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.“Whowould 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 lifebecauseof 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’sstillyour 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. Iwon’tfeel guilty for that.”
“Youshouldwant good things for them,” Emerson said. “But you can’t dictate what those things are, either.Dashgets to choose what makes him happy.”
“He didn’t look too happy with you upstairs, now did he? Maybeyouwon’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? Youaremy baby brother, are you not?”
“Randall’s fine.” Lucas wrapped an arm around Emerson’s shoulders.
“How’s Dash?” Randall asked, his voice low.
