She was glad to be able to transfer the future couples sessions to one of her colleagues.
She knew she had to do something to get over these feelings she had for him; they were inappropriate. Even with him off-planet she found herself thinking about him more than she should. She had to fight her instincts not to ask AriELa more information about her father. She needed to do something about this, or she might have to ask to return to Earth. It was getting to be too much.
*****
JadEN watched Prime Medic SydEL enter the medic wing, carrying his and Kat’s young. He acknowledged JadEN with a nod but didn’t stop until he was standing behind Kat. He called her name and Kat’s whole face lit up as she turned to embrace her mate and young. JadEN’s departure wasn’t even noticed by the happy family. That was the way it should be. But he had never felt more envious or more lonely in his life.
He longed for the same joy that they shared. Besides the great sex he had shared with Kat, what he missed most were those moments with her where they talked to each other about everything. He really missed that, and he didn’t think he would be able to find anyone else who would make him feel the way Kat had.
It didn’t help him to have to see Kat and Syd’s joy every single day. It continuously made him question what it would be like if things had turned out differently, which was pointless. Kat was JadEN’s true bond mate. A bond mate was a mate who was destined by the Gods to be yours; no one could the pull of a true bond. JadEN didn’t stand a chance against that.
Anyone who saw Kat and SydEL together would know that they were true bond mates. JadEN’s own parents had been bond mates. That was not a connection that could be broken. But knowing that didn’t completely ease the hurt he felt inside. When he left to go back to Earth after Kat mated SydEL, he was starting to hurt less and think of other things besides her. Maybe he had come back too soon. But he couldn’t deny her request to return. Now he felt that he once again needed to put some distance between them.
He headed to his suite instead of seeking the comfort of a female. He didn’t feel like having company. He intended to do more research until he exhausted himself into sleep.
Chapter 3
The next morning JadEN skipped the morning meal and headed directly to the medic wing. He wanted to get started as early as possible so that he could finish his shift early and in turn reduce the time that he would have to spend with Kat. He walked in to find SydEL in the medic wing alone; Kat wasn’t with him.
“Prime Medic SydEL, is there something I can help you with?”
SydEL appeared to be irritated. “I was asked to return to Kiljor to confer with their medics. They’re having issues with some of their breeding females and also need help as they’re building a new medic wing. The request came straight from Prime Leader KadEN, so I can’t just turn it down.”
JadEN frowned. “Are you taking Kat…Dr. Morris and your young as well?”
“No. I feel it’s too dangerous for Kat and the young to travel right now, with one of the Morin transports still missing in this solar system. Kat isn’t happy that I’m leaving her behind. But I don’t know what else I can do about it. I don’t want to leave her and KitEL.”
“She’s probably upset because she wants to spend more time with you, and you seem to be overwhelmed with work. This trip will take you even further away. She also hasn’t been getting much sleep because of the baby’s schedule.”
SydEL narrowed his eyes at JadEN. “She discussed all of this with you instead of me, her mate?”
It had been a mistake for JadEN to tell the other male that information. He should have let Kat talk to him. “I am her friend, and we spend a lot of time together.”
“Maybe too much time.” SydEL said harshly.
Maybe he was right. JadEN couldn’t argue with that. “I’ll be honest with you. We