Page 58 of Mask and the Magnolia

”And you’re being forced to bond with him?”

Another nod.

”But you want nothing to do with him?”

”Yes,” I whisper. “I hate him so much.”

Korvin’s eyes flash as he pushes Desmond out of the way. “Is he the same motherfucker who put his hands on you?”

”He is.” My voice is so small, so quiet in response.

Partially because I’m embarrassed I let him touch me at all let alone like that. Mostly because admitting that these two are my scent matches, my mates that fate has thrown at me, it’s like some sort of cloud lifted and now I can feel everything I was probably supposed to all along. Right now I’m feeling like they’re going to reject me or something because of Camden.

”Magnolia. Our sweet little flower.” Desmond forces the words from his lips as the two of them nearly start vibrating in place. “I would suggest you walk out of this room right now, as casually as possible, and leave us in here until we come to you, okay?”

”But I don’t want to go. I want to talk about this. It’s going to give me so much anxiety if I walk out that door with the two of you mad at me.” Another truth I wasn’t expecting to come flying out of my mouth, but here we are. “I can’t do that. I’ll have another panic attack and probably have to leave and?—“

”We aren’t mad at you,” Korvin grits out. “Promise. That’s not what’s happening.”

I look at Desmond, who nods. “It’s not, Maggie, but you really need to leave us for a while, okay?”

I’m not entirely convinced of that but I can see how sincere they are, and that’s the only reason I do as they ask.

Maybe I can hit Isaak’s shower before my session, which is technically another reason I leave the storage closet and close the door behind me. Then jump about ten feet in the air as a loud crash comes from behind the door I just closed. A second has me scurrying away. I don’t need to get caught by whatever is going on in there, it could raise questions. Especially since it's the second time I’ve been alone with an alpha in that room.

I listen outside Isaak’s office briefly, thankful Calix’s session is over, then knock as I push inside.

“Ms. Reynolds,” Isaak says with a smile as he looks up from his desk. “How are you this…” His nose scrunches up as he gets to his feet. “How are you doing this…” He shakes his head and rounds his desk, his behavior so odd I stand there like an idiot watching him. “This morning.”

Isaak walks right up to me, the puzzled stink face unchanging and as he circles me like a buzzard over its next meal, I feel myself on the verge of snapping.

”Dr. Lowe, is everything okay?”

He shakes his head as he does another lap. “Isaak.”

My cheeks heat and I bite my bottom lip. “Isaak. Is everything okay?”

”No,” he grunts as he leans toward me. “No, I don’t think it is.”

I frown as he very obviouslysniffs me, getting closer with each revolution right up until his nose is almost buried in the side of my neck.

“Isaak,” I say breathily, his breath fanning across my cheek as he lifts his head. “What are you?—“

“You stink.”

My spine immediately stiffens and I step away from him.

I know I stink, my alphas know I stink, but I don’t need my mentor who I’m very attracted to acting like he wants to claim me or some bullshit only to insult me instead.

Not today.

”Fine!” I snap as I drop my bag on the floor and kick off my boots. “If I smell so terrible, I guess I better go take a goddamn shower!”

Pushing Isaak out of the way, I give him my back as I march toward his bathroom. I yank my socks off and throw them before I reach behind me and unzip my skirt. That falls to the floor as I keep stomping my way to that stall, then I yank my sweater up over my head and whip it across the room.

Throwing open the door, I stop and turn toward him, Isaak’s jaw practically on the floor over my behavior. “Better find me some scrubs, Dr. Lowe, otherwise I’ll be doing our next session in nothing but a fucking towel and that’s only if I can get the damn thing to close over these!”

I point to my tits, which are not small, then face the door again, tug my bra off and hang it on the knob before I slam that thing so hard I hope they heard it all the way down on the main floor.