George raised his hand and touched Dawn's fist that was in her chest level, pressing on the spot where her aching heart was.
They both jolted when sparks prickled their skin upon contact, confirming that the mate thing was real.
"It is me who is the unworthy one.", George said.
Dawn's brows came together in concern, and she voiced her thoughts, "Do you think that Alpha Edward won't take you back because of what happened?"
"You know…" He couldn't say the words that Marcy rejected him, but there was no need to say it.
He slowly retracted his hand from Dawn's, and she was quick to catch it.
Their hands stood connected between them, symbolizing the bond that was fresh and delicate.
"I know what got you into this state.", Dawn confirmed. "I assume that Alpha Edward won't approve. You don't need to go back to the Red Moon pack. You are a Commander. I'm sure that Alpha Damon will find you a position in our army and protect you. He takes care of his people. If you don't want to be a soldier in the army of the Dark Howlers pack, that's fine. I have an apartment where we can live, and my income is enough for both of us. Actually, I saved quite a bit."
Dawn was planning to go on a trip with Zina, but now that Dawn found her mate, Zina will need to take the back seat… assuming George doesn't reject her.
George looked at Dawn in disbelief, wondering if he heard her right. "You will support me?"
Dawn suspected that she hurt his pride. But he was still holding her hand, so even if she stepped over the invisible line, it was not by much. "I will support you until you find a job. Then we can both contribute."
"You won't mind if I am a nobody? A failure that was discarded?"
Dawn realized that his words were harsh because Marcy rejected him. Was it possible that he was insecure?
Or did Marcy's rejection hurt so badly that he didn't want a mate anymore?
Or was he testing her?
Whichever it was, it didn't matter. Regardless of how George felt about the mate bond, her answer would be the same.
From a young age, Dawn was hearing stories about how the mate bond is beautiful and sacred, and how true happiness can only be achieved when mates were together, and now that she was standing in front of her mate who was outrageously handsome, Dawn had no intention of backing down.
Dawn put her other hand over George's that was still holding hers, and she confirmed that the sparks of their bond were real. How long will she get to enjoy them? Dawn was not sure.
"You are not a nobody. You are George. Your job or background don't define you. The only thing that matters is what you will do going forward. My wolf told me you are my mate, and these sparks confirm it. I am willing to make it work and if you think otherwise…" Dawn released a shaky breath. "Reject me and be done with it."
George helplessly looked at Dawn whose cheeks were wet with fresh tears again. He was a soldier, and he didn't know how to handle a crying woman.
He propped himself into a seated position and raised his hands to wipe her cheeks with his palms. Every movement hurt, like a thousand needles were lodged into his muscles, but his urge to comfort her was stronger than anything else.
"Stop crying. Uhm… What's your name?"
Dawn sniffled. "Dawn. That's D-A-W-N, like the first appearance of light in the sky before sunrise." She had to explain because some people would call her Don, like she was a boy. It's pronounced almost the same.
"Dawn…", George repeated with a smile that made her heart skip a beat. "How about you sit next to me, so…"
'GRRRGRRR!'
George stopped talking when his stomach growled loudly.
He wanted to say that she should sit next to him so they can talk and get to know each other, but his stomach made noise and interrupted the moment. Actually, his wolf was weakly urging him to pull Dawn into his embrace and kiss her senselessly, but George decided to take it slow.
With Marcy, Gorge allowed himself to get carried away, and it's not like he had an intention to reject Dawn, but he wanted to be careful and not rush into things.
Dawn realized that George's emotions changed from what she sensed previously. The initial negativity was dissipating, and she knew that he was willing to give them a go, and that meant the world to her.
George was embarrassed by the noise his stomach made. He looked at Dawn sheepishly to see her smiling brightly, making him feel like the whole world came to life.
He thought of her name… "Your name suits you."
"It does?"
"You brought light to my darkness." He knew that she probably won't understand how true his words were, but it didn't matter.
Dawn felt her cheeks heating. Was she blushing? Probably.
She thought how it was ridiculous, George didn't even say anything super romantic or sexy, but her heart was racing like his words were the sweetest thing she ever heard.
Completely flustered by George's unexpected compliment, Dawn's eyes darted randomly until she saw the tray with food. "I brought you food. You should eat."
Dawn moved to get the tray with food closer to George while talking quickly. She would blabber when she was nervous. "I guess your body feels stiff. Would you like a good stretch? We can go for a walk, or a run if you are up to it. I can give you a massage. If you want, I can prepare a bath for you…"
"Can I have some water first?", George asked when Dawn paused to inhale.
Dawn swiftly changed her direction toward the pitcher with water. She poured him a glass of water and watched him drink it.
She stared unblinkingly at his Adam's apple that bobbed with every gulp he took and she thought how even that part of him was handsome.
Dawn placed the tray with food on the bed next to George. She gingerly sat on the edge of the bed with the tray between them.
Instead of ogling at him, Dawn decided to get busy, and she started removing covers from the plates with food.
Dawn took the fork and her eyes darted from the food to George. "With what do you want to start?" It was obvious that she wanted to feed him.
Instead of answering, George took the fork from Dawn's hand and poked a piece of scrambled eggs.
Dawn stared at him as he held the fork in front of her mouth.
"That's your food. I had breakfast already.", she said.
George smiled a little. "It's custom for a werewolf to feed his mate first. Allow me to do this, Dawn. It's a gesture to show that I will take care of you." And he also had an inexplicable urge to feed her.
Dawn's eyes opened wide to the point of hurting and her lips parted to accept his offering. He said that he will take care of her, another indirect confirmation that he was OK with her being his mate.
Was she worthy of being Commander's mate? The Moon Goddess seemed to think so.
Dawn didn't want to appear like a weak Omega. Commander's mate needs to show some backbone.
She took the spoon and scooped a piece of scrambled eggs.
"And I want to take care of you in return.", she said while holding the spoon in front of his mouth.
George looked at Dawn with a complex expression and his heart cracked a little. He realized how this was the way it was supposed to be from the beginning. If Marcy didn't reject him, they would take care of each other… but she did reject him, and now he didn't feel anything when he thought about her. Actually, his wolf protested.
George opened his mouth and Dawn pushed the spoon in there, smiling happily when the utensil came out clean. She really wanted to be that spoon and to get into his mouth, so that he can touch her with his tongue… Naughty thoughts.
