Page 30 of Hired for Research
She grimaced. Jett was right, and money certainly wasn’t something she had. Nor did she have the time to split her focus. Despite growing more uncomfortable with the direction her research was supposed to go, she had a duty to complete it.
Catching Jett’s profile from the corner of her eye, she turned her focus to the man beside her as he looked out over the banister. It felt like she’d known him more than the mere day and a half that she’d been in Eden, and she found it impossible to believe people would label him as unstable and violent simply because of his dynamic. Sure, he was big, and he had moments where he could seem threatening, but there was soft core beneath all that lean muscle. She had a feeling if she took the time to get to know other alphas, many of them would be the same.
“If the mandates were lifted, or there was another way to be free of the Alpha-Camps, what would you do?”
The question blurted from her before she could think it through. She knew she was looking for validation that what they were attempting to do with the drug was something the alphas might agree to, but she couldn’t outright ask that without admitting to what she was really researching.
Jett’s head turned toward her, but the light from the bar only lit half his face, leaving the other side lost in shadows. She thought seeing him like that was fitting, since there were still parts of the dominant dynamic that no one understood.
“I’d probably stay here. Even if the mandates are lifted, there are generations that have grown up with the belief that alphas are dangerous. That’s not going to change just because the laws are lifted. Betas outnumber us, and while some may have alpha relatives and be more trusting, it’ll be a hard world for alphas to rejoin. Why would I give up Eden for that?”
“What about before you came to Eden? If Eden wasn’t an option.”
“I’m not saying I’d want to stay locked up, but if the majority of people still believe alphas are dangerous, being released form the Alpha-Camps may be worse until the populace adjusts. There will always be prejudice, but it’ll be really bad for the first decade or so.”
Unfortunately, Evelyn knew he was right. She hadn’t thought about what would happen if the mandates were lifted since it had been made clear that the people backing the research were hoping she’d provide something to prevent that from happening, but if alphas were suddenly released without the population having a shift in what they believed, it would only lead to problems.
She looked away from Jett, but a warm palm cupped her cheek and turned her back to face him. Lowering his head, he stared into her eyes.
“That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do what you’re doing, or that it won’t do any good. If your observations here lead people to understand alphas are just as good or bad as they are, it will pave the way for a better world. If they see that they were misled, they’ll be more willing to give us a chance to prove ourselves. Even putting a crack in what they believe to be true would be enough to provide a chance for change.”
She swallowed hard, her throat thick with emotions she had to force away. Jett was so trusting. So willing to hope for the best.
“But what if the people that sent me here don’t want me to do that?”
Her whisper was almost whipped away by the wind, but Jett’s huff told her he’d heard it. Rubbing a thumb over her chilled flesh, he gave her a smile that seemed to have no place in her partial confession.
“Then too bad for them. They can’t deny the truth forever.”
She wanted to argue. Wanted to tell him they could andwould.
But she couldn’t be the one to wipe away his hope. Even if he didn’t want to take advantage of being able to leave Eden, she knew he wanted that option for others.
“You’re freezing, why don’t we go back inside?”
She was too numb to feel the wind stinging her exposed skin, but she nodded at his suggestion. The loss of his palm on her cheek made her heart clench, but he only moved his hand to the small of her back, urging her toward the doors that led back into the bar. As enchanted as she’d been with it before they came out onto the patio, she was no longer in the mood for the music and cheer surrounding them. The crowd was too much, alpha pheromones bombarding her and setting her more on edge with every breath.
“Can we just go? I’m getting tired.”
Jett’s eyes searched her face before he gave a silent nod. The crowd parted before him, allowing them to squeeze through without being jostled the way Evelyn knew she would have been if she’d been on her own. She didn’t know if it was the uniform or something unique to Jett, but people respected his space.
She remained silent during the ride down to the ground floor, Jett shooting glances her way but not prodding her to speak. She had no doubt he knew she was upset, but she was glad he didn’t pressure her to talk further. She wasn’t sure what she’d say with the turmoil rolling inside her head.
The breeze blowing down the street was nothing compared to what it had been on the rooftop, and after walking a block the numbness had worn off. While her hands and cheeks were chilly, she was comfortable inside her coat, and she let her pace slow.
Jett matched her, a quiet presence at her side, his warmth a constant she wanted to lean into. She’d tried to explain her draw to him as a natural reaction to an alpha, but she couldn’t use that excuse after being exposed to so many that stirred none of the same pull.
Maybe it was because he’d been the first. Maybe it was because she’d spent so much time in his presence already.
If she was smart, she’d pull away. Stop going to dinner with him, maybe even ask for another guard, or insist on none.
Shaking her head, she knew she wouldn’t do either. She’d been comfortable with him after the prior day, and after talking in between taking samples and their time at the bar, she wanted to spend time with him.
Even if she couldn’t let their attraction develop any further. She had no time for a distraction, and no desire for a quick fling. She had a feeling it would be harder to deny her instincts if she gave in to her curiosity about an alpha, about Jett, and it was already going to be hard to leave Eden and return to the lifeless concrete of the city.
Jett was opening the hotel door before she realized they’d made it back, the bright lobby harsh on eyes adjusted to the dark outside. She stopped awkwardly a few steps inside, turning to stare up into his handsome face. There was an urge to invite him up to her room, but she knew that was a bad idea. There was no reason for it, other than she didn’t want him to leave just yet, and it would give the wrong impression.
“I enjoyed Twinkle. Thank you for taking me there.”
