Page 131 of Specter Bred

Together...

If either lock engaged too early, they wouldn't complement one another. They'd fight. My anchor would pull inward while his knot expanded outward, turning two perfectly natural instincts into something potentially dangerous.

Which was exactly why I couldn't stop thinking about trying it.

Last night was my first taste of an alpha's knot.

I'd stubbornly tried to work my jaw open wide enough to take Grizzly's, treating it like every other challenge that crossed my path. Graves had only chuckled and rested his hands on my shoulders, pushing me back gently until my mouth slipped free.

"Maeve," he'd said, amusement warming his deep voice, "I know your solution to everything is to charge straight at it, and as much as I'd love to watch you try, you're not taking my knot down your throat tonight."

I scowled.

His fingers ‌found my chin, tilting my face back toward his as his thumb traced the line of my jaw.

"Don't worry," he murmured, eyes fixated on my mouth. "Your alpha instructor will teach you."

Before I could fire back with a smartass comment, his hand slid behind my head, steadying me as he drew me back toward him. His cock surged forward, spearing my lips. And then his hips moved, powerful and sure, using my mouth and throat in a way that made it very clear he was in charge.

Over his shoulder, he shot Hayes a crooked smirk.

"Guess I'll also have to teach the pup how to last longer than thirty seconds."

Hayes, still sprawled across his cot trying to catch his breath, had groaned loud enough to make me let out a muffled laugh.

Goosebumps erupted across my skin as I recounted the way Graves tasted, spilling down my throat. So masculine and raw.

Now, I leaned closer, needing another breath of Hayes's familiar scent to steady myself.

"You know," Hayes mumbled, his voice rough with sleep, "I've had women wake me up in a lot of different ways..."

One blue eye cracked open.

"But getting sniffed is a first, Firecracker."

I jerked back, heat creeping up my neck.

"It's an alpha thing..." I muttered.

"Suuure it is," he drawled with a sleepy chuckle.

I answered by grabbing one of his boots and chucking it at his chest.

"Oof!" He caught it against his ribs and looked at me in mock offense. "What was that for?"

"You were pretending to be asleep."

"I was enjoying the attention," he said, a grin spreading across his face. "Can't blame a guy for it."

I rolled my eyes, grabbed my clothes, and got dressed while he lay there chuckling to himself.

By the time I climbed down the rope, the sun had already cleared the horizon. Only faint streaks of pink still lingered against the morning sky.

It had been a long time since I'd slept past dawn.

The clearing below the tower was quiet, too quiet.

I glanced around, wondering where Grizzly had disappeared to. As if the thought had summoned him, brush at the edge of the clearing rustled, branches bowing beneath the weight of something large moving through them.