Chapter 33
Emerson stood outside the hospital, the night air holding a bit of a chill.
The hum of the nearby freeway told him that life had returned to some semblance of normal after the explosion.
Most people had gone back to life as usual, the chaos a minor blip in their day.
They’d complained about the traffic nightmares and the inconvenience to their day, never once thinking about the lives impacted.
The first responders would be dealing with this for weeks—and those inside the building might take much longer to recover, physically and mentally.
Jumping headfirst into the flames had been a double-edged sword.
Terror had gripped him with his mate trapped inside it, but returning to the field with the adrenaline pumping through his veins—he’d realized he sorely missed being a firefighter.
He’d gone from hero to desk jockey, filling out forms and answering insurance adjusters questions all day.
That’s not what he signed up for. He’d agreed to help Harrison at his father’s request, never realizing how boring the job really was.
Maybe that’s part of the reason he’d ended up outside alone instead of going to Randall’s room after Dash had kicked him out. His head was a jumble of thoughts, and he wasn’t fit for pleasant conversation especially with his family who likely had more questions than he had strength to answer.
His father had clearly noticed his alarm and attention to Dash. He’d seen it in the man’s eyes before he’d leapt into the back of the ambulance with Dash. Had his father asked Harrison about them? Had Harrison broken down and answered?
If his father knew the truth, his days working with the fire department might be completely over, in every capacity.
How would he support himself—or a family for that matter?
A family? He scoffed, shaking his head. He might not have that, either.
Might not have a mate, either, not after breaking Dash’s trust. Hopefully Dash would come to realize it had to be done for their safety and forgive him.
That’s the only reason he’d walked away with little argument.
Dash needed time alone.
Maybe he did, too.
Emerson glanced to the side and noticed a small pagoda positioned in a quiet corner not far from the entrance.
He strolled closer, but as he was nearly there, he saw Dash’s father, Daniel, sitting inside it, smoking a cigarette and froze.
Light from a nearby lamppost washed over the man.
Not strong enough to be completely sure of his notice or reaction to Emerson’s presence.
He couldn’t walk away without acknowledging him yet maybe he hadn’t seen. He was farther from the light, so maybe it was best to simply leave. Daniel hadn’t been able to look him in the eye since learning he was Dash’s mate.
Emerson slowly backed away a couple of steps.
“Just going to run away, Walker?”
Emerson froze. He knew Daniel a little from dropping off evidence at the crime lab. They were pleasant with one another during those brief moments, but he hadn’t been there long enough to develop any kind of relationship with the man.
Daniel met his stare and took another drag. After he blew out, he scoffed. “Don’t tell my mate I was out here smoking.”
Emerson slowly sauntered closer and leaned on one of the entry posts of the pagoda. “My lips are sealed.”
Daniel took one more drag before smashing it out on the ground. “Filthy habit. I quit forever ago, but days like today make me want one so bad I can’t see straight. I haven’t had one since…” He chuckled, the sound hollow. “Well, since the last time Dash’s life exploded.”
“When he retired?”
“Forced retirement,” Daniel said, scorn in his tone.
“He was a decorated officer, promoted five times in a decade-long career—and they had the nerve to call him a danger to their operation?” Daniel scowled.
“He’d put his life on the line for the Palatinate time and time again.
And for what? To be pushed out over nothing. ”
“I don’t know that I’d call it nothing,” Emerson said.
“You agree that he should’ve been forced out?”
“I didn’t say that,” Emerson said. “But what he learned about himself was life-altering. Definitely not nothing.”
“Life-altering,” Daniel muttered, disdain on his face.
He crossed one leg over the other, staring past Emerson at a taxi rushing up to the entrance.
An alpha got out of the rear driver’s side and ran around the back.
He opened the rear passenger side and leaned in.
A loud wail sounded before a pregnant omega emerged, breathing hard.
Pain hit Emerson in the chest as he watched them, a team headed towards a new adventure.
The alpha gently led his mate towards the front door, the omega wobbling as he walked—and the taxi pulled away.
Emerson turned his focus back to Daniel—who watched him closely.
“Do you and Dash plan to have children?”
Emerson winced. “We haven’t really discussed it, but I sense Dash isn’t interested.”
“You shared his heat without discussing your plans for the future?”
“I wasn’t aware of his—uniqueness—until he went into heat while with me. There was no time to plan or discuss anything.”
“He hadn’t told you he was part omega?”
Emerson shook his head. “No.”
“Which means you’re alpha-attracted, I assume?”
Even though Daniel’s voice had been low, Emerson glanced around to ensure they hadn’t been overheard. “Is that a problem?”
“I suppose that’s probably the only kind of alpha who’d want someone like Dash.”
“Someone like Dash?” Emerson clenched his jaw. “Who would want an intelligent, brave, handsome, hard-working, successful business owner as a mate? I can’t imagine a single person.”
“I didn’t mean that the way it sounded,” Daniel said. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “It’s just—I wasn’t sure he’d have anyone in his life because of the way he is. If he had an omega, or an alpha, I feared they’d refuse him.”
“Something tells me you were more focused on him having an omega part.”
Daniel didn’t respond.
Emerson took his silence as the answer. “I suppose learning he has an alpha is just that much harder then.”
Daniel sighed. “He was my alpha son. It’s not easy to let go of the hopes and dreams I had for him.”
“He’s still your alpha son,” Emerson said. “And even if he was like every other alpha on this planet, he might never have lived up to your expectations. Which is fine. It’s his life to live, not yours.”
Daniel glared at him, although it was hard to see in the dark. Anger was quite surely sent his way.
Emerson stiffened as Daniel rose and lunged his way.
“I always sensed you were an arrogant prick and now you’ve gone and proved it,” Daniel growled. “I’m allowed to want good things to happen for my sons. I won’t feel guilty for that.”
“You should want good things for them,” Emerson said. “But you can’t dictate what those things are, either. Dash gets to choose what makes him happy.”
“He didn’t look too happy with you upstairs, now did he? Maybe you won’t make the cut,” Daniel said before brushing past Emerson and striding away.
Emerson sighed, watching him go. Once Daniel was out of sight, he banged the back of his head against the wooden post and pushed off it, heading back inside.
He was two-for-four in pissing off Kellers that evening and the jury was still out on the other two.
Dash’s papa and brother had said little to him all day.
He’d first chalked it up to them processing everything but as the day wore on, he’d grown worried they didn’t approve of his relationship with Dash.
A few minutes later, Emerson poked his head into Randall’s room.
His entire family was inside, crammed in like sardines—all but Harrison and his father, who were likely still on-scene.
A bit of guilt hit him. He’d complained about the lack of action and was sitting out of the biggest case since the arsons.
But Harrison had all but threatened him not to come back when he’d stepped into that ambulance.
Emerson forced a smile for Randall. “How’s my baby brother?”
Randall chuckled. “Cut the shit, Em.”
Emerson meandered in, shoving his hands into the pockets of his Fire Department jacket. “What? You are my baby brother, are you not?”
“Randall’s fine.” Lucas wrapped an arm around Emerson’s shoulders.
“How’s Dash?” Randall asked, his voice low.
“Awake and alert. There doesn’t appear to be any brain damage.”
“Who’s this?” Emerson’s papa asked.
“Maybe it’s the omega Emerson’s been sitting with all day,” Lucas said, grinning. “Must be a special one to get a bedside vigil. Have you finally found your mate?”
Emerson stiffened.
Everyone in the room turned to look at him. Emerson’s gaze went to Randall’s—who wore a shocked expression and shrugged his shoulders.
“Who said I was sitting vigil with anyone?” Emerson asked, his throat so tight he wasn’t sure how he’d gotten the words out.
“When I got here, I overheard some of the ambulance drivers talking outside about how you jumped in and saved some guy and how you were in full overprotective alpha mode. Another one mentioned you hadn’t left his side since.”
The rumors have already begun, hmm? Great.
His papa sauntered over and pressed a finger into the middle of Emerson’s chest. “I told you that you were next.”
“I’m shocked he even has one,” River said, his voice heavily laced with sarcasm. “He’s not the type.”
“River,” Bayley scolded. “Be nice.”
“Why should I be?” River asked before turning his arrogant stare to Emerson. “I already told him I planned to make his life hell for as long as I could after what he did to me.”
“He had every right to chase that alpha out of your bedroom,” Lucas said to River, pulling his arm away from Emerson’s shoulders, squaring up to River.
“He had no right,” River said, glaring.
“You were only seventeen,” Lucas growled. “And in our parents house.”