Page 60 of Hired for Research
The pair continued to talk on screen for a few more minutes, but Jett didn’t hear anything else. His thudding heartbeat drowned it out, the yawning cavern in his chest echoing the same three words over and over.
She did it.
It had taken a while after she’d left for the anger he felt toward Evelyn to subside enough for him to realize he’d overreacted. She had been given a job, and she couldn’t be blamed for what that job was. She’d never made any promises about her research, specifically stating that her goal was simply to get people to question what they’d been led to believe.
Boy did she manage that.
He didn’t really know how these things worked, but he had a feeling that sharing her research with the media was a big no-no. Especially considering she knew her results were not what the FBPL wanted to hear. She had told him they were going to bury the project if she wouldn’t give them what they wanted, but she’d made sure that didn’t happen.
With what consequences?
There was no way she’d escape punishment when she was the only one working on the project. It wasn’t like there would be any doubt where the information came from.
His gut clenched, worry flooding through him at the thought that she’d lost her job and wasn’t likely to find another. What would she do? How would she survive? She didn’t have anyone to look after her.
He wanted to kick himself for being an idiot. He’d ruined the best thing in his life, and he was afraid it was too late to fix it.
“Did you hear that?”
His partner clapped him on the shoulder, grinning from ear to ear.
“July twenty-first it goes to vote! They think the repeal is going to go through!”
There were similar comments echoing around the room, the alphas gathered there buzzing with excitement.
This was more than hope. She’d given the people proof. She’d given them a reason to believe alphas deserved another chance.
And he’d walked away from her without a word.
Shame burned through him. He’d been rash and reacted without thinking things through, and it had cost him the omega he loved.
“That’s great,” he finally responded.
He wanted to be as excited as the men around him, to enjoy the win for all alphas, but he knew what it had cost. What it cost him.
His partner ran off to talk to another Controller, leaving Jett staring at the screen that had moved on to show the weather.
“Your little doctor did good.”
Commander Cirlee moved up beside him, staring at the screen, though Jett doubted he cared about the coming rain.
“She’s not mine.”
It felt like a confession. It was the closest he’d come to giving one regarding how he felt about Evelyn.
“Just because she left doesn’t mean she’s not yours. Sometimes it takes something drastic to make two people realize what’s really important in life, and who they want to spend it with.”
Jett turned to stare at his commander, but the man continued to look straight ahead. Jett had never said anything about what had happened between him and Evelyn, but Commander Cirlee spoke as if he knew it all.
Finally turning to meet his gaze, the commander’s brow quirked and his lips lifted.
“My mate had to get kidnapped and drugged into a forced heat for me to realize I wanted her to be mine. I wasn’t as strong as you, I couldn’t stop myself from claiming her to ask if she wanted it first.”
Jett’s jaw dropped, but before he collected his thoughts enough to say anything, Commander Cirlee turned and walked away.
“You ready to go?”
His partner had bounded back over, his good mood making him antsy. He was extra annoying when he was like this, and Jett shook his head as he smiled at his friend. The look of shock on his friend’s face proved how long it had been since Jett had worn the expression.
