Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Oakley
Late in the afternoon, once most of the crowd had dissipated, the nursery took on another life.
We had tons of work to do, as we always did, but this time, the work was inside.
With the outside plants put to bed, so to speak, I went inside to the area where we kept the indoor plants.
Most of them needed special care. Checking for proper water.
Some of them had to have their leaves wiped off.
With the in and out of the public, they accumulated dust.
It felt silly, but it made me sad to see them dusty. Even after only one day.
The indoor plant area held a different vibe. We had music playing for them, something Tim insisted on. Something about making the plants calm and relaxed. He knew better than me. Sometimes at night, I did research on a certain plant, but it was ongoing.
The music was soothing and was a big reason I enjoyed this part of my day. From here, I could hear the wind chimes in the front moving with the wind or the door opening and shutting, or Daisy’s voice. Even though her shift was over, she hung out sometimes, not wanting to go home alone.
While checking the bamboo, a scent caught my bear’s attention. Morning sunshine and an evening storm all in one. In its wake, notes of heady musk and oak. I tensed.
Only alphas smelled like that.
And he spoke. Even though there were a dozen or more customers in the store, I automatically knew the voice belonged to the person with that scent. My first instinct was to run to him. My bear wanted to experience more. Take in more of his scent. Hear that voice say everything—anything.
I wanted to be near him. Know him.
Claim him as ours. He’s mine. He’s all mine.
What the fuck?
My bear made several pushes to get me to bend to his will, but I resisted, barely. Only fear and self-preservation made me move.
Not toward the alpha.
Not in the direction of the main area of the nursery.
Instead, I did what would save me. I ran into the nearest office and hid behind the door. My breaths ragged, I gripped the edge of the door as my heart attempted to beat right out of my chest.
Why was I like this? I saw alphas every day. Coming in for plants and flowers. Shopping. In the town. None of them had ever elicited this response from me or my bear. Especially my bear. He reached the point of madness, clawing, trying to get out of me and to this alpha.
What in the world was going on?
Could it be?
After all this time, was this not just any alpha, but my alpha?
No. I shook my head against the notion. I’d given up on all of that.
I listened intently for the next few minutes, hearing the alpha admit he didn’t know much about plants.
He hadn’t attempted taking care of any before.
I leaned my head against the door and closed my eyes.
The alpha’s voice was a warm blanket, making me feel warm and cuddled in a way I hadn’t in a long time, maybe ever.
Then he laughed, and I had to fight with my bear over running to him once again.
That laugh should be bottled and sold as a lust passion.
I listened to every word. Every footstep, until I was sure he was gone. He’d bought a plant. A Pothos. Easy to care for. One of the most popular ones.
My bear was angry at me. He was sure that man was our alpha. Auburn. He’d introduced himself to Tim as Auburn. What a great name.
I was busy calming myself down when Tim busted in the office, making me fall backward. “Hey, I was looking for you. I saw you run. Do you know that guy?”
“What? What guy?” I asked.
Tim’s cocked eyebrow told me he wasn’t buying my question any more than I was. “You know what guy. What gives?”
“I don’t know.”
He helped me up. “Are you okay, Oakley? That wasn’t like you at all.”
“I-I don’t think so. I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened.”
Tim seemed vaguely okay with that and nodded his head. “Why don’t you take the rest of the night off. You’re very pale.”
“Yeah. Okay. Thank you. I think I will.”
As I left, I felt Tim’s stare, following me. He knew shifters and he would understand, but the problem was, I didn’t fully understand. I’d sworn off alphas and even the idea of fated mates.
So why now?
It would be so easy to give in to my bear’s instinct and let myself be swallowed by the notion that this person who I’d never met was mine.
But my human side had endured too much betrayal.
Still, I was curious. What if I did belong to him, and in his arms was the safety and comfort I’d always dreamed of?