I couldn’t help but be a little disappointed.

Since that night, Soren hadn’t so much as stepped foot inside the hardware store and for some reason, that made my mood plummet. I never really thought much of it before now; he was just a cute guy who came in every now and again for the occasional tool or hardware fitting. He was shy and sweet and seemed to look right past my gruff exterior, and it was shockingly easy to talk to him.

I didn’t realize how much I actually looked forwards to that banter until now.

I knew better than to sleep with the man, but damn if all if I didn’t want another night. I’d forgotten how good it felt to fall asleep next to another person, forgotten how nice it was to wake up to the soft, snuffling snores of a partner who still smelled of my skin. And Soren was—

No. I shut that thought down before it could bubble free. I came to a jolting halt in the center of the aisle and slammed the boxes I was carrying down hard enough that the entire shelving unit rattled. An older woman glanced up, startled. I growled out an apology and yanked the packing tape off the topmost box, then began to haphazardly arrange the metal lawn decorations on the shelf below.

I told myself years ago that this wouldn’t happen again. I’d never take another mate, never claim another Omega. Not after what happened with Wes. I barely made it through that and I knew damn well that I wasn’t strong enough to survive another loss, not when I was still piecing my shattered heart back together, even ten years later.

I was too old, anyway. Too jaded. No matter what Soren had said, I had no business shacking up with a guy half my age. Besides, if his uncle was truly that vicious, the wolf needed a strong Alpha, one in his prime, ready and willing to go to war for him if it came down to it. I wasn’t that Alpha. I would never be that Alpha.

A sigh hissed between my teeth. Leave it to me to make things harder on myself. I paused, a hefty steel ornament poised between my hands. Irony was a cruel mistress. The lawn figure was of a wolf, with crimped edges and little stars cut from the flank of the piece. I ran my fingers over the smooth metal and shook my head.

“Hey.” At the sound of my coworker’s husky voice, I clapped the decoration down on the shelf and set out to ignore him. Pike was one of those Alphas—young and cocksure, strutting through the store like he was the king of the world. It didn’t help that he had the good looks to back his swagger up, and a charm-your-pants-off smile that made both men and women swoon.

Or that he’d done nothing to hide his attraction to Soren Reed. My buck huffed in annoyance at the thought, but it wasn’t like it mattered. Soren wasn’t ours and I had no intentions to stake my claim on the younger Omega. Pike could have him. He’d be better for Soren, anyway.

“You’ve been grumpier than usual. Wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain wolf, would it?” Pike’s tone was almost taunting. I spun on him with a scowl, my fingers curling into fists at my sides. We usually co-existed okay, but the other Alpha had been poking at me for weeks now. He flashed a dimpled smile. “Got your attention this time, huh?”

“What do you want?” I bit the words out. “I’m a little bit busy here.”

He chuckled. “Aww, too busy to fraternize with the cute little Omega you’re crushing on?”

Everything inside me went achingly still. What the fuck? Hell, was I that transparent? I took a step towards him, bristling. “Who the hell do you think you are?”

“I’m not an idiot, contrary to popular belief,” he replied breezily. “He hasn’t been in. You’ve been a downright pain in my tail. I put two and two together, and it seems your crush is mutual.” Pike ran a hand through his tawny hair and laughed. “Cuz your guy’s out in the lawn and garden section. He asked for you. Personally.”

Soren was here? I huffed. “Keep your nose in your own business, pup.”

The wolf merely smiled.

With a grunt, I shoved past him and stalked towards the sliding glass doors that led outside, where we housed the plants and the landscaping equipment. They slid open with an electronic hum, and sure enough, the sweet and flowery scent of the Omega tingled my nose. Why did he have to smell so damn appealing?

I breathed in, held it to the count of five, and let it back out in a slow sigh. Soren didn’t deserve my frustration. It didn’t take me long to find him. When I caught sight of his pert ass in a cute pair of cargo shorts, I almost groaned. What a sight for sore eyes. I was struck by the sudden urge to gather him in my arms and kiss him.

I didn’t—but I wanted to.

I cleared my throat and Soren jumped to attention. “Hey. You needed me?”

“Hi.” His smile was brighter than every last star in the sky. My old heart thudded like a bass drum in my skull. Fuck fuckity-fuck. I was too old for this shit, but apparently my libido didn’t get the memo. The last thing I needed was to start crushing. I was nearing forty. He was just a pup.

So what? He’s legal, my brain hushed out. Shut up, asshole, I thought in reply.

“Hi,” I murmured, taking note of the rosy tint to his skin, like he’d been out working in the sun for the past few days.

“So, yes. Figured you’d know what sort of plants I should get for the flowerbeds. I mean, I saw yours and…” He flapped a hand in the air. “I guess I wanted an expert opinion.” The giggle that bubbled from him told me that he just needed an excuse to come visit. He wasn’t fooling anyone with that line.

I couldn’t help the slow grin that stretched across my face.

“Is that so?” I strode towards him, to get a glimpse of the flowers he was eyeballing. “What sort of flowerbeds are we talking? Like, full sun? Partly shaded? It really depends on how much light and heat the plants get to what you should choose. A flower that needs full shade won’t bloom in a bed that gets sun most of the day, no matter how beautiful it is.”

Soren rolled his lips together. “I’d say it’s probably mostly sunny. We have a couple of trees that give the house shade in the evening though. Does that help?”

“Mmm.” I bent down and studied the little plastic tabs stuck into the soil of each plant. The richly floral scent was stronger now, and I couldn’t quite tell the smells apart. I wasn’t sure where Soren’s scent ended and the plants’ began. They were both so sweet. I straightened up again and gestured to the plastic containers of geranium. “I think this would look nice. Maybe a couple of tulips on either side of it. The bright colors would make it pop. Do you have soil?”

“Yeah. I picked some up a few weeks ago. You weren’t working.” The way he said it made it seem like he’d asked for me then, too. Then he flushed pink. “I’m glad you weren’t though. If you’d been at work, then Erick might’ve…” He shook his head, his hair snapping around his face. “Nope. It all worked out. I have the soil, I just need something to plant in it.”

“Alright, then yeah. I’d go with these.” I picked up the crinkly plastic container of red tulips and handed them to him. He brought them to his nose and sniffed. I chuckled at the boyishly happy expression on his face. “I didn’t really peg you as the outdoorsy sort, to be honest.”

“Spring fever,” he replied with a quick nod. “I was restless all winter, what with my brother and his mate expecting a baby. It was such a relief when the snow melted. But no, I’m not really the outdoorsy type…but I sort of volunteered myself to do some lawn work—and here I am.”

“And you coming here, of all the places in Greymercy, is just a coincidence…right?” He flushed a deep crimson and I laughed. “Busted. Well, seeing as spring has only begun, you’ll be back in?” I prayed I didn’t come off too hopeful, but I kind of was. Seeing Soren was the best thing to happen to me all week. How pathetic was that?

His lips curved into an adorable grin. “Of course I will. Probably for mulch for the rock beds and you know, I might just need an expert opinion then, too.”

“You’re something else,” I replied. “I’m off on Wednesdays and Sundays, for the record.”

“Good to know.” He gave me a thumb’s up and my stupid heart skipped a beat. “I’d better go check out. I’m on babysitting duty tonight. Figured it’d be nice to let my brother have a date-night. See you around?”

“Yeah. Definitely. Good luck.”

“Thanks.” The Omega gently placed the flowers in the bed of his cart, then with a little wave, pushed it back inside, disappearing behind the sliding glass doors. Like a lovestruck fool, I watched him go.

Damn it all to hell…