Page 20
Story: Mask and the Magnolia (Fiends and Floras Omegaverse #1)
NINE
ONE DOWN
DESMOND
I feel a little less like death today.
I actually feel pretty fucking good compared to how things have been going. But that’s because Nurse Hubbard was out when I got my injection and while it’s only been a couple days, I can tell I got my normal meds this time.
Thanks to the good little doctors who gave it to me instead.
Isaak walked Magnolia through the entire process; measuring out my dose, where to stick me, what to do afterward.
She was at the medical hospital before coming here and has given hundreds of shots, she made that very clear, but I think Dr. Lowe was looking for a reason to get close.
Close to both of us.
Oh, and what sweet torture it was to have them both touching me at the same time. I didn’t want it to end. I even offered to let her test all of her skills on me and despite the fact that she blushed right down to her combat boot-covered toes, Magnolia politely declined.
We’re getting there, though.
I’ve been watching everyone much closer the last couple of days. Closer and with a clearer mind.
Now I can see the entire puzzle, and how it hinges on one single piece.
One piece that’s teetering on the edge already, sitting right on the cusp of having a breakthrough.
Everything is right there, on the verge of exposure, I can almost touch it.
One risky move, one critical decision.
That’s all it’s going to take and everything will fall into place.
I grin as I kick my feet up on the footrest, leaning back in the recliner with my hands behind my head. I’ve been watching Calix follow Korvin back and forth from the vacant hall to the storage closet all morning. Back and forth, to and fro.
Carrying things that don’t really have to be moved yet just so he has a reason to follow him.
The alpha grabs a table, then the beta grabs a chair. Korvin moves the pool table, Calix goes for the cues and frame.
This is better than TV.
I could watch these two all day, especially since I can tell my alpha is aware of his company, he’s hyperaware even though I'm the only one to notice, but he doesn’t fully understand the why behind having a tagalong.
Korvin is smart, don’t get me wrong, but there’s a bit of a disconnect between the emotions he has, and the emotions he sees.
The former are complex and hidden, they slip through accidentally and are quickly buried, but the latter seem to leave him annoyed.
Not because he doesn’t know what they are, or doesn’t understand what they mean in a more generalized way, I just don’t think Vin has a fucking clue when it comes to the deeper seated cause.
It’s fascinating, really.
An unsettling and intimidating alpha struggling with big feelings.
Feelings he’s going to fight until the bitter end.
All while the people around him, his people, try to navigate him.
Calix is winning.
Sure, Korvin has been checking up on me since we’ve been here, and he gravitates toward me without even trying.
And yeah, it’s a matter of time before our scent matches start to do the same, but the desperate and lonely beta managed to beat us all to the punch and slip through a crack in those carefully constructed walls.
So, he follows him around and tries to be helpful, almost like he’s attempting to earn his keep.
He’s like a lost puppy.
A delicious, fire-happy puppy who is eagerly waiting to get rewarded for being a good boy.
It’s cute.
In turn, Vin—I call him that in my head but have yet to say it out loud—is very patient with our beta, very protective of him. He’s started checking in with Calix the same way he checks in with me and if I were the jealous type, that might make me a little snippy.
I’m not, and it doesn’t.
If anything, it puts things into perspective.
I didn’t factor Calix into the equation before.
Not that I didn’t think that pouty mouth of his wouldn’t look fabulous wrapped around my dick, I just didn’t realize it was more than that.
It is.
Quite a bit more from what I can tell, and that brings me back to everything I’ve learned about our alpha in such a short period of time.
Vin is both adorable and frustrating as fuck while he basks in his ignorance. Something I can say confidently since he hasn’t quite labeled the connections the same way I have.
He feels them just like I do, though, and while I’d like to take all the credit for being the center of our little universe complete with those four revolving around me, I think it’s more of a joint effort between us alphas.
Korvin is the catalyst, though.
I was drawn to him well before he was noticeably drawn to me, and looking back, so was everyone else on this floor.
At least in some way.
The Rooker boys and Ivan don’t fuck with Korvin.
I mean, none of us fuck around, we’re all just trying to get through each day without incident, but they’ve put some distance between them.
Then again, those three have their own fucking issues and seem to be pretty fucking wrapped up in them.
There’s a level of respect there, though.
I think Ivan has the biggest body count, Bishop and Lochlan might have made the biggest mess, but they view Korvin as their equal. I can see it.
Me?
I’ve been too fucking dope sick for anyone to get a real read on me.
I expect that’ll change, though. Word on the street is Nurse Hubbard busted her left leg and is housebound for the next ten weeks.
Merry fucking Christmas to me.
If I’m lucky, she’ll miss the New Year, too, and I won’t have to worry about her devising any resolutions for me.
”I’m going to be sick.”
I frown and turn toward the staff hallway as Maggie and Isaak come scurrying out of the office, the two of them emitting all the negative vibes.
”It’s going to be brief,” Isaak places his hand on the small of her back, guiding her toward the nurse’s station. “And I thought?—“
”Think again,” Magnolia snaps before immediately cringing. “Sorry.”
Well, I don’t think I like this very much. Not when I can feel her anxiety and his concern. They’re both agitated as well and when Vin and Calix head up the hallway toward me then stop dead in the center of the living room, I’m downright curious over what the fuck is going on.
Something shared by my alpha when he quietly asks, “What’s going on?”
”Sit.” Vin looks down at me like I sprouted a third eye but Calix quickly drops into the recliner next to me, which makes me grin. “Let’s watch and see, shall we?”
”You owe me the story,” Isaak whispers as he leans toward our girl.
To which she snaps back, “I didn’t think we were supposed to get personal, Dr. Lowe. ”
”I told you, your father?—“
”The Dean.”
Isaak sighs and rolls his eyes. “Yes, The Dean has made it very clear that I’m your mentor and anything outside of that puts both of us at risk.”
Maggie steps out of his reach and puts at least three feet between them as she scowls. “That story would be outside of those parameters, Dr. Lowe , so I think it’s best you just take my word for it when I say this is not going to be brief.”
”Lover’s quarrel?” I whisper as I elbow Korvin’s thigh. “Think the docs are banging and someone found out?”
My alpha grunts and clears his throat but I know that was meant to cover up a growl. I wanted to do the same thing as soon as the words left my big fat mouth.
I can safely say it’s because if those two are banging without us, I’m going to be very disappointed.
Turned the fuck on, but disappointed.
Whether or not that’s why Korvin is a little crabbier than usual, I don’t quite know, but I’d like to think it’s because he wants to be a part of said banging, too.
“Magnolia,” Isaak pleads as quietly as possible. “I’m concerned. The second that phone call came through there was a visible change in you and when it was followed by a random bout of nausea, well, I can’t help but want to know why.”
”Dr. Reynolds.” She scowls harder and I snort. “Or Ms. Reynolds. You don’t get first name privileges if this is strictly professional.”
”Definitely sounds like they aren’t being professional,” Calix whispers as he leans around Korvin toward me. “Pretty personal.”
I nod my agreement as the two omegas in front of us go at it, sniping each other with words, getting further and further under each other’s skin.
It’s kind of cute watching them fight.
We’ve all been thrown together for about three months now, I believe, and in that time, these two haven’t broken character once. So this is a real treat for us to witness.
It’s also going to be our in.
I can control myself for the most part but if Korvin gets a whiff of Isaak on Maggie or the other way around without his scent mixed in, there is no telling what he’ll do. Which could be beautiful for the five of us.
”Shut up,” Magnolia hisses just as the door behind the desk opens, both omegas plastering on fake smiles before anyone comes through.
”Dean Reynolds.” Isaak holds out his hand to the first asshole to enter Ward C and as soon as he does, the energy in the entire place changes.
What a smarmy looking fucker.
Smarmy and shady as hell.
You can read it all over his Botox filled face, it comes through loud and clear in his vibe, and I have half a mind to ask if they can sage the entire ward once he leaves because his energy is nasty.
So much so that it becomes difficult for some of us to stay still.
Calix and I both sit up a little straighter, my footrest going down so I’m planted flat and at the ready. Vin’s muscles twitch but he doesn’t move save for that. The bastard even draws Ivan and the Rookers out of hiding.
Dean douchebag ignores Isaak and pushes between him and Maggie, walking past the desk only to stop in the middle of things.
Things being the six murderers staring him down.
“This will be Nurse Hubbard’s replacement for the time being.
” He doesn’t point, doesn’t motion or even nod toward anything but obviously the dickhead has some pull with everyone outside of this floor because a big fuck with a beer gut dressed all in white marches through and stops next to him. “Nurse Jones.”
Table of Contents
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- Page 20 (Reading here)
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