A MAZE OF GREED

"Ruth!"

"No, Thea. I can't let you go there alone. You don't know people working there. They will not let you pass the main gate. If you are going then I am coming with you too!"

Thea was in a tricky position now. She didn't want to drag Ruth into whatever she was about to face in 'the great manor'. She was worried that Rees's secret might get disclosed in front of Ruth.

Rees was very upset after knowing their little sneaking adventure on the night of the celebrations in 'the great manor'. He had warned Thea not to do that again, ever. And for some reason, he was particularly upset about Ruth's involvement. Thea didn't know why though.

She thought that it might be because Rees didn't want to tell Ruth about his identity and the permanence of another world of supernaturals coexisting with the humans.

"I am waiting for your answer, Thea."

Thea considered not going there, but then her heart didn't listen. She had this bad feeling in her chest, and she didn't know if it was her intuition or was it because of her mate bond with Rees. She was still learning about his world that was soon to become her world too!

An idea popped up in her head, and she patted herself mentally for coming with a way through this situation.

"Fine! I will not-"

"Before you finish that, let me remind you something, dear best friend. Friends do not lie with each other. If you are thinking about fooling me, and then going there all the way alone then don't. Because, that is not going to happen."

Ruth gave a warning glare to Thea, and her idea became useless before she presented it. Reckoning her brain, Thea tried to come up with another excuse.

"But Ruth. It's already evening and soon it will be dark. Don't you have to go and take care of Mr and Mrs Payne? They must be waiting for you. We can't put them in worry now, can we?" Thea hoped for this excuse to work.

Ruth was taken aback by her reasoning. She had not thought about it before. Her brows creased in the middle in thought. And seeing that, Thea smiled inwardly. She was not happy to avoid her friend this way, but it was for her own good.

Thea didn't know how Rees would react after seeing Ruth in 'the great manor'. And what if Edwin and Ruth crossed their paths again? Thea was not ready to testify another war.

And if Ruth's suspicion about Edwin was right-that he was keeping a watch on her- then it was for good to not take Ruth to the den of a lion.

After a brief pause, Ruth faced Thea again. "Thea, you are such a caring person. Even though you need my support, you are still thinking about Mr and Mrs Payne." She smiled admiringly.

Thea gave her an awkward smile, cringing inwardly for bypassing Ruth. But she had to do it for her friend's sake. She couldn't put Ruth in trouble one more time.

"Yes. So I think you should go-"

"But I am still coming with you! As much as I love Mr and Mrs Payne, I love you too! And I have promised you that I will not leave you alone in the time of need."

Thea's eyes widened at that. "But… but-"

"Don't worry. They can manage on their own for a couple of hours more. Now come on, we are already late."

Thea had no choice but to follow Ruth with a worried heart. She only prayed that nothing would go wrong like the last time while they walked in the direction of 'the great manor'.

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"Lester, Rees! I am tired of asking you both about brother. If you don't take me to him then…"

Lester had enough of Elsie's stubbornness. Since the time she had regained consciousness, she was constantly asking about Edwin and where he was. Everyone in the family tried to make her understand the situation, but she was not ready to listen to anything.

Everyone was already under stress after Ripon's unexpected visit. He had not been there only to ask about the developments in the investigation but had also conveyed Barret Addington's message.

It was more of a warning, a threat.

He had warned Augustus that if the O'Dells couldn't report on the investigation to the Council's satisfaction in a month, then he would present this case before the royals.

That warning was a blow to Augustus's pride and capability. First time over the years, not only he but his wolf was also on the verge. No one had dared to go near him, and everyone walked on the eggshells around him.

Even Theodora was also a bit wary of going near her husband when he was not at his best.

"Lester!"

"What Elsie? I told you that he is safe. What else you want to know?" Lester's voice was loud.

Rees, who stood with the couple awkwardly, visibly tensed.

"I want to know where my brother is. I want to meet him. I want to see if he is really safe or not." Rees had never seen Elsie fighting for something the way she did for her elder cousin-Edwin.

~"she truly loves him!"~

Lester's head snapped in his direction at the speed of light. His olive-green eyes darkened as he gave a murderous glare to Rees.

Rees was confused at first.

~"Next time you comment about my mate, don't! Or keep your mind link closed!"~

Rees's eyes widened in shock. He had forgotten to close his mind link, and Lester could hear every thought of his. Rees immediately bowed deeper as a gesture of apology and made sure to close his mind link.

"Lester, I am talking to you! Answer me!" Elsie had recovered well in these six days, except for occasional pain in the side of her back when she stretched it.

While Lester's wounds had healed but they needed a couple of days to get recuperated completely. But he could walk better than before.

"Elsie, please. Try to understand." Lester tried again while controlling his anger.

He was in no mood, and Elsie should understand it. Instead, she was provoking him to lose his cool.

"NO! Don't tell me to understand. I want to see my brother!" She screamed.

Her skin had turned a dark shade of pink as her blood boiled at the thought of her brother getting hurt.

To Rees's horror, Lester's reaction was not something he had anticipated at all.

Using his supernatural speed, Lester was directly in front of Elsie's face, glaring down at her with his darkened eyes. His wolf had appeared after the dam of his patience was destroyed by his mate.

"SHUT. UP!" Lester greeted through his enlarged teeth. His fingers twitched rapidly as his claws threatened to grow.

Rees expected Elsie to cower under Lester's wolf's gaze and take his warning seriously. On the contrary, her wolf also appeared to match her mate's challenge for dominance, as her eyes turned darker.

"Don't you tell me what to do. I am not a child to get ordered around. Take me to my brother or I will-"

"You will what, wolf?"

Both the werewolves, even though mates, bared their teeth at each other while matching their challenging glare. The tension was palpable that Rees had to interfere between their fight before any of them lost control.

"Milord! Lady Elsie!" Rees approached them cautiously but was froze in his spot when the said werewolves turned their heated glares towards him.

"SHUT UP!" They snapped in unison.

Rees didn't know how to handle the situation. But before he did something, his ears strained to listen to the approaching footsteps hitting against the marble floor.

"Lady Eloise!" Words left his mouth in a whisper.

He had to calm both Elsie and Lester before the elder daughter of Augustus, grab this opportunity for her advancement. Rees knew that Eloise would not let Elsie live with this fight with Lester in peace. She would do everything to poke Elsie's self-esteem and self-confidence. If that happened, then Edwin would not spare Rees's throat one more time.

"Milord! Please! Lady Eloise is on her way here. You have to control your wolf. Lady Elsie, please back down. He is an alpha werewolf. He would not give up till you do. Please!" Rees tried earnestly, but he didn't know the effect of his words on those two werewolves.

A knock was heard followed by Eloise's presence.

"Elsie! Lester?" Eloise's sharp senses didn't miss the heavy air in the chamber as she walked towards them with curiosity.

As expected, she first tried to reach their thoughts through the mind link, but because of Rees's warning, Elsie and Lester had already closed their mind links.

They had also taken control from their wolves, and now what remained behind was hurt and frustration.

"Take some rest, Elsie! I will see later." With those curt words, Lester left the chamber not sparing a glance to Eloise and that irked her.

"Rees, I would like to get some sleep. Please tell the guard at the door to not let anyone disturb me for some hours." Elsie was too annoyed that she didn't even acknowledge her elder sister, and that was something new to Eloise.

Elsie snuggled in her bed and covered herself from head to toe with a duvet as if she was shutting the outside world and giving some time to calm her heart.

Awkwardly, Rees turned his attention to Eloise, who looked like she was about to break into tears of humiliation.

"Lady Eloise-"

Throwing a quick heated glance in Rees's way, she walked fast out of there before he could finish his sentence.

And Rees could do nothing but sigh deeply.