Page 75 of Specter Bred

My hands curled into fists.

"What the hell does that mean?!"

"You think this is about me."

His voice remained calm and controlled, which only made me angrier.

"You still think you're here to prove something to me."

I opened my mouth, but he cut me off.

"You're not."

The words landed harder than I wanted them to.

"The day you stop worrying about whether I think you belong here," Graves said, "is the day you'll start acting like someone who actually does."

Silence stretched between us.

"Get some sleep, Archer."

Then he turned away, dismissing me casually as if he hadn't just ripped me apart from the inside out. I stood there for another second before spinning on my heel and stalking toward the barracks. I heard Sammy call after me, but I didn't look back.

Instead, I headed straight for the showers, desperate to rinse the smell of Graves from my skin. His scent clung to everything. It was always there now. The training field, the guy equipment, my clothes, even my dorm room. His alpha scent was so strong and dominant that just being around him was enough for it to transfer.

I hated it!

I hated him and his stupid scent.

But mostly, I hated that, despite everything, I still wanted his respect more than anything. Even if I had been telling myself his opinion of me didn't matter.

Steam quickly filled the shower room as hot water pounded against my sore muscles. I tipped my head back and closed my eyes.

You spend so much time trying to prove other people wrong, you forget to prove you're right.

His words replayed over and over in my head.

What the fuck did he want from me?!

I'd done everything he'd asked. So why did it still feel like I was failing?

I stayed in the shower just long enough for the hot water to loosen my sore muscles, not lingering a second longer than necessary. Wrapping a towel around myself, I carried my sweat-soaked uniform back to the dorm. I'd washed the scent of Grizzly from my skin, but not from my clothes. It still clung to the fabric, lingering, suffocating, and strong enough to put me on edge.

I needed to be free of him tonight.

My uniform went straight into a laundry sack. I yanked the drawstring tight, sealing it shut, trying to keep his scent trapped inside. Only when it was gone did I take a deep breath.

Then I noticed Hayes sitting on the edge of his bunk.

He wasn't smiling like usual. Rather, he was watching me with an expression that looked suspiciously like concern.

"Maeve—" he started.

"Don't," I barked.

Hayes closed his mouth.

I busied myself with digging through my locker, refusing to look at him.