She wanted to throw it, to rip every last page from the spine, but instead found her eyes drawn back to the dog-eared pages. Sprawled on a pile of some dead soul’s ransacked things, she read until it was too dark to continue. Then she slept, passing another night free of Shepherd, utterly lost, and broken inside.

When morning came and she woke stiff, Claire rose from her makeshift burrow and walked out the door as if she’d never been there. It was not until she was back at the Omegas’ haven that she realized her bloodless fingers were still gripping Sun Tzu’s masterpiece to the point they’d gone white.

She was staring at it like it owed her an explanation for being there.

Nona crept nearer to see. “What is that?”

Eyes on the book, the green-eyed waif muttered, “Sun Tzu said to appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.” Claire began stripping off her clothes. “Go get the COMscreen. I need you to make me look strong.”

In a building opposite the generic apartment Enforcer Corday dwelled in sat a seething Alpha—one on the verge of snapping. Shepherd prided himself on his steadiness, his focus and dedication to purpose, but at that moment, after bombardment, accusations and indignity, he was not at his best. Where the pair-bond connected, Shepherd felt some strange pulse. The force that burned and stole his focus condemned his rage. The sensation had denounced his actions often over the past months, brought with it severe discomfort. It was discomfort he bore, knowing that the final result made what were sometimes reprehensible deeds necessary for his mate.

He could tolerate the pain of the bond just as he tolerated the pain of such extensive Da’rin infection. Tolerating being challenged by a subordinate, even if it was a man he respected, was not quite so easy.

No one questioned him. He ruled the Undercroft, had toppled the Dome’s disgusting government, and controlled an entire puppet population. His Followers recognized and bowed to such greatness, and no puny Beta had the right to dictate what was best… as if to share wisdom… as if to say that what he demanded was impossible!

Jules’ insinuations looped on repeat in Shepherd’s thoughts, the Alpha dissecting each word, finding the flaws in the other man’s argument… determined to prove he was right and Jules was mistaken.

Shepherd would have his Claire on his terms. Everything would be as nature intended, Jules’ idea of consequences be damned.

But there was a deeper message between the words, a sly list of allegations Jules would have to be corrected for.

‘Infidelity...’

‘You allowed Svana to manipulate you into dishonoring your pregnant mate…’

All this implied a breach in code: castigation. Jules had inferred Shepherd was corruptible and that Svana pulled his strings. His second-in-command’s gall was unspeakable.