Page 23 of Wolf's Redemption

I told her my story without thinking because I trusted her and somehow felt it was the right thing to do. She was attentive, with sparkling eyes and an air of sadness.

"I'm so sorry about that," she told me. "I never knew my mother either, she died when I was born, and I always blamed myself for that until I understood that was her fate and fate can't be changed."

I felt like hugging her because I knew that she, more than anyone else, could understand my pain. I dried my eyes before the tears welled up and reached over to collect the orchid essence.

"What do you think?" I asked her, approaching the small vial with the few drops of the essence I was able to extract from the flower.

"It's wonderful. The aroma is intense but sweet, and it's as if the scent of the orchids has been compressed and intensified in these few drops of oil."

"Exactly, that's what we were looking for," I said.

Lydia froze for a second and looked toward the door waiting for something to happen or someone to come in.

"May I come in?" a familiar voice sounded from the other side of the door.

"Come in," she contentedly softened her face.

Eric opened the door, and his gaze met mine. My entire body felt his presence as if somehow drawn to hers like a magnet to metal.

"You got here sooner than I expected," Lydia said. "Where is your father?"

"My father is still hunting. I came to check on you and settle some business," he replied without taking his gaze from mine.

Eric didn't look much different than I remembered him, but I could tell he had matured quite a bit. His hair was just as dark but with a lumberjack's cut that made him look sexier, his arms were more muscled, and his build was stronger. His jaw was strong and set, and his deep-set eyes were watching me with the same intensity that they had seen me at our last meeting.

There was a small silence, and clearly, Lydia noticed the tension between the two of us.

"Eric, this is Cathy North, the designer of the perfumes I always give you," she introduced me.

"Hi, it's nice to meet you." I hurried to shake his hand as cordially as possible.

Eric took my hand without saying a word, not even making an effort to disassemble.

"North?" was all he managed to say.

Lydia walked over to us and looked us both in the face. "You two know each other?"

"No, I'd never..."

"Yes.” Eric didn't let me finish the sentence. "But back then, her last name was Sith."

Lydia's eyes widened like saucers, and she looked at me.

"It's the same last name as..."

"Exactly, she belongs to the Sith pack," Eric said without a filter.

"Impossible. I didn't smell her scent," Luna shared.

"It's because I'm not like the rest. My wolf never recognized me," I said. "And I don't belong to that pack anymore."

Luna reacted well. Having a member of another pack in your home was not the most common thing, but somehow she knew I had no other intentions. Besides, she was the one who invited me.

"So you left your pack just like that?" she asked me.

"Yes, I never felt I was one of them. I knew my destiny was not tied to that place. So as soon as I could, I ran away and left everything behind, even my identity, so I could fulfill my dream of being a fragrance designer."

Eric's mother put her hands over her mouth after analyzing everything I had told her.