“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.”