Iris stays in the office for hours, crying softly to herself. She finally falls asleep. She doesn’t know how long she sleeps before she hears the door open.
“Hello, Dawson,” she hears a voice say.
“I found her, Mother,” Dawson says. “She was hiding in the bathroom.”
“Why would she do that?” his mother asks coldly.
Dawson sighs. “I’m not sure but I think it has to do with the mate bond.”
His mother gasps. “Her? How can that be? She is only a slave.”
“I don’t know,” Dawson growls. “But it is true. She is my mate.”
His mother laughs cruelly. “Then you must get rid of her,” she orders coldly.
Iris gasps, shocked.
“What?” Dawson gasps.
“You cannot be the Alpha and have a slave as your mate,” his mother says coldly.
“I know that but I don’t want to get rid of her,” Dawson protests weakly. He sounds lost and unsure of what to do.
His mother laughs again. “She has been with other men,” she tells him coldly. “She is not a good mate for you.”
Iris looks up, shocked. “How did you know that?” she asks weakly.
Dawson’s mother smiles cruelly. “I make it my business to know all about everyone in this household,” she says coldly. “And I know that you are not the right mate for my son.”
“No one is,” Dawson growls.
His mother looks at him, shocked. “What do you mean?” she demands.
Dawson stands up and looks her in the eye. “No one can be the right mate for me as long as you keep trying to control me,” he growls coldly.
His mother steps forward, her hand raised to strike him. “How dare you,” she snarls.
Iris gasps and starts to scramble to her feet. “No,” she cries.
Dawson turns to her. “No, don’t move,” he orders. He looks back at his mother. “She is under my protection now.”
His mother lets out a sound of fury. “She can never be under your protection,” she growls.
Dawson snarls. “Watch me,” he says coldly.
His mother drops her hand and takes a deep breath. She glares at Iris. “This is not the end,” she snarls menacingly before she turns and leaves the room.
Dawson sits down and sighs. He looks at Iris sadly. “I am sorry you had to hear that,” he apologizes quietly.
She shakes her head weakly. “Do not be sorry,” she says softly. “It was not your fault.”
She swallows. “I am afraid for you,” she admits. “She will kill you if she gets the chance.”
Dawson chuckles. “You don’t need to be afraid,” he tells her gently. “She will not hurt me.”
“Are you sure?” she asks, concerned.
Dawson nods. “Yes. She may not like me but she will not kill me. I am her only son.”
“Are you positive?” she presses. She knows that his mother is a cruel, heartless woman and would not hesitate to kill him.
Dawson hesitates, unsure. “Well, I guess I am not entirely positive,” he admits.
She nods sadly. “As long as she lives, you will be in danger,” she warns. “And so will I.”
“I will not let her hurt you,” he promises. “You are under my protection now. And so are you Jonathan.”
Her eyes widen in shock. “How do you know his name?” she gasps.
Dawson smirks. “I followed you,” he admits. “I watched you through the window. You love him very much, don’t you?” he asks gently.
Tears fill her eyes. “Yes,” she whispers.
He nods sadly. “I wish I could be your mate and Jonathan’s father but it is not possible,” he says regretfully.
She shakes her head sadly. “No, it is not,” she agrees sadly. “But you are still a good man and I love you very much as my brother.”
He stands up and walks to her. He kneels in front of her and pulls her into his arms. She hugs him tightly, tears streaming down her face.
“Thank you,” she whispers. “Thank you for caring about me.”
He hugs her back. “I will always care about you and your son,” he promises. “I love you, too.”
She nods and kisses his cheek before she pulls back.
He smiles. “Thank you,” he says softly.
She smiles weakly back at him. “I will see you later,” she says.
He nods. “Yes. I love you.”
“Love you, too,” she replies.
She turns and walks out of the room, closing the door behind her.
Dawson watches her go and feels something break in him. He knew she wasn’t happy here but he had not realized how unhappy she was. He sits back down in his chair and sighs.
He knows he can’t let his mother keep her prisoner here any longer. He has to get her out of here.
He thinks about how to do it when he hears the door open again.
“Mother?” he asks, confused. He knows she left just a few minutes ago.
He hears a chuckle from across the room. He stands up and turns to face the sound, ready to defend himself.
He sees a large man, one he does not know, walk into the room.
“Who are you?” Dawson demands. He feels his wolf stir inside him. His hackles are raised. He knows this man is a shifter but he doesn’t know what kind.