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 whenI 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 moneyfor 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.
