George led the way toward the largest table in the event hall where Damon was sitting with Maya, Caden, Maddox, Tanya, Tony, and Kalina.
The table next to it had Paul, Nate, and Greg sitting with three Generals of the Dark Howlers pack, and a table further down was with James, Petra, Erik, and Zack.
Other tables were occupied by the Elders and some other important people from the Dark Howlers pack.
George kept two plates with food on the table and pulled a chair for Dawn to sit.
Dawn gingerly took a seat and looked at the lineup at the table. She really wished for Talia to be there.
The truth was that even George was surprised when Damon invited them to sit at his table. George assumed that they will be seated with Paul, Nate, and Greg because, based on rankings, that's where he belonged.
This seating upgrade confirmed George's suspicion that Damon knew about his real identity as the Alpha, and he had a strong hunch how tomorrow's talk with Damon will address that topic.
"You must be Dawn.", Kalina spoke first. "Nice to meet you. I am Kalina, Tony's mate. We all heard that Commander George found his mate. Allow me to congratulate you and wish you all the best in the years to come."
Dawn nodded while thanking Kalina and Dawn's words came out choppy because she was super-nervous. Dawn knew very well who Kalina was. The whole edition of WW Magazine was dedicated to covering her Luna announcement ceremony.
"Relax, Dawn.", Maya said. "No one will bite you."
"I might.", George said under his breath and Dawn's head whipped to look at him. How can he say something so outrageous with all these high-ranking people at the table?
Maya stifled a laugh. She found it amusing that Dawn, who usually talks dirty without any shame, was suddenly acting like a shy schoolgirl. And this straightforward blurt from George solidified Maya's theory that all high-ranking werewolves become shameless when they find their mate.
"Let me introduce you.", Maya said while taking the role of a host in Talia's absence. "We all know each other, but let's make it official…"
Dawn paid attention to Maya as she talked, and Dawn was startled when a fork with food on it appeared in front of her mouth. It was George and his expression told her that rejecting was not an option. Well, she was hungry.
Dawn obediently opened her mouth and returned her attention to Maya while enjoying the feel of George's heat seeping from his palm into her shoulder, and it all came with delicious sparks that confirmed this was really happening, it was real… she was sitting at the table with her mate and other important people.
How Dawn saw this, the only ones missing were Talia and Zina. She was not sure where Talia went, as for Zina… regardless of how fairly they treated Omegas in the Dark Howlers pack, Zina was not qualified to sit at that table.
Damon's expression lit up when he saw Talia appear at the door. His warriors mind-linked him when they arrived and said that Talia was on her way to the event hall, but his heart still beat wildly as she walked toward him.
Damon stood up when Talia approached their table.
He pulled a chair for her. "That took a while.", he grumbled. Yes, it was just over an hour, but it felt like forever.
"I'm back on time for dinner. Isn't that what we agreed upon?", Talia asked.
Damon glanced to see that no one else came with Talia. She was on her own.
Damon was aware of how many grudges he and Shaman had, and he didn't have much hope that Talia will convince him to come, but he still hoped for a miracle. He didn't care about Mindy.
"Let me get some food for you.", Damon said, and he paused when Talia put her hand over his.
"No need. Dinner should be here soon.", Talia said and glanced at the plate in front of Damon. "You can give me a few of those. It doesn't look like you ate much."
Damon gave up on getting more and poked with his fork a sausage that was wrapped in puff pastry to give to Talia. She was right. He didn't eat because he was waiting for her to return.
Talia smiled at the sight of Dawn who sat there and ate what George fed her. It was such a heartwarming scene, especially Dawn's awkwardness and cheeks full of food that reminded Talia of herself only a few weeks back.
"When will Mindy come?", Kalina asked Talia. She assumed that Mindy went to change clothes or fix her hair before making her appearance.
"She won't.", Talia answered, getting everyone's attention.
Maddox was alerted. Mindy wouldn't miss this party unless it was serious. "What happened?"
Talia was not sure how to say this, so she went to the point, "Mindy found her mate."
"Eeeeh!!?", Tatiana and Kalina made silly sounds in unison.
"Is it one of the warriors who accompanied you?", Damon asked. That would explain why they didn't respond properly to questions he asked through the mind-link. But he watched them enter the car, and there was nothing unusual when they met.
"No. It's Gideon.", Talia said.
Intense silence descended on the largest table in the event hall.
"Ha, ha, ha…", Maddox laughed in slow motion. "Good one. My sister and the pack Shaman?" Isn't he like… ancient? "Why don't you try another joke?" Two seconds later, Maddox's brows came together to form a frown. "You are not joking."
"Woah!", Kalina exclaimed. "Then, we can assume that Mindy won't join us for dinner." Kalina wiggled her eyebrows. "Mindy and the Shaman are having their own private party."
Maddox groaned and Tatiana patted Maddox's hand. "What's with that reaction? Your sister found a mate. Shouldn't you be happy?"
"Uhm… To be honest, I don't know how to feel. This is all too sudden." And the old dude is just too old while his sister is still wet behind her ears. What the hell!?
"You say it's sudden, but I expected it.", Kalina said smugly. When Maddox looked at her questionably, she gestured toward Talia. "We have a theory that Lia has an ability to get mates together."
Maddox didn't share Kalina's and Maya's belief in magic. He heard from Tatiana that the magic-crazed duo was planning to go diving into the lake in search of mermaids.
Maddox grimaced and shook his head at Kalina. "Yeah, right. If Lia can get mates together, I can sprinkle fairy dust out of my ass and make you fly."
"No, no… listen.", Kalina said. "Tanya was with us at the table when she realized you are her mate. Meg was also close to Lia when she saw Kai."
"Talia was in the room when I recognized George as my mate.", Dawn said with a mouthful and Kalina pointed at Dawn excitedly, happy that Dawn added more proof.
"And now Mindy.", Maya said while nodding knowingly and her eyes lit up. "Whoever is unmated should just stick to Lia and her ability will summon a fated mate within twenty-four hours guaranteed."
Kalina immediately agreed with this idea, and she looked at Talia with sparkles in her eyes. "You can charge a lot of money for that service."
Talia's eyes darted from Kalina to Maya. "Please, stop talking nonsense. Someone might hear you and think it's a real thing." Talia was still traumatized by soccer players kissing her hand while believing how it brings good luck. She didn't know that werewolves are so superstitious. "All those were just coincidences. There is no such thing as power to find one's mate." Or to make one score a goal.
"Truth or not, you can still make a lot of money.", Tatiana chimed in, and she, Kalina, and Maya laughed.
Damon didn't think it was funny. He actually believed in that possibility. His kitten was amazing.
Damon's mood dropped when he realized that Gideon and Mindy being mates means that Mindy will become a member of the Dark Howlers pack.
The dildo-gifting woman will be close to Talia! Who knows in what ways will Mindy corrupt Talia!?
Damon didn't like it. Not even a little bit.
