Chapter 6 #2
Over the course of the evening, Branson and Tarius found their various siblings, mates, husbands, and friends, and everyone was a sweet combination of surprised and delighted that they were dating.
Caden, with his infamous lack of filter, blurted out, “But he’s so old.
” His mate Zaq smacked the back of his head.
Dancing with Tarius was a new adventure.
Alphas and omegas had a natural rhythm with the typically larger alpha leading the smaller omega.
Betas had to figure it out. Branson and Tarius were similar in height and build, with Tarius slightly taller.
In the end, Branson gave up and let Tarius lead him to the slow, subdued music.
Fancy people music, not the club stuff Branson’s friends used to prefer—until they all started growing up and mellowing out.
At one point, Miko and Linus stepped up to the edge of the ballroom’s dance floor, and the young couple began moving together. Linus’s first dance on his prosthetic leg. Tarius’s eyes gleamed, and Branson hoped he didn’t start to cry.
Time inched closer to midnight; he didn’t want this magical evening to end.
Branson excused himself for a bathroom break, and then he tracked down Tarius by one of the mobile bars. “Cola?” Tarius asked. “Or are you feeling something stronger?”
Branson wasn’t much of a drinker, but this was a special occasion, and he’d stuck to plain cola all evening. “Rum and cola.”
“Okay.” Tarius joined the line for drinks.
“Branson Cross?”
Branson turned, slightly irritated that someone was approaching him at a public event.
Yes, his family was somewhat famous, but Branson himself hadn’t been interesting since he was a toddler.
The person who spoke was beta, older, but at least he didn’t have a recorder or camera in his hand like most reporters.
“Yes?” Branson replied.
The beta man thrust a manila envelope at Branson. “You’ve been served.”
“Served?” Branson clutched the envelope as the man walked away, stunned and confused. He turned to Tarius, who’d returned from the drink line. “What just happened?”
Tarius took the envelope from him. “You were served something official, probably court documents. This is a public event and a good place to find you, but what on earth are you involved in?”
“Nothing!” That had been loud. Branson grabbed Tarius’s wrist and pulled him into the hallway where it was slightly quieter. “There is literally nothing going on in my life right now. I have no idea what this could be about.”
“Okay.” Tarius shook the envelope. “May I open this?”
“Sure.”
“Thanks.” Tarius unsealed the envelope and pulled out a few sheets of printed paper. As he read them, his expression toggled between shocked and confused. He lowered the papers and stared at Branson.
“What?” Branson asked.
“You’re being subpoenaed to appear for a custody hearing in Sonora Province, on behalf of the plaintiff.”
“Huh? Sonora Province? I’ve never even been there.
A custody what?” He snatched the papers from Tarius and scanned the main parts.
“I don’t understand what any of this means.
I don’t know these names.” He’d only ever heard about one man from Sonora, which was in the far southeast of the territory, and that man was long dead. “Is this some kind of joke?”
“I don’t think so, these papers look legit. I’ve drafted similar orders for men to appear as witnesses and had them delivered via process servers. You’re sure you don’t know anyone in Sonora?”
“Positive. Those names mean nothing to me. And how can I be part of a custody dispute? I’m beta, I can’t sire a child.”
“It’s not a child custody dispute.” Tarius studied the papers again, his brow creasing. “These papers were filed on behalf of an unmated, seventeen-year-old omega named Jeuel Alder. He’s petitioning you to take custody of him, instead of him becoming a ward of the province.”
Okay, that sort of custody request wasn’t totally unusual anymore.
Unmated omegas, in some provinces, became wards of the province when their biological parents died.
They had to live in group homes until they found an alpha mate.
Uncle Braun had gone through something similar before Branson was even born, when Branson’s grandsire died in a car accident, leaving Uncle Braun an orphan.
In some provinces like Sansbury, the unmated omega could live with a married beta couple in a fostering situation, which was how Uncle Braun first met Gaven’s parents, Dex and Serge Freel.
And through the Freels, Uncle Braun met Uncle Tarek.
Still… “Who the hell is Jeuel Alder, though?” Branson asked. “Did he pick me out of a territory phone book? I don’t get it.”
“I don’t either, I’m sorry. There’s not a lot of information here. It looks like an amended summons, since this is from another territory, so the cause of action doesn’t make sense.”
“What’s the cause of action?”
Tarius looked up, his brow creased in confusion. “It says you’re Jeuel Alder’s biological half-brother. And he wants you to take legal custody of him.”