But the truth could not be ignored. Though she was warm and safe, her people were waking up with nothing to eat, with no power, with no heat. Outside of that beautiful room, behind that grand view, the world was falling to pieces.

Shepherd stretched, his large hand cupped over the place where his child grew. ”You enjoy this room and the view. You are comfortable here.”

Looking away from the window, she surveyed the empty room. “Why did you have the furniture removed?”

“I did not want you to wrongly cultivate hope that I might allow you to remain.”

There was logic to his rationale. Had there been a bed and other objects for comfort, she would have longed for more than just his lap on that oversized chair. She may have even grown upset when he’d demanded that they leave. “I see…”

“As I promised, I will bring you here.” He took a breath of her hair, kissed a trail down her neck. “And as you promised, you will live as my willing mate.”

When they came back from her sky, Shepherd set her hand free. The handcuff had not been tight, but once he removed it, she felt an ache in its wake. He took her wrist and used his big thumbs to rub the skin, as if he understood the feeling and why she had cradled the offended limb in her hand.

Claire watched his caress, finding it peculiar that with paws that could crush her, Shepherd seemed to know just how much pressure was appropriate. As the odd touching continued, she worried her lip and found him once again watching her carefully. When the silence stretched and his big thumb continued to rub, she grew nervous.

Unwilling to act without specific orders, unwilling to be tricked or manipulated, she thought to withdraw her hand.

Shepherd trapped her wrist in circling fingers that seemed far more binding than the handcuff had been. “How will you fill your hours while I am gone today?”

“Are you mocking me?”

“What did you do with your free time before I claimed you as my mate?”

That was easy to answer. “I spent every waking hour trying to find food for the Omegas.”

The giant smirked, using his grip on her wrist to pull her nearer. “Before Thólos became mine.”

“Thólos is not yours.”

The bastard smiled at her. “Answer me, little one.”

With a huff, she began to list off activities. “Aside from painting, I played my mom’s old piano. I spent time with my friends… read stories, took cooking classes when I could afford to.”

Her response satisfied the man. Shepherd released her arm, the drag of his callused hands against her fingers extended.

Claire used the opportunity to put distance between them, heading towards the bathroom, a place where he generally left her in peace.