by Addison Cain
He'd freed the outcasts… even before the breach.
One man had driven back the nightmare underground. Shepherd had organized a feral population; given slaves purpose, hope. Yet, like all prisoners, if Shepherd wanted something, he took it; and God help you if you disappointed him.
Shepherd remained incapable of understanding Claire's hesitations.
Even for all the Alpha's aggression, there was no one in the world Jules admired more. His respect even withstood the flaw in his superior—Shepherd's universe began and ended with Svana.
The fact the two Alphas were lovers was no secret. Even Jules had witnessed Svana's enthusiasm for Shepherd for years. He knew the story of how she had drawn him underground, approached Shepherd as if she were an angel with her passcodes and rare food. At the time they'd both been young; perhaps they had seduced one another—two miscreant wild things enslaved by the system. But where Shepherd had been born in hell, Svana had come from heaven.
He practically worshiped at her feet. He had made himself the mission for her; built her an army.
She claimed to be special, chosen…
Worst of all, it was true. All of it.
She owned something no amount of money could buy; a valuable bloodline.
Svana was the key to freedom, to a new world, to a land where no one would look down on them for Da'rin—where no one would hiss the word 'outcast'. With her help, all of them would be heroes, redeemers, saviors.
They would all be reborn.
Svana had not been born in Thólos Dome. Instead, she'd been gifted to the people of Thólos…
None of this was public knowledge, of course. Very few knew Svana had arrived on a transport two decades ago as part of an Interdome trade of viable females. Even less knew who that child in rags really was. Her adopted parents didn't know; and from Jules's investigation, even Premier Callas was not privy to such information. The secret belonged to Shepherd and to the chosen Followers of the man sworn to lead them to freedom.
Svana was cunning on her own; she used her position to develop access to everything… secrets, money, favors—even lovesick teenaged Shepherd.
It was a fancy she'd grown out of. Shepherd, on the other hand, had been entirely unaware of the fact that his beloved had moved on. She knew what she was doing, feeding his regard for her, nurturing his devotion. It seemed pathetic, had you not seen what the two of them could accomplish together.
That Jules hated. She was necessary for the plan. Shepherd, all the Followers, needed her.
But she also needed them. Without Shepherd's army there was no way the woman could reclaim her birthright. Svana was the only surviving offspring of Greth Dome's ruling family; a monarchy that had been deposed and disposed of. Insurgents had killed her parents, and had foolishly thought to extend mercy to a little girl considered too young to remember.
Svana may have been small when her life under Thólos began, but she had been coached to corrupt from birth. But, just like her parents, she believed herself beyond reproach.
The affair with Premier Callas… Whether the Alpha admitted it or not, Shepherd had been forced to face a glimpse of what she truly was.
In response, Shepherd had acted against his beloved; he took an Omega mate. A fact, Jules had known Svana would not be pleased about once discovered. Was this not the very reason Shepherd had kept the Omega obsessively hidden? Not a soul was allowed near her, and even Jules had been cast out for only looking once… until recently.
The Beta did not know what had spurred Shepherd to take quarters away from his room for days; he didn't ask. He had instead been stuck dealing with an irate ruler who possessed far less patience, and a pregnant Omega who looked heartbroken each time he brought her another of the blasted trays.
For reasons unknown, Shepherd had reduced Claire to a position of breeder, not mate. Jules accepted it and did his duty. It was less than a week before the lieutenant opened the door to find Miss O'Donnell on the floor, altered, and trapped in a room with an odor Jules had smelled in his leader's quarters before—the spiced scent of Svana's Alpha slick. The Omega who should have been nesting was as far away from the bed as she could get, so still she seemed corpselike. It was the only reason he'd spoken when she asked his name.
On closer inspection, it had been impossible for Jules to miss the split lip and the discoloration on Miss O'Donnell's neck. Even more, he had recognized the look in her eye when Shepherd approached outside Undercroft; every nuance of her expression Jules had read with precision. The Omega was devastated—not just afraid—emotionally crippled, and clearly suicidal no matter Shepherd's denial on the subject.
And that was where the issue lingered. Jules presumed the obvious assumption was correct. Shepherd had mated with his long time consort… and he was aware of their habit of sharing heated Omegas.
Claire had reacted badly to whatever the Alpha female's visit had inspired.
The situation was irreparable in the allotted time. Shepherd's denial and Svana's vindictive nature had done the damage. If what Jules suspected was true, Miss O'Donnell now had good reason to hate the man beyond just the initial fear of her situation and misunderstanding of his true agenda. Even more, Shepherd's current demands that Miss O'Donnell be returned to resume her position as his mate made the situation far more complicated.
It would almost be more convenient if the little Omega just died, the entire situation being nothing but troublesome. But she was carrying what would be Shepherd's heir.
Claire was important now.
The ground was hard beneath her, the unyielding floor setting her hip to aching. But there was the smell of safety… a well-known Beta. They were wrapped together, covered in his coat like an overripe bug cocoon.
She cracked open an eye, finding Corday already watching her, his expression too controlled to read.
Claire admitted guilt. "I knew you'd help Nona if she used my name."
Corday put his lips to her forehead; he held her tighter. "She told me what you did. You held a gun to your head, Claire."
She had done that… and she had been very scared. "I did."
He could play the belligerent game just as well as she could. Still holding her, he moved his face until their noses were touching. "Claire, please."
Claire glanced to the side and absently worried her lip. "I'm not sorry for setting these women free."
"I don't want you to be!" Urgent, Corday whispered so the spying women might not hear. "What I want is for you to trust me. You don't need to fight alone."
But she did… both Corday and Senator Kantor had explained their position. "I am not going to attack Shepherd or his pig army. The Omegas are free, it's done."
"I don't believe you."
Still bone tired, Claire sighed. "I give you my word that I will not attack Shepherd. Such a thing would be pointless."
"Look at me," Corday urged, face grim and determined. "Swear it."
She held his gaze. "I swear I will not attack them."
The Beta seemed satisfied. "How long has it been since you've eaten?"
"I ate at your house."
Frustrated, he squeezed her. "That was three days ago, and you threw up afterwards."
"I had more important things to worry about than food."
"Claire, you are not superhuman."
No. She did not even feel regular human. She felt quasi-formed and misshapen. "I will eat."
A twitch curled Corday's lips. "Good." He sat her up, rubbing at her neck when her bones cracked. "And while you are eating, I am going to ask you what other crazy schemes you have planned. You don't need to keep secrets from me, Claire. Let me help you."
They had an audience; several sets of eyes watching their low, murmured exchange. Corday went to pillage through the crates he'd brought. A piece of fresh fruit and a packet of protein rich supplement in hand, he returned to her.
Others approached Claire.
A few even sniffed the black-haired Omega, backing away quickly as if she
might taint them once the rumor had been confirmed.
If Claire noticed, she did not react.
Corday could see that Nona was right. No matter what she had done for them, Claire would not be tolerated by the pack for long. "Come home with me, Claire."
Claire looked to the man offering her an apple as if he'd gone mad. "I can't put you in that position. No."
"Then I'll come here every day until you change your mind." The Beta took her cold fingers and urged, "I want to take care of you. When you come to your senses, I will take you home."
Claire mumbled, looking to the fire, "Should the time come, I look forward to going home."
It was Nona who'd sat quietly through the exchange, who'd touched Claire's arm in understanding.
It was time for Corday to go. Claire stood, pulled him into a hug, dismissing the man as she teased, "Next time you visit, bring decent coffee."
He chuckled.
Suddenly serious, she gripped the fabric of his coat. "And if you are foolish enough to get caught, I will charge the Citadel to get you out."
Corday's laughter faded. "That's not funny."
"I wasn't joking."
Frustrated, running a hand through his hair, Corday argued, "You set the Omegas free. You moved mountains. It's time for you to rest."
Claire agreed. "Nona would not allow anything else. Now, get out of here, Beta. No boys allowed."
Corday did not want to go, but he gave her space, swearing he would return.
With the Beta gone, Nona placed an arm around her young friend, the old woman muttering, "He doesn't understand."
The broken Omega whispered, "He doesn't need to know."
There were only four in the room: Corday, Brigadier Dane, Senator Kantor, and a stranger.
"There is a new member come to join the resistance." The typical exhaustion that had aged Senator Kantor since the Dome's fall, lifted. The pleased Alpha gestured to the beautiful woman at his side. "We made contact with my niece… This is Leslie Kantor."
Smiling softly at her uncle's heartfelt relief, the brunette Alpha female reached out her hand in formal introduction. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Corday."
There was a glint in the older man's eyes, long lost spark returning when Corday grinned and took her hand. "It's rare we get good news. Welcome."
Dwarfed in her layers, bundled up warm, Leslie offered, "And I hope I have more to buoy you. Before Shepherd's invasion, Premier Callas had been my betrothed. Our circumstances had yet to be announced," she waved a flippant hand, "these things have to go through the proper channels, be approved by the Senate, and so on. In the interim, Callas arranged for me to have deputy access to everything… As it was done in secret, Shepherd's men are unaware that I can infiltrate their communications network."
Corday's mouth gaped. "Holy fuck…"
"Yeah, son." Senator Kantor chuckled. "Holy fuck."
This changed everything, gave the resistance an actual chance. "Do you know where he's hidden the contagion?"
Leslie shook her head. "No. The language they communicate in, it's difficult to understand. But that does not mean we can't crack it. I just need time."
But this was still great progress. The secrecy of the meeting began to make sense, no one could know Leslie Kantor's secret. She would have to be hidden, the information restricted. Corday said as much. "No one can know about her. If Shepherd got wind, it would be an easy thing to revoke her access."
"Agreed." Senator Kantor had Corday's next orders. "If we kept her here, too many people would see her. We can't have questions raised. I'm entrusting my niece to you, Corday."
The honor bestowed on the low ranked Enforcer came at a very bad time, however there was no way to refuse such an important mission. Claire needed him, but the entire population needed the intel Leslie might uncover. Corday shared his news. "You should know sir, the Omegas were freed. Today we've struck two victories against Shepherd."
The Senator genuinely smiled. "I told you my bet was on Claire."
"You did."
And that was it.
Jules frowned, a rare thing, and listened to the audio surveillance of Thólos's pathetic resistance headquarters. The hunt for Claire had been waylaid when report arrived that a certain Alpha female had presented herself on the resistance's doorstep.
Svana—Leslie Kantor—had a different part to play in the fall of Thólos. She had a specific mission that had nothing to do with playing rebel. And if she'd known where they were all along, why not pass that information to Shepherd.
Jules knew exactly what the bitch was up to.
Svana was hunting Claire. Of course she'd know the Omega had escaped. It was the reason he'd had the Alpha female followed since Shepherd's mate had gone missing.
And now she'd lead them right to the resistance.
The woman was truly foolish to think this act would go unnoticed. Shepherd might have lauded his beloved, but Jules did not find her cunning clever. Oh, she was useful and she was powerful, and for that reason alone, Jules had not engineered an accident for her years ago.
But she was trouble.
No matter the plan or the promises, the female was self-serving.
Jules didn't trust her, and was eager to prove that she needed to be curbed. It was the reason he chose to follow them, to make a preemptive visit to the listed domicile of one Enforcer Corday.
It wasn't difficult to breach the building. All it took was the acquisition of one terrified rebel and a few minutes of torture to learn the location of Enforcer Corday's home, and a few well-placed distractions for the dubious couple working their way across the city. While the Enforcer and Svana were still meandering through the dangerous city streets, Jules opened the door to the sad little apartment.
That first breath of air… and the Beta froze. The room was saturated in Miss O'Donnell's scent—the couch, the bed, he even found her bloody dress tucked in the bathroom hamper.
Svana could not have intended it, but she had delivered Jules right to the Beta who'd taken in Shepherd's mate.
Even if the Omega was not in the domicile, Enforcer Corday had access to her. Miss O'Donnell's retrieval was imminent.
Bugs were placed, the surveillance team handpicked by Shepherd's second-in-command, situated nearby. The job was done quickly. All that remained was to report personally to Shepherd and explain the complicated situation.
Chapter 5
Entering Shepherd's den, Jules could scent his commander's extreme agitation. "I have picked up the trail of your mate."
Shepherd's demand for an answer was immediate. "Where?"
The Beta detailed his report, handing Shepherd a dossier on a young male. "Since Miss O'Donnell's disappearance, as a precaution, I have had Svana shadowed. Today, Leslie Kantor chose to contact the resistance—inadvertently she led us right to their doorstep. While she was there, a Beta by the name of Enforcer Samuel Corday was charged with her protection. I personally went to the Beta's residence to bug the location before he could return with Svana as his ward.
"Miss O'Donnell was not on the premises. Her scent, however, permeates the dwelling. I also found the shredded dress she was wearing when she leapt off the roof. Enforcer Corday is the Beta with whom she found refuge before her assault on Undercroft; I believe he knows where she is. By tracking him through the grid, he will lead us straight to your Omega."
Looking up from the photograph of the handsome male, Shepherd let the weight of his glare run over his second-in-command. "You can confirm that Svana approached rebel leaders of her own accord?"
"Yes." And that was the greater issue, in Jules's opinion. "The niece of Senator Kantor has offered her passcodes to help the resistance."
The stiff set of Shepherd's shoulders, the pulse of danger in the air, warned him the Alpha was not pleased with the news. "Did she?"
"Svana is acting autonomously for purposes of her own." Jules, his chin held high, ignored his leader's silent dismissal of Svana's unsubstantiated misdeeds and
outlined the remainder of the report. "She will have recognized Claire's scent the moment she entered Enforcer Corday's domicile."
"That will not matter. Claire will be recovered immediately." Shepherd could always tell when Jules had something more he wanted to say, it was in the shiftiness of his hardened glare, and the uncomfortable lines around his mouth. Standing, his huge arms crossed over his chest, Shepherd's own posture made it clear his subordinate had better get to the point. "Speak."
Jules explained in the same steady monotone that displayed acute sincerity. "Aside from the threat of Svana, Claire O'Donnell is willing to kill herself, brother. By starvation… a bullet to the head… she will find a way if she wants to."
The single step closer put Shepherd within the distance to behead Jules with little more than a flick of the wrist. Eyes flared, Shepherd threatened, "You presume to tell me what she will and will not do? You presume much lately. I am quite certain I made myself clear before."
The Beta was loyal; it was his duty to speak. "You are responsible for Claire O'Donnell's current state. Your open infidelity has altered what you created when you chose to pair-bond. That kind of hatred will not disappear simply because you drag her back."
The beast emerged. An arm bulging with muscle struck, slamming the smaller man against the wall. Dangling Jules by a grip on his throat, Shepherd roared, "You do not know of what you speak!"
Gasping, his boots high above the floor, Jules grunted despite the grip of the giant, "You allowed Svana to manipulate you into dishonoring your pregnant mate. You are responsible for what broke her, and must recognize the consequences of what you sanctioned. I cannot return her as she was."
Jules was thrown clear across the room. Before he might break the man's bones, the bellowing giant's fists attacked the wall instead. Huge chunks of concrete broke off, his knuckles tore, and blood flowed, but Shepherd's outburst did not exercise such rage.
