“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.”