Chapter 5
Entering Shepherd’s den, Jules could scent his commander’s extreme agitation. “I have picked up the trail of your mate.”
Shepherd’s demand for an answer was immediate. “Where?”
The Beta detailed his report, handing Shepherd a dossier on a young male.
“Since Miss O’Donnell’s disappearance, as a precaution, I have had Svana shadowed.
Today, Leslie Kantor chose to contact the resistance—inadvertently she led us right to their doorstep.
While she was there, a Beta by the name of Enforcer Samuel Corday was charged with her protection.
I personally went to the Beta’s residence to bug the location before he could return with Svana as his ward.
“Miss O’Donnell was not on the premises.
Her scent, however, permeates the dwelling.
I also found the shredded dress she was wearing when she leapt off the roof.
Enforcer Corday is the Beta with whom she found refuge before her assault on Undercroft.
I believe he knows where she is. By tracking him through the grid, he will lead us straight to your Omega. ”
Looking up from the photograph of the handsome male, Shepherd let the weight of his glare run over his second-in-command. “You can confirm that Svana approached rebel leaders of her own accord?”
“Yes.” And that was the greater issue, in Jules’ opinion. “The niece of Senator Kantor has offered her passcodes to help the resistance.”
The stiff set of Shepherd’s shoulders, the pulse of danger in the air, warned him the Alpha was not pleased with the news. “Did she?”
“Svana is acting autonomously for purposes of her own.” Jules, his chin held high, ignored his leader’s silent dismissal of Svana’s unsubstantiated misdeeds and outlined the remainder of the report. “She will have recognized Claire’s scent the moment she entered Enforcer Corday’s domicile.”
“That will not matter. Claire will be recovered immediately.” Shepherd could always tell when Jules had something more he wanted to say, it was in the shiftiness of his hardened glare, and the uncomfortable lines around his mouth.
Standing, his huge arms crossed over his chest, Shepherd’s own posture made it clear his subordinate had better get to the point. “Speak.”
Jules explained in the same steady monotone that displayed acute sincerity. “Aside from the threat of Svana, Claire O’Donnell is willing to kill herself, brother. By starvation… a bullet to the head… she will find a way if she wants to.”
The single step closer put Shepherd within the distance to behead Jules with little more than a flick of the wrist. Eyes flared, Shepherd threatened, “You presume to tell me what she will and will not do? You presume much lately. I am quite certain I made myself clear before.”
The Beta was loyal; it was his duty to speak. “You are responsible for Claire O’Donnell’s current state. Your open infidelity has altered what you created when you chose to pair-bond. That kind of hatred will not disappear simply because you drag her back.”
The beast emerged. An arm bulging with muscle struck, slamming the smaller man against the wall. Dangling Jules by a grip on his throat, Shepherd roared, “You do not know of what you speak!”
Gasping, his boots high above the floor, Jules grunted despite the grip of the giant, “You allowed Svana to manipulate you into dishonoring your pregnant mate. You are responsible for what broke her, and must recognize the consequences of what you sanctioned. I cannot return her as she was.”
Jules was thrown clear across the room. Before he might break the man’s bones, the bellowing giant’s fists attacked the wall instead. Huge chunks of concrete broke off, his knuckles tore, and blood flowed, but Shepherd’s outburst did not exorcise such rage.
When the provoked, panting monster spun to face the Beta, eyes full of murder, he found Jules standing, loyal and unmoving as always. Shepherd poked Jules roughly in the chest. “I should kill you.”
Before answering, Jules wiped a trickle of blood from his mouth. “For speaking the truth, brother?”
Shepherd rolled his shoulders, snarling a defense, “I did what had to be done and sent my mate from the room so she would not have to watch as I pacified Svana.”
The Beta outlined the facts. “In choosing to pacify your former lover, you destroyed any potential for Miss O’Donnell to be your mate the way you seem to wish her to be.”
“And you think given the fact that you once had an Omega wife, your opinion has value?” Shepherd’s face was red, his pulse thundering at the bulge of his neck.
Jules offered an alternative. “The only way you will gain influence over the Omega is to give her what she wants.”
A minute passed, a minute where Shepherd had to fight every instinct that told him to crush the Beta for questioning him. “Explain.”
“Her profile is one of a martyr. If you offer to leave the Omegas and her allies in peace, you have a bargaining chip—influence over Miss O’Donnell you can wield to gain compliance and the behavior you prefer.
If approached correctly, I expect that she will agree to return of her own free will in exchange for the lives of the others.
Suicide will no longer be an issue, giving you time to progress the pregnancy that may soften her hatred towards you. ”
Shepherd detested what he was hearing, but there was wisdom in his second’s words. “Is there more?”
For once, intonation, bitterness, inflected Jules speech. “I didn’t only have a wife. I also had two sons.”
There was a hint of remorse in Shepherd’s retreat. Ignoring his bleeding knuckles, the Alpha pulled on his coat and left the room. “I shall lead the surveillance of the Beta personally.”
Jules radioed an underling to clean up the mess and repair the wall, as usual, three steps ahead.
As ordered, Corday had escorted Leslie Kantor to his apartment. The journey had not been simple. In fact, it seemed that every causeway they’d tried to walk contained some obstruction or Follower presence that required the pair to choose another path.
It took hours of doubling back just to make it a few steps forward. It didn’t help that Leslie Kantor did not have a clue how to fend for herself. The female, though charming, had no business on the streets.
Corday could hardly believe she’d survived as long as she had.
He did not voice his opinion, but she could sense it. When they were finally sequestered and safe in his apartment, she admitted, “I have been sheltered since the city fell. My family’s housing holds a secret panic room that was stocked with enough food and water that I had little need to leave.”
If only everyone had owned such a luxury. Sizing up the woman, Corday asked, “You were alone in your bunker?”
Eyes downcast, Leslie nodded.
“That must have been hard.”
“I didn’t know my father had been hanged outside the Citadel. I didn’t know my mother had been strung up beside him.” Tears fell free down her high cheeks. “I’ll never forgive myself for not trying to find them… I should have sought my uncle sooner.”
Leading her to his worn sofa so the weeping woman might collect herself, Corday said, “Your parents would have wanted you to stay safe.”
Rubbing her eyes, Leslie sighed. “I will do anything I can to help the resistance. Shepherd must be stopped.”
A smile was offered in agreement. “And we will stop him, but we cannot make a move until we uncover the location of the contagion. That must be your priority.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“We can start tonight.”
“Of course. Just let me clean up first.” Leslie glanced down at the fine coat that had grown grimy with their crossing, at the scarf, the mittens, and began to strip the layers away. “The scent of your mate leads me to believe you’ll have some fresh clothes I can borrow.”
Corday stood and moved to the kitchenette. “I don’t have a mate.”
Leslie smirked, coquettish and feminine. “I just assumed… Omega scent is on your coat… and in this room. But I can see it’s a sore topic. Forget I said anything.”
“No, it’s okay.” Gathering food so they might eat and get straight to work, Corday said, “Claire just sleeps here sometimes.”
Leslie bit her lip, eyes sparkling. “And she sleeps in your coat?”
The charm worked, Corday was amused. “And sometimes in my coat, yes.”
“I pegged you as a cuddler.” Leslie stretched her arm across the back of the couch, looking over her shoulder and bantering as if they were friends. “She’s a lucky female to have the attention of a man who fights for what he loves.”
With a half-hearted smirk, Corday shook his head. “It’s not like that. She couldn’t even if she wanted to… or even if I wanted to. My friend was pair-bonded to a stranger, someone who mistreated her. Any kind of physical relationship is off the table for now.”
“Pair-bonded?” The woman went deadpan, cold calculation slipping into her expression. “That is unthinkable.”
Corday gave a sorry shrug. “So you see; it’s not what you imagine.”
Leslie shook her head, contemplating something monumental. “It cannot be the case that this stranger pair-bonded to her.”
Corday brought over their rations, plopping down beside his guest. “I wish it wasn’t. She’s a wonderful girl whom I like very much… even though she’s as infuriating as she is sweet.”
Leslie’s smile returned, her bearing once again playful. “What is she like, your Omega?”
Corday gave a small, caustic laugh. “Stubborn. Determined to be a one woman resistance.”
Patting his thigh, Leslie warned, “One woman can’t stand alone against Shepherd’s power.”
“I hate to admit it, but she’s done pretty well so far. She’s accomplished more than we have.”
Leslie inched closer, fascinated. “How did she stand up to Shepherd?”
There was little Corday could say. “By simply being Claire.”
The beauty at his side was unsatisfied. “Be cautious of her, Corday. Don’t allow yourself to foster feelings. If she is pair-bonded, as you say, then she could never commit to you.”