“The situation with Claire takes precedence over retrieving the Omegas. Her escape route was divergent. She must be moving through Thólos as we speak. Assign our best trackers, and when she is found, no one approaches but me.”

Jules knew the female had been serious about ending her life; it had been the only reason he’d not disarmed the quaking woman at first glance. “Cornering her would not end well. Her mental state is unbalanced. Miss O’Donnell is a danger to herself until her desperation recedes.”

Shepherd cut a dangerous glare at his lieutenant. “What is your point?”

Intense blue eyes sat static in a face devoid of emotion. “Your appearance turned her fear to rage; her finger tightened on the trigger. I had a measure of rapport with her; you did not.”

The slight flare of Shepherd’s nostrils, the intake of breath, was nothing compared to the growl that stained his reply. “Her entire plan hinged on distracting us with the ploy. She did not pull the trigger, she ran.”

Jules did not baulk. “Her success will give her confidence, and may lead her to expose herself to needless danger in order to fulfill her agenda. Shall I create a situation she’d want to resolve? We could draw her out on our terms. Miss O’Donnell could potentially be captured before any more trauma accumulated.”

Shepherd momentarily considered the suggestion before he shook his head in the negative. “She is too clever for that.”

“Where do you think she’ll strike next?”

“I do not think she will strike at all. Not one of her bombs killed a Follower. She could have executed all our comrades trapped inside. Casualties were kept to a minimum. As far as we know, she never fired the pistol or pointed it at anyone but herself. No matter the show she put on, Claire O’Donnell is a pacifist. Her ideal would be to inspire, just like she threatened.”

“If she exposes herself to the public, they will bring her in,” the Beta assured.

“Her faith in the scum of this city is far more dangerous to her than any gun. If they knew of our bond, the people of Thólos would not deliver her home. They would rip her to shreds.”

Curled together like kittens in Maryanne’s bed, Claire slept with one hand over her belly and a troubled frown on her brow. Maryanne watched her fitful sleep, certain again that she’d lost her mind for going back to drag the obstinate fool away.

After witnessing the showdown with Shepherd, watching as the hulking killer spoke as softly as he could even though he was clearly furious, Maryanne couldn’t wrap her head around it. When she’d been forced to work for him, she had seen him at his most ferocious, and it was nothing compared to the cautious demeanor he displayed to his mate.