Chapter 64
Lucy
I followed Bibi and Blossom through the garden until we emerged around the back of the greenhouse.
My breath caught at the riot of flowers in neat rows on the ground in front of us.
It was vibrant and stunning and so Leo. His fingerprints were so clear over all of this beauty, and it made me want to cry.
“It’s so beautiful.”
Bibi put her arm around me, her grip strong and sure. We stood in silence and watched a delighted Blossom zoom around the garden.
Bibi patted my cheek and gestured at the field. “You pick flowers.”
“Me? Are you sure?”
She nodded and walked into the greenhouse, leaving me alone. Except I wasn’t really alone. The garden was bursting with life. Bees buzzed around me as I selected my favorite blooms, cutting them with the shears I found on top of an old tree stump.
The breeze washed the scents of flowers and pine trees over me, making my soul ache for my alphas. My chest still hurt with Wilder’s rejection, but I drew strength from the beauty around me and didn’t collapse.
It wouldn’t be long before the summer veggies and berries would be ready.
I bet Blossom would love to go blueberry picking with me.
I usually went several times a season—once with my moms, once with my friends, and once with Felix for his annual blueberry-picking costume.
It was actually the first picture I’d ever posted to his account—Felix wearing a bow tie I’d embroidered with little blueberries.
The second year, our audience had grown and I’d embroidered him a vest to go with his tie.
Everyone was excited to see what I’d add to his outfit this year.
I hadn’t decided yet on a blueberry hat or pants, but I definitely wanted to make Blossom a costume that turned her round little body into a blueberry.
I added a couple of gorgeous ranunculus to finish my bouquet, spinning it carefully in my hand to make sure I liked all the angles. “Blossom, let’s go check out the greenhouse.”
She zoomed ahead of me and my lips curved into a real smile. Even in the midst of heartache, the world was still out here, ready to greet me.
A wall of humid air hit me as I entered the greenhouse. Blossom was already seated on Bibi’s lap, enjoying copious head scratches.
“What do you think?” I asked, holding out my bouquet. “It’s not as good as what you or Leo would make, but your flowers are so pretty it’s impossible for them to look bad.”
She smiled. “Very beautiful.” She stood from her chair, tucking Blossom to her chest, and gestured me over to a side table with vases. “This one.” She pointed at a beautiful black metal vase with curved handles.
I arranged the flowers, frequently glancing at Bibi for approval as I adjusted them. When she gave me a nod, my insides filled with warmth.
“What’s your favorite flower?” I asked.
She looked around the greenhouse. She held up two fingers and pointed at a beautiful pink rose. “Gol-e roz.”
I repeated the phrase. “Does that mean rose?”
She nodded and moved to sit on a bench, patting the spot beside her. Her fingers were gnarled from age and hard work, but they were strong as she took my hand.
“What’s your other favorite?”
She raised our joined hands and pointed at a delicate row of red poppies growing in a waist-high raised bed.
“They’re lovely.”
“Blossom cannot eat.”
My eyes widened and I scooped Blossom up from where she was sniffing a potted plant. “Oh, of course. I’ll keep her away. I don’t want her ruining your garden.”
Bibi shook her head. “No, it…” She paused, trying to find the right word, and I grew even more determined to learn Farsi. “Poison.”
“Oohhh, oh my goodness, thank you for letting me know. They’re so beautiful, though. Poppies, right?”
“Yes. From Iran. Leo find seeds for me.”
“He talks about you all the time. You matter so much to him.”
“Leo is good boy.” She patted my hand, and I smiled.
“He is a good boy. I’m glad you’re all so close.”
“We part once only. When my family move here.”
I squeezed her hand. “Leo told me when they first moved, you had to stay in Iran because of your husband.” I hoped I wasn’t bringing up bad memories or speaking out of turn, but a gentle smile stayed on her lips.
“He was bad man. But strong women do not let man ruin them.” She cocked an eyebrow and my breath hitched at her intense, knowing gaze.
“Did you hear what happened with Wilder?” I asked.
She nodded, but her warm brown eyes weren’t pitying, and I drew strength from that. I let out a shuddering breath.
“I don’t know what to do. Maybe I just need to let him go.” I turned my head to hide my glassy eyes, but she caught my chin.
“Destiny demands action.”
Her words were like electricity through my body, making my skin tingle and my spine straighten. My mind spun as I tried to make sense of their meaning, but she didn’t offer further explanation. I cherished them all the same.
“I’m glad you were able to move here after your husband died.”
Bibi cupped my face and gently patted my cheek. “Poppies not good for man, either.” She smiled widely, a twinkle in her eye as she stood from the bench, said something to Blossom in Farsi, and headed out of the greenhouse.
Leaving me frozen on the bench.
Holy. Shit.
Did she just say what I thought she did?
I glanced at the poppies, seeing them in a whole new light.
I stroked Blossom’s velvet ears. “So, um, either she’s telling me I should kill Wilder or she’s telling me to take my destiny in my own hands and not let him go.
” Blossom stretched her little body as she tried to reach a leaf dangling down from the plant beside me.
I snatched her around the waist, pulling her away.
“That’s not yours. Also, now I’m a tiny bit worried about what other dangerous plants might be in here.
” I let out a strangled laugh at the absurdity of it all.
Destiny demands action.
Was I being too passive, expecting the universe to just hand me the perfect romance?
“I just want a pack who will fight for me, Blossom.” I brushed a tear from my cheek.
Wilder hadn’t fought for me. He’d rejected me so fast, barely offering an explanation. Maybe he didn’t deserve another chance…but could I let him go? What if he was part of my destiny and I needed to fight for him, for us, for our new family?
I forced myself to peel away the layers of hurt that had blanketed me since that night in the hospital and replayed the memory. Wilder’s blank expression. His harsh words. His bark. It was one of the cruelest things you could do as an alpha, abuse your power against an omega like that.
And yet, Wilder had only ever shown me care and gentleness.
I played through the memory of the hospital room again.
His bitter, twisted scent had saturated the air like decaying leaves on the forest floor. The scent of his fear.
Wilder had been terrified.
I didn’t know how long I sat there, but the brightness of the greenhouse and the gentle spring breeze brought clarity.
If Bibi could survive her husband and create her own future, maybe I could find it in myself to be brave, too.
Rejection might feel like dying, but it was survivable.
And on the other side of rejection was the possibility of love, family, and the pack I always dreamed of.
Blossom was a heavy weight on my lap as she fell asleep. I adjusted my hold on her and stood.
No matter what, I wasn’t alone. I had King, Leo, Felix, Blossom, my friends, my moms, and this town behind me. And maybe I even had the backing of the universe as I seized my destiny.
On my way out of the greenhouse, I trailed my hand over the delicate poppies and smiled.