Page 85 of Mask and the Magnolia

I let people hurt me, and I’d turn around and give that pain to someone else.

That’s the only kind of smarts I have.

I can hurt people before they even know they’re in danger.

Korvin doesn't need that. He’s smart and strong, he’s beautiful.

Just like the others.

He wants them.

They belong to Korvin.

I’m nothing like them, and just because he’s nice to me doesn’t mean anything other than maybe he feels sorry for me. But that’s enough for me because I just want to be close to him. If I keep him happy, he might let me stay that way.

But I don’t know what I did to upset him.

Korvin looks in my direction, those gray eyes breaking from the common area as they shift to me and I drop my gaze.

It’s a lot to look directly at him. It’s a lot to make eye contact with Korvin or Des.

I actually have a really hard time with that anyway but guys like them make it even harder.

I start scratching at the scar on my wrist, one of the biggest ones I have, as I toe the cracks in the title floor.

“Calix,” Korvin grunts, and I freeze.

Whenever he says my name, my stomach twists in knots. The good kind of knots, I think, but that’s what happens.

“I told you I wasn’t upset with you.”

I nod and go back to itching.

He’s said it several times but I’m struggling to believe it. If I didn’t do anything wrong, why is Korvin so mad?

There's no reason for him to be upset with anyone else, even if things haven’t played out the way he wants. He wouldn’t get upset with them.

He doesn’t talk to the other alphas, or any of the staff unless he has to. I doubt he gives enough of a shit about them to be anything other than indifferent.

That just leaves me.

“Let’s go.”

My head jerks up and I blink repeatedly as Korvin walks by me with purpose in his steps. I didn’t even hear him stop the treadmill.

“Sure.” I hurry to catch up, not wanting to leave him waiting or miss my chance to talk to him.

I need to or else I’m going to drive myself crazy over this.

He pulls the storage closet door open and stops, watching me closely until I’m inside and as soon as he shuts it, the words rush out of me in a jumbled mess.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what I did, and I know you keep saying I didn’t do anything but you’re mad or upset or something and I’m the only person it makes sense for you to be upset with.” I spin around, picking at my scar while I start to pace. “I just want to know what I did so I can fix it. I don’t want you to be upset with me, I’m not sure I can handle much more of it. I don’t like feeling this way, like I disappointed you or whatever and I?—“

“Calix,” Korvin says softly as he takes a few steps toward me. “Stop.”

“Moving? Or talking?” I swallow hard. “How about I just do both.”

His lips curl into a small grin as he shakes his head. “That works.”