The knot was fresh, the male’s cock still filling her with a steady trickle of semen, his fingers still warmly enfolded with hers. Yet whatever tenderness the Omega had displayed as he led her down the path to orgasm had evaporated. Her small body was stiff, Claire’s hips moving just enough to communicate her desire to reject his knot, even if trapped by it.

If Shepherd was angry, he hid it well. Looking at her with deceptive calm he spoke her name again. “Claire.”

Her building rage blended with disgust, yet she mirrored his move on the board. In a tone so calm it was chilling, she explained, “Every time I hear you speak that name, I feel your Alpha beloved’s hand crushing my throat. I feel her fingers scratching my insides. I see you, a monster who has the audacity to call himself my mate, stand by and watch. I hear you order me into the bathroom saying Claire… a name you refused to acknowledge up until that enlightening moment.”

Shepherd had to make use of this opportunity; he had to reason with her. “I did not witness her touching you sexually and only learned of it later. It will never happen again.”

Incredulous, Claire’s eyes went wide at his nerve. “And that makes it okay?”

The man tried again. “I am aware you harbor great anger towards me, hatred even, for what was done.”

“I do hate you. I hate her. But most of all I hate myself.”

Rocking his hips, pressing the knot deeper, he insisted, “Tell me the reason you hate yourself.”

She held his eyes, hers violently raging. “We both know why.”

But it needed to be said aloud. “Claire, your self-hatred stems from the fact that you recognized you had affection for me before circumstances caused you pain.”

“Circumstances?” Claire laughed meanly, not at all impressed. “She has a name. It’s Svana. What you did to me has a name. It’s called betrayal.”

Odd remorse burning in his consternation, Shepherd pressed his forehead to hers. “You have my fidelity now. I gave you my word. We could be content in one another if you would forget, and try again.”

Claire saturated her reply with every ounce of disgust she could muster. “You are a very smart man with the skill to inspire others to follow you into evil, Shepherd, but your understanding of people is so primordial. You claim to love me, so answer this: had I fucked Corday while you were watching me in the warehouse, would it be something you would ever forget?”

The man’s entire body went rigid. “No.”

“So you see, it is impossible.”

His eyes were full of a hundred things. “You will forgive me.”

Her black brow arched. “Forgive what you can only call the circumstances that caused me pain?”

He knew what she wanted. Growling like a beast, Shepherd gave it. “I mated with Svana and dishonored you.”

“You did.”