Page 60 of Mask and the Magnolia

Security is a little tighter outside; cameras, and guards with rifles, a couple with dogs who regularly patrol the grounds, but since Calix has been out before, he knows where everything is and when everything happens.

And he laid it out beautifully for us.

He even drew a map to get us to the apartments off campus.

Yes, Desmond and I broke out of the asylum so we could go find Magnolia.

We already knew how to get out, so why not?

We devised a plan, executed it without issue, and even though we aren’t quite there, the closer we get to our girl, the better I feel.

Save for when Desmond pinches my ass.

If we hadn’t been in the situation we were in, meaning if we weren’t locked up for multiple felonies, I probably would have gotten out and gone straight to kill that smarmy fuck. I might still, but getting to Maggie will help.

I just need to see her and know for sure that she’s not with someone else. Not because I don’t trust her, but because I willliterally destroy anyone who thinks they can take what belongs to us and judging by the handprint on her neck, that’s exactly what fucking Camden Blackhurst thinks.

I wouldn’t mind having a go at Dean Reynolds, either. Not after finding out he’s forcing a bond between his daughter and a gigantic pile of horse shit. What kind of father does that?

Slowing down a little, I roll my eyes.

Mine did. Both of my parents were going to put Maisie through something similar and they didn’t even think twice about it. I shouldn’t be surprised there are other people out there who think like that. Hell, we were at a fucking ranch that bred omegas when all of that came to light. Apparently there are a lot of fucking people like that.

”Tisk, tisk, Vin.”

Desmond pinches my ass again and I shoot straight up, spin around and grab him by the throat then back him into the nearest tree. “I told you to stop.”

”And I told you to quit thinking about whatever the hell you’re thinking about because it’s giving all the bad vibes. Then again.” His brow arches as he lifts his hands, one holding my wrist while the other covers the one at his throat. “I like this reaction so maybe I shouldn’t complain.”

I huff in his face and let go. “We’re wasting time.”

”Sure.” Des nods. “Absolutely. Only so many hours before we have to be back for morning rounds.”

We will be.

Doesn’t matter how many hours there are, we’ll be back before anyone knows we were gone. We aren’t trying to escape forever, we won’t see the rest of our pack if we do.

I pause as that thought echoes through my mind.

Huh. It shouldn’t surprise me that I put that terminology to it, but I haven’t really before, and I think part of that is becauseit won’t feel like we are a pack until we find a way to be one. At least, that’s where I was before right now.

Weird.

It’s true, though.

Des and Maggie, Isaak and Calix. They’re mine, I have every intention of claiming everyone, and I guess that means they’re my pack.

”Got ya!” Des shouts as he smacks me on the ass hard, then proceeds to take off running through the woods. Cackling like an idiot, just asking for us to get caught.

Not if I catch him first.

I track him for a moment, watching that crazy asshat leap over fallen tree trunks and duck under low hanging branches. He zig zags as if that’s going to make a difference but it won’t.

Desmond just turned me into a predator, and that means he is my prey.

Taking off in a sprint, I follow his orange jumpsuit with my eyes, anticipating his moves while planning my own. I go to the left and wide, giving him the illusion of being farther ahead of me than he is, letting him get comfortable with this being more of a race than a chase.

That’s what this is now.