After preliminary questioning where Dayson explained to the court how his scientific background and field of study made him both qualified for and interested in running a heat service, Teal gave him several opportunities to elaborate.
“Why do you think it’s important for omegas to have the ability to run heat services?”
Dayson cleared his throat and straightened his spine. “There are so many reasons beyond just the potential for horror stories that we hear about. Even when conscientious alphas run heat services, there are still omegas who are uncomfortable speaking honestly with alphas about what they need. Meaning even well-intentioned alphas might get it wrong, simply because they don’t have the information.”
“Can you expand on that?”
“Of course. Since I began my quest to open a heat service, I’ve spoken with many omegas who used reputable heat services but still had less-than-desirable experiences. For example, some omegas don’t enjoy using toys. Others have an aversion to being kissed. More than a few told me the alphas they were matched with treated them too delicately, that their instincts were demanding something rougher.”
“But these omegas didn’t feel like they could ask for these things?”
“No. They were uncomfortable going into specifics with the alpha doing the intake at the service. Then, of course, once they werein processwith the alphas they’d been paired with, asking for what they wanted became even more difficult. So they didn’t.”
“Instead, they suffered through unsatisfying heats?”
The lawyer for the state issued a half-hearted protest that Teal was leading the witness.
“I retract the question,” Teal said. He turned back to Dayson. “Okay. These omegas didn’t ask for what they needed. Wouldn’t the simple solution be to encourage them to do so? And to tell alpha heat services owners to make more of an effort?”
“That would certainly be desirable. There’s no such thing as too much pre-work when it comes to matching a vulnerableomega with a virtual stranger. But as I said, a lot of omegas don’t feel comfortable asking for what they need from alphas they don’t know. We all live in the same society and understand that for decades upon decades, omegas were taught that their principal duty was to bend to the will of alphas. It’s only recently that school of thought has come into question. Many omegas are still timid. And, as a biologist, I can attest to the fact that omegas are more hard-wired than alphas to be docile. It’s in our nature to play peacemaker.”
“But you don’t think the same thing would happen with an omega heat service coordinator?”
“No. The natural pheromone compatibility omegas have—what folks generally refer to as the ‘omega bond’—makes it more likely that they can have an honest conversation.”
As Dayson went into detail about how omegas tended to relate to one another more authentically than they did with alphas, other than with their alpha family and friends, Teal thought about the pheromones. He made a mental note to ask Dayson later how it was possible he could scent Sorcha, and vice versa.
“Do you think there is other harm caused by well-meaning alphas running heat services? We just talked about omegas who have difficulty speaking up for themselves. But earlier, you mentioned there were more reasons.”
“Honestly, it would take me days to go over all the potential harm that can be caused, but something else that leads to widespread and lasting pain is that many omegas are afraid of using a heat service because they’ve heard the horror stories, so they choose instead to put themselves at the mercy of alpha friends and acquaintances who end up not treating them well. Others feel compelled to find romantic partners simply because they don’t know any other way to manage their heats. When faced with the option between a potentially-risky heat service experience or linking themselves forever to whatever alpha theyhappen to be dating, they choose the latter,” Dayson explained. “Society has evolved to allow omegas more options, including the ability to establish themselves in school or careers before starting a family. But not if their heats force them into ill-fitting long-term partnerships.”
Teal thought about Brinn at the coffee shop and what he’d said about being able to build his own life.
Teal had already called multiple witnesses who’d testified to the validity of Dayson’s arguments. But having Dayson synthesize them now for the court was powerful.
“Last question, Mr. Bannon,” Teal said, pressing his fist into the side of his ribcage where he felt the jabs in his stomach.
“Yes?”
“You have a thriving career as a biologist. Why take on this fight? And why now?”
Dayson darted his eyes between the judges before answering evenly. “Besides my own terrible experience, my time in the lab has taught me that I want to do more direct service. My research has been great. It helped further the conversation about biological equity among the genders. But I see those alphas screaming outside on the steps. All the pro-alpha groups that send me hate texts and threaten my home. I remember the way it felt to have an angry fist thrust into my back. Even if I win this case, I know we’re still a long way from having everyone in agreement. I know it’s going to be a fight. But I also know I can take it. This doesn’t just feel like any fight. It feels like my fight.”
As Dayson’s passionate words vibrated through the courtroom, Teal caught Mikel’s gaze boring into the witness podium. Abruptly, the alpha stood and charged out of the courtroom.
His noisy exit drew some attention, but all eyes went back to the judges as they asked the state to begin its cross-examination of Dayson.
Teal sat at his table, surreptitiously chewing another antacid.
“At this time, the state has no questions for this witness.”
Teal’s eyes nearly popped out of his skull. Schulman and Carson exchanged confused glances with one another before the men turned shocked faces toward the opposing side. The state’s lead attorney merely lifted a shoulder and looked down, shuffling papers in front of him.
Teal had already suspected the state had given up on its case. Now he was sure of it. As overjoyed as he was that the tribunal was looking more like a gimme, it was bemusing. He’d worked on this for a year.
Then again, as Dayson just articulated, the real battle wasn’t the one being fought in High Court. It was the one being waged by the folks who’d shouted “omega whore” at Teal as he’d walked in the building.
Dayson looked confused for a moment until one of the judges told him he could take a seat in the main viewing area.
