C1 1

I opened the door of the house, and the biting Moscow cold immediately struck my warm skin. A shiver ran through me, and I instinctively slipped my hands deep into the pockets of my long black coat. I sped toward my car parked outside, feeling my brown hair whipping across my face in the harsh wind. I was still struggling to grow accustomed to this freezing climate; it was a world away from the temperate, gentle weather of New Jersey where I had spent my university years.

Settling into the driver’s seat, I rubbed my cold hands together vigorously, watching the thick steam of my breath rise and vanish in the air. Despite the chill that seemed to seep into my bones, I could not deny the flicker of happiness in my heart. I had waited a long time to finish my studies and finally join the medical center for biological research owned by my father, Albert Laris. Being appointed as the youngest trainee in such a prestigious facility felt like a dream realized.

I drove toward the bus station located in the heart of the sprawling city. It did not take long before I reached the parking lot. After securing my car in its designated spot, I continued on foot toward the area where the rest of the employees were gathered. It was a strict condition of our employment that everyone must arrive at the center using the official company bus.

"Hey, Eileen!"

A cheerful voice sounded from behind me. I turned to see a tall, blond young man smiling as he adjusted his glasses. Andrei was a fellow apprentice, someone who, like me, had recently joined the center. He had already made a name for himself through his extraordinary dedication, often staying late into the night to work, which had clearly impressed the senior officials and earned him more responsibilities.

"Hi, Andrei," I replied, acknowledging him with a nod as we prepared to board.

"I know you have been assigned the new case," he remarked, settling into the seat beside me once we were on the bus.

I looked at him, unable to hide my surprise. "Really? How did you know about that?"

"Did your father not tell you?" Andrei asked, his eyebrows lifting in curiosity.

I turned my gaze away, staring out of the window as the city blurred past. "No. I have not seen my father in a week," I admitted, feeling a familiar sting of embarrassment.

It was the truth. I rarely crossed paths with my father, who was always shielded by the excuse of being consumed by research and studies. He never seemed to worry about leaving me alone at home, a pattern of neglect that had defined my childhood. His frequent absences had fueled countless bitter quarrels with my mother in the past, though lately, she had chosen to remain silent, accepting his financial support as a substitute for his presence.

Andrei interrupted my dark thoughts, leaning closer and lowering his voice to a cautious whisper. "He is ranked as number one hundred and nine, but his name is actually Alexei. You must deal with him very carefully."

"Why? Is he ill?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"I do not know anything regarding his health; they kept him downstairs," Andrei muttered. He then pulled out his phone and began making a call, signaling that he was not ready to discuss the matter further.

I had heard whispers among the employees about "other cases" kept within the center, but I had never encountered any of them. As I watched the landscape shift, I found myself repeating the name under my breath like a secret: Case 109... Alexei.

Time seemed to crawl until we finally reached the Biological Research Center, a secluded facility nestled far from the city’s crowds. The excitement Andrei had sparked in me was still buzzing when I reached my private office, where Roman, the supervisor, was already waiting.

"Hello, Eileen. I wanted to inform you that we have assigned you to follow up on the status of Case One Hundred and Nine," Roman stated, his tone professional and clipped. "This is a significant task, but you must not go near him. We are still uncertain about the effects of the drugs on his system."

He gestured toward the long, sterile corridor. "The room is this way. Follow me."

I walked behind him, my heart hammering against my ribs. I could not help but wonder what kind of person Alexei was and why he was kept in such total isolation. When we reached the room, I noticed it was surrounded by reinforced glass for constant observation. Roman opened the door and we stepped inside slowly.

The first thing I saw was a young man sitting on the floor. He appeared to be in his mid-twenties, but his hands and feet were bound with long, heavy chains anchored to the wall. At the sound of our entry, he looked up, stood abruptly, and backed away. I studied him for a moment; he wore only short trousers, leaving his athletic, perfectly defined muscles exposed. His sculpted jawline and sharp features gave him a look that was both cruel and strikingly masculine.

"Be careful of him," Roman warned. "Just sit back and record your notes. If anything happens, call me immediately."

With a final nod, he left, leaving me alone in the heavy silence of the room. I brushed my hair out of my face and opened the report on Case 109. It described him as a "mentally ill individual" who was "out of his mind," selected specifically for experimental trials. I frowned, doubting the authenticity of the words on the page. He did not look like a man who had lost his mind. How could someone mentally broken maintain such a powerful, athletic physique? Something deep inside told me he had been someone of great importance before he was brought to this place.

I sat in the chair, watching him as he stared back at me. Minutes turned into hours of boredom, as there was nothing significant to record. Eventually, he sat back down on the ground. Driven by a sudden urge to communicate, I leaned forward.

"Okay... my name is Eileen," I said, offering him a gentle smile.

He looked at me with an unreadable expression but did not offer a word. I stood up, ignoring Roman’s strict orders to stay back. My curiosity was a living thing now; I wanted to know the man behind the chains.

"You are Alexei, are you not?" I asked, staring directly into his dark green eyes.

He lowered his head and turned his body away. That was when I noticed a deep, jagged cut and a fresh bruise marking his shoulder. A wave of anger washed over me; had they been beating him here? I walked to the medicine table, grabbing gauze and a bottle of sterilizer. As I drew closer, he turned with predatory speed, his lips curling into a snarl that revealed long, sharp fangs.

He was not human.

I swallowed hard, my breath catching in my throat. "Alexei, please... I will not hurt you," I whispered, forcing myself to take another step toward him.

He watched me with intense caution, his eyes never leaving my face. My hand trembled as I pressed the gauze to his wound, gently cleaning the area. To my surprise, he began to calm down, though I had been certain he was about to bite me. I had studied werewolves extensively for a university project; I knew they once lived naturally alongside humans until the growing population pushed them into the Russian wilderness. I had always been fascinated by their interconnected culture and had dreamed of meeting one.

"I am finished," I murmured after securing the bandage.

I retreated to my seat, my mind a whirlwind of panicked thoughts. Why was my father keeping a werewolf in a human research center? This was completely illegal. I stood up, moved toward the door, and slipped out quietly. I spotted Andrei standing nearby and hurried toward him, grabbing his arm and pulling him toward a secluded corner.

"Andrei... there is a werewolf in that room! Do you know about this?" I whispered urgently.

He looked me in the eye, scanning our surroundings before answering in a low voice. "Do you mean to tell me you did not know?"

"No! I did not. If I had, I would never have accepted this job," I hissed.

Andrei watched me with a cautious, almost pitying look. I ignored it and continued, "I found a cut and a bruise on his shoulder. He is being beaten, Andrei. I cannot believe my father is conducting biological experiments on werewolves."

He looked down, his voice heavy. "Unfortunately, he is. This entire facility is dedicated to experiments and research on werewolves only."

My eyes widened in horror. "You knew? And you are okay with this?"

When he did not answer, I turned and walked away, my blood boiling with anger. I could not endure the thought of working in such a suspicious and cruel place, especially one run by my own father. I marched toward his office, determined to confront him.

"Eileen, wait!" Andrei called out, but I did not stop.

I reached my father’s office, but two guards blocked my path. "Get out of my way. I am the daughter of Albert Laris, and I want to see him now!" I shouted, struggling to get past them.

"We will put you in custody if you continue this," one of the guards warned, grabbing my arm.

Suddenly, the heavy door swung open from the inside. "What is going on here?"

It was my father’s voice.