Born to be Broken (Alpha's Claim 2)

If only everyone had owned such a luxury. Sizing up the woman, Corday asked, "You were alone in your bunker?"

Eyes downcast, Leslie nodded.

"That must have been hard."

"I didn't know my father had been hanged outside the Citadel. I didn't know my mother had been strung up beside him." Tears fell free down her high cheeks. "I'll never forgive myself for not trying to find them… I should have sought my uncle sooner."

Leading her to his worn sofa so the weeping woman might collect herself, Corday said, "Your parents would have wanted you to stay safe."

Rubbing her eyes, Leslie sighed. "I will do anything I can to help the resistance. Shepherd must be stopped."

A smile was offered in agreement. "And we will stop him, but we cannot make a move until we uncover the location of the contagion. That must be your priority."

"I'll do my best."

"We can start tonight."

"Of course. Just let me clean up first." Leslie glanced down at the fine coat that had grown grimy with their crossing, at the scarf, the mittens, and began to strip the layers away. "The scent of your mate leads me to believe you'll have some fresh clothes I can borrow."

Corday stood and moved to the kitchenette. "I don't have a mate."

Leslie smirked, coquettish and feminine. "I just assumed… Omega scent is on your coat… and in this room. But I can see it's a sore topic. Forget I said anything."

"No, it's okay." Gathering food so they might eat and get straight to work, Corday said, "Claire just sleeps here sometimes."

Leslie bit her lip, eyes sparkling. "And she sleeps in your coat?"

The charm worked, Corday was amused. "And sometimes in my coat, yes."

"I pegged you as a cuddler." Leslie stretched her arm across the back of the couch, looking over her shoulder and bantering as if they were friends. "She's a lucky female to have the attention of a man who fights for what he loves."

With a half-hearted smirk, Corday shook his head. "It's not like that. She couldn't even if she wanted to… or even if I wanted to. My friend was pair-bonded to a stranger, someone who mistreated her. Any kind of physical relationship is off the table for now."

"Pair-bonded?" The woman went deadpan, cold calculation slipping into her expression. "That is unthinkable."

Corday gave a sorry shrug. "So you see; it's not what you imagine."

Leslie shook her head, contemplating something monumental. "It cannot be the case that this stranger pair-bonded to her."

Corday brought over their rations, plopping down beside his guest. "I wish it wasn't. She's a wonderful girl whom I like very much… even though she's as infuriating as she is sweet."

Leslie's smile returned, her bearing once again playful. "What is she like, your Omega?"

Corday gave a small, caustic laugh. "Stubborn; determined to be a one woman resistance."

Patting his thigh, Leslie warned, "One woman can't stand alone against Shepherd's power."

"I hate to admit it, but she's done pretty well so far. She's accomplished more than we have."

Leslie inched closer, fascinated. "How did she stand up to Shepherd?"

There was little Corday could say. "By simply being Claire."

The beauty at his side was unsatisfied. "Be cautious of her, Corday. Don't allow yourself to foster feelings. If she is pair-bonded, as you say, then she could never commit to you."

"Yeah, well… she ain't exactly committed to her mate, either. He made that easy enough by allowing some psycho female to unhinge the pair-bond." Corday scoffed at the irony. "Well, now it seems he woke the beast. The Alpha monster and his lover unleashed a storm."

Leslie's voice grew lower. "What are you talking about?"

"Claire broke Shepherd's Omega prisoners out of Undercroft two nights ago." Corday grinned, proud to the bone. "I'm starting to think the bastard doesn't stand a chance."

"What of the woman? Shepherd's lover?"

Corday cut a glance at his guest, frowning deeply. "I didn't say it was Shepherd."

Leslie blinked, the picture of naiveté. "Not in so many words…"

"All I know is that the woman behaved like your run-of-the-mill sex offender." Reaching for his COMscreen, Corday grit his teeth and growled. "Sounds to me like Shepherd and the Alpha bitch are a match made in heaven—or maybe hell is more appropriate."Even with the popped collar of the leather jacket Claire had stolen from Maryanne, it felt as if the cold constantly cut right through her.

Cold was the only thing she could feel.

The Omegas were beginning to stir, the shuffling sound of movements soothing. Claire was glad to observe the group adjusting to freedom, even if it was in a reeking dump, even if she was not a welcome part of it. The women had maintained a respectful verbal distance, had asked very few questions, and had been as comforting as they were able.

That did not stop the troubled glances, though. To them, she was contaminated.