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.”
SEVEN
Branson rubbedboth palms against his ears, afraid he’d somehow had too much to drink, despite sticking to cola all evening. Or maybe he had terrible earwax buildup. He hadn’t heard Tarius correctly, that was all. “I don’t get it. My only half-brothers are Caden and Emory. Dad only has three children.”
Tarius shook his head, as bewildered and confused as Branson felt himself. “Is it possible that Ronin had a child…? No, the timing wouldn’t work for him to have had a kid before he moved here. And Ronin didn’t come from Sonora.”
Before moving to Sansbury to defend Kell against murder charges, Ronin Cross had lived in Nakota Province, from age eighteen to twenty-eight. He was unmated, and on the off chance he’d managed to have a child before meeting Kell, they’d be at least Branson’s age, not seventeen, which was younger than the twins. No way in hell had Papa stepped out on Dad, not possible.
And Nakota Province was hundreds of miles north of Sonora Province, the origin of the summons. Branson’s own biological sire, Krause Iverson, died when Branson was four months old, so none of this made sense.
Branson pointed at the papers. “This has to be for someone else. Something got mixed up.”
Tarius’s face pinched. “It’s possible. Look, it’s the weekend. We can try calling the number on these forms in the morning, but we might not get any answers for a few days.”
“What about the internet? Can we go home and search this guy’s name? Maybe figure out who he is and why he’s trying to get me involved in his life?”
“Of course, we can do that. Come on, I’ll drive us back to your place.”
“Branson?”
Emory’s familiar, concerned voice sent Branson’s pulse racing. Emory had an empathic streak that was especially strong with his relatives, so it didn’t surprise him that Em had sensed his distress, even in a hotel full of people. Emory’s mate, Eriq Lars-Higgs, trailed behind him, looking very official in his constable uniform.
“Hey, buddy,” Branson said. He was insanely grateful when Tarius tucked the paperwork discreetly behind his back.
“Are you okay?” Emory studied his face with wide, nearly-identical green eyes. “You’re not okay. What’s wrong?”
“It’s just…I think I drank too much? Tarius is going to drive me home.”
