Heart of the Wolf

Chapter Three

Lynn POV

I stared at my reflection in the cracked bathroom mirror, barely recognizing the haggard woman staring back at me. Dark circles shadowed my eyes, my skin sallow and lifeless. Two weeks. It had been two weeks since Alan stormed out, leaving nothing but the acrid stench of meth and broken promises in his wake.

The shrill ring of my cell phone shattered the silence. My heart plummeted as I saw the unfamiliar number.

"Hello?" My voice cracked.

"Is this Lynn Winters?" A gruff male voice responded. "This is Officer Rodriguez with the county police department."

My legs gave out and I sank to the cold tile floor. "Y-yes, this is Lynn. What's happened?"

"Ma'am, we found Alan Prescott unresponsive in his vehicle earlier this evening. He's been transported to Memorial Hospital after an apparent overdose. Given the circumstances, we strongly suspect this was a suicide attempt."

The world tilted sideways as bile rose in my throat. This couldn't be happening. Not Alan. Not my Alan.

"Is he... will he..." I choked on the words.

"He's in critical condition, ma'am. I'm sorry, but that's all the information I have at this time."

The hours passed in a blur of fluorescent lights and antiseptic smells. Doctors spoke in hushed tones about organ failure and brain damage. Alan lay motionless, pale as the sheets that covered him, tubes snaking from every orifice.

When he finally stabilized, the relief was short-lived. The astronomical hospital bills were quickly eclipsed by an even more staggering figure - Alan's bail. When they found him, they found a large amount of drugs on him and placed him into custody. when he was stable enough to be transported.

"I'm sorry, Lynn," my boss's voice crackled through the phone. "I know you're going through a lot, but I can't hold your position much longer. We need you back by Monday."

I swallowed hard, throat tight. "I understand. I'll be there."

Hanging up, I buried my face in my hands. How had everything fallen apart so quickly? The Alan I fell in love with seemed a lifetime ago - before the drugs consumed him before I became a stranger in my own life.

With trembling fingers, I dialed the jail, wincing at the exorbitant cost of a measly 15-minute call.

"Hey, baby," Alan's voice was raspy, subdued. "I'm so sorry. I f****d up. Again."

"Alan, I..." I trailed off, unsure what to say. I love you? I hate you? I'm drowning?

"I know, Lynn. I know." He sighed heavily. "Look, I gotta go. My time's almost up. I love you."

The line went dead before I could respond. I stared at the phone, numb.

What now? How was I supposed to pick up the pieces of this shattered life? One day at a time, I supposed. One miserable, lonely day at a time.

***

Monday loomed before me like an executioner's ax. Back to work. Back to pretending everything was fine while my world imploded. But what choice did I have? Those hospital bills weren't going to pay themselves. Alan's bond was a mountain I had to climb, no matter how impossible it seemed.

I closed my eyes, picturing the greenhouse behind the flower shop where I spent my days. The earthy scent of soil, the vibrant colors of blooming flowers. For a moment, I allowed myself to remember the peace I once found there.

Maybe, just maybe, I could find it again.

As I pushed open the heavy glass door of the flower shop, the familiar scent of roses and lilies enveloped me. For a split second, I felt a flicker of the old joy I used to find here. Then reality crashed back down, and I felt my shoulders slump under its weight.

"Lynn!" My boss, Marge, waved me over. "Welcome back, dear. We've missed you."

I forced a smile, but it felt brittle on my face. "Thanks, Marge. I've missed—"

My words died in my throat as I caught sight of a tall, muscular figure standing next to Marge. Adonis. What was he doing here?

"Oh, Lynn," Marge said, oblivious to my shock. "I'd like you to meet our new stock room employee, Adonis."

Adonis turned, his blue eyes locking onto mine. A jolt of electricity shot through me, followed immediately by a wave of guilt. What was wrong with me? Alan was in jail, fighting for his life, and here I was, feeling... whatever this was.

"Nice to see you again, Lynn," Adonis said, his voice deep and smooth.

I swallowed hard. "You... you work here now?"

He nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Starting today."

"I..." I stammered, my mind racing. How was I supposed to focus on work with him around? And why did I even care? I had bigger problems. Much bigger.

"Lynn, are you alright?" Marge's concerned voice cut through my spiraling thoughts.

I blinked, realizing I'd been standing there, gaping like an i***t. "Sorry, I'm just... it's been a rough couple of weeks."

Adonis's eyebrows furrowed, concern etched across his handsome face. I looked away quickly, unable to bear the weight of his gaze.

"Of course, dear," Marge said softly. "Why don't you start in the back? We've got a big order of succulents to pot up."

I nodded gratefully, eager to escape. As I hurried towards the stockroom, I could feel Adonis's eyes on me. My cheeks burned, and I hated myself for it. Alan needed me. He was getting better, becoming himself again. I couldn't betray him like this, even if it was just in my thoughts.

But as I buried my hands in cool, damp soil, I couldn't shake the image of Adonis's concerned blue eyes from my mind. What kind of person was I, to be thinking about another man at a time like this?

I'm sorry, Alan, I thought, blinking back tears. I'm trying. I swear I'm trying.

I heaved a sigh, trying to focus on the task at hand. The bags of potting soil were heavier than I remembered, and my arms shook as I attempted to lift one onto the stack I was building. Just as I felt the bag slipping from my grasp, a pair of strong hands appeared, catching it effortlessly.

"Let me help you with that," Adonis's deep voice rumbled from behind me, sending an involuntary shiver down my spine.

I stepped back, watching in awe as he effortlessly tossed the remaining bags onto the stack, his muscular, tattooed arms flexing with each movement. The scent of earth and something fresh—pine, maybe?—wafted towards me, and I found myself unconsciously leaning closer.

"Thank you," I mumbled, averting my gaze. "I could have managed."

Adonis chuckled softly. "I'm sure you could have, but there's no harm in accepting help when it's offered."

I nodded stiffly, desperate to change the subject. "So, um... why are you working here? No offense, but you don't seem like the flower shop type."

He leaned against the stack of soil bags, his blue eyes twinkling with amusement. "What type do I seem like, then?"

I felt my cheeks flush. "I don't know. Construction? Personal trainer? Definitely something more... physical."

"Ah, so you've noticed my physique," he teased, and I wanted to sink into the floor. "Truth is, I saw they needed someone in the stockroom, and I thought it might be a nice change of pace. A hobby, if you will."

I raised an eyebrow. "A hobby? Most people take up knitting or birdwatching, not hauling bags of dirt around."

Adonis shrugged, his expression turning serious. "Sometimes a change of scenery is good for the soul. Speaking of which, Lynn... you're looking a bit under the weather. Is everything alright?"

The concern in his voice made my throat tighten. I turned away, busying myself with organizing some small terracotta pots. "I'm fine," I lied, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. "Just... tired."

How could I tell him the truth? That my boyfriend was in jail, detoxing from a drug addiction I'd failed to prevent? That I was drowning in debt and worry? That I felt like the worst person in the world for even noticing how attractive Adonis was?

"Lynn," Adonis said softly, his hand hovering near my shoulder but not quite touching. "If you ever need to talk..."

I shook my head, blinking back tears. "Thanks, but I'm okay. Really. We should get back to work."

As I walked away, I could feel Adonis's gaze on my back, filled with questions I couldn't answer and concerns I didn't deserve.

I grabbed a tray of seedlings and headed to the potting station, desperate to lose myself in the familiar routine. The earthy scent of fresh soil and green leaves usually calmed me, but today it just reminded me of Adonis's presence.

As I began transplanting delicate succulents into their new homes, I couldn't help but glance over at him. He was effortlessly moving large bags of mulch, his tattooed arms flexing with each lift. I quickly looked away, guilt gnawing at my insides.

"Focus, Lynn," I muttered to myself, carefully placing a small cactus into its pot. "You're here to work, not ogle your new coworker."

But my eyes betrayed me, darting back to Adonis every few minutes. He caught me looking once and flashed a warm smile that made my heart skip a beat.

"Need any help over there?" he called out, his voice rich and deep.

I shook my head, perhaps too vigorously. "No, I've got it. Thanks."

As I continued working, my mind wandered. What would Alan think if he could see me now? Would he be hurt? Angry? Or would he even care?

I stabbed my trowel into the soil with more force than necessary, scattering dirt across the workbench. "Damn it," I whispered, fighting back tears.

"Everything okay?" Adonis asked, suddenly closer than I'd realized.

I plastered on a fake smile. "Just clumsy today. Nothing to worry about."

He nodded, unconvinced. "Well, if you change your mind about that help..."

"I won't," I said, more sharply than I'd intended. Softening my tone, I added, "But thank you. Really."

As Adonis walked away, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was balancing on a knife's edge, teetering between loyalty and temptation, guilt and desire. And with every stolen glance at my enigmatic new coworker, I felt myself slipping further into dangerous territory.