Chapter 62 Callisto
Chapter sixty-two
Callisto
The judge closes the folder on his desk and shuffles the evidence sheets into a neat pile before looking up. My heartbeat pounds so loud it throbs in my ears. I told my pack it was no big deal giving up my win streak, but I suppose working so hard towards a single goal for years made it part of me.
And now we’re a breath away from a verdict.
Judge Harmon removes his glasses and scratches his nose.
Feels like an eternity before he begins.
“Given the evidence presented before me, I see no way the marketing claims published by the defendant can be considered valid, a fact Pulse Corporation senior staff were aware of before choosing to publish the marketing materials. Furthermore, the plaintiff was negatively impacted by the unfulfilled claims.”
My heart swells up into my throat.
He lifts his gavel. “Therefore, I determine the claims were false advertising and find in favor of the plaintiff. The court awards—”
The specifics of the sentence he hands down fade as I slump in my chair, lightheaded.
I, Callisto Wren, a lawyer not quite thirty years old, have now claimed the title of longest legal win streak in the country.
My name will buzz through legal circles, and Harkman and Laurance will offer me the contract of my dreams.
But the first thing in my mind is I want to tell my omega the good news. And thank Hale for getting me here on time in a feat of stunt driving I hope never to experience again. I snort softly.
A hand descends on my shoulder, and I flinch.
My client beams at me. “Thank you so much, Callisto! This will change my life.”
“You’re welcome.” Must’ve been a big enough settlement amount. I glance up at the judge, and he flicks his fingers for me to come.
“Excuse me for a moment,” I say, sliding out of my seat and approaching the bar.
Judge Theodore Harmon leans forward to speak. “Congratulations on your new record, Counselor Wren.”
“Thank you, Your Honor. And I truly appreciate you delaying the hearing by a day.”
He nods brusquely. “After I saw the news last night, I understood why you had to leave. Red Jones is your client, isn’t she?”
“She’s actually my omega.” Damn, the words feel sweet on my tongue.
“Oh, that’s even better news. I’m glad to hear she was rescued. I considered lifting your fine, but I can’t exactly set a precedent for lawyers running out in the middle of session, even for emergencies.”
“It’s not a problem, Your Honor. As I said, I appreciated your leniency.”
He flashes me an amused look that says few people would consider a steep fine lenient, but it’s not a big deal even when I just scraped together my fortune to invest in Alpha Cash. Today’s client fee covers the bill.
The judge links his fingers together, studying me with interest. “Do you plan to continue as you are now at Harkman and Laurance?”
No surprise everyone’s curious about what comes next. I flash him a grin I hope passes as professional. “I foresee a few changes in my future, but I’m not at liberty to mention details. But I will say, I found a new calling both personally and professionally.”
He grunts softly, possibly irritated that I’m being coy. “I wondered if you were aiming to become a judge. You’re certainly building quite the reputation for yourself, so if you’re heading in that direction, I’d be happy to mentor you.”
Me, a judge? Sitting in this room day in and day out listening to people whinge? Once upon a time, his suggestion might have thrilled me. “Thank you for the confidence; that’s a great honor coming from you. But my interests lie in another direction at this time.”
“All right then. I look forward to seeing what you do with your fame.”
“While we’re talking, Your Honor, I do have a minor issue that needs signing off on. Would you mind taking a look?”
The judge agrees, and I retrieve a dossier with an injunction that needs a fast sign-off.
His words stick with me as I pack up and accept the congratulations of my peers who’ve crowded the courtroom to witness my dramatic success or failure; I’m sure many were hoping I’d fail.
My fame, not just as a lawyer but as a Wren, will continue to grow, giving me a unique opportunity to throw my weight behind the feral alphas out there who don’t have any hope.
I’d be making a difference in people’s lives instead of chasing money for clients who can already afford expensive lawyers.
What wins could I rack up in those cases?
It’s an intriguing possibility.
Hale waits for me in the corridor, a sly smile on his wide lips. I offer him my hand. “I owe you one,” I tell him.
“Indeed. Don’t think I’ll be afraid to cash in.”
I chuckle. “When have you ever been afraid of anything?”
“Good point.” He jerks his thumb over his shoulder. “Your family came to pick you up. I suggested they use the side door to avoid the steps out front.”
I spin on my heel. At the far end of the hallway, my pack waits, arms loaded with flowers. Love swells in my heart, the day suddenly brighter and my victory far more meaningful. I lunge forward, more eager than I’ve ever felt in my life to walk through this hallway.
Red tosses her flowers roughly at Rickon and races toward me, throwing herself into my arms. “Calli!” she squeals. “You did it!”
I swing her up, laughing as her enthusiasm seeps into my soul. “Yeah, I did.”
Her eyes shine as she stares down at me. “Do they give you a plaque or something?”
“No, but they should, shouldn’t they?”
Rickon and Zack arrive at a more leisurely pace. “Congrats, Calli,” my best friend says.
“Thanks.” I lean over and offer my lips, a little shy as I realize this is our first time in public.
Zack stares at me for a moment and then offers his cheek. I chuckle as I kiss his scratchy beard, but of course he has ulterior motives. His hand shoots out to hold me in place as he scrapes his jaw over mine.
“Always gotta have the last word, huh, Zack?”
He smirks. “Cal-ee did good with laws. Proud.”
“Thanks, Zack. It was a lot of hard work over many years.”
He nods sagely. “And many more years ahead helping ferals.”
I groan. “Sure but let me enjoy today first, okay?”
“Fine. Today, and gala day, and heat days.” He counts them off on one hand. “Then work after.”
“Whatever you say, taskmaster,” I mutter through a smile.
Ricky passes me the flowers, and something dangling off his elbow slaps my side. I squint to see better.
“Oh!” Red claps her hands. “We made something for you.” She grabs the thing off Rickon’s arm and holds it up, revealing a kind of chain made of small candy bars, which she hangs around my neck in two loops.
“I was looking up graduation gifts, and I found this one from overseas that puts candy chains on a graduate.” Her voice shines with pride as she adds, “There are exactly one-hundred and three candies. We counted as we stapled them.”
I laugh and lock my arm around her waist. “Thank you, gorgeous. I love it!” Genuine, sweet, and a little eclectic; the gift suits Red to a T.
She grabs my hand and tows me toward the back door. “Let’s blow this stinky joint! We’re going out for dinner.”
“Another first,” Rickon says, following with Zack.
“Sounds perfect.” Dinner out with my pack and maybe a drink before we stumble home to collapse in each other’s arms where I can sate the thirst for my pack that far outweighs any desire to work.
As I reach back to close the door behind us, I catch sight of Hale still standing in the hallway. He lifts his hand in farewell, a thoughtful look on his face. It’ll be a shame to leave him behind, but a new adventure awaits me.
While officially I’m on vacation and don’t have any cases, one matter still requires my urgent attention. After a well-earned sleep in, I drag myself out of Red’s embrace and get ready for the day, taking a moment to enjoy the scents in the apartment.
Although Zack’s perfume still dominates, the combination of a happy omega and two other alphas balances him out. With abandoned clothes lying over the couch and shoes tumbled down the staircase, our home looks more lived-in than it did when I stayed here alone. And my heart feels just as full.
For a long drive, I’d often be on a conference call with Hale or one of my colleagues, but today I listen to cello music by Kye Romdine off the music app, an alpha I heard was in Red’s omega friend’s pack. Which makes him a pack mate of Colt Nesters.
Funny how the universe brought two of the country’s wealthiest scions into packs with feral alphas and abused omegas, but I can’t think of a better way to use money. The drive flashes by under his expert bow, and all too soon I’m turning into the barred gates of Laversham’s Alpha Lodgings.
The guard greets me by name and lets me through for my legal appointment with the criminal Keith Alhedy.
He slides into the chair opposite me in the consult room. “Well, if it isn’t the hotshot Callisto Wren,” he says with a smirk. “And here I was thinking you’d forgotten all about me.”
I shake my head. “We had a few unforeseeable delays, but I didn’t forget.” I slide the dossier across the table. “Signed and delivered, as promised.”
He flips the top page, reads, and whistles. “An injunction ordering my return to the district of sentencing.”
“To be carried out within forty-eight hours.”
His brows rise, and a glimmer of respect lurks in his eyes as he looks up. “I’m impressed. You didn’t drag your feet at all.”
I shrug. Judge Harmon was happy to skip a few queues, that’s all. Prison protocols became a hot topic after McKenna’s personal interference in Zack’s situation, and the resulting full-blown inquiry has everyone antsy. As it should.
Alhedy’s case shows the same misuse of power. “Have you had any issues since . . .?” I circle my finger in the air, indicating the prison. Other than a fading black eye, he seems unhurt.
“Not really.” He shrugs. “I got lucky ’cause they’ve had us on lockdown ever since the accident.” He grins, both of us knowing Ray’s attack was no accident. “So, unless you count boredom, no one’s come for my blood.”
I scoff. “In your case, I’d think boredom was a blessing.”
He spreads his hands. “Yeah, it is. But it’s a little too quiet without my kindergartner here to create chaos.”
I scratch my nose to hide a smile. He’s right—things are never quiet with Zack around. I push my chair back, and it scratches noisily on the concrete floor. “Well, our deal ends here. I’ll check in tomorrow evening to be sure they’ve shipped you back where you belong.”
Alhedy rises and offers me his hand. “Pleasure doing business. It was fun.”
Hard to say exactly what prompts me, but as I shake his hand, I recall his deal with Zack.
“Look, Alhedy,” I say, catching his eye.
“I’ll have some job openings later this year for a program to work with feral alphas.
If you ever decide you want to clean up your act, call me.
Seems you have a gift for understanding how to talk to them. ”
Al scoffs. “Me? Train kindergartners? It’d drive me mad.” Even as he refuses, I catch a sparkle in his eyes that suggests he’s intrigued. Well, who knows what the future holds? Miracles happen every day.
I smile. “Maybe a little madness would suit you nicely. Think about it.” I head for the door, pausing before I leave. “Thanks again for protecting Zack.”
He moves his hands as if he’s doffing an invisible hat, and I step out through the hall.
With a little luck, I’ll never come back to this prison . . . and it seems I’m a rather lucky man.