Ivan Smith: The rise of the elemental werewolf

Chapter 3

“Are you alright?” Leah asked thirty minutes later when they were both now in her condo.

Ivan was anything but fine.

“What do you think?”

“I think you are hurt by what your ex wife said. I also think she isn’t worth the pain you feel right now.”

He scoffed. “You think you know everything, don’t you?”

“I know most.”

She smiled.

Something about her both annoyed and intrigued him. She was hard to put in a box, and he didn’t know if he wanted to be hitched to a woman he didn’t understand.

“You sound like your grandfather.” He scoffed.

“He raised the man that raised me. Of course I do. Anyway, enough of this pity party, we should talk about our wedding. I was thinking in two weeks’ time…”

“I’m not interested in getting married.” Ivan interrupted. He was done with whatever bullshit this was. Nobody told him what to do!

Leah frowned. “What?”

Ivan stood. “Look, I just got out of a fucking sham of a marriage with the woman I planned to spend the rest of my life with, and you think jumping into another one is my fucking first call?

“I love your grandfather to death, and would do anything he said, but marriage? I don’t even know you.”

Leah rolled her eyes.

“I don’t know you either, but I’m willing. Besides, don't you want to give the man his last dying wish?”

Ivan hated how right she was.

“Maybe even get revenge on Selene?”

“Of course, I do.”

“Then marry me.”

Ivan wanted revenge. Wanted to hit Selene where it hurt for the betrayal, for the neglect of his mother, but he failed to see how marrying Leah could help achieve that.

“Think about it. Marrying me will guarantee you true power. Besides, it's not a love marriage. It's only until a year.”

Ivan frowned. “I doubt your grandfather would be satisfied with that.”

“He won't but he's dead. Except you plan on going to his grave.”

“No. But…”

“No buts. It's either you want to change your life and become better than this or you want to remain a pathetic fool whose wife left him for his mortal enemy. The man that put you in jail.”

That stung, more than Ivan was willing to admit. The humiliation of finding out Selene had been unfaithful with the man that put him in prison was still fresh. Not to mention the pain and suffering his mother had to go through. He wanted Selene and Benson to pay. Wanted to bring that entire family under his feet, and crush them.

“I’ll let you freshen up, and think about it. Ally will show you to your room, I have a meeting in an hour and a half, and I have to prepare. Dinner will be ready by the time you are done freshening up.”

Ivan nodded. She stepped closer to him, and kissed his cheek. “I’ll see you later, handsome.” Ivan blushed. Leah smiled that blindingly bright smile at him, patted his chest before strutting off.

Ivan couldn’t take his eyes off her ass. For someone so slender, she had a nice curvy behind. Maybe a marriage with her wasn’t entirely a bad deal.

A petit maid led Ivan to his room. The pent house was already insanely impressive, but his room, somehow, was bigger than his entire house he shared with Selene.

A king size bed laid in the middle of the room with more pillows that was necessary for anyone. A red duvet was draped over the bed. The room was painted a muted maroon and the marble floor was a dark brown.

The windows were covered with red old-style curtains, and there was a mahogany wooden dresser on the left side of the room.

The chandelier was turned off, but the other smaller lights were on.

Ivan advanced into the room, and couldn’t help notice a faint vanilla scent in the air that calmed him.

Even the air here was somehow fresher than outside.

Ivan finally noticed a small box on the edge of the bed, and picked it up. There was a paper under it that read: From Master Sinzu.

He smiled. He already missed that old fucker, by now, they’d both be playing chess while he told him endlessly about the great power he was supposed receive once he got out of prison.

He tried to open the box, but it wouldn’t open. It was locked.

Ivan frowned. Leave it to master Sinzu to make you jump through hoops just to receive a gift.

He searched around for a key, but couldn’t find any. Then, he glanced down at the ring he had given him, and then at the box lock.

He quickly took off the ring. There was a small mechanism beside the ring. He turned it clockwise, and a small key protruded out. He inserted the key into the lock, and opened. There was a small envelope inside. He picked it up, and a key, plus a round object he wasn’t sure of.

He opened the letter, and read.

Hello, son. If you’re reading this then you’re finally free, and with my granddaughter.

Ever since you stepped into prison that first day, I knew there was something special about you. Your entire life is about to change, and everything you know about the world is about to be flipped. You possess great power, and my family will help unlock it. You will inherit half everything I own, but only if you marry Leah. She will be your guide.

I never told you this in prison because I didn’t want to disrupt your mental state especially since your wife was betraying you.

Once the wedding ceremony is complete, the key in the box will finally have a door to open.

Love you, son.

Ivan stared at the paper. He wasn’t sure what to think. Just how did Maser Sinzu know about Selene’s infidelity?

He had been with that man for three years, and he’d not had one visitor. He wanted it that way for some reason. Protection, he said.

Ivan put back the letter in the box, and then picked up the golden key to examine.

He didn’t like ultimatums, but he couldn’t deny the fact that he was intrigued. Wealth, power and a beautiful woman did not sound like a bad deal, but it did sound like a prison in a way or was he overthinking it?

He made his way to the bathroom, and showered, then found a couple of clothes that were suspiciously his size in a walk-in closet. He chose a navy-blue cashmere sweater, and black jeans before making his way out.

As he stepped out of the room, the smell of something fried, and roasted hit him. His stomach growled. He didn’t realize just how hungry he was.

The dining table was an all you can eat buffet.

Fried chicken, grilled chicken, sausages, bread, pancakes, eggs, meatballs, pasta, ham.

He picked up one bacon, then heard the roar of a car. He made his way to the window, and saw Leah talking to a tall man. They suddenly kissed; Ivan winced. The sight of Leah kissing someone else for some reason made him want to punch a wall. He watched as he led her to the car, and then kissed her again.

Ivan stepped away from the window. He let out a long and harsh breath

Why the fuck did he even care? It wasn’t like she meant anything to him. They just met. But the more he thought about it, the angrier he became.

Fuck! Maybe he needed to get laid. That was it. He needed to fuck and let out everything from his system.

He decided to focus on eating

When he was done, he left the house to go see his mother with a Tupperware of food that the maid had prepared

On his way to the hospital, just as he was about to cross the street, Ivan noticed a man in black staring in his direction. At first, he thought he was staring at someone behind him, but when he looked back, there was nobody standing behind him. He glanced back at the buff man but he was gone.

He scanned the street, but couldn’t find him. Maybe he’d imagined it. He was definitely being paranoid. Prison would fo that to a person. So he shrugged, and crossed.

When he got to the hospital, his mother was awake talking to some of the nurses. They all turned to look at him as he entered. The nurses who were smiling and joking around before suddenly began to blush as Ivan made his way through.

“Am I interrupting something?”

He asked with a smile.

“No, no. Of course not. A man like you can never interrupt anyone.” One of the dark-skinned nurses said.

“Ivy!” Mrs. Smith yelled, smiling wide as she saw her son.

Ivan rolled his eyes. His mother must be feeling better because she was using that annoying nickname again.

“Hey, mom.” He hugged her, relief washing over him,

“Sorry I’m late.”

“Ladies, this is my lovely son, Ivy. Isn’t he handsome?”

“He’s very handsome, Ma’am. Is he single?”

“Soon, he will.” She said.

“Mom.” Ivan warned.

“Well, we are going to leave you two to it. We will be back in two hours to check your vitals.”

“Thanks, Debra.”

“Anytime.”

Both women left but not before winking at Ivan,

“How are you, mom?”

Ivan asked, seated next to him.

“I’m good, son.”

“Has the doctor spoken to you yet?”

“Yes. No, don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what?” Ivan asked, trying to hold back all the emotions in his chest.

“With that face of pity. You know how much I hate it. I’m fine.”

“No, you are not. You are sick, and if you don’t get surgery.”

“I know. My symptoms will get worse and I might die.”

“Why are you saying it like it doesn’t matter?”

“Because the only thing that has ever mattered to me is you, and you’re finally back. I prayed everyday till you were released for you to be safe.”

“Mom.”

“No. No surgeries. I know I’ll be fine. Besides, the surgery isn’t cheap. I’m not going to put this family in more debt.”

“Debts?” Ivan’s eyes widened.

Mrs Smith sighed.

“I didn’t want to say anything, but after your arrest, the court demanded we pay for Benson’s medical bills. We used all our savings.”

“What?”

“Yes. I’m sorry.”

“And Selene just watched?”

“Yes. She completely changed after your arrest. She became so mean, so selfish. She even began to collect rent. I still can’t believe she agreed to marrying that prick!”

Ivan couldn’t believe it either. It made no sense. Part of him still believed this was simply a bad dream, and any moment from now, he’d wake up and he would be in prison again, and it would be the night before his release.

“Do you know she's pregnant?”

It still stung.

“It's okay, mom. I’ll make sure they both pay for everything. Every single penny.”

“What does that mean?” she asked

With determination in his veins, he repeated. “It means everyone that has ever hurt us will pay.”

Ivan left the hospital hours later to get his mom her favorite chocolate for dessert.

He found a convenient store close to the hospital, and picked up a few chocolate bars. He surprisingly still had the 600 dollars he had in his account before he went to jail.

As he stepped out, his phone suddenly rang, he picked up.

“Hello.” Then he noticed the man wearing what he'd seen on his way here, and then he frowned when he suddenly pointed his hand at him in the shape of a gun, and suddenly made a “Boom” sound with his mouth.

Ivan growled, and then fell to the ground. He clutched his chest, blood, and then everything went black.