"Mommy are we gonna see the Judge man today?" Cain asked me as I took his hand while I led him towards the second floor of the court room. My Uncle was to my right holding Julia with my brother walking behind us holding tightly to Gabi's leash. I slowed my pace as I looked back at him making sure he wouldn't get lost in the crowd thankfully Gabi wouldn't let that happen as she guided him along the hallway, "Is he a nice Judge man?"
"Hmm?" I answered looking down at him, "Well I don't know my little Dude but you'll be staying out here with Gabi and Uncle Mattie." His face dropped as he looked back at my brother, "We'll be done in a few minutes than we'll go out for dinner with Granddaddy Scott."
My Uncle chuckled as he handed off my daughter to Mattie, "It's just a lot of talkin' Lad. This way yah get ta see all the people goin' in and out." He knelt down do my son and whispered, "That way you'll know who is who. An Alpha's greatest strength is knowin' how ta spot friends and foes." With a wink he stood back up and led me into a side room where we were to meet one of the judges.
"You know he'll be thinking about that all night now." I said with a chuckle as I sat down at one of the tables.
"Best thing the boy can have is an imagination. It'll do him good when he gets older." He answered as he sat next to me. "So you ready for this?"
All I did was sigh as I shook my head, "As ready as I'll ever be." I didn't want to see that Berwald but at the same time I didn't want to speak with any of the others.
He took my hand and squeezed it, "It'll be over soon Lad."
It was true. The trial itself won't last for more than a few more weeks but I was dreading the outcome. "I know…" Just as I muttered it another door opened as a slender Alpha woman walked in. My Uncle quickly stood and I followed suit.
"Oh please sit this won't take long." She motioned for us to sit back down as she took long strides to her own seat across from us. "I don't try to make it too formal when we're out of the courtroom anyway." While her smile was sweet I saw a hard coldness in her eyes. "So Mr. Alfred your mate is Gilbert Beilschmidt is that correct?"
"Yes it is and Ludwig Beilschmidt is my brother in law." I shifted slightly in my seat as she gave me a glare behind her thin rimmed glasses. "Ma'am…"
"Did you mate with him before or after the war started?"
"After."
"Before or after you made it across the border?"
"After…but-"
"Why did you go across the border and was he already on the run from our military when he met you?"
"Excuse me but I think I can answer that." My Uncle saw past her kind smile and sweet voice the moment she had walked in. So while he knew I could answer my own questions he had a feeling it could and would become a witch hunt. "My nephew had just lost his mother, god rest her soul. So he was on his way ta my home just across the border. He met up with the young men in question and they agreed to do the Alpha duty and escort the lad to safety."
Her blank expression never changed as she turned her questioning back to me, "You returned when?"
"When we were asked to return…"
"Were you with child?"
"Yes my first."
"And it is what?"
"It? My son is not an it. He is a healthy nearly five year old Alpha."
"Is it your only child?"
It was clear she said it on purpose by the way she smirked at me. "No," I started, "We have two other children. One three year old Beta girl and the one I'm carrying."
"Well actually the court doesn't take might be children into consideration so one more child."
"What do you mean might be children?" My Uncle at this point was slowly standing as he kept one hand on my shoulder. I glared back at her trying to keep my anger under control. It was what she wanted, after all and I was falling for it.
Just as she looked down to write something in her notes she said something I'll always remember, "For all we know the one you're carrying won't make it to term. I mean all this stress and all that business in the court must be doing a number on your body." She smiled wickedly as she leaned in close, "It's quite common to cause still borns actually."
I couldn't have heard her correctly. My mind while going a mile a minute and I couldn't make any words come out of my mouth. "E-Excuse me?"
Lucky for me my Uncle had finally had enough, "We're done here." He said as he pulled me up by my arm, "You'll be hearin' from my lawyer."
"It's a simple fact Mr. Kirkland." She smiled at him as if she didn't say anything wrong. "Especially since we've noticed that he's been absent from his normal seat. I mean his mate as noticed as well."
What she said after I have no idea, I stopped listening as I walked out of the room. Uncle Scott stayed behind but I couldn't do it. I would have hit her but that would have only given me few weeks in prison.
It wouldn't have solved anything but I bet I would have felt great for that split second. As I was about to get lost in my thoughts a kick hit me in the gut, making me smile, "Yeah…I know you're still there my little hero." I turned just to feel my heart stop. There talking to my children was Berwald.
I nearly broke out in a sprint until a voice called out to me. "Don't do it." I stopped cold as I felt a presence around me, it was different from my Mother's. It was fiery and strong. "Calm down than go over there." The voice in my head said. It wasn't my voice though; it had a clear accented voice I hadn't heard since I was five. "Just lead them out Alfred. Matthew will follow and your Uncle will join you soon."
I nodded as I walked over, if I finally lost it completely I had no idea but I was going to do what my father told me to. "Hello Mr. Jones." Berwald said quietly as he looked up from speaking with Cain. "You're boy as quiet an imagination."
"Yes he does." I smiled as I picked him up in my arms, "Excuse us please…"
He took my arm, "Is something wrong?"
While Matthew couldn't see it he raised feeling the tension in the air, "No sir." I answered as I took back my arm. I was surprised how quickly he let it drop at that.
"I see. Have a good day Mr. Jones." He simply smiled at me before walking down the hallway. "Goodbye Cain." He said as he rounded a corner.
My son waved goodbye, "Good bye Mr. Berwald."
"What was that about?" Matthew asked as he walked out with us, "What did the judge say in there?"
"Nothing…" I replied as our Uncle caught up with us. "Nothing at all."