The Delta's Daughter Chapter 160

Jonda chuckled as the woman walked away muttering something about foreigners under her breath. “She is very passionate about traditional foods and she will never understand how people can't like seafood.” She watched the woman disappear behind a swinging door to what I assumed was the kitchen.

“Thank you for the company,” Hunji said as he stood up “I am going to go talk with Alpha John, I figured we could question Darrius later this evening Lamia asked me, while we were here, to set up some provisions with the Alpha for when the Elites arrive.”

"Very well,” I nodded, "I will link you when we are ready." With that, he bowed out and left.

Tobias then stood up clutching his stomach, “I think I am going to lay down for a bit. I really don’t have sea legs.” He said sadly, obviously feeling pity for himself and his stomach still hadn’t settled from the two-day boat ride.

“Yeah, you kinda look like shit, your face is still green and pale.” I laughed.

“Ha ha, fuck off.” He groaned but managed to give Jonda a charming smile and bid her goodnight. “Let me know when you are questioning the dude. Not sure if King mentioned my excellent interrogating skills” He threw over his shoulder as he headed back up to his room.

Now the baby and the babysitter were out of the way, I turned all my attention to Jonda. “Alone at last,” I said with a sly smile.

“Should I be scared” She laughed.

“No,” I shook my head, still smiling like an idiot “but I was hoping to get to know you a little better on my own”

“Did you plan on your friends leaving so we could eat alone” she asked with a skeptical look.

“I didn’t plan it, but it definitely worked out in my favor. Dinner with a beautiful woman, a woman I would like to get to know much better.” I winked at her.

Jonda opened her mouth ready to say something; just then Willa came back and set the food down in front of us, putting a stop to whatever Jonda was going to say. That’s ok, we had all night to get to know each other better.

Jonda and I conversed easily while we ate and after we had finished our food, neither of us was ready to get up from the table, so Jonda had Willa, who I found out was the owner of this little Inn, bring us over a couple of bottles of rum and some tumblers.

“So… Tell me, Royal Beta Mike, What wind of fortune blew your little ship into my harbor” Jonda flirtily said to me after a few drinks in. Oh, this girl was playing with fire and stoking it too.

I watched with want as she leaned closer, resting her chin in her palm as she leaned on the table with her elbow, biting her bottom lip. She may not have realized she was doing it, or maybe she did but it was a huge turn-on for me. I wanted to be the one to bite her lip and make it red.

“I think you are flirting with me, Jonda” I had to make sure because if I acted on it and it wasn’t what she wanted I would feel embarrassed.

I already determined Jonda wasn’t like other she-wolves. She guarded, feisty, and had no problem getting what she wanted, if she wanted it. Yet on the other side, she was quick to blush, or maybe I just made her blush. She was 23 years old, and her brother Alpha John had turned 26 not too long ago.

“Maybe… but I am also curious about what’s going on. I know you are looking for ‘The king’” She whispered the last part making sure it was just her and I who heard. “but I feel like there is more to it, is there”

“Not much more, to be honest.” I took a sip of my drink “Changing the subject, I saw an interesting picture on the wall in the hallway,” I described the picture to her and her eyes lit up for a brief second before they revealed a sadness.

Her usual sexy stern look was gone, now replaced with a withdrawn look. “The picture with the late King, That was my father and mother, and my brother when he was younger. My mother was pregnant with me in that picture.” With a sad smile, she told me.

“What happened to your father and mother” Thinking they died in battle or were retired and on their permanent vacation, maybe they were still here in the pack just hanging out with family.

By the way the light faded from Jonda’s hazel eyes, I could tell that was not the case and I wished I hadn’t asked her. “I’m sorry, “ I began but was cut off.

“It’s OK, it’s not really a secret, just a sad story. She picked up her drink and knocked it back, then poured herself another, twirling the glass in her hands. We sat in silence for a few minutes until she began to speak.

“John was too young to remember what happened and of course, I hadn’t been born. Willa and the Delta, later turned Beta, family pretty much raised the two of us.” She gulped down her drink again and I followed her action, downing mine and then pouring us both another glass.

“It was my birthday the day you three goons showed up at the office,” Jonda began “It was also the anniversary of when my father disappeared.”

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to…” I offered her a way out.

“No it’s ok, I want to,” she said offering a weak grin. “Supposedly, The story goes, 23 years ago a bear shifter named Orion showed up on our Island with his witch mate and their son. They came in the dead of night with an army. Their boats landed on our docks, on the easternmost southerly border, they snuck through the land killing citizens until they reached the pack house. They killed everyone they came across, dragging my mother and brother from their beds. My father, at the time, had been questioning a rogue in the cells. I guess they had been having rogue problems for the last few months back then.

“Anyway, he held my mother at knifepoint, and when my father came upon the scene, Orion made my father bow down and pledge his life, if he didn’t, then Orion was going to kill My mother the Luna, and her son. They took my father as a hostage, but before they left, I was told Orion gave his witch instructions to poison my mother. Instead, she made my mother swallow a binding potion.” Jonda gulped and then took another swig of her drink, a faraway look in her eyes as she told me her story.

I was listening intently, “What happened to your mother” I asked, not knowing what she would say.

“After Orion left with my father, my mother went into labor that very night and I was born. Unfortunately, the binding spell was for me, not my mother. The herbs she forced my mother to drink, caused me to never be able to shift. She cursed a werewolf with the inability to ever shift.” Her hazel eyes held a glazed and sad look. I saw the tears gather, but she blinked the drops that threatened to fall away. This girl was one tough cookie.

“So you can’t shift Or you don’t have a wolf” Not sure what she meant and l looked for clarification.

“I have a wolf, but I can’t shift and supposedly I will never be able to until I find a mate who is a wolf-less shifter. On the day of my first birthday, my mother tried to claw her heart out, that was the day she almost died of a broken heart. No one knows what happened, but many have said my father betrayed the bond and took another into his bed, but it only ever happened once in almost 23 years.”

“Wow, I’m really sorry your family has had to endure all this. Is your mother… still alive” I asked curiously, thinking about what Zane, Lamia’s first, ish, mate went through when she had been kidnapped. Knowing the feeling of a mate's betrayal (whether forced or not) could do some serious damage; another reason why I was in no hurry to find my mate, among many other reasons. I felt for Jonda and her family and my compassion for her troubles was sincere.

“My mother never held it against him, she loves him, to this very day and I think the only reason she is still with us is out of hope that one day he will return.”

“So you think he is still alive” I was surprised by this.

“Probably,” Jonda mused “My mother’s mark never faded and the bond never broke. She sent men out to look for him and Orion for years, but nothing ever turned up. I guess this is why I’m so invested in helping you find the King. He is your best friend yes”

I nodded. Indeed, Kellen wasn't just a best friend he was more than that. He was my brother and I would do anything for him. I wanted to press on the fact that she couldn’t shift into her wolf form, but I thought better of it, no matter how curious I was. She would tell me more when she was ready.

“So how do you feel about interrogating this Darrius your brother has holed up” I asked watching for her reaction and changing the subject.

“Let’s go cut a bitch,” She said a little too excitedly and I noted the twinkle in her eye. Just like that, she had shifted from the melancholy somberness to the feisty and intimidating woman I met last week.

Goddess, she was all that and more. It took a strong person to be able to shove their feeling deep down and flip the switch from personal to business as she just did. Hiding all her sorrows and focusing on the now.