Ivan Smith: The rise of the elemental werewolf

“I am going to miss you, man. It's like losing a fucking son.”

The warden said as he let Ivan out. Ivan stared at his reflection as the heavy gates slid open for him to pass.

He looked completely different from the man he was three years ago.

He was bigger, more muscular, more facial hair, and even a couple of tattoos now lined his back, and it was all thanks to Master sinzu aka, his mentor and father behind bars.

“I’m going to miss you too, Wardern, Grey.” He smiled, patting the older man on the back affectionately, then turned, and waved at the other prisoners who were distraught to see him go. It was hard to admit, but he was going to miss them too. He had spent three years of his life with them, and they’d become somewhat of a family.

“They are definitely going to miss you too, that’s for sure. You brought order to their lives.” The warden smiled ruefully.

Ivan glanced at the warden who had become a friend throughout his stay here. “I’m sure in your hands, order won’t be a problem.”

“I wish that were true. Take care,man.”

“Take care.” Ivan said before stepping out of the walls of what had been his home for the last three years.

The first thing Ivan noticed when he came out was how much cleaner, and fresher the air was. He breathed it in.

The second was a black Suv car parked across the street.

A smile spread across his face when the door opened, and Selene, his wife stepped out looking like a runway model.

His heart swelled. Finally!

His wife had always been beautiful, but looking at her now, she looked different. Her short dark hair was longer, and the curls had been straightened. She looked like a million bucks. Literally.

Last he heard, her business had skyrocketed, and they were rich. He was proud of her.

Waving at her, he started to jog towards her. He couldn’t wait to feel her warm and soft embrace against his body. It had been too long. Far too long.

The smile quickly died when he noticed, on the other side of the car was the bastard that had put him in prison , stepping out of the car too.

Ivan stopped in his tracks, brows furrowed as he looked between Selene, and Benson.

Oh, God. Was Selene in trouble? He thought, his heart beating erratically against his chest.

“Selene?” Ivan asked, wondering if he was holding her hostage. If he had so much had laid a finger on her, he was going to kill him right here.

His theory turned to dust when the pompous fool rounded the car, and came to stand beside Selene, draping his hand around her shoulders like it was normal.

“What…what is going on here?” he asked, eyes narrowed into slits.

“You look well, Ivan.” Selene finally spoke, ignoring his question.

Ivan didn’t miss the way the rich bastard kissed her forehead intimately nor did he miss the way she leaned into him like the way she used to lean into him.

“Selene, why is that prick holding you like that…Is he blackmailing you?” he finally gathered the courage to ask.

Selene rolled her eyes.

“You were always such a dimwit.’ Selene said in an irritated voice “But since you need me to spell it out for you, I Will!” She straightened. “I’ve moved on, Ivan.” Benson smiled proudly beside her. “And Benson and I are engaged to be married.”

Ivan froze, the color draining from his face. He was sure that he had heard wrong.

“Yes, Dimwit, your wife and I are getting married. She has moved on onto better things. Did you really expect her to wait for a loser like you?” Benson added smugly.

Ivan couldn’t breathe. Could barely process what the fuck was going on.

“Babe, I told you to let me handle it.” Selene glared at Benson.

“I’m sorry baby. I couldn’t resist. I hate a weak man” They both laughed.

Ivan was convinced that this was a badly directed dream.

Selene finally glanced at him; and took a few steps closer as she fished out a document from her bag.

“Here, these are divorce papers. Sign them.” She handed it to him like it was the most natural thing in the world

Ivan stared at the papers; sure, he had heard wrong. Then he looked up.

“Sign the papers, Ivan! Don’t make this any more messy than it has to be.”

Ivan broke in half. Every doubt cleared from his mind. This wasn’t a dream nor a prank.This was really happening.

“Any more messy?” he gritted, eyes hard. “You come here,” he began, his fists balled. “After three years of being in this jail, waiting to come out to be with you, and this is all you can say?! I am in jail because of you, Selene! I gave up everything for you.” His voice shook.

“I never asked you to!”

Ivan couldn’t believe his ears. It just didn’t make any sense. The Selene he knew would never do this. She was sweet, and kind. The woman before him now was different, and it wasn’t just because she was wearing more sophisticated and designer clothes. Something in her eyes had changed. There was a cruelty in them that was not there before.

“You didn’t have to. I loved you, and I thought you loved me too. That was my mistake”

She had the decency to look away.

“Things have changed, okay? Just sign the fucking papers, and stop being a such a crybaby sore loser, Jesus!”

The words stung more than it should have. Ivan suddenly burst out laughing. It was a humorless laugh, one that helped mask the pain clawing at his chest.

He knew if he didn’t laugh. He’d fall to his knees, and weep, and he would be damned if he let that happen.

“He’s gone mad!” Benson said, an amused look on her face.

Ivan was dumbfounded. He’d spent three years in jail for defending Selene from a predator like Benson only to come out to find that the woman he had gone to jail for was fucking the man that had put him there, and they were engaged.

If this wasn't his life right now, it would have been funny.

“Here.” Selene threw a check at him. “one million dollars. It’s the least I can do for all you did for me when I was just starting up my business. I know you’ve heard of my company’s growth, and it's all thanks to Benson. He’s a lot of things you weren’t Ivan. Now, sign the divorce papers.”

Ivan’s eyes immediately hardened, he threw the check back at her, and yanked the papers and pen from her and signed it. Then threw the papers at her. Selene caught it in time before it could spill out everywhere.

“What? You’re not going to pick up the check?” Selene asked, a smug look on her face,

“I don’t need your charity, Selene. I don’t need anything from you. You disgust me. You and him”

She rolled her eyes and Ivan considered slapping her across the face. He wouldn't though, that was not how he was raised, but boy did he want to

“Don’t be stupid. It's one million dollars. You need it. Now that you're an ex convict, nobody will hire you. Use this to start up your life.”

“You’ve become like them.” Ivan spat, disgust in his eyes.

“Excuse me?”

“You think nice clothes, and jewelry make you someone, but you will never belong in their world, Selene. Take your money, and go.” he bellowed.

“Oh, I see what’s going on here. Pretending to be noble? I've met your type before. You love to pretend you're better than everyone even though you are nothing. We both know you need that money. Would it be easier to pick up if we both left?” Benson stepped forward

Ivan said nothing. Didn’t even glance his way. He knew if he did, he’d be back in prison, and he wasn’t about to serve a second sentence. But God, was he tempted.

Besides, Old master Sinzu had helped him master his emotions. He wouldn’t be baited again. Not after Selene had spat in his face, and stabbed him in the back.

“Come on, baby. Let’s go. Leave the pathetic loser to lick his wounds.”

Selene stared at him for a second longer before following him.

They both made their way to the car. Just as they rolled up the window, Selene suddenly paused, and glanced out the window.

“Oh, and by the way, I'd take that money if I were you. You’d need it to plan your mother’s funeral.”

“What?” Ivan’s heart skipped a beat.

“And please come get your mother out of my house. She is stinking up the place with the stench of death.” With that, she rolled up the wind screen.

“What did you do to my mother, you bitch!” he screamed, eyes wide with panic. The last he had heard about his mom was that she was sick, but not sick enough to be dying.

He opened his mouth to speak again, but before he could, a slick Audi blocked Selene’s car, and then a tall beautiful goddess of a woman stepped out.

Ivan stared at her completely mesmerized. For a moment he forgot his train of thoughts. The woman’s deep green eyes landed on him, and she smiled.

Ivan frowned and glanced behind him, wondering who the hell she was smiling at.

Selene’s car began to move again, and he quickly regained his focus, and began to walk towards the car, wanting answers from Selene about his mother. This time, he was willing to go back to jail if they had so much as touched a hair on her head.

Just as he was walking, a tall man that had stepped out of the same car the beautiful woman had stepped out of blocked his path.

“Is there a problem?” Ivan sneered. He did not have time for more trouble today. He’d already had the humiliation of his entire existence seconds ago, anything else now would simply trigger him and there was only so much self-control one could contain.

"Mr. Ivan Claire Grey?”

“Yes?”

“Let it go.” He said.

“And who the hell are you to tell me what to do?”

“Oh, I'm nobody, but the lady over there is Miss Leah Dalton, the CEO of Dalton grand gold automobile enterprise, the daughter of Chairman Wang lee Dalton, and…

“Your wife to be.” she said the last part with a smile.

Ivan blinked rapidly. “What?”