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He rejoined the others without incident, and led the charge when they were escorted onto Ward C, but I’d been racing through the other two floors praying my time at this institution wasn’t over before it began, and I barely made it on time to accompany them.

That wasn’t all, though.

I was flustered over that, yes, but it wasn’t the only reason.

No, I was a complete disaster when I met Magnolia because, for the first time in my entire life, I perfumed in public.

Hopping into line with Blackhurst Ridge’s newest arrivals as their extremely confident and capable doctor, trying to exude all of the class and sophistication I could muster, it was all undone by that one uncontrollable act.

I took my blockers and heat suppressants that morning, used the cologne with scent dampening properties on top of it, and I still managed to do something I never have before, quickly followed by something I never planned on doing.

Whatever triggered me was so intense, so incredibly strong that I had to go directly to my office, lock the door, and jerk off in my private bathroom because the amount of slick I started to produce was going to be a huge problem, and I wasn’t going to stop it without some kind of release. I even had to change my clothes.

Seconds after I did that, Magnolia was brought in to meet me, and I swear it almost happened again.

It didn’t, thank god, probably because she’s an omega like me, but I don’t know what the hell happened that morning, and it almost ruined my fucking career.

Since then, I’ve had such a strong and stupid reaction to my intern that it’s made me paranoid for a repeat performance, but I’ve chalked it up to being so incredibly attracted to her when I’ve gone my entire life not giving one single shit about anything like that.

Male, female, alpha, omega, or beta. No one has moved my meter before Magnolia Reynolds, and I can only hope that it passes quickly for both of our sake.

Finally getting a grip, I relax my position and motion toward the chair across from me. “I have the files for us to review this morning. We should be able to get through them by lunch, then I thought we could put together some sort of schedule for…”

I watch in horror as Magnolia turns and grabs the chair I pointed to, her skirt lifting just enough when she bends at the waist to reveal tattoos on the backs of both thighs.

She begins dragging the wingback around my desk, her rather perfect ass aimed right at me while she does, and I know without a doubt, I am so incredibly fucked.

We’re both omegas. She’s the daughter of my boss, my intern for fuck’s sake, a student and a coworker.

Not to mention she’s also eleven years younger than me.

And yet, I would happily bend her over this desk and do unspeakable things to her the second I had any indication she wanted that, consequences be damned.

This is going to be the longest, and possibly the final, year of my life.

“Okay, so, we’ll start with Bishop Rooker,” Magnolia says as she reaches across me to position his file far left. “Ivan Sokolov next. Then Lochlan Rooker, Desmond Hawthorne, and we’ll round out the week with Korvin Severe.”

Nodding, I hold my breath until she moves beside me then subtly exhale as soon as she does. “You think separating the brothers’ individual therapy sessions is smart?”

I know she does, I do as well, but I need to make sure I’m not just doing my job as their psychiatrist. I’m Magnolia’s teacher and regardless of what happens when we’re together, I also have a responsibility to do that part of my job.

“I do.” She doesn’t look at me, just leans in again as those bright blue eyes move from one mugshot to the next.

“I know they’re going to be able to interact regularly as soon as everything is finalized, but if their sessions were back to back, I think we’d see more of their intentional confusion and lies.

After looking through the notes from the prison therapist, they tried more frequently when they were scheduled that way, and it seemed to be problematic for their treatment. ”

So bright.

Magnolia is so bright, she’s observant, and she’s already a natural when it comes to this.

Granted, we haven’t seen any of the residents yet, and I haven’t witnessed her interacting with them, but working on the schedule and deciding on a loose treatment plan for each of the men here has shown me that her instincts are in line with mine.

“What about Calix St. James?”

I blink a few times, slowly tearing my eyes away from her delicate fingers to look at the sixth file on my desk. “What about him?”

“Well,” Magnolia says with a curious tone. “We need to add him into the schedule.”

“Mhm,” I mumble, opening the brown folder as I bring it forward.

She’s not wrong, we do need to plan time for his individual sessions, but he wasn’t part of the outline Dolly gave me.

Calix is a beta, one with a body count that rivals a few of our newest residents, he had a serious penchant for fire, and currently holds the record for the longest residing beta at Blackhurst Ridge.

From what I gathered, almost anyone who isn’t an alpha ends up one of three ways once they’re brought here; transferred to a different facility, placed on permanent medical leave, or dead.

Mr. St. James is the exception to that, and it’s had me intrigued.

Especially when they decided to put him on the third floor and include him in our treatment.

Having a beta living amongst five of the most dangerous alphas in Illinois seems like a death sentence, but he’s already up here, and we’re just going to have to see what happens.

It could validate everything I’m trying to do, could prove the hypothesis I’ve been working on for years, or…

it could go horribly wrong and everyone dies.

Which is a very real possibility anyway, throwing him in the mix could simply speed things up.

“I suppose we could double up on Wednesday.” I set the file down and make room for the calendar. “Group on Monday and Friday, two sessions on Wednesday. I don’t see why that couldn’t work.”

“And since he doesn’t know anyone, his session won’t hold any bearing on Lochlan’s, and vice versa.”

“True.” I nod as I finish penciling him in. “Are we satisfied, then?”

Magnolia leans in close again, her face inches from mine while she looks at my desk calendar, and it takes everything in me not to inhale her scent. I swear to god I’m reacting to her similarly to the way an alpha would and I have no idea why.

“I think this will work.” She sits back in her chair with a sigh. “I know that was a lot, between treatments and scheduling, but is that really all we’re going to do today?”

I can’t help but smile a little as I turn to face her. “It is.”

“And we aren’t going to get into individual sessions until next week?”

“I’m afraid not. I think it’s going to be important for the new residents to get a feel for their surroundings and settle in some before we start diving into things. This is drastically different from what they’re used to.”

“I know.” Magnolia gets to her feet then starts moving the wingback around the desk to where it was when she came in. “And it’ll be important to see how they do this first week before therapy starts, I guess I’m just excited.”

“I am as well, but as you said, there is a level of importance that comes with doing things this way. Testing patience and boundaries, acclimating after such a big transition. All rather critical but it won’t be long before we’re diving in feet first.”

She looks at me just as I settle back against my chair, those blue eyes bright with the excitement she referred to. “Are you leaving campus for dinner?”

I frown. “Pardon?”

“It’s about that time,” she says with a smile. “I was going to possibly head into town for something to eat and thought?—“

“No,” I nearly bark like an asshole before changing my tone. “I appreciate the offer, but no. I’m still moving in and planned to have something sent up while I did so.”

“Sure. Right. That was silly. Of course you’re busy.” She avoids looking at me as she quickly gathers her things, my stomach twisting over the obvious change in her demeanor. “I have a lot to do, too. Unpacking. Cleaning.”

I get to my feet as Magnolia moves toward the door. “Ms. Reynolds, I?—“

“It’s probably against the rules or something, anyway. Have a good night, Dr. Lowe. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Then she slips out of my office and I’m left standing there like an idiot, wondering how the hell I’m going to navigate this without breaking the very rules I’ve lived by my entire life, just so I can share one intimate, unguarded moment with the only woman to ever make me want to do that.