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Was she trying to seduce Corday, to flaunt her conquest?

Never before in his life had Shepherd struggled with so many questions Answers had always been obvious, his course steadfast

Now he knew he had to greatly alter the plan He had to find the contagion and reatest advantage, he could reason with his beloved, htened

Their partnership, their rich history, need not be tarnished by his natural devotion to such a pleasing mate

Reassured, Shepherd read the latest update again There was so Just as Claire had explained; the once disposable minion, Maryanne Cauley, was fond of his mate

In Shepherd's experience, Maryanne Cauley was very easy to control, a creature inundated in self-preservation Shepherd could use her again, augment Jules's initial plan to win more than just Claire's complacence She could be a valuable tool, and the selfish Alpha feht price

As Shepherd's plot developed, Claire grew restless in her drea the furroeen the Oa's brows until it softened

Before all could be ht, there was a list of issues that had to be rens of the affection she had displayed before their recent… co hours there were no activities of nesting, not like before Nored, but she no longer touched her belly like she should—never acknowledged the child he'd placed in her woh it was the cause of her almost constant nausea Only in her sleep would her hand rest above the baby, and even then she looked… troubled

Claire also was incredibly disinterested in being touched, yet if he initiated, highly responsive to sex

They were at square one

Shepherd kept her in a constant state of the h, took her so many times her eyes rees of estrous It was necessary to keep her ed, and it soothed her But she no longer whispered or called out his naer for pleasure

Pure escapism…

When the sleeping woman quieted, Shepherd went back to the latest reports With only eight weeks before transport would carry those who'd chosen loyalty to his cause to seize Greth Doe and title would place her as the savior queen of what all intel confirhly repressed population Transition would be relatively seamless Of course, there would be turime was decimated, but Shepherd had a worthy supply of Followers to raise his standard, and the Greth govern down upon them

Best of all, as Shepherd thrived, as he gave Claire the things that would bring her happiness, nothing but corpses and rot would be left in a place he hated with all his heart