Finally, Professor Grub reaches me.
“Ah, Faye.” He hands me the last card as his lips curl into a snide smile. “I’m sure you’ll find this one easy enough.”
My heart sinks when I turn it over and see a putri flower. Not only has my earlier blunder left me with a difficult flower to find, but it’s especially dangerous for an omega to handle because of its potency. If the petals are crushed, they release a particularly stinky odor that can burn an omega’s nostrils for a week.
I didn’t expect college professors to be so … cruel. Professor Grub watches me expectantly, as if awaiting my complaint. Instead, I nod dutifully, deciding I’ll use this as a chance to redeem myself.
“Very good,” he murmurs to me before he addresses the class. “Begin!”
Students dart in every direction, descending on the pruning shears in the storage cabinet and each grabbing a small wicker basket. I hang back, waiting until everyone has gathered what they need before I grab my things and follow a slender path deeper into the greenhouse.
The sounds around me instantly put me at ease—insects chirping, sprinklings whirring, bubbling brooks, and even a trickling stream. From my earlier research, I know that the greenhouse is organized into different climate-controlled areas, and in addition to the main space, there are smaller biodomes for special plants.
After passing a wetter, mossier, marshland area, I look through the glass into another room filled with sand that hosts countless amounts of cacti. The room next to that is a rich jungle area with gorgeous plants in tropical colors. I rotate on the spot, slightly breathless, trying to soak in every detail, so I can tell Gram about it later. This is a plant lovers paradise.
I know the only other omega in class is approaching when I catch a hint of her scent—light citrus with a twist of violet. Her long, black hair swishes around her waist with each stride before she stops and smiles almost pityingly at me. “If it’s anyconsolation, I thought he was kidding around too. I’m Amora, by the way.”
“Faye,” I cringe. “But I guess everyone already knows that.”
“It’s only the first day. It’ll get better from here.” She turns her card over to show me her plant. “Not too hard, right? I’m heading to the swamp room.”
“Good call,” I reply then show her mine. “I’m looking for a needle in a haystack.”
“He should have given that card to a beta.” Frowning, she wrinkles her nose. “It’s dangerous, if you handle it the wrong way.”
“It’s supposed to be a test, right?” I shrug. “I figure I’ll have the best chance of finding it if I follow a water source.”
Putri flowers are usually found in rock pools, close to riverbeds and in dark caves.
“Have you been to that corner of the greenhouse yet?” Amora points over the top of some palms. “There’s an unlit room over there. It could be worth a look?”
“Thanks.” Even if she’s only taking pity on me, it’s nice that at least one person has been friendly today. “Fingers crossed.”
When we part ways, I venture to where she gestured. In this part of the greenhouse, everything is strangely quiet. The plants are dense, making it difficult to forge much of a path, so I have to be extra careful where I’m stepping until the cavernous room comes into view. At first, I almost walk straight past it. From the outside, it looks like a potting shed. However, on second glance, I notice that the windows are completely blacked out, and a small, faded sign above the door reads: ‘Midnight Plants.’
I slink inside and close the door, leaving the lush forest behind. I stand for a moment, breathing it in. The scents are even richer in here, so I inhale deeply, letting them fill me up. Once my eyes have adjusted to the unique lighting, I have justenough visibility to pick my way ahead to follow the sound of a faint trickle.
This environment is completely different, sending a fresh surge of excitement racing through me. I’m immediately cast in a soft-white glow, the light coming from tiny pinpricks in the bio-dome ceiling that resemble stars. I could spend hours exploring every crevice of this greenhouse, pouring over the leaves and watching the flowers bloom across the seasons. In front of me, a soft stream flows over jagged rocks.
That’s when I see it.
Beside the rocks is a putri flower.
I pull on my gloves then grab my bonsai shears from my basket, preparing to pluck it. I take my time, being cautious to perfectly preserve the flower head. Satisfied, I carefully hold on to its stem, when suddenly, out of nowhere, a new scent hits me.
My head snaps up, like a famished vampire getting its first smell of blood. The scent is subtle, but it’s so damn intoxicating.
“Sorry I didn’t see you there,” a male voice comes from behind me. “I thought I was alone.”
He takes a few steps forward, revealing a tall, lean alpha. His messy, brown hair falls over his forehead, making it look like he was recently dragged through a hedge, and not in an intentional way. To the contrary, his tortoise-shell glasses appear to be expensive, his button-down shirt unwrinkled and tucked in. He clutches a copy of Bizarre Blooms, which is a brilliant guidebook for lesser-known, strange flowers.
“S-sorry.” I jump up. “I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
“I’m Ren.” He’s soft spoken but a little breathy, making me want to lean in to hear him whisper secrets in my ear. “What’s your name? I haven’t seen you here before.”
“Faye.” He must be an older student. “It’s my first class with Professor Grub.”
“Faye. Lovely name.” God, I love the way my name sounds rolling off his tongue. “It suits you.”
