A MAZE OF GREED

Elsie lay in her bed with closed eyes. After Edwin's attack, she got treated by the physician, who was a werewolf. The O'Dells had their personal physician and a team to take care of the family members.

The physician informed that Elsie's wrist was hurt badly. A bone in the side of her back was broken after she was thrown on the wooden shelf by Edwin. She also had some scratches here and there, but they had already healed by now because of her werewolf power of healing rapidly.

The physician gave some medication and instructions to be followed for next some days till Elsie recovered completely. The recovery of her broken bone needed time.

Everyone who had witnessed or heard the commotion created by Edwin and his wolf was shaken to the core. Edwin had always been a troublemaker, but this time they had experienced his worst side.

The family was having a hard time believing that Edwin's wolf had attacked his beloved sister and best friend.

Augustus had locked himself in his chamber while Theodora took care of Elsie and Lester's injuries. Eloise was confused and scared. She didn't know what to do. She was worried for her sister, yes. But more than that, she was worried for Lester.

She had not left his side since he was brought to his room, and the physician had stitched his wounds after cleaning them.

She was angry at her elder cousin, cursed him to lengths. If something had happened to Lester, then she would have never forgiven Edwin. Her train of thoughts broke when Lester stirred in sleep.

A grunt left his mouth when he tried to move his injured leg.

"Lester, be careful! Don't move." Eloise was instantly at his side to help him lay down again.

The contact of her hands on his shoulder felt blissful to her. Lester turned his head to look at her.

"E-Eloise?"

"Yes, I am here for you Lester. Does your leg hurt?" She was concerned genuinely.

Lester didn't answer her right away, his face looked thoughtful. Eloise watched him admiringly. She thanked the Moon Goddess for his safety.

Every time she looked at him, she felt the love she had been harbouring for him for years bloom more and more. Her heart told her that the Moon Goddess must have chosen him as her mate, and that was why she fell in love with him- her childhood friend.

Who could be a perfect match other than her for the soon-to-be alpha of the Bluemoon pack?!

"Eloise…"

She shook her thoughts aside and neared him hopefully. Her name from his lips had set her heart in the surge of excitement.

"Yes, Lester. Do you want something?" Feeling more confident with his calling, she moved her hand to touch his face.

Lester nodded his head, staring back at her. "Elsie! Where is Elsie?"

All Eloise's hopes shattered with his one question. Her smile faded, and she clenched her jaw. The hand she had placed on his face slipped down in her lap.

Gulping down the lump formed in her throat, she tried to distract his mind from her younger sister.

"Look, Lester. I have brought some food for you to eat when you wake up. I-" She tried to bring a slice of an apple to his mouth, but he turned his head in the other direction.

"At least have some juice. You need streng-" She was not ready to give up.

"I don't want any of this. Tell me Eloise. Where is Elsie? Is she safe?" The urgency in his voice broke her heart again.

But by keeping a straight face, she replied dismissively. "She is fine. Don't worry about her. You need to take rest Lester. Don't worry. I am here with you. I will take care of y-"

Before she completed her sentence, Lester had already pushed the duvet away from his body.

Eloise panicked at his action and tried to hold him by his arms. "What are you doing? The physician has told to not move, Lester. Stop!"

Not giving any heed to her requests, Lester stood up from the bed. He hissed when the pain shot in his leg after putting pressure on it. But he ignored it. His worry for his mate was more substantial than his pain.

"Lester, your leg is hurt. Don't go, or the stitches will come open. Please listen to me, Lester!"

Eloise ran to stop him, but he didn't listen.

With great efforts, he dragged his feet despite the pain to get to his mate. His heart was worried, his mind full with the memories of injured Elsie on the floor, his ears ring with her cries. He had to get to his mate before he lost control of his wolf.

"Lester, Lester. I said stop. STOP! You don't need to go anywhere. Lester!"

Eloise screamed at the top of her lungs, tears streaming down her red eyes. But Lester had gone far away from her to listen to her voice or call of her heart.

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Lester watched Elsie's sleeping form with moist eyes. Theodora had informed him of Elsie's condition and had assured him that she would be fine in some days. But how could he assure that to his wolf?

His wolf had seen his mate withering in pain, and he was helpless. He couldn't even run to her to pull her to his chest. The very thought of Elsie getting hurt by someone- even if it was her cousin- made his wolf furious.

A teardrop rolled down his eyes, and before he could wipe it, his green eyes were met by Elsie's.

"L-Lester!"

A smile appeared on her tired face that made Lester's wolf purred in relief.

He was yearning to hear his name from her mouth for days. He was ecstatic to see her again and tell her how much he had missed her. He had different scenarios in his head, but none of them resembled what he saw after coming into 'the great manor'.

"Elsie! Thank the Moon Goddess that you are awake! How are you feeling now? Does it hurt so much?"

The overwhelming feeling of her mate's proximity and the trauma of what happened in Edwin's chamber broke Elsie in the loud cries. Lester immediately scooted near her and wrapped her shaking frame in his arms.

"Elsie… shhh…"

His heart pained at her state, but he couldn't do anything other than console her and offer her his shoulder, and warmth.

His Elsie had a heart of a child. Even a glare in her way made her upset for the rest of the day. Only the Moon Goddess knew how she had endured that pain of her cousin's actions.

"Lester, brother… he… I can't believe he hurt me. My brother is in pain Lester. He is in pain. I-I can feel it." She cried on his shoulder, letting the way clear to her emotions.

She had no one to share them, except her cousin. But this time, he was not there for her. Her anchor was broken.

Lester's wolf raged in the heat of revenge. Edwin was his best friend and his mate's cousin, but he had no right to hurt her in any way. Lester's human wanted to listen to Edwin's side of the story and sympathised with him but his wolf… wanted to stab his heart with a silver dagger.

But right now, his mate needed him more than anything. Lester ran his hand on the length of her back to calm her down. But his own mind was in a frenzy of hundred questions. He had never seen Edwin giving in to his wolf.

He was their leader, the alpha of all the alphas. He was known to tame his animal. Then what made him lose this time?

Pulling away from Lester, Elsie's eyes stared at him as if she had remembered something.

"Brother attacked you. Lester? Your leg?" Her eyes widened in fright.

Her eyes roamed on his sitting form to see any other injuries. She tilted her head to see his leg wrapped in a thick layer of bandage.

Her lips quivered at the sight of the degree of severity of the injury.

"Elsie… Elsie… look at me." Lester brought her face near him and cupped it with both his hands. "It's okay. Shhh… I am alright. It's just a wound. It will heal in no time." He sounded convincing, but Elsie knew better than that.

"It's not some other werewolf, Lester. It was my brother. Our leader! You know how painful and slow healing his attacks are." More tears streamed down her face as she looked at him in worry.

"The physician had stitched the wound, Elsie. It will heal soon, he has said. Don't worry my love!"

He again pulled her to his chest. No matter how much time he kept her close to him, his heart yearned for more and more.

They lost the track of time in each other's affection. Their pain had subsided with their love for each other.

"Lester"

"Hmm" He replied to her whisper.

"Can I ask you for something?" Elsie asked hopefully.

"Your word is my command, milady!"

Looking back at him earnestly, she said, "I-I want my brother back!"