Page 70 of Mask and the Magnolia

That’s how we stayed until they absolutely had to leave.

Gentle caressing, constant touching. So much purring.

I didn’t realize that was something alphas could do off and on for extended periods of time when they were content. I honestly thought it was a myth, that happy, content, bonded alphas purred.They were, though. Korvin and Des were practically beside themselves with contentment and happiness, and it sort of broke my heart.

Not entirely, I was flying high on cloud nine myself, but thinking about how touch starvedtheyare, how shitty their lives have been until now, and how little basic, decent human interaction they’ve had. It made me want to keep them right there in my room forever.

They soaked up every bit of attention I gave them. Neither of them could stop touching me. Even while we were laying there talking about our tattoos because I had more than they expected and frankly, so did they since the majority of their work was done in prison.

Vin played with my hair and kept tracing his fingers over their marks. Des rubbed my legs from ass to ankles and back again. If they wanted to know about one of my tattoos, they pointed it out on my skin, touching it almost reverently while I told them. I made sure to keep as much physical contact as possible, not just for them but for me, too.

Who knows when the next time will be.

That’s why I got emotional about everything when they left.

I kept it together when we said our goodbyes, I even managed to throw in a few playful comments about how incredibly sexy they are but as soon as they disappeared out of sight, I lost my shit.

I’ve wanted this for so long.

The number of fantasies I’ve had about finding my scent match and having them take me away from here before living out our happily ever after? It’s countless. More times than I’d ever be able to keep track of.

But I have no idea if that’ll ever be an option for us so, I cried.

Tears of frustration. Joy and sadness. I cried big fat angry tears because this feels like another sick joke orchestrated by fate, a prank to pull just like giving me the parents I have, and trying to force me into something with Camden.

That was bad enough.

To show me my mates, to let me forge bonds that I don’t think can ever be broken, but in a setting that makes it impossible to live the way I thought everyone was supposed to once they found their pack.

Granted, I’ve seen people who find their mate and live miserably.

My parents are the prime example of that.

They aren’t scent matches but they are fated, and I have been a witness every day since as far back as I can remember to how horrible they are to each other. I’d almost go as far as to say they might hate each other more than they hate me.

Almost.

Which blows my mind. Mates who can actually make the decision to hate each other.

I have been chomping at the bit to see mine this morning. I’m needy for them, and it’s because of the overwhelming love I feel. How anyone could replace that with hate is almost impossible to fathom.

I didn’t sleep after they left, I couldn’t, and once I realized how close it was to my alarm going off, I just started my day.

I obeyed my alphas by only washing my face, brushing my teeth, and using dry shampoo in my hair. I made sure I didn’t stink, though, I don’t want to smell like I never bathe, then got dressed and grabbed my shit. I took off earlier than normal, almost an hour and a half earlier, but I didn’t want to risk a run in with Camden, and the urge to be close to my mates in even the simplest of ways was so strong that it pushed me out the door.

Eve was still asleep on the couch and I made sure to leave her a note after I plugged her phone in. Then I basically rushed out of our building and straight to the nearest bus stop because the shuttle isn’t running yet and it was the only way to get to the asylum when I wanted to.

I got here before shift change.

The night guards and nurses were still clocked in and I know having me walk through the doors when I did had everyone raising a brow.

Either that or they can smell my alphas on me.

In me.

Which is definitely not my normal fragrance, and the way I’m walking might be a dead give away, too.

I understand that if I walk normally it doesn’t mean Des and Korvin’s cum is just going to fall out of me. That’s not how things work, and definitely not after the two of them pushed every drop inside me then had me lay the way they did. Sure, it might be on my panties but it’s not going to all fall out just because I’m upright. The entire population would have died out millions of years ago if that were the case.

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