Page 68 of Born to be Broken

Claire’s soft smile was gently reprimanding. “That’s easy for you to say, Alpha. If you draw attention, being as pretty as you are, you don’t have to worry about potential complications.”

Yawning, Maryanne shrugged. “That is just silly, Claire—and paranoid. It’s just lipstick. And I guess you don’t have to worry about that anymore. Ain’t no one gonna to be messing with Shepherd’s old lady.”

Green eyes grew sad. “That’s not what I hear is going on outside…”

“What do you mean?”

A guilt-ridden voice confessed, “Women who look like me… because of my flyer.”

“You told her about that?” Maryanne snarled at the hostile male watching from the corner. “What is wrong with you?”

Claire could not see his reaction to her friend’s outburst, but knew it couldn’t be good. She interjected, “I am not a child, Maryanne. I asked, and he told me the truth.”

Maryanne had her own harsh take on things. “None of that was your fault, you know. I thought the flyer was pretty ballsy, but you’ve got to get it through your thick skull, girl. Thólos is a bad place full of bad people.”

“People can change,” Claire breathed, knowing it had to be true.

Maryanne cocked a brow and made a hard point. “Do you think Shepherd can change?”

The Omega tilted her head, thinking about it before looking over her shoulder. Her eyes met Shepherd’s.

He glanced down at her stained lips, seemingly intrigued.

Standing, she walked, careless of her newly lacquered toes, and went to stand before the male. So many contradictory thoughts were running through her head. His behavior towards her had changed, was far more palatable, but all of that could easily be summed up as an insincere strategy to gain her affection. After all, she was certain there had been no change in him outside their den or in his dealings with Thólos.

When her small hand reached up and the female cupped his cheek, Shepherd allowed it, unmoving as she stood between his spread legs. His silver eyes shone, focused and pleased with her attention in front of the Alpha female.

Claire pulled in a breath as if to speak, then hesitated, pouting her red lips until he purred and the back of his warm fingers stroked over her belly.

The question was for herself. “Could Shepherd change?”

It was all there in her expression—how badly she wished he could change. How hard she had tried to affect something in him. Whispering, her voice as soft as the fingertips that touched the flesh of his cheek, Claire asked, “Could you change?”

A warm, large hand enclosed hers, gently removing her touch from his face, Shepherd admonished, “You are neglecting your guest, little one.” Breathing, blinking out of her trance, Claire took a step back as the male pressed some small scissors into her hand. “I have given her permission to cut your hair, should you wish it.”

Looking down at the little instrument, Claire teased Maryanne. “I don’t trust her with these. Everything will come out cockeyed.”

From across the room, the woman blurted, “How hard could it be?”

Claire smirked, thinking of Maryanne’s godawful attempt ten years prior. “That’s what you said last time, and may I remind you, those terrible bangs took over two years to grow out.”

She moved back to Maryanne and let the blonde trim her hair, fairly certain it would be terrible, and honestly not caring at all if it was. The only thing about the interlude Claire cared about was the COMscreen Maryanne produced, full of photos of the Omegas, and even one of Corday, who was smiling his dimpled grin as he spoke to whoever was just outside the frame. On the smallest finger of his hand sat her gold ring, diminutive, but there.

Corday still had faith in her.

Making sure not to look at him too long, Claire set the COMscreen down and remained still as Maryanne snipped.

When the cut was over, dark hair tousled, Maryanne assured in a playfully thick accent, “Very beautiful.”

Handing her a pocket mirror, she frowned when Claire pressed it back, stating, “I don’t need to see.”

Maryanne shoved it back. “It’s not bad, Claire. Take a look.”

“I’m sure you did fine.”

Maryanne knew what was going on, could see through the cracks in her old friend’s mask.

Holding the mirror up, making a point, she snarled once the Omega turned her head away. “What is wrong with you?”