Page 92 of Specter Bred

It would strengthen one.

Still, I needed to be sure before moving them forward.

Hayes shifted nervously in his chair.

"We still speaking freely, sir?"

"That depends."

He rubbed the back of his neck.

"Well... I don’t got alpha senses or fancy instincts, but even I can see what’s going on between you and Archer."

A growl rose low in my chest.

What the fuck was he talking about?

Hayes went pale.

"Ah, hell... too far?" he said with a nervous laugh. "Thought we were being honest."

"Keep talking, farm boy," I said with a look that told him to tread carefully.

"You watch her."

"And?"

"And she watches you right back."

"I watch all my recruits."

He shook his head.

"Not the way you watch her."

My expression was a warning, but he kept going anyway. Brave bastard.

"You were waiting for her at the range."

"Coincidence."

He snorted before saying, "Sureeee."

I glared as he pressed on.

"You keep finding reasons to keep her close. Extra drills. Extra assignments. And when Redwood shoved her..." He leaned forward. "You got there fast. Too fast."

My brow furled.

"You weren’t passing by, sir. You were already there. Listening. Watching."

He was growing more confident now, bolder in his words.

"You wanna protect her."

"That’s absurd," I snapped. "Maeve can handle herself. She doesn't need protection."

"I know she can," his voice softened. "But that doesn't mean you stop wanting to protect someone. I know the feeling."