A MAZE OF GREED

Edwin was shocked beyond his expectations. When Ruth barged into his office while crying, he was too stunned to react. He was so submerged in playing the piano, the only musical instrument he knew how to play, to hear her heartbeats or recognise her scent before she came.

He immediately ran towards her to ask her what happened, and why she was crying. Every tear that fell from her eyes slashed his insides over and over again. But the most disturbing part was the fear in her hazel eyes.

He had never seen her that scared, not even when he found her in the woods months ago. He had seen her angry, heartbroken, depressed, but he had never seen her so scared of something as if she believed she could not escape it.

Before she answered him, she lost her consciousness and fainted out in his arms. Edwin did not know what to do. As he could not take her out of his office in that state without drawing unwanted attention, he picked her up in his arms and placed her on the nearby couch.

He sprinkled some water on her face, but she did not wake up. He felt at ease only after her heartbeats turned normal. He tried everything to wake her up but then felt she needed some rest. So he stopped with his efforts.

What would have happened? Why was she so scared and crying? Did someone say anything to her? Was it Theodora or someone else?

With a worrying thought, he checked pulled out the necklace that she wore under the high neckline of her uniform. Contrary to his expectations and fortunately to his luck, it did not shine.

Edwin blew out a sigh of relief.

'She is safe! She is safe in the manor!' He chanted that a couple of times till he was assured of his words.

Then what may have happened?

His brain was about to burst with the various possibilities it came up with. And none of them sounded pleasant.

He thought of calling Elsie or Lester, but they both had gone somewhere to spend some time with each other. When Elsie asked for the permission- though she did not need it- Edwin did not hesitate to give it. However, he felt a little jealous of Lester.

Then he thought of Rees, but his wolf growled in displeasure. No matter what... he did not like how Rees was close to Ruth and how she was so comfortable with him when it should be Edwin with whom she had to act that way. Besides, Rees was with Thea as they went to decide on the menu for their wedding.

Another thought came to his mind. Gulping his saliva down his throat, he leaned towards her, till he could see the fine details on her face. She had a small mole on her left cheek. Her steady breaths fanned his face, and he wanted nothing more than basking in that warmth.

His hands betrayed his will to reach for her face. He ran his fingers over the ridges and curves of her round face. Her broad forehead seemed like a vast opening where his wolf liked to go for a run. Her straight eyebrows were like a bridge over the river where he wanted to sit, waiting for a beautiful sunset and sunrise all his life.

Her bulbous tipped nose felt like a grass blade that he would like to play with all the time. And then came his most favourite part of her body that attracted him towards her like no other woman ever could- her rose-pink cupid's bow-shaped lips.

He wondered how long it would have taken for a creator to work on their perfect shape. They were like rose petals that he wanted to worship till eternity to come. The heat rose inside his body as he stared at her lips.

He had a chance that he was waiting for till his eyes first saw those hazel eyes twinkling under the moonlight on the night of the celebrations. Just one more inch and, their lips would meet. He could finally taste her, devour it to his heart's content, and she would not know. Nobody would know.

His breath shook nervously at that thought. He leaned some more, aiming for her lips, but just when he was about to touch them, he tilted his head slightly to kiss the corner of her mouth.

He clenched his eyes tightly shut as he rested his lips on her soft skin. He could hear his heart beating in his ears so wildly that he was afraid it would rupture by that much pressure. He inhaled deeply, her natural flowery scent turned his insides upside down. The lust he was suppressing for months tried to break the restraints.

He could have done more than just a kiss- if only it was not the only woman that not only he liked, but also respected. He could not ever stain her dignity, no matter what. She was not only his mate, but in his eyes, she was a woman he admired for her courage, her righteousness, her values and morals, her kindness and most importantly, her faith in goodness.

He clenched his jaw and sniffed her body for any scent of other males- human or werewolf. But he got nothing.

How could he when the scent he was searching for belonged to a werewolf who had access and permission to use the potions, which hid the scents of the supernatural creatures?

That potion was prepared and sold by witches. It was in use even before the great war but mostly for the reasons of security and espionage. But after the great war, the supernatural creatures felt the need to hide their scents as it was decided to cohabitate with the humans secretly.

As the demand rose, raised were the prices over the centuries. And now only those who had enough money could buy it and use it on the daily basis.

That same potion was also used by Douglas and that was why nobody from the family- even though werewolves- suspected his rendezvous with Theodora.

Unable to control himself anymore, Edwin pulled away from Ruth. After minutes of pondering when he hit the dead end, again and again, he gave up and decided to wait till Ruth woke up.

He was looking through some papers to distract his mind from the sinful thoughts that came crawling back the more he watched his mate lying in front of him- defenceless and luring.

Ruth's pupils moved behind the closed lids. The same man with green eyes was smiling at her. He called her to come to him by his head. She did not know what it made feel her, but when she did not move, he offered his hand for her to hold.

This time, she dared to take it, but she could not move. It was like she was trapped in such a cage, from where she could only watch him but could not speak or touch him. This time, after seeing him many times in her dreams, he looked approachable.

When she could not hold his hand, Ruth raised her gaze to ask him why was that, but her eyes went wide in horror when those smiling green eyes turned into someone else's. His clean-shaven face grew a horseshoe-shaped moustache. His tall and lean body turned bulky.

And the warm smile on his face was replaced by a wicked one.

Sweat broke on Ruth's forehead, and her heart started beating loud enough to get Edwin's attention. Looking away from the paper in his hand, he saw Ruth's face contorted in displease. He put the paper on the table and hurried towards her.

Squatting down on his feet near the couch, he touched her forehead. She had a fever.

"Miss Moore? Miss Moore!"

His calls were left unheard as Ruth tried waking up from the nightmare. Harold's face started coming closer to her. And the next moment, she woke up with a cry for help.

The fear in her eyes churned Edwin's stomach painfully. Ruth blinked, but the tears did not clear her vision. Frightened, she started crying more and begging to let her go.

Edwin moved her hair from her face and cupped it in his palms.

"Miss Moore? Look at me! It is fine... it is fine! You are safe here. Look!"

Ruth shook her head and started struggling for her defence.

Edwin was confused and angry. He could not bear to see her in that state.

"Shhh... ssshhh..." He tried to calm down her, and when her skin was reborn with the familiar tingles, she realised she was indeed safe and at her home.

She looked at Edwin with such strange emotions that took Edwin's breath away. He had never seen someone look at him that way. As if they seek refuge in his presence; as if he was the only protector of their life.

The trust he saw in her eyes, to which Ruth herself was oblivious, took him by surprise.

Before he thought more about it, Ruth flung herself on his chest and encircled her arms around his neck. It took a couple of moments for Edwin to gather his thoughts again. He rose to sit on the couch, and pulling her closer, he held her securely in his arms.

Ruth cried, burying her face in his chest. The spark that they both felt was ecstatic and pleasantly strange.

They did not know how long they sat in that way before Ruth slept again. But between her cries, Edwin heard one sentence.

"He found me."

And that was enough to call out his wolf demanding control that his human was inclined to surrender.