Chapter 33 #3
Emerson captured Dash’s gaze, his heart full. He lifted his hand to caress Dash’s cheek, amazed that this incredible man was his. He lowered his head, kissing Dash softly. Softly turned a bit firmer, hunger growing.
Until someone cleared his throat—probably Fitz.
Emerson lowered his hand, stiffening at Dash’s side. He met Fitz’s gaze and held it.
“Is there a problem here, Fitz?”
“Oh, there absolutely is not a problem with Fitzgerald Walker,” Tanner said, moving to stand in front of his mate, hands perched on his hips. Tanner glared up at Fitz. “Is there?”
Fitz sighed.
“Oh, I know I’m not mated to a bigot,” Tanner whispered hotly.
“I’m not a bigot,” Fitz argued. He lifted his gaze to Emerson. “I’m not. I’m just a bit… shocked. And terrified of what might happen to you.”
“Seriously,” Lucas said, eyeing Emerson. “No way you’ve truly considered the consequences.”
Fitz turned his attention to Dash. “And you. You’re willing to go to prison? For him?”
“We won’t have to,” Dash replied.
“Living in denial isn’t going to save you two,” Lucas said.
“We won’t have to… because I’m an omega,” Dash said, standing a bit straighter.
Emerson froze for a second, confused at Dash’s announcement. After all the denials, why was Dash saying that? He shook his head, staring down at his mate’s defiant expression.
“He’s not,” Emerson told his brothers without taking his gaze off Dash. “He’s an alpha.”
“I’m not,” Dash told them. “Well, I am.” Dash drew in a deep breath and released it. He snuck a peek at Emerson before continuing. “I learned a few years ago that I’m a hybrid. It’s a rare condition. I look like an alpha on the outside, but inside, I have omega biology. I’m both alpha and omega.”
“Oh,” Emerson’s papa said, sitting down on the edge of Randall’s bed with a stunned look on his face. “Wow.”
“And I’ve asked the doctor who just checked in on me to submit reclassification papers so that Emerson and I won’t land in prison for being together.”
Emerson shook his head. “Dash, no…”
“We know who I am,” Dash said. “That’s all that really matters. I don’t care what the province thinks I am. If changing a box on a form allows us to be together, then I’ll be classified as an omega and learn to live with that.”
“I don’t want you to lose your identity because of me,” Emerson said.
“But I’m not an alpha, Em. Not fully. I’m something in between and I need to come to terms with that.
Yes, I feel a stronger connection to my alpha side, but I don’t want to spend the rest of my life hating the other part of me, either.
Especially when it’s the part that binds us together.
” Dash leaned into Emerson. “I don’t know if I’ll ever connect with my omega side, but I hope to find peace with it, at the very least.” Dash eyed Emerson.
“Is that okay? I know you’re not attracted to omegas and I’m risking pushing you away, but I hope you can see that it’s the only way forward for us, Em. ”
Emerson cupped Dash’s cheek, needing to emphasize the words that came next.
“I love you. Exactly as you are. Regardless of whether you’re alpha or omega or something in between. I want you in any form for the rest of our days.”
Wetness shone in Dash’s eyes. “I want to be free to love you out loud—because I don’t think I’m going to be able to hide it very well. Or for very long.”
Emerson nuzzled closer, rubbing the tip of his nose against Dash’s. He kissed his mate tenderly. And hugged him, forgetting the ribs he’d bruised. Dash grimaced, a light groan coming from him.
“Fuck, I’m so sorry,” Emerson said. “I forgot I’d beaten the hell out of you.”
“You did what?” his papa asked as he helped Dash back into the wheelchair. “Emerson Eugene Walker!”
“Eugene?” Dash whispered, a grin on his lips.
“He nearly died from smoke inhalation, Papa. I had to give him CPR—and I bruised his ribs from the force of it. I didn’t literally beat him.”
“Don’t scare me like that,” his papa said. “I was about to beat you for hurting your mate. I taught you better than that.”
“Yes, you did,” Emerson said.
“That’s right, Emerson Eugene,” Dash whispered.
Emerson pinched Dash’s upper arm.
“Oowwch,” Dash growled playfully.
“Don’t push your luck,” Emerson muttered, fighting a smile.
Dash returned the smile, but it quickly ebbed, fatigue quickly taking over.
“While it was lovely meeting you all, I think I need to get back to my room now,” Dash said, his voice low and weak sounding.
“You’ve overdone it,” Emerson said, rounding the chair and unlocking the wheels. “Let’s get you back to bed.” He eyed his family. “I’ll check back in later.”
A chorus of goodbyes sounded as they exited out into the hall. Emerson was glad to get away from his family for a few minutes, if just to breathe a little after what had just happened. “Well, that was terrifying.”
“They seemed to take it well enough,” Dash said.
“Hey! Wait!” Jackson called from behind them.
Emerson looked over his shoulder. Jackson limped closer, clearly in a bit of pain. He spun the wheelchair around and closed the gap between them.
“I put a call in to my higher ups this morning and just got a text while you two lovebirds were doing your thing just now. Black Guard’s arrived.
They’ve taken over all of the Fort Seattle Guard precincts, using the excuse that they believe your explosion might have terrorist ties.
Two teams. One will run the investigation on the fire.
The other will covertly dig into the disappearances and determine who among the Red Guard might be involved.
I’ve told them about the evidence you showed us earlier, Dash, so they know to be on the lookout for your boy Crenshaw and to focus attention there.
” Jackson sighed. “I’m sure everything you had is gone now, so we’ll have to dig it up again and put it together. ”
“I scanned everything and put it on my server,” Dash said.
“Which likely died in the fire, too,” Jackson said.
“My server isn’t in the building,” Dash said, cocking a brow as if stunned he had to explain. “And it backs up to others I’ve hidden away for safe keeping.”
A slow smile spread across Jackson’s face. “Of course you’d cover your ass, you big geek.”
“Not the first time my skills have saved the day,” Dash said.
“Oh, no doubt,” Jackson replied. “I’ll let the boss know you’ve got everything safe and sound.”
“I just need to get out of here,” Dash said.
“You need to be here,” Emerson said.
Dash ignored him, gaze on Jackson. “Am I being pushed out of the investigation?”
“They may want you there for input, but this is now a Black Guard investigation,” Jackson said. “At best, you might be allowed in as a consultant, but considering how you were pushed out, I don’t know.”
“I wish y’all luck getting my info without me,” Dash said. “You want it? I’m on the team.”
“After you’ve had time to recover,” Emerson growled. “You’ll need to be here at least another day or two.”
“Why?” Dash asked. “I’m fine.”
“You almost died,” Emerson argued.
“And I’ve got my own real-life superhero at my side if something happens.” Dash turned his gaze to Jackson. “Emerson’s an arson investigator and has knowledge of this case. They can make him a consultant, too.” He looked at Emerson. “Then you’d be there in case something happened.”
“Oh, look out, now,” Jackson said to Emerson. “He’s gonna get real cocky thinking he’s bulletproof because of you.”
“Yeah, I’m getting that,” Emerson said, gazing down at his mate.
“If we want to catch whoever did this, find these missing alphas, and put Crenshaw away, I need to be a part of this,” Dash said. He focused on Jackson. “You know what I can do. They know what I can do. Make some calls.”
Emerson eyed Jackson.
Jackson eyed him back, shrugging. “I’ll make some calls, but I can’t promise anything.”
“And you’re staying here until you hear back. At least tonight,” Emerson said. “If you’re feeling stronger tomorrow, we can talk to your doctor about leaving. And only under my care and supervision.”
Dash grinned. “Deal.”
“And you won’t go gallivanting all over for a while, either. You get what they need, hand it over, and go home to rest,” Emerson said. “If they have questions about your evidence, they can come talk to you. When you’re not sleeping.”
Dash sighed. “Fine.”
“There will be a lot of napping. A lot,” Emerson spat.
“For fuck’s sake, Em. I’m not five.”
“You almost died,” Emerson repeated.
“Almost being the key word,” Dash snapped back.
Emerson knelt by the wheelchair and leveled his gaze at his mate and barked, “You will do as I say.”
Dash sat up a little straighter, narrowing his eyes. “Yes, sir.”
Emerson grinned and stood back up. He glanced at Jackson who stood there with his jaw hung open.
“What the entire fuck was that?” Jackson asked. He looked down at Dash. “Yes, sir?”
Dash growled under his breath.
“Oh, I see. He’s got that shit on lockdown. Okay,” Jackson said, grinning at Emerson. “Definitely not messing with you, my man.” He turned to Dash. “Talk soon. Get some rest.”
As soon as Jackson returned to his room, Emerson stepped behind the wheelchair and turned Dash towards his bed. They rolled down the hall silently for a few seconds.
“You do realize I’m going to make you pay for that, right?” Dash said, his tone lethal—but with the tiniest hint of amusement.
Or so Emerson hoped he heard. “Oh, I don’t doubt it, but I’ll take whatever punishment comes if it means your heart won’t stop again anytime soon.”
“You better be glad I love you,” Dash murmured.
“Every day for the rest of our lives,” Emerson said, pressing a kiss to the top of Dash’s head.
He strolled down the hallway, considering a tidbit of information he’d withheld from Dash. Dash had every right to know, but he wasn’t sure if his mate’s heart could take it.
Not yet, anyway.