Chapter 37
After Aspen leaned back, Emerson wrapped a protective arm around Dash’s shoulders, sensing his mate was growing weary already.
He wasn’t sure if the pregnancy was causing him so much fatigue, the cardiac episode, or the combination of both.
What he hadn’t needed was another explosion detonating in his life.
He could strangle Tolliver McCreary for causing another blow to Dash’s recovery—yet it was a secret Dash’s family deserved to know, he supposed. The timing was just shitty.
“I hope that asshole hasn’t fucked this up for us,” Dash whispered to Emerson.
“Tolliver?”
“Yeah,” Dash whispered. “He had no business sticking his nose in. Things didn’t need smoothing.”
Emerson nodded.
The courtroom doors opened behind them and Emerson glanced over his shoulder.
His gaze met his father’s first, before realizing his entire family was walking through the door.
Emerson rose, turning to face them. Dash rose beside him, eyes wide.
They exited the row and stopped before the crowd of Walkers.
“What’re you all doing here?” Emerson asked, eyeing all of his siblings before his gaze fell on his parents.
“Moral support,” his father said before offering Dash a hug. “Good luck.”
Emerson watched his father walk over and shake Daniel’s hand while the rest of his family gave Dash hugs or well wishes. Harrison approached and wrapped an arm around Emerson while Raimy and Cassidy moved to Dash to introduce themselves since they hadn’t been at the hospital to meet him there.
“No rush in coming back to the office,” Harrison murmured. “Take all the time you need.”
“Replaced me already?”
“Sort of,” Harrison said. “Dad hired us a new guy.”
Emerson eyed his brother. “Oh.”
“He’s an experienced investigator out of Erieberg, so it’s just a matter of watching his process to ensure he’s got the skills and getting him acclimated to our way of doing things. If all goes well, it shouldn’t be long before he’s on his own.”
“Good to hear,” Emerson muttered. There already wasn’t enough work for the pair of them. They’d sit around twiddling their thumbs with a third. Maybe it was time to ask about moving back to a station.
Lucas and Fitz walked over to them and shook Emerson’s hand.
“Good luck,” Fitz said.
“Yeah,” Lucas added, appearing uncomfortable.
“And… we’re sorry if we didn’t seem supportive at the hospital,” Fitz added. “It was just an unexpected shock.”
Emerson smiled wanly. “Yeah. I get it.”
So what if it took his alpha brother a little while to warm up to the fact he was alpha-attracted? It was better than them cutting him off. He was willing to give them time.
Lucas leaned in for a hug. “Love ya, Bro.”
Emerson hugged Lucas back. “You, too.”
Once everyone was settled, Emerson led Dash back to their seat. The Walkers sat beside and behind Dash’s parents. Their pack took up three rows of a rapidly filling courtroom.
Tanner’s head popped between theirs. He pressed a kiss to Dash’s cheek. “Sorry I’m late. I came in with Fitz, but I had to pee.”
“TMI,” Dash whispered. He smiled at Tanner. “Thanks for coming.”
“Don’t mention it.” Tanner said before leaning an arm on Emerson’s shoulder. “I hear you liked the show. We knew you would.”
“It wasn’t for us,” Dash murmured, his cheeks growing a bit pink.
“Yet you watched the whole thing in one night,” Tanner said.
Dash eyed Emerson before he looked at Tanner. “We did not.”
“Bayley checked his history and someone using his log-in watched the whole season in a single night. So, nice try.” Tanner hugged Emerson’s neck. “Maybe I’ll buy you guys a subscription as a mating present so you can binge season two when it comes.”
Dash sighed, shaking his head.
“Hey, if nothing else, I just made you stop panicking over what’s about to happen for a few seconds,” Tanner said to Dash.
Dash sighed, fighting a smile but said nothing.
“Good luck, cuz,” Tanner said, squeezing Dash’s shoulder before he wandered off.
“You good?” Emerson asked Dash.
“Yeah,” Dash said, sliding his hand into Emerson’s and squeezing it.
“You’re still sure this is what you want to do?”
Dash met Emerson’s gaze. “I have no doubts. Do you?”
Emerson shook his head. “Nope.”
Dash released a slow breath, closing his eyes. Emerson leaned in and pressed a kiss to his mate’s forehead. When he moved back, he noticed an alpha sitting a few rows ahead glaring in disgust over his shoulder. Emerson narrowed his eyes and growled.
The man frowned, cringing, before turning face-forward.
Eliott’s head appeared between them. “Hey, boss, we're here.”
“We?” Dash asked. He frowned at Eliott. “Shouldn’t you be home recovering?”
“I’m allowed to walk a little. Mason brought me and he’s going to take me home.”
Emerson glanced back. Jackson and Mason stood shoulder-to-shoulder at the back of the courtroom and waved at him and Dash.
“Is everyone I know coming to this thing? It’s stressing me out,” Dash muttered.
“We’re here because we love you and want to show our support,” Eliott growled, gently punching Dash’s bicep. “Play nice.”
Emerson smiled. They’d both feared losing everyone in their lives once their secret came out. Now Dash was complaining because there were too many people there in their corner.
Eliott hugged Dash around the neck. “You got this, Dash.”
The judge’s chamber door opened and the man exited. Everyone rose and sat after he did.
“Good morning. It’s going to be a long one, so I hope you don’t mind that we dive right in,” the judge said to the entire courtroom. He glanced to the side. “What do we have up first on the docket?”
“Keller, Dashiell. Reclassification,” the clerk announced.
“Ah, yes,” the judge said, scanning the file the clerk slid in front of him. “Mr. Keller, if you’d come forward?”
Emerson rose with Dash and hugged his mate before watching the man walk alone to the podium. He wished he could be there at Dash’s side, but he wasn’t allowed.
“Do you have all your paperwork ready for me?” the judge asked.
Dash handed it to the bailiff, who brought it to the judge.
“Everything seems in order,” the judge said. He lifted his gaze to Dash. “And you hereby attest that you are an omega and not the alpha which you were classed?”
“Excuse me, your honor,” Emerson said, rising and interrupting.
Dash glared over his shoulder at Emerson.
The judge looked over the top of his glasses at Emerson. “And you are?”
Emerson ignored the laser beams Dash was shooting his way. “Mr. Keller’s mate. Emerson Walker.”
“I was about to make a ruling in your omega’s favor—as soon as he answered my question. I don’t know why you’re taking up my time interrupting.”
“My mate isn’t an omega,” Emerson said. “If you read the affidavit the doctor wrote, it clearly says that Dash is a hybrid—both alpha and omega.”
“He has to choose one, Mr. Walker.”
“Does he?” Emerson asked the judge.
“I don’t follow,” the judge replied.
“I sat up last night and reread the classification laws and nowhere did I see that a man was limited to only one class. Why can’t he be classed as both?” Emerson asked.
The judge sighed. He looked at Emerson… and looked at Dash, before he turned to his clerk. “Bring me a copy of the statute.”
“I thank you for taking the time, your honor,” Emerson said.
The clerk hefted a massive tome onto the judge’s bench and flipped to the appropriate page. The judge gave Emerson one last glare over his glasses before pausing to read. After he was done, he looked back up at them, appearing to contemplate the question.
“My job is not to create the law, but to interpret what the Fort Seattle Senate puts forth. Upon re-reading the statute, I find Mr. Walker has a point. It does not state that a man is limited to only one classification. Because Mr. Keller’s doctor attests that he is both alpha and omega, he has the right to claim both.
” The judge eyed Dash. “If you’re agreeable, Mr. Keller? ”
“Yes, your honor,” Dash said. “Very agreeable.”
“Then I ask again,” the judge said. “Do you hereby attest that you are omega and alpha and wish to be classed as both?”
“Yes, your honor,” Dash said, shoulders square.
“Then let it be known that Dashiell Keller will have the class of AO placed on all official documents from this day forward and any documents from the past shall be changed in accordance with this ruling. Case closed. Have a lovely day, Mr. Keller.” The judge smiled at Emerson. “And Mr. Walker.”
Dash rushed back down the middle aisle, anger stitched on his face. Emerson’s smile faded, fearing he’d crossed another line. When Dash flung himself on Emerson and hugged him tight, he sighed with relief.
“You could’ve warned me,” Dash growled at him.
“I didn’t want you talking me out of it,” Emerson said. Realizing he still had a question left, he eyed the judge. “Your honor, one more question, if I may.”
The judge looked up from signing Dash’s ruling. “Yes?”
“Would Dash and I legally be allowed to mate?”
“I don’t see why not. He is part omega,” the judge said. “I would suggest haste, though. Once my ruling is published, a new statute might come swiftly that would prevent it. It might even invalidate his reclassification and any mating, so be mindful that your celebration may be brief.”
“Thank you, your honor,” Emerson said. He led Dash down the aisle, nodding at everyone to follow.
Once they were outside the courtroom, Emerson turned to eye Dash amid the now busier hallway.
After everyone who’d come to support them came out and congratulated Dash, Emerson’s mind settled on a decision.
He took Dash’s hand and dropped to one knee, not giving one flying fuck there were strangers who might see them.
Gasps of joy came from their family and friends, who’d circled around them.
“Dashiell Keller, will you do me the honor of becoming my legal mate.”
Dash’s eyes widened before a smile spread across his face. “Yes.”