“I understand why you went to Lucinda based on the subject matter, but I’m always available to help with any issues related to the SCC for our kind. Please don’t hesitate to ask me for help.”
“No offence, Dr. Blakely, but you’re an alpha. I think I made the right choice. That females aren’t even allowed in most packs to request a bond severance is prehistoric and as our representative on the council, I’m frankly disappointed you haven’t already addressed it.”
“You’re not wrong,” he says with a shrug. “Priorities are ever-changing in my position. Anyway, we’ll all be meeting via video chat next week to discuss a task force. Lucinda said she invited you to participate. Have you given it thought?”
“Yes, and I’d be interested in learning more. Thank you,” I tell him. “I’m glad to catch up with you, actually. Is there a jobdescription for the Alaska position you invited me to apply for? I’m wondering if it might be possible that it can be partially remote.”
I’m about to explain that I might not be able to be that far away for that length of time for a number of reasons, one of them being what’s going on with Jason’s sister, and also that I want to be nearby when Stacy gives birth.
But he looks at Jase and again at me and gently says, “Some aspects are very classified, so I see the position being done on site. Though, I’m surprised you’re asking. I assumed that would be off the table based on Jase identifying you as his fated mate.”
“It’s not off the table,” Jase says.
“Well… good,” the doctor replies, eyes bouncing between us briefly before focusing on me. “I’ll write something up and send you an email. If you’re interested, let me know and we can talk. I assume accommodation would be required for both of you there and the facilities for employees are spacious enough to accommodate a couple. You’d be traveling with Bailey, Jase?”
“Absolutely,” Jase says. “If she goes, I’ll be tagging along.”
“I have to tell you, it’d be a fairly demanding position,” Dr. Blakely warns. “I believe you’re well-suited to it. You should know it could be forty-five or fifty hours most weeks. The occasional week could be thirty hours, but others could be as many as sixty. I don’t think it’d be a correct assumption to think you could juggle with your current duties here for the duration of this project, lass.”
“I could arrange coverage. That’s not a problem,” I say softly, unsure of how I feel about Jase budding into this conversation. “I have some events I need to be in Arcana Falls for, so that’s a concern.”
“You’d be an asset to my project, so I’m willing to be as flexible as the project allows. I can’t make any promises about being able to do any part of it remote, but… we could see how things unfold.”
“And I can keep myself busy when Bailey’s working.” Jase adds with a shrug.
“IfI take the job,” I remind him.
“I’ll get that description and an offer sent to you and we can talk,” Dr. Blakely says. “I’d be looking for someone to start in four to six weeks.”
“Okay, thanks. I appreciate you thinking of me. I’ll look over the job description once you’ve sent it.”
Grey walks in, Ronnie, and Vivi trailing him.
Grey’s eyes sweep over Jase and me, and his eyes look hard for a second. His lip half-curls before he clears his expression.
Can he smell me on Jase? Jase is wearing the same clothes as last night.
My brother jerks his chin up in greeting, aiming it in our direction and everyone other than me and Gwen go into the room where Sherry is.
“You’re gonna seal this deal today, aren’t you?” Gwen asks.
“I don’t know if I’m coming or going right now.”
“The way you’re watching him? It’s like before you were mad at him. Go for it. Put the poor guy out of his misery, Bailey.”
I don’t quite know how to reply to this.
“You should do it soon, you know? Especially given he didn’t feel Joel’s panic in his council connection when all this was happening last night. What’s your phone number?” She pulls out her phone.
I ramble it off, feeling guilty. Jase is becoming disconnected from his council brothers because of me?
“There,” Gwen announces. “You’re in the family group chat. I’m gonna dash.” She gets to her feet. “See you at the next family shindig, yeah? Mom and Dad’s anniversary is in two months. I’ll be flying back for it and bringing my beau to meet everyone. We’re doing a family dinner. We’ll let you know what you can bring.”
“Um… yeah. Sure. See ya, Gwen.”
My phone dings and I avoid the urge to look.
This lasts all of about two minutes, when I open it and see I’m added to a chat namedCreed Chatter.