003

~~Ivan~~

“Do you know the gravity of what you just did? This is why you need me to help you make decisions, Ivan!! Not running off to do it on your own, Dammit" Uncle Romanov screamed, and I just nodded in response, lightly twisting and flipping the pen in my head.

Now if only I can shut him up with this pen in his mouth.

I'm sure I could if I angled my hand correctly.

But as tempting as that thought seems, I know that I can't do that, so I have to endure this rant, and him talking to him like I was a child incapable of making my own decisions.

“Rossi is a traitor, and luckily, his family got wiped out. What were you thinking, bringing his daughter in here? Of all girls… you were never one to take interest in auctions, so why this time and why her?”

I ignored his question because I knew answering would just make things worse.

All I need is for him to be done, so I could go to my room and get some fucking bourbon followed by hours of sleep. I've had a long fucking day.

“Darya,” he suddenly called, and Darya looked up in shock.

“Yes sir?” She responded.

“Where were you when he was doing this? Couldn't you stop him? Isn't it your duty to protect him?” Uncle Romanov growled, and Darya didn't even bash an eye as she responded.

“Exactly sir. It's my job to protect Ivan, not to baby him. He is an adult, so he doesn't need me to help him make decisions,”

I smirked at her very curt response and my uncle glared at her before turning to me again.

“Are you not going to say anything, Ivan?”

Sighing and suddenly bored, I dropped the pen on the table and stood up, facing him squarely, and almost smiled in satisfaction when he had to raise his head to look at me.

Uncle Romanov was a very, very short man, not that I'm body-shaming or shit.

“Uncle, I need you to chill out,” I Said, “My decisions are mine to make. I believe I'm old enough for that. So please don't talk to me like a child and relax. I have everything under control.”

He blinked twice, opened his mouth to talk but snapped it shut when he saw how serious I was.

“Now, if you will excuse me, I wasn't done taking my dinner before you dragged me up here. And…that's rude.”

His pale face flushed in anger as he turned and stormed out of the office.

“Darya, please ensure the girl is well settled in for the night. I have some things to take care of.”

Darya nodded and, for once, didn't comment or drop a sarcastic remark as she left, closing the door behind her.

I sank into the soft leather chair in the office, and stared at the computer screen before me blankly. Just looking at my faint reflection and my tattoos.

I was wrong. I had nothing under control.

This girl_ whatever her name is_ is still grieving from her family's death and well, imagine my shock when I discovered she is pregnant.

Who got her pregnant?

My hands gripped the edge of the table so tightly, my Knuckles turned white.

Does she have a boyfriend? Dammit! Why didn't I think about that earlier?

But even if I did, that wouldn't have stopped or changed anything.

That gorgeous brunette is mine_ and also pregnant.

I winced and ran my fingers through my hair, sighing in frustration.

I have no idea how to handle this. What the hell had I gotten myself into?

No one prepared me for the rollercoaster of emotions this mating shit would bring and I'm definitely not in the position to handle this now.

I picked up my phone and dialed a private number. Literally, the only man I can speak to right now about this.

He picked immediately, and the first thing I heard was the sound of kids squealing and laughing.

I smiled, “Hi Brent,”

“Hello devil. Pardon the noise. My grandkids came to visit and well…… having four kids with you together isn't as glorious as they make it sound.”

I laughed, “oh come on. You are just saying that. I know how much you love them. How's My Lacey doing?”

Lacey was his last grandkid_ about three years old, and also my favorite because of how she clings to me whenever she sees me.

“She's a spoiled brat. Came here and the first thing she asked me was 'where is uncle Van?'.”

“Aww. How I wish I could visit. But with all these responsibilities, all my moves are being watched and well… I can't have people finding out that I'm …you know.”

Brent sighed, “You know, when I rescued you fifteen years ago from those scientists' laboratories, I never imagined that this is how you will end up. I'm super proud of you, son, but you have to make your own path very soon.”

“I know that,” I responded and pinched the bridge of my nose, “I just don't know what that path is yet. So I'd rather follow the ones left by my parent's…at least for now.”

“Okay, that… No!! Johnny, put your damn sister down,” he screamed, “damn that boy has the strength of a horse.”

“He took after his grandpa. Anyway, Brent, I called you because I have something important to share with you.”

“I figured as much. Okay, spill it.”

I took in a deep breath and braced myself, “I found my mate.”

The other line went silent, for a while, before I heard a loud gasp.

“Oh my. How did you know? Where? How? Damn, I have countless questions. This is something we should discuss over a cup of coffee. Or bourbon.”

“Yeah, we will,” I replied and scratched my chin, “I don't know how. I just saw her and I knew. I have no idea how that's possible.”

“The DNA in you…the artificial one gives you traits of a wolf at least. The mating is more than possible, I've heard about it but never seen it.”

“I think I get that part. But things are a little complicated."

"Hmmmm, how complicated?"

I sigh, "She's Rossi's daughter and we still have no idea who was responsible for their murder."

Brent's sigh echoed through the line and I heard him moving around, "Well that's truly complicated, I'll give you that. How did she end up with you?"

"It's a long story man, but we will talk about it when we meet."

“So you're saying she's in your house right now?”

I nodded, “I couldn't just leave her be once I saw her,” I responded and flinched when I recalled the feeling…that electrifying shock the moment I saw her on the auction podium, her face stained with tears, but still didn't hide her beauty, her messy curly hair cascading down her shoulders and those fiery eyes that sent cold shivers through my entire body.

I didn't understand, but at that moment I knew I had to have her. Brent had briefed me a little about mating with half-breeds.

His late best friend was one, but died last five years, making me the only living breed ever.

“That's understandable. Hmm, We need to talk about this in person, but I trust you not to make rash decisions. Are you going to tell her about it?”

“And risk revealing my identity? Nah.”

Brent paused for a while, “Then how do you plan to win her over?"

I laughed, “There is no winning over to do Brent. I am not ready for this shit and you know that. I am only interested in having her close by. Besides, her father was a traitor and we just don't know how deep his bad blood runs. She could prove to be a valuable asset for information."

Brent nodded, “Great. Like I said, we will have to talk more about this over a drink. For now, be careful. And be watchful and like I always say, don't ever…let who you are be known to any soul. If it gets into the wrong ears that a breed is Alive, you and everyone around you would be in grave danger.”

“I know. Thank you so much, Brent.”

He grunted and ended the call, leaving me in thoughts.

“Look at him. I have so much hope for this one because he will do so much better than those before him. The size of his shoulder is increasing more by the day, and listen to that growl ….”

“I saw him lift a log of wood with one hand like it's a piece of paper earlier, so Strength, check. Carry out more tests on him …..”

“He's nothing but an animal, don't ever forget that. Trained and created to fight and fight and kill. He needs no mercy, he doesn't deserve compassion….”

“Toss him one of those maids later tonight and pump him with drugs. Let's see if he can be able to breed her. There's a 60% chance that his offspring will carry the DNA this time naturally ….”

I shut my eyes tightly, blocking out the memories, the chains, the smell of chemicals, and blood and fire.

Blocking out the pains from my memories, pains from the flogging, the hundreds of injections.

Five years of torture, five years of suffering.

Five years of recreating me and turning me from a normal human to a half wolf breed.

A human with a wolf's DNA.

Five years of building me to be man's most dangerous weapon.

Which I would have been If it weren't for Brent, who saved me with his crew and brought me back to my family.

I pinched the bridge of my nose and opened my eyes.

“Don't ever reveal who you are to any soul.”

Not even my parents knew what happened years ago until they died.

Werewolves only existed in Fictions.

I was the Scientist's failed attempt to create one artificially, making me who I am today.

A Wolf Breed.

A breed who never imagined the mating shit would apply to me.

But here we are.

And I have no idea what to do about this girl with so much hatred in her eyes when she looks at me.