Page 29 of Wolf's Redemption

"It looks delicious," I said. "You should teach me how to make eggs like this. I always break the yolk when I throw them in the pan."

She laughed. "You can't be good at everything, ma'am," she said. "You have other talents, but if you want, I can teach you."

I smiled back at her and began tasting my breakfast. She lifted the corner of her lip a little and looked at me, enjoying her meal. I could tell she was happy with the compliment I gave her for the food. And when she made sure we were pleased, she returned to the kitchen and left Eric and me alone again.

We both ate in silence, but inside me, there was a question that was gnawing at me, so after holding back the urge to ask him, I mustered up my courage.

"Why didn't you get married? I mean, you were engaged," I asked, devouring the last of the bacon on my plate.

"It's kind of a complicated story," he said.

"Come on, I told you mine. Tell me yours; it's the least you can do."

"Okay, you're right," he said.

"My ex-fiancée faked becoming disabled after an accident we had where she 'saved' me just so she could marry me. It had all been her mother's plan," he said, putting aside his food. "I found out on our wedding day."

"Ouch! I'm sorry for that." I said. "But what were her intentions?

"I couldn't find them when we tried to locate my fiancée and her mother. They had vanished into thin air without a trace. But who knows, maybe for money or power."

I couldn't help but feel sorry for him. No one deserves to have such an important day ruined like that, let alone have the person you trust lie to you and use you like that.

I got lost in my thoughts, knowing that one applied to me as well. I left Morgan behind regardless of the troubles it could bring. I only thought of myself. I was selfish, but on the other hand, I had a child with this man here, and I didn't tell him for fear of the consequences for me.

"Are you okay?" he asked me.

"Yeah, I was just thinking about how hard it must have been for you," I replied.

"Thank you, but it was the best thing that could have happened. I spent the next few months thinking about what would have happened if I had married her, what consequences it would have brought for me, my family, and my pack."

"You got a point. Let's toast to that.”

I took the glass of orange juice half-heartedly and toasted it with him. We both drank the juice and headed to the lab.

Lydia was playing with the essences and left them on the table as soon as we walked in.

"Good morning, darling. I hope my son treated you well," she said.

"Good morning Mrs. Night," I said, "Yes, your son has been quite a gentleman."

"Oh no, no darling, no more Mrs. Night, just Lydia," she said to me.

"All right then. Are you ready to start?"

"Yes, I'm more than ready," she replied.

Eric helped me into my lab coat and gloves, and after passing me the safety glasses, he sat down in one of the chairs about six feet away.

"Do you mind if I stay to watch?" he asked. "I don't mean to intrude. I'm just intrigued by the process. I'd like to know how you do your work."

Lydia looked at me with puppy dog eyes waiting for me to give my answer. It was already very obvious that she wanted her son and me to hang out.

"Yes, you can stay, but don't touch anything," I claim.

"I promise you won't even notice I'm here," he replied.

I nodded and got to work. Lydia had brought a notebook where she wrote down everything I told her, every process and measurement. She followed me everywhere and watched as I mixed the essences with the alcohol and added solvent and adhesives, and then sprayed the product on a small piece of paper to test it.