A MAZE OF GREED

Ruth was happy and thought that her life had finally started to fall in place. There are indeed sunny days after the gloomy clouds parted in the sky.

Mr Payne was doing well at his job. True to his words, the manager of the lumber factory entrusted only light chores and the inspecting tasks with Mr Payne. Now that the old couple was free of guilt, they did not fuss when Ruth bought fruits or fish once in a while for them.

Over these past weeks, she had grown over them and vice versa. All three of them lived together like a family. The only thing that kept Ruth from deciding to live with them in their home was that she did not want to intrude on their privacy.

And she was also working late in the night. Visits of Thea and Rees had turned frequent, so she did not want to disturb them.

Finally, she could say that her life was going well.

Speaking about her friends, she did not understand Thea's strange behaviour. She kept zoning out of their conversations. Sometimes, Ruth caught Thea staring at her as if she was deep in thought or was trying to venture through a maze.

Ruth had tried asking Thea about it. But every time, she got some irrational and lame answers.

Rees, on the other hand, spent part of his weekends with Thea, Ruth and Mr and Mrs Payne. He would bring their favourite pastries and stay for lunch. He even made a mushroom dish once that his mother had taught him.

He invited Ruth over dinner at his home along with Thea and her parents. He asked Mr and Mrs Payne to join them, but they politely declined. They were comfortable with Rees but had their insecurities with respect to his parents, who were well off than them.

Before agreeing to his invitation, Ruth made sure that Rees would not bring his master, like the last time he did. Rees scratched his head as if he had the same plan. But when Ruth threatened him to decline his offer, he agreed to not bring any person that she would not like.

*

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*

Edwin called his guard into his room.

"Good morning, Master!" The man bowed in respect.

Edwin had spent hours and hours thinking about Lester's plan. He knew it was a fail try. He also did not want Ruth anywhere near him, or he would not be able to stay away from her.

His wolf would not listen or think and demand claiming his mate. But he also understood everyone's concern. He had duties to fulfil.

Turning towards him, Edwin asked, "What is happening around me?"

His question caught the guard off guard. He blinked, puzzled at his master.

'Why is master asking me this question instead of Rees?' He pondered.

"Have I asked something that you can not answer?"

"N-no, Master. Apologies!" The guard rushed not to upset his master.

"Then answer me. What is happening in 'the great manor', Vincardine and the other packs?"

The guard hesitated at first. But answered truthfully, or Edwin would have read his mind, and that would not be in his favour.

"Master, people are questioning your absence. The commoners-humans are living their ordinary lives. They have not recieved the news of your absence yet but there are some rumous."

"What rumours?" Edwin asked.

Gulping down nervously, the guard answered, "some people are saying that you fought with your family and went to some unknown place with your concubines."

The guard gauze Edwin's reaction, and when he felt it was safe to trade further, he continued, "Some are saying that Lord Augustus got tired of your reckless and irresponsible behaviour and threw you out of the house."

Edwin's jaw clenched hearing that. But he listened patiently.

"And some are saying..." The guard trailed off, for he did not know how Edwin would react.

"What are they saying?" Edwin asked demandingly.

"My apologies, Master. But I can not-"

"Do not apologise! Say what you want to say. I give you my word that you will not be at blame. But I want an honest answer."

Encouraged by Edwin's words, the guard spills his heart out. "Master, I know this is not my place to say this, but we all need you. We are serving you for years now, and we have not seen this state before.

We do not know what is happening to you. But we want to try for you, fight for you and serve only you. There is this rumour amongst the leading families that you are a worthless heir of the O'Dell legacy.

They... Garfield's they are already spreading the rumour that you are not the chosen one. And that what is written in the Black book is misleading."

"What?" Edwin's body shook with anger.

"Master, we do not know what exactly lies in that Black book, and we do not care if you fail to serve your purpose. But we want to work for you. The world does not know you the way we do.

We have fought many wars for you. And even after being our commander in chief, you never let us fight alone. You were at the front line taking all the attacks before they reached us.

You always treated your men with respect and honour. We have seen how you hurt at the loss of one of us. How you motivated us and enlightened us to follow the right path that the Moon Goddess has chosen for us which can not be replaced by any other thing.

You may punish me for saying this Master. But even though some people are changing their sides, there are hundreds of us waiting for our leader to take the charge again.

We are not ready to give up on our purpose, and we expect the same from you. Please, forgive me if I have crossed my line. But that is what you need to hear regarding your question."

With that said, the guard bowed deeply, placing his fist on the middle of his chest- a gesture of submission and then left silently.

Edwin remained stuck to his spot. A feeling of numbness covered every body cell of him and each corner of his mind.

How could he be that selfish? He was born to serve a special purpose. Numerous people had invested their lives, efforts, sweat and blood to make him who he was right now.

His mentors in the academy, his friends, the people of Vincardine who put their trust in him even after his unimpressive image in their mind, all werewolf packs and their respective alphas, all other breeds who were his allies, his family- he disappointed every one of them.

He slumped down on the bed with his head between his hands. How could he lose his control like this? He was not only an alpha but was their leader. How his people were supposed to walk on the right path without his guiding light?

The irony was he was supposed to be the guiding light in millions of lives, but he could not get his own guiding light.

Edwin lifted his wrist that was wrapped with the brown piece of cloth.

"How I wish you were here with me, Ruth? You are the beautiful shooting star that I can not hold, but I have to keep following your trail... For my sanity and the good of my people. I hope your existence will be enough to push me ahead on my way.

My beautiful shooting star!"

*

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*

Strolling through the hallway of the Garfield Castel, Darius winked at a maid that passed by him. She blushed furiously, but her eyes darkened seeing his dishevelled form.

"Hello, mother, father!" He smirked and plopped down in an empty chair in front of them.

Aurora looked up at her son with a cocked brow. Ambrose stopped kissing her neck but did not let her stand up from his lap.

"It seems you had some fun, son." Ambrose commented.

Darius's dark curls fell on his forehead, unruly. The first two buttons of his blood-soaked white shirt were open, giving a peek of his hard chest.

His pants were dirty, and his nails had shreds of skin stuck in them with dry blood.

"You can say that." Darius smiled wickedly.

But Aurora did not share the father and son's humour.

"Darius, after centuries we are left with only handful of human slaves. The coven has decided to not use them for blood. Then why did you do that?" She glared at her son. But her tone of the speech was no near to scolding.

"Come on, darling! He is young. Let him have some fun."

Ambrose came to the rescue.

"Ambrose! Age of one hundred and sixty years can not be considered as young. It is twice the average human lifespan."

Darius rolled his eyes at his mother. "See, father. Mother has finally learned some human calculations after more than five hundred years of age."

Ambrose burst out laughing at his son's joke. Aurora let them have their moment for a while. Then she turned serious.

"If you are done fooling around Darius then you have a responsibity to fulfill."

Darius's laughter subsided, and he watched his parents seriously.

Ambrose nodded his head at his son. And it did not take Darius long to figure what responsibility they wanted to give him.

It was something that he was waiting for a while now. And finally, the opportunity was

here.

"Of, course mother! I am as ready as I can ever be!"

The cold smile on his lips was enough to freeze a bonfire.