Chapter 33 - Persephone

I knew the second my fist connected with that bitch’s nose, and I would end up in hot water. This

isn't like being in Incubi, where I'd get in trouble for fighting outside training sessions. Fights were

allowed even when not sparring partners as long as it happened during training sessions. I'm sure

even if this hadn't happened in the lobby of Silvercloud with multiple human witnesses, Logan

would be pissed at me. He'd warned me before we left to keep my temper in check.

And I failed epically. Yet I don't feel an ounce of remorse. Okay, that's a lie. I felt some guilt when I

saw Cillian's face. I did punch and make his mate bleed. Even if she deserved it, he didn't. Thankfully

he doesn't hold it against me. That was what worried me the most. I don't care if Logan yells at me.

He can't outright punish me because I'm not Bloodmoon. If he wants to hand out a punishment,

he'd need to get approval from Alec first.

When they get here, Alec could decide I need to be punished. Even if he is my Alpha, I'm not afraid

of him or his stupid wolf. I know what Darkness is capable of, and he’s an ancient wolf spirit. So I'm

a little afraid of Darkness, alright, I'm afraid of Darkness.

Yes, I know, the Bloodmoon wolf is an ancient and presumably powerful spirit, but not in the same

way Darkness and Light are. They've hurt people in far worse ways than a mere punch for even

speaking wrong to Crista. I'm hoping Alec and his wolves will see where I was coming from.

"How much trouble do you think I am in with HR?" I asked as we pulled up to the pack house.

“A lot.” Jonathan sighed. “Fights are taken seriously. And considering how many witnesses there

were..." He shrugged as we climbed out of the car.

I grimaced as it finally settled into my mind that I was probably being let go from the program after

two days. I frowned as I looked to the doors of the packhouse and saw Logan and Aurelia standing

there like they were waiting for us. Shit, they already know. Did Jonathan tell them? Cillian maybe?

Or did someone from Silvercloud report it up the chain, and Logan heard because he co-owns

Kinsley?

“Persephone...” Logan growled. As his eyes narrowed, I saw them fluctuating from his natural blue

to the red of his wolf.

Jonathan winced, lowering his head even if it wasn't him his Alpha was angry with. I sighed and

walked up the stairs till I was at eye level with the short Alpha. So I'm two steps down from him and

his mate. Sure, some might consider this as me acting humble and conceding that Alpha and Luna

are higher in the food chain. And I guess that's partially true, but my true reason is that I want to

look him in the eyes.

“I don't need a lecture, Logan,” I said, not beating around the bush. “I had a father, and I know

exactly what he would have said. And I have an Alpha and can guess what he will say too.”

“Oh, I know exactly what your Alpha had to say. I called him to let him know you got into a public

fight with a potential spy with a few hundred human witnesses and will likely be kicked out of the

summer program.” Logan snorted. “He's not pleased with you, and neither is your sister. They have

moved up their flight and will be here tomorrow with his son.”

That's just great. My impulsive violent outburst has brought all the D’Amores coming early. Well,

fuck my life. Though on the bright side, the sooner they get here, the sooner they can leave, and the

sooner Jonathan and I can complete our bond and truly put Mila’s plans to an end.

“Sounds about right. Alec will show up, lecture me about my temper, and try to think of a

punishment for me.” I shrugged. I hope I'm conveying a more casual front than I felt. While I'm

pretty sure how things will go down when Alec gets here with his two wolves, especially Darkness,

things could take a sudden turn.

“Then I'll remind him he imprisoned and nearly killed someone for making threatening sexual

advances on my sister, and that asshole didn’t even know yet she was his future Luna.” I outlined

how I hoped things would go. “And I'll get a lesser punishment because breaking that bitch’s nose

pales to what he did to Santi.”

Logan rolled his eyes, folding his arms across his chest unamused. “You should take this more

seriously. Beyond your internship, this could have a ripple effect we can't foresee. She's part of

Demonclaw. We aren't officially enemies with them, but we arent allies either. I am not looking to

have a war started, at least not till I know what that bitch is up to.”

Aurelia sighed and placed her hand on Logan's arm, and his posture changed. They have a strong

bond. It only took her light touch to dial back his aggression from a 12, on a scale of 10, to a 1.

“Persephone, you're a smart girl. I'm told your IQ rivals your mate's. So us telling you the

ramifications of your actions today is pointless. You've probably had the car ride home to think

through all the scenarios.” Aurelia stated. While it did sound like she was buttering me up, I also

didn't detect any bullshit.

“I won't apologize for what I did. I own it. Mila was warned to keep her hands off Jonathan. She was

told we were mates. She chose to ignore those warnings we gave her this morning.” I shrugged.

“Bitch got what was coming. She's damn lucky I held back my wolf and only punched her. Sara

wants to rip her to shreds.”

“She's right,” Jonathan spoke up. “The Demonclaw girl was warned that if she kept it up, I'd take her

to HR, and Persephone did verbally, in a low enough voice the humans didn't hear, claim me as her

mate.”

“You call her Demonclaw girl?” Aurelia raised an eyebrow.

"Would you want to call anyone from Cholméin by their name? Would you want to give them that

amount of respect? Knowing that their pack was responsible for the destruction of yours? Knowing

that their pack killed your parents?” Jonathan questioned. “You may not have memories of Connor

and Fianna, but I have some left of my parents. Like many of your people, I still remember the night

of the attack.”

Aurelia’s shoulders sank as she nodded her head softly. “I understand, Silvercloud. And I can't say

how I'd treat someone from Cholmain if I crossed paths with them. I know what they took from me,

but I have my parents who have loved me unconditionally. I have Logan and our children. I might

not have had all this if Firewolf wasn't attacked.”

"You can see it that way, but I'm sure the rest of the survivors would rip a Cholmain wolf to pieces

before giving them an ounce of kindness or respect.” Jonathan frowned.

I know how he feels. I still have trouble stepping foot in Madonie. Ignazio is dead, but facing the

Madonie people is still hard. I don't hold it against Lando. He lost his parents because of Ignazio,

but I can't forgive people like Ivan as quickly. Delilah made her piece with his hand in the attack on

Nebrodi, but I haven't and don't know if I ever will. I know Tie, Gage, Khloe, and llario all are on

edge when they deal with Madonie beyond the ranked members. How do you let go of the hate for

someone that killed or scared physically and mentally the people you love most?

Instinctively I took Jonathan's hand, hoping to offer him support. “You don’t owe Demonclaw any

kindness or respect,” I assured him.

“I will deal with whatever fallout comes from punching her,” I assured Logan and Aurelia, and I

turned my attention back to them. “If I get taken out of the internship, so be it. She'll be kicked out

too, so she'll have no reason to be in Bloodmoon territory.”

"Which means we can revoke her permission to be here.” Logan's lips curled into a smile as a red

ring formed around his blue iris. “And she'll have twenty-four hours to get off my territory or face

the consequences of trespassing.”

I smiled back and nodded. “Exactly. Either way, whatever her plans for Jonathan will be squashed.”

“It may force her hand. She could act out and do something foolish and dangerous. Like attempting

to kidnap Silvercloud and possibly force mark him.” Aurelia pointed out.

“That won't be happening,” Jonathan said firmly. “Beyond that, she'd have to get to me to do it. I'd

rip her fucking head off first.”

"She'd be dead before she could touch him.” I agreed. “I've been holding Sara back hard, but if that

bitch does one more thing, I'll owe Cillian a bigger apology because his mate will be dead.”

"Speaking of Cillian, how is he?” Aurelia asked, obviously concerned like a true Luna should be.

"He's conflicted. He's not upset with Persephone. He understands why she did it because if it were

reversed, he'd hit someone for touching his mate.” Jonathan answered. “I recommended he go talk

to his parents. Maybe something in all the books they have has a way for him to stay strong against

the pull of the bond without severing it. I also said if that fails, he should check with Sarael to see

what the guild might know.”

“I hope there is something that can help him. I know how hard it is to stay away from your mate.

And it must hurt more knowing she seems set on having someone else.” Aurelia frowned.

"Speaking of mate bonds and the strain of being apart. What the fuck is this I hear about Shikoba

and Rohan?” Logan raised his brow, looking at Jonathan.

It looks like it's time to address the next subject on the docket. At least the focus is no longer on me

and my fight with Mila. I'd rather talk about Shikoba and Rohan anyways. I'm hoping she will come

around and accept him. His story is sad, and he seems like a guy who should have a happy life with

a mate.