Page 33 of Mask and the Magnolia

I think I’ve hated him my entire life and when I was told he was going to be my mate, I didn’t believe it. I thought it was a sick joke.

I should have known better.

Especially when I finally saw the entire physical contract with every detail I’ve had thrown in my face spelled out for me.

But that’s what it took for me to start fighting back. Quietly and behind the scenes. I began scouring that contract for a wayout, one I thought I found when I was accepted into the program at the asylum.

I was strong in my resolve, determined to do what I had to do, but the more time that goes by, the less hopeful I feel. Right now, I feel fucking hopeless.

Hopeless and scared.

I’m not sure I can keep fighting.

It doesn’t feel like I have reason to.

If Camden is going to escalate, if he’s going to start making threats that I know he can follow through with, why am I even trying?

The shuttle slows as we get close to Blackhurst Ridge, and it’s all I can do to muffle the sob that’s about to break free from my chest. I pull my hands into my sleeves and quickly wipe at the tear stains, attempting to remove the mascara bleeding down my cheeks. I just need to get to Ward C and find a place to clean myself up, then I’ll be fine. As fine as I can be.

Problem is, there isn’t really any place to hide up there.

Intentionally, we don’t need murderers hiding from the staff, but the architect didn’t consider sobbing omegas who were doomed to a fate worse than death and reminded of it daily when they drew up the blueprints.

Not that they had to, it just would have been nice.

I move through security as quickly as possible, all but racing past everyone who says hello in favor of hitting the elevators as fast as I can. Once the doors open, I rush toward the nurse’s station, grateful that there’s no one there to greet me but when I try to go toward Isaak’s office, I stop dead in my tracks.

My father is standing there with Nurse Hubbard, the two barking god only know what at the rest of the nurses and guards.

No.

No, no, no. I can’t do this right now. There is no way I can deal with whatever is happening in that hallway, or confrontingthe Dean. Not when he knows I just came from breakfast with Camden and probably what happened when I left.

No, this can’t happen right now.

Which is why I spin on my heel and face the resident’s room, my eyes pinging around the hall as if there is anywhere down that way for me to hide.

There isn’t.

Not unless I want to bunk with one of the Rooker boys, or whoever else might be in their room.

They don’t scare me, not really, but I have no idea what would happen if I stormed into their space bawling and terrified. I’d hate that if it happened to me, and these men deserve their privacy as well as the dignity that comes with it.

Which leaves the common areas.

I turn toward the community living room, ignoring the sheet covered furniture and unmounted TV, then my eyes dart down the hall behind it.

That was supposed to house more residents.

Another eight rooms for more alphas to rehabilitate but only if Dr. Lowe is successful. Until then, those rooms remain open and the hall will house things like a pool table and other recreational activities to keep the men from going stir crazy.

But I can’t hide down there, either, since it’s meant for them and has to be as visible as possible.

My gaze shifts to the group my father is now screaming at before it swings back in front of me.

There’s an emergency exit, one that doubles as a back entrance and goes directly outside, but that won’t work for me since I need to be here. Not just for the sake of my official title as ‘doctor’, either.

I start to panic as I search for somewhere to go, my anxiety making it harder to keep my tears at bay and focus, and justwhen I’m seconds from collapsing on the floor and hoping I blend in with the tile, I see the storage closet.