His Refusal

(Asher) The business dealing off the island had left me tired and in a bad mood. Fucking humans always trying to double-cross anyone and everyone. But they didn't understand that I could see right through them. Pouring myself some scotch, I tried to relax in my study chair. My head rested on its back as I closed my eyes and tried to find some semblance of peace. The door to my study knocked and I knew it would be Eden, my butler and my beta. Only he was stupid enough to disturb me when I enjoyed sitting in solitude. “Enter,” I ordered and the doorknob twisted. The door opened revealing Eden’s happy face. He strolled inside and perched himself on the seat opposite me. “You are back, how did the meeting go?” he asked, grabbing himself a glass and pouring some scotch from the decanter. “The usual, humans thought they could double cross me and I put them right in their place,” I answered, taking a slow sip of the scotch as it burned its way down my throat. “Well, to lighten your mood. I have brought good news.” Joy danced in his words as he tilted his head slightly. “What?” “One of the she-wolves is pregnant with your child. The embryo survived, you are going to become a father soon,” he announced leaning closer, the enthusiasm evident. For a normal werewolf or person, this would have been joyous news. But I was far from being normal, after what happened with my family and my mate. All this business with surrogacy and she-wolves was Eden’s idea. I had no interest in women, not after what my fated mate did to me. Even if I did, I was incompatible to mate with any she-wolf who wasn't my mate. The immense power of my wolf was something they couldn't contain and would end up dying. But a child was a necessity to further my lineage and to take over the family business. I was already 29 with no male heir to my name or a woman in my life. At a point, I might have celebrated the idea of having a family but that part of me was dead now, gone dark. My light had been lost. I didn't wish to even touch a woman or let anyone get closer to me, hence the surrogacy option. Also it was safer for the she-wolves. This was only a means to an end for me though. “See to it that she is comfortable and all her needs are met. So the baby is born healthy.” Eden grinned, thinking I cared. “She requests a meeting…” his words were hardly out of his mouth and my anger surged. I knew how women operated. They would dig their nails into you and act as if they owned you, only to betray you in the end. “Absolutely not. You know how I feel about the topic of meeting women. She stays where she is and whatever she needs just fulfil it without bringing it to me,” I told him sternly, trying to put an end to this conversation. “But, no one has ever been able to achieve what she has. Maybe she could be your….I mean just meet her, she deserves this much.” Eden changed his words midway when I sent a seething glare his way. “I am not meeting her, ever. And that's final. After she gives birth, send her on her way with whatever she demands. Money, jewels, clothes. That's what women mostly want these days. I am sure she wants to ask me for money.” Eden leaned back in his chair and placed the glass down at my words. Disappointment was written in bold letters on his forehead. He had always held out hope for me which I had lost a long time ago. “Asher!” He began. “This conversation is over, let me get some rest. I am tired,” I told him in a dismissive tone, raking my midnight-black hair with my fingers. He sighed heavily, before getting up and leaving, closing the door behind him. I emptied the scotch glass in my throat and banged it on the mahogany side table. It rattled from the force I applied. ‘We are going to have a pup with some unknown woman?’ Blaze stirred in my head. I could feel the surge of his power, it was quite a task to keep him contained. ‘Seems like it,’ I answered, still trying to digest the news. A child was a big responsibility and so much would change with his arrival. Then there was a chance of that woman trying to stay in the picture. That's something I didn't want. So I made up my mind and knew what the right course of action would be at the required time. Maybe my decision was wrong but I needed to safeguard my heart. Women brought destruction, they were cunning and most importantly gold-diggers. No way I was letting this one wriggle her way into my life. *** Over the past few months, I constantly received the news about this pregnant she-wolf. I didn't even ask her name, knowing it would make her seem more real. This way she was just anonymous. Eden badgered me from time to time to meet her at least once but I refused. Her pregnancy had turned out to be difficult as Eden informed me, she could hardly keep food down and struggled to eat or sleep. After six months, finally, the news of the baby to be soon born was brought to me. Since It was a complicated pregnancy they were going to perform a C-section. It was time to give my final decision so I called Eden. He could deliver my message to the doctors in the lab. Once he picked up the phone I said in a monotone voice while keeping all my emotions in check. “Once the baby is delivered he should be brought to me and tell her that she gave birth to a stillborn pup. No way is she going to be part of our lives.”