Narrowing her eyes, nodding, Maryanne looked a little disturbed at the course of conversation. “What are you thinking?”

Reaching for her glass of water, Claire offered, “I am thinking I will name my son Collin, after my father.”

Rubbing her crimson lips together, Maryanne looked over her distressed friend and agreed. “Your dad would like that.”

A strange feeling came over her. Claire straightened in her chair and spoke bluntly. “I think you should leave now, Maryanne.” Standing she gave her friend a sad onceover, “I love you, but I don’t want you to come back.” Pale arms reached out before Maryanne could react. Embracing her friend, Claire spoke softly into Maryanne’s ear. “Shepherd is using you. We both know it, and we both know I can’t keep you alive forever. Whatever he wants, don’t do it. Save yourself.”

When she pulled back and Maryanne’s eyes automatically went to where Shepherd approached behind Claire, the Omega sighed and nodded. “You can tell him what I said.”

There was something going on between Claire and Shepherd, and at that moment, Maryanne was not sure which one of them was using her more. Claire was making a statement, but Maryanne could not fathom what it was. What she could fathom was that she wanted to get the fuck out of that room and do as she was told.

Claire was eyeballing her with unsettled, tired eyes. “I want to kiss her, Shepherd.”

The man behind his mate slowly turned his head to look down at the Omega as if they held some silent communication between them. He did not look pleased. “I will allow it this last time.”

Maryanne hardly knew what was going on. Claire stepped forward, stood on tiptoe, and kissed her friend’s slack lips. When the small exchange was over, Claire frowned and admitted with a broken heart, “I’m going to miss you more than I can say.”

Stepping back to Shepherd, Claire felt his arms circle her middle, his habit of restraining her each time he called for the door to be opened familiar. Shepherd gave the order, and in a matter of seconds, Maryanne disappeared from Claire’s life forever.

The table was pushed aside by a thick leg and the chairs brought nearer. Shepherd sat her down, took the seat across, and waited for his mate to meet his eye. “I want you to consider the consequences of what you are thinking right now.”

Claire could see it in the link. Shepherd had no idea what she was thinking; he was simply playing the odds.

Engage people with what they expect; it is what they are able to discern and confirms their projections. It settles them into predictable patterns of response, occupying their minds while you wait for the extraordinary moment—that which they cannot anticipate. –Sun Tzu