Page 40 of Specter Bred

Worse, I hated that somehow, over the last few weeks, the stupid beta had become the one person I actually cared about. And he had lied to me. So instead of answering honestly, I crossed my arms.

"I have bigger things to worry about than your housing assignment."

His shoulders slumped.

"Maeve—"

"Move."

"No."

My eye twitched.

The man actually smiled, but not a smug smile or a cocky smile. A nervous smile lined his face, the expression of someone who knew they were making a terrible decision and had committed to it regardless.

"Not until you tell me what's really bothering you."

I stared at him.

He stared back.

The big oaf was using his entire body to block the doorway. Like some kind of golden retriever that had mistaken itself for a guard dog. If he stood there for one more second, I was going to put him through the nearest wall.

"Hayes."

"Maeve."

"Move."

"Again, no."

I took another step forward.

"Last warning."

His smile faltered, and for the first time, genuine concern crossed his face. Even so, he didn't fucking move.

"Maeve–"

I lunged.

His eyes widened.

"Oh, shit."

We crashed into the wall hard enough to shake the framed safety posters hanging beside us.

"What the hell, Firecracker?" he laughed, catching my wrists before I could get a clean hold.

"You asked for it."

"I asked to talk!"

"Same thing."

We grappled down the hallway, bumping into walls and doorframes as Hayes desperately tried to keep me from throwing him on the ground. The irritating part was that he was actually holding his own. Every time I thought I had leverage, he somehow managed to recover it.

The fight spilled into the weight room, which was thankfully empty.