Born to be Broken (Alpha's Claim #2)(39)

Hard.

Looking for a distraction, Claire showered and cleaned up the paints, expecting him back at any second. But hours passed and she began to grow anxious, worried about what might or might not be going on in Thólos.

Was it an insurrection? Corday; had he found a way to end this?

Claire was on the edge of full-blown panic when the lock finally shifted. Gritty metal whined and the door swung inwards. She stopped her customary pacing, turning with tangled relief to face the largeness of her mate.





Chapter 15


The severed head of Senator Kantor still lay on the table, wrecked and unmoved from the place it had been dropped once Jules had pulled it from the pike outside the Citadel and brought the repugnant thing to Shepherd. There was no clean cut where neck had been severed from shoulders; just a torn stump of muscle and tendon. Around it lay a splatter of blood, leaking fluids, and the fingers of a man gripping the table so tightly his knuckles had gone white.

Before Shepherd had left, they'd argued, the Alpha's bulging arms crossed over his chest while he'd stared down his second-in-command. "You went against my orders and killed him while he was still useful to us?"

"No … "

Svana.

She had done this. She had murdered her uncle. Who else could move with the stealth to slip right under the noses of trained Followers? Who else would stick the head on a pike outside the Citadel as if to taunt not only Shepherd but the city she sought to destroy? Who else would gain by this?

It was a delicate thing, tormenting a population just enough to keep them miserable; Shepherd having exercised caution not to press millions past the point of desperation. Hanging a traitor as part of a public trial and execution spread the blame on all who watched. It made the population impotent and held Thólos responsible. This …  the Champion of the People and leader of the resistance's head had been mutilated for show, loudly broadcasting the wrong sentiment. 

That was what had earned Shepherd's anger, not Jules' accusations that Svana had done this to undermine them all.

Riots had already begun to bloom, Followers acting in mercenary fashion.

Even faced with this kind of proof of Svana's treachery, Shepherd did not see an imprudent mistake-yes, Svana could be difficult, but she would not break rank, not when she stood to gain the most from their great plan's success. If she had done this, it had been for good reason.

Jules had lost his temper, he'd smashed his fist against the table and roared.

Shepherd had only put a hand on his friend's shoulder, both as comfort and as warning. "Do not allow this complication to cloud your thinking. Patrols must be immediately increased to counter potential uprising, rioters dealt with quietly. We cannot continue shooting citizens in broad daylight, to do so would only encourage more unrest. I need you in the field."

Jules swallowed, lips tight. "She seeks to control the rebellion."

Squeezing the smaller man's shoulder, Shepherd growled, "Brother, if what you believe is true, it would only benefit our cause to have Svana at the helm of our enemy's forces."

There was some stinging truth in his leader's words. Had the woman in question been anyone but Svana, Jules may have even agreed. The Beta would not allow her to stir up animosity, having seen years of her manipulations and spite. He would not give her the pleasure; the best course was to follow orders. "Understood."

Shepherd had left him; to oversee the sedation of potential riots, to be seen in the Citadel.

Alone, for an hour, Jules crouched, eye level with the severed head of Senator Kantor.

Up close, Kantor's eyes displayed the hazy film of developing cataracts. Between lids half drooping, retinas mismatched in the direction they pointed, and the gaping mouth, the Alpha finally looked as monstrous on the outside as Jules knew he'd been on the inside.

The Champion of the People …  had been the vilest of men.

Jules' lips parted and from his mouth flowed malice. "You murdered my children. You took my Rebecca from me."

He spat fully across the corpse's bloodied face.

"And I have watched you be lauded and adored for a decade. I have watched you lie and pollute, and I have bided my time so that you might know true suffering." Raw fury twisted through Jules's hiss. "Your death was mine, and I will make her pay for stealing my vengeance. Svana will bleed for this."



To be continued …  Reborn, Book 3 of the Alpha's Claim series available Summer 2016 from Blushing Books. Please keep reading for a sample from the first chapter …





Reborn: Alpha's Claim Book 3


Chapter 1

Collar of his coat flipped up to protect his neck from the cold, Shepherd returned at last from being called away by his soldiers. He found his mate nervous, the acrid scent of Omega fear spoiling the air. But, mostly, she was expectant and blissfully unaware of just what was going on above ground.

And he would never tell her.

Shepherd made no move to approach the panicky woman, he simply stood as Claire looked him over from boots to skull. The Omega searched out any hint of what had called him from her, looking for blood splatter, or the swelling of his knuckles, relieved when she found nothing out of the ordinary.

She was angry, but far more relieved that he'd returned seeming normal.

When Claire stepped forward to touch him, to initiate what had to be done, Shepherd spoke, "You are hungry, little one. We will eat first."

We will eat first?

Shepherd did not go to the door to fetch food, instead, he went to where he stored his clothing and began pulling off his coat, armor, and boots. Bunched muscles flexed, his shirt pulled over his head, he handed it to her and Claire took it and put it, as he expected, in her nest.




 

 

Distracted by the task, Claire chewed her lip, taking time to arrange the scented fabric and remove something old to be washed.

A knock sounded, Shepherd barked for the visitor to enter.

Jules came in with their food, set it down and left in seconds-the trivial familiarity he shared with Claire completely concealed by his indifference. She found it minorly amusing, especially the way Shepherd shifted to put his body between her and the Beta.

When the door closed, Claire found it very difficult to suppress a snort.

"What is funny?" the male grunted, narrowing his eyes.

"You are funny, Shepherd." Claire arranged herself at the table. "That man has brought me meals dozens of times when you are not here-so you must trust him. Yet there you are, glaring at him as if he were not your friend. You have serious issues..."

Shepherd merely grunted in answer. Dressed only in trousers, he came to the table. "It is a natural reaction for an Alpha to guard his Omega from dangerous men."

But not dangerous women …

Glancing at the food, Claire felt oddly disillusioned. This, the meal, was a show, a show where she was not spectator but entertainer. She was expected to perform for the man lowering himself into the seat across from her. Reminding herself their agreement only required she initiate sex, she picked up her fork and chose not to argue. Instead, she focused on the beautiful dinner, the male mirroring her movements, and tasting the food.

It seemed awkward, the silence, and out of habit and good manners, Claire found herself wanting to make small talk, knowing it would be both pointless and something Shepherd would not respond to.

Except he began it. "I have been told this is one of your chef's most famous dishes."

Cocking a brow, Claire looked up from the steamed fish and nodded, momentarily confused. "My chef? You do not eat his cooking?"

"Her cooking, and no."

That seemed strange. "What do you normally eat?"

"What my men eat. Communal food amongst those who've endured the Undercroft bears an importance I do not expect you to understand or submit to."

There were a great many things about the man she didn't understand.

Seeing that the woman was puzzled and growing tense, he offered a modicum of explanation. "After years of subsisting on mold, our digestive tracts have altered. Followers' diets must be bland and the required nutritional additives have an unpleasant taste and smell. The bulk of my meal was consumed before I returned to you. This is …  supplementary."

Was that why he never ate in her presence? She looked at the steamed fish. "Well, considering all your other physical attributes, I think it's only fair you have one restriction." 

The male smirked, gratified. "Physical attributes?"

"You are very tall," Claire quipped flatly, taking another bite, not at all interested in padding the Alpha's ego.

A foot bumped hers under the table. "List another attribute."

Dodging Alpha pride was something Claire had years of experience with. "You are bald. It must save time not combing your hair."

Narrowed eyes matched his agitated reply. "I shave my head."

Claire sneered, pleased her slight had pricked him, and took another bite of dinner.

"You are playing with me, little one," he added, intrigued, once he saw her mischievous expression.

Gesturing with her fork, she explained, "You're arrogant enough. I am not going to feed that beast."

Shepherd countered, his own evil smirk appearing. "You will later. When I move inside you tonight, you will hum about my prowess and strength …  You will want to say all those things and more."