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.”