Born to be Broken (Alpha's Claim #2)(33)

Running his thumb over her frowning lips, Shepherd forced a question that tightened his mouth and squared his shoulders. "Because of my Da'rin Markings?"

Claire shook her head, her brows drawing together. "No. Because of what you'd done, where you were, how big you are …  the violence. My father was a very nice man-funny and kind. That is the epitome of Alpha to me. That is a suiting mate. You are none of those things. Since you forced the bond, I feel controlled, manipulated, you have caused me grief, I cannot trust you, and you only treat me nicely to get your way."

"I will take responsibility for the grief, but as for the rest, much of it is your own fault. You have made little effort to be a contented mate. Your resistance and continued subversion requires a firm hand to ensure your safety. I would be cruel to you to keep you safe, and I freely manipulate you as there is no other recourse to draw you nearer. Had you settled as the other Omegas had settled, your life would be happy. And I am careful of your wellbeing. I bring you things you never thank me for. I offer you the best foods. I stroke and purr and please you physically for hours."

Claire had intended the conversation to highlight her concerns with Thólos, not nitpick at the major issues as to why, aside from his many transgressions, their pair-bond was madness. Gritting her teeth at his list of ridiculous accusations, she took a deep breath and tried to control her temper. "When you were in the Undercroft, did you thank your jailors for what they brought you?"

Shepherd's eyes went fractionally wider, the man incredibly insulted. "Thank me for the paints."

Claire snarled, "Thank me for all the hours I have spent cleaning this room."

"Little one." The shift in him was unsettling. The male purred and squeezed her hand gently. "Your domestic behavior in our shared den is nothing but pleasing to me. Thank you."

Scowling, Claire lost ground. "I am concerned that if I thank you for the paints, you will know how much I like them and take them away."

"I will not take your paints. I understand that you need them and that there is little outlet for you when I am not here."

She did not believe him, but it didn't matter. Her lower lip trembled. Feeling her eyes grow damp she whispered, "Thank you for the paints."

"Do you wish to continue talking, or would you prefer to go see the sky now?"

She had made no ground in her agenda, had wasted the opportunity and learned little. The whole fucking conversation had been imperceptibly moved to the tension between them by a man far more gifted in discourse. That was not her goal; that was not her purpose.

Taking a mental step back, needing to reformulate, Claire nodded, disengaged from the ordeal. "The sky."





Chapter 13


Entering the room with her window, Claire was wary the second her feet touched the floor. The setup had changed; a small table held two trays of food …  as if Shepherd were going to eat with her-which would not only be odd, but a domestic act she was in no mood to engage in with him.

Like an iron bar around her waist, Shepherd's arm held her flush to his body, the uncomfortable handcuff still in place. They were not moving deeper into the room, just standing awkwardly as he leaned down to possessively sniff her.

"I would have preferred to mate you before this, yet forewent the experience because you desired to converse. I am also going to allow you a short time without the handcuffs," Shepherd said, unlocking the metal at her wrist while still maintaining a stiff hold on her body. "Should you disappoint my trust, this coming moment will not happen again. It would be in your best interest to behave."




 

 

Before Claire could reply, the numerous locks on the door began to hiss and her body was shifted so there was no view but that of Shepherd's chest. The door was opened and closed, and only then did Shepherd turn them so that she might see.

Instantly panicked, Claire eyeballed the stunning blonde and rushed to throw her body between Maryanne and Shepherd. "What the fuck is she doing here? You promised me!"

"Claire, calm down before you give yourself an aneurism," Maryanne teased, throwing an arm around her shoulders. "I was invited for dinner."

Bull-Fucking-Shit. There was a catch, there was always a catch, and cold dread settled over the Omega. Her attention darted towards the folding table, back to her massive mate, then over her shoulder towards Maryanne.

Claire was scared.

The Alpha female herded her forward, smiling and bouncing her eyebrows as if possessing no care in the world. "It was impossible to say no once he told me steak was on the menu …  Don't think for a moment that I came to see you."

Claire's nervous laugh did not sound the least bit reassured. The women sat, Shepherd moved towards a third chair in the corner to watch like a warden observing a convict's last meal.

Enthusiastic, Maryanne dug into the food, made pointless inane chatter, smiling as Claire worked through the knot in her stomach and prayed the food would stay down. With the passing of half an hour, the tense situation calmed. Shepherd's soft purr from the corner, and the approving look in his eye every time Claire looked over at him, helped to settle her.

Just having Maryanne near was extraordinary, and for a moment, Claire felt …  comfortable.

"Maryanne," swallowing the last bite of steak, Claire looked at her pretty friend and teased, "I think you may be the only woman in Thólos who's still wearing lipstick."

Full red lips curved up in a decedent smirk, Maryanne was proud as a peacock. "I have standards." The woman eyeballed Claire's hair, frowning. "And you have been slack in yours. You need a haircut."

"As you must have noticed from the pre-cut steak, I'm not allowed access to sharp objects. I am also pretty certain salon services are not part of Shepherd's philosophy."

Maryanne cocked a snarky eyebrow and purred, "But gourmet food is?"

Claire looked down at their finished plates, frowning.

Maryanne ran a pet down Claire's hair so she might show her the ragged ends. "You know, Claire, if it comes to girly things, you're going to have to outright tell him if you need something. Your Alpha seems dense as a boulder in regards to women."

Before she could stop it, the Omega burst into uproarious laughter. Hand pressed to her mouth, she imagined Shepherd's expression behind her, and laughed even harder. 

It took a minute before she could chide her cocky, smirking friend. "For fuck's sake, Maryanne. He's never going to let you come back now."

"Oh." Maryanne lounged back in her chair like a well-fed cat. "I think he will."

While Claire composed herself, Maryanne began her duty. "I have visited your Omegas. They are blissfully unaware of your situation."

And that was why Maryanne had come. Claire ran a hand through her hair, worried. "Do they think I killed myself?"

"Yes."

"That's good. They would fret if they thought I was still alive."

"Only because they'd fear you might cause them trouble."

"Maryanne … " Claire warned, "that is not fair."

With an arrogant smirk, Maryanne waggled a finger. "Life ain't fair, sugar pie."

"Life is what we make it."

"Says the woman with scraggly hair and chapped lips. You clearly have not been making yours that great."

Irritated that Maryanne thought to scold, Claire leaned forward and snarled, "And what the fuck is your point?"

"That after one good look at you, I can see you've been playing the victim instead of trying to live." There was no more frisky tone in Maryanne's voice, no more playful looks. "Yeah your situation sucks; yeah it's not what you wanted. But it is what it is. And I know you …  I can just see you stagnating instead of adapting, all stubborn to the point it hurts. He might not be Prince Charming, but it's safe here. He feeds you. You have it better than almost everyone else under the Dome."

Looking to be near the brink of ripping off her guest's head, Claire hissed, "Did he tell you to say that?"

"Do I look like I'd do anything he tells me to?"

"Of course you do." Narrowing her eyes, Claire mouthed, "You needed friends once …  that's your friend sitting in the corner now."

For a second Maryanne looked stricken, and then grew coldly composed. "You don't know what it was like down there, Claire. Even you would have done anything to get out. And no, he didn't tell me to say that. It's my own opinion."

"Well, from your life decisions, it's clear your judgment isn't always the best."

"That look in your eye," the blonde settled back, just as unhappy as her friend, "I know what it means. You know I'm right. And yeah, I've fucked up. I am what I am. But you still love me."

"I do, you cunt."

Sudden heavy warmth settled on Claire's nape. She tensed, unaware Shepherd had silently come up behind her. His thumb stroking her spine, he spoke, "That will be enough for today."

Claire stood to say goodbye, Shepherd maintaining his hold on her neck. "I'm sorry I snapped at you, Maryanne."

"You shouldn't be." Maryanne smiled softly. "You're allowed to be bitchy; you're pregnant. Before you know it, you'll also be fat."