My company was born from an experiment on condoms

But I digress and have lost my train of thought. Not an unusual thing for me to do. Now, where was

I? Right, my negligence in using protection. Even if I had a condom on my person, Persephone

climbed on my dick before I would have had the chance to put one on. And let's be honest, no

matter how many improvements get made to condoms, a layer of latex will never feel the same or

as good as bareback.

I was serious that I was sending a thank you basket to Luna Crista for ensuring my mate had such a

good and lasting form of birth control in place even before she needed it. I have a mental list of all

the apology baskets I need to send, so adding her as a thank-you wasn't a stretch. It still amazes me

how alike Persephone and I are; she has an apology list too.

I hadn't wanted to move. I was perfectly content lying in the grass, still buried inside Persephone.

But we both should wash up and get somewhere more private, even if no one often comes near my

bunker. Only a few people even know it's out here. Its location is a “need to know’ thing. Only we

ranked wolves, and the guards of the ranked females know where my bunker is.

Ben Bristow was blown away when he learned of my bunker lab. Born and raised in Bloodmoon, he

never considered I had a secret liar, his word, not mine. It was bittersweet when Ben joined the

guards. It took a whole year after Nigel died in the battle of Mount Adams before we finally selected

a new Gamma guard. Warren would have pulled double duties as long as we needed, but we knew

guard duty was not a one-person job.

Ben's a nice enough guy, mated with three cute kids. He takes his job of guarding Sybille seriously

and is doing his best to fill the irreplaceable shoes of Nigel. It still hurts to think he’s gone, and Holly

is on the other side of the country with their little boy. She hasn't come back since Logan gave her

permission to leave. We all felt it when she took the oath of Ironfur and returned to her birth pack. It

was like losing Nigel all over again. But I've seen pictures of their son, Sammy, and he's a cute little

kid. He reminds me of photos I've seen of Nigel as a kid.

While Persephone went to use the shower, I thought about the guards and wondered who would be

assigned to Persephone. I need to start at least narrowing down my choices. Who do I trust to

protect the most precious person to me? The people I trust most in this world are ranked wolves

here in Bloodmoon and up in Silverclaw. I glanced back at the bathroom door and smiled as I heard

her humming mixed with the running water.

“Dove, pull up a list of mated Bloodmoon warriors. Limit the list to those with gifts that either lend

themselves to physical strength or stealth. Also, limit the list to warriors under the age of forty.” I

outlined my query, knowing Dove should be able to do this from what it told me this morning.

"Generating. Your query may take a few minutes to process.” Dove answered. I nodded, having

assumed as much.

I turned my attention to the bathroom when the sound of water stopped, and her humming

became easier to hear. Shit, she doesn't have any clothes here. I smacked my forehead and started

digging around in the little plastic dresser Sarael insisted I have since I spend more time in my

bunker than at the packhouse. I managed to find a pair of Bloodmoon tearaway shorts and a tee.

They'll be big on her, but it's better than her standing around in a towel or nothing.

“I think you are confused. The fewer clothes Persephone is wearing, the better.’ Jaci commented.

“Silence, horny wolf. We just had sex like five minutes ago. Shouldn't you be sated?” I rolled my eyes.

"You stopped me from marking her. I'm not going to be satisfied till our mark is on her neck, so

everyone knows she’s ours.’ Jaci scoffed.

'Of course, I stopped you. Persephone just started her internship. She doesn’t need to miss a week

so soon. If we mark her beyond what it needs to be with her full consent, it will send her into heat.

Not to mention it will look sus as fuck if we are both out for a week. And that would be a week that

Mila could spread whatever rumors she wants and discredit our brilliant mate in the eyes of her

peers.’ I pointed out.

He had nothing to say to that. He sighed and sat down, knowing he'd lost this battle. He may want

to mark Persephone and complete the bond, but he won't do it at the risk of her professional

reputation. He knows just as well as I do how much this internship means to our mate. And she

earned this spot all by herself. I won't let false assumptions of nepotism taint that.

My breath caught in my throat as she stepped out of the bathroom. The steam billowed out around

her like a fog filled with her scent. Her hair was wrapped in a towel while a second towel wrapped

around her body, hitting slightly above midthigh, and I currently envy the part of the towel that was

tucked between her breasts. She smirked, green eyes dancing with amusement as she raised an

eyebrow.

"Get dressed, 4tawit.” I smiled, coming back to my senses. She needs to put clothes on before I rip

that towel off and do something I didn't earlier... taste her.

"What does that word mean?” Persephone asked as she quickly dressed

“It's Yakama, my mother's native language. It means love.” I explained. “Now come on, I'll explain

what I know about Dove. After it finishes the query I gave, we can figure out what I don't know.” I

offered as I took her hand.

I'm not sure where calling her 4tawit came from. While I still know the indigenous language of my

mother’s people, I haven't used it since I was a boy. Her smile and soft blush indicate it was the right

call. This is what the mate bond has done to me. I'm not one of those nitwits using a pet name for

my mate. If I start to lose IQ points, I will not be happy.

"What do you have it querying?” She asked as I led her back to the workstation.

“I'm narrowing down the possible choices for Delta guards,” I explained, gesturing to the monitors

that Dove had wireless connected to. Each monitor quickly sorted through multiple pack profiles

seeking only those that met my criteria.

"Delta guards?” Persephone furrowed her brow.

“I'm not sure how things are done in the Sicilian packs. In Bloodmoon, we have plenty of enemies,

so every ranked female is assigned two guards. David and Mikali are Aurelia's guards, Colby and

Azriel are assigned to Sarael, and Warren and Ben are assigned to Sybille. They mostly drive them to

their meetings and events.” I explained.

"Yeah, we don't have that nonsense. In the Sicilian packs, our females don't need protection. A

guard would be more useful protecting others from our ranked wolves.” Persephone scoffed. “Crista

turned a guy in a parking lot stain. Izzy can turn anyone and things to stone. And the Incubi Gamma

and Delta females are no slouches here. And don’t get me started in Nebrodi.”

“I think you're misinterpreting their role. Trust me. No one would ever think one of our ranked

females is weak. Before becoming our Luna, Aurelia killed two of our greatest enemies. Sarael may

have a powerful new moon wolf, but wolf or not, she was a trained Adio hunter. Only a fool would

discredit her. And Sybille can easily protect herself with her gift and in general.” I explained.

"So please don't think assigning guards is me dismissing your ability to protect yourself,” I assured.

“I did my homework on you before we even met. I know what your wolf can do, and I know you

weren't a slouch in a fight even before your first shift.”

“As long as we are clear. So why do you only give the guards to the she-wolves?” Persephone folded

her arms, waiting for an explanation.

“The guards assigned to our she-wolves are more inclined in stealth. They are there to identify and

eliminate any potential threats before they even get near you. Their job is to provide support in

whatever way is necessary, be it in a physical fight or a meeting with sub betas.” I tried to explain.

"Hmm... okay, I can see how that makes sense.” Persephone conceded.

"Query complete. Six potential candidates identified.” Dove announced as a different profile popped

up on each of the monitors.

“Let's see who I may have to deal with following me around.” Persephone sighed, leaning her

elbows on the workstation, chin in her hands as she read over the six profiles.

“Riordan McNamara, Finnian O Corraidhin, Fion Tracey, Justin Gardner, Sebastian Crane, and Rohan

Rock. Three born from Aurelia’s birth pack and three native Bloodmoon members.” I nodded as I

looked at the profiles, weighing what they said against what I could remember personally.