A MAZE OF GREED

Rees stopped at the maid gate of 'the great manor'. The guard stationed there came to greet him with a bow. The man was older than Rees but now was a subordinate of him.

"Good evening, Rees."

Rees did not like when the fellow guards called him with a title. He had risen from amongst them and did not want that to affect his connection with them. Besides, keeping the comfort in their connection made him understand their demands and problems more easily.

That helped him expanse Edwin's band of trusted guards.

Rees looked at the man with a void face. "You have served 'the great manor' for years. And the O'Dell family is grateful for that."

The man's chest rose with pride. His eyes moved to the other guards as a wide smile appeared on his face.

Taking a deep breath to puff his chest some more, he broadened his shoulders and said, "I have never underestimated my duty and has always been loyal to it. I knew one day, the Lords will recognise my service and award me for my loyalty."

Rees saw how his face started turning red because of the amount of air he had inhaled to puff his chest.

Smirking at him, Rees put his hand on the man's shoulder.

"They do want to award you for your loyal service. And hence, they have decided to give you leave."

"A leave?"

That was not what he had expected as a reward. He thought about gold coins, expensive goods or a pile of money but did not expect a leave.

"Yes. They have decided to send you on a long leave that will last till the end of your time."

The guard's face paled, and his eyes widened. "R-Rees, I do not understand."

"What is difficult to understand? You are dismissed from the service of the O'Dells. And you can leave the very next moment I step inside 'the great manor'."

Now the guard trembled. He did not know what happened suddenly and why he was dismissed from the service.

How was he going to earn? He had a huge debt on his head. How was he going to repay it?

"Rees, please. Rees. Do not do this to me. Please talk to Lord Augustus. I am sure he will reconsider his decision."

Rees shook his head. "Sorry, mate. But my hands are tied." There was no hint of apology in his words.

"Rees... at least tell me what I did wrong. Why-"

Suddenly Rees pulled him in an embrace. But it was not to console him but to answer his question.

"Do you want to know what mistake you did? You made a mistake by insulting my mate. You made a mistake by insulting my best friend." Rees spat in anger.

Although Thea had not given the details of her and Ruth's encounter with that guard, Rees had read everything in her mind.

He was angry not only because that guard insulted Thea, but he also insulted Ruth- his Luna, twice.

The guard's eyes widened in realisation. Before he could open his mouth, Rees tightened his arm around the man's body threateningly.

"If you utter a single word about this, then you know what we do to those who defy us."

The guard nodded in understanding as no words came out of his mouth.

Releasing him from his hold, Rees looked at other guards who were puzzled.

"Bid your goodbyes to him. And do not make any mistakes. You are well paid and safe until you do not do anything that will daint the O'Dells' name."

With a last glance in that guard's way, Rees began passing the gate. But he paused for a moment to say, "Do not forget to return your uniform. The new guard will need it."

Rees was disturbed after the turn of events. He had already asked for Lester's permission before dismissing that guard from the service. Lester considered sharing this thing with Edwin but then dropped the idea.

He did not know how Edwin would react, and he had not gone to see him after his argument with him. Taking the liberty of being Edwin's trusted person, he permitted Rees to dismiss that guard.

He had already informed Lord Augustus about it but had only given the guard's misbehaviour with the women visitors as a reason for his dismissal. Trusting Lester's judgement, Augustus gave him permission saying he did not want any blemish on his family name.

Rees walked past the maids and the guards. He did not glance at their ways till he came across the maid who worked for Lord Augustus.

And to top it off, she was talking with none other than Fannie. Rees mood turned sourer than before.

When his eyes met Fannie, he did not miss a devilish smirk on her face. For a moment, the thought of her throat at the mercy of his hands crossed his mind. But she was a woman, and Rees was taught better than that by his mother.

Avoiding the two women, he hurried past them. He heard how the other maid's heart raced in her chest at his sight.

In all honesty, Rees enjoyed the female attention that he received but not after that second slap from Thea. That one slap had terrorised him for the rest of his life to look in another woman's way or enjoy their attention.

He found Lester where he had expected. He was sprawled on a rest chair in his chamber. His legs were placed on a table in front of him. His eyes were closed. His hands rested on his abdomen.

And first time in the long days, the lines of worry on his forehead had left him alone. Yet!

"Good evening, My Lord!" Rees said as he neared Lester.

"What is so good about this evening, Rees?" He asked while keeping his eyes closed.

"I went with Thea as per your command."

"And?"

"And I talked with Mr and Mrs Payne-"

"Rees! Do you expect me to know every resident of Vincardine by name?" Lester had his eyes closed. His tone was not full of irritation but was calm.

"Apologies, My Lord. They are Ruth's neighbours. They do not have any family members in Vincardine. Ruth is like a daughter to them. She is taking care of them using her salary.

Those are the only closest people to Ruth other than Thea and me. They also know what Thea told me and nothing more about Ruth."

Lester slowly opened his eyes but did not move. He stared at the roof above with a void face.

"Are you saying that we do not know anything special about Ruth?"

"I am afraid but that is the case, My Lord."

"Hmm..."

Both men fell into silence. Rees pondered if he should tell Lester about the fight with Florence and how he saw Ruth's hidden side. He was sure that his wolf sensed some strange aura around him, but he could not pinpoint what it was.

Or was it only his mind playing tricks with him?

"Rees, what would you do when you are hiding something from your mate?" Lester's question came out of the blue.

"Pardon, but I do not understand My Lord."

"What if you want to tell your mate something but then a part of you is not letting you. You think that you are doing that for your mate's good but you are not realising that it is affecting your relationship. What would you do in that situation?"

Rees recalled what happened when he hid the truth of his identity from Thea. And even today, when he told Thea about the incident with the maid, his chest felt relieved.

Rees knew what exactly Lester felt and needed help with.

"It is we who think that keeping secrets from our mate is a good thing. That way, we are protecting them. But is it not a way of underestimating them?

By keeping secrets from them for their good, we underestimate their capabilities, their strengths and their love. We also take their trust in us for granted. And that is harmful in any relationship.

When we accept someone as our mate, we must put our complete trust in them. If we expect them to understand us, then we first need to learn to share our burden with them."

Lester pulled his haze away from the roof to look at Rees. He wondered where that wisdom came to this warrior. Little did he knew that it was not only wisdom but the words of Rees's experiences.

"Then what do you suggest?" Lester asked hopefully.

"I would suggest that you tell everything to Lasy Elsie. I know that everyone thinks that she is soft at heart. And she indeed is. But that does not mean she is weak or unable to handle the problems thrown at her.

She had displayed her courage when she questioned my Master. She did not back away even after he lost his control. Her faith in her brother did not waver when she called his name and pleaded with him to come back and help her when she was injured.

She did not let her patience run thin when she asked tirelessly about her brother and wished for his well being. She is as brave as any other she-wolf. She is as demanding as any other pure breed woman.

And she is as capable of ruling the Bluemoon pack being a Luna as much as I consider Ruth is. All you need is to invest more trust in her."

Rees did not apologise for crossing his line, for he knew Edwin would have said the same thing if he was present there.