A MAZE OF GREED

"Lester, can not you stay with me for some more?" Elsie asked with a puppy face that he could not deny.

"Elsie... Edwin might be looking for me." He said, even though he wanted to be with his mate more than anything.

"Then let him. Brother Edwin will not mind it. Please!"

Lester smiled at her stubbornness. Pulling her into his chest, he gazed down at her lovingly.

"Is my little mate missing me that much?"

Elsie hit him on the chest with a frown. "Shut up Lester. You do not have any time for me. You are always busy with brother Edwin. Your mother sent a letter to me last week and complained that you do not write them nor you visit them."

Lester sighed, guilt spread on his features. "I know Elsie. But with everything going on, I just..." He blew hot air through his mouth that caressed her face, and she gulped down her dry throat.

"I am sorry! I know I should be with you as much as possible. I promise I will not give you a chance to complain. And I will write a letter to my parents and maybe you can help me in chosing a gift for my mother." He asked with a smile.

Elsie smiled brightly, nodding her head. "Women love gifts!"

"Hmm! Then what gift my queen wants?" He asked with a flirty smile adorning his face.

Elsie put her arms around his neck. Their chests pressed together. "Are you sure you can give it to me?" She asked, suddenly feeling bold.

The pep talk that Ruth was giving her all these days, was finally coming for help even though that woman had no experience in a romantic relationship.

Leaning down to her ear, Lester said, "Let's see what you ask for."

Ruth, who was watching their interaction from outside the door, giggled silently. She was about to disturb the two love birds but stopped before they noticed her. Finally, Elsie was making progress with Lester, and Ruth was genuinely very happy for both of them.

For her, she felt like playing cupid for them. Because of her misunderstanding, she had unintentionally created problems between Thea and Rees. But in this case, she was very careful and, did not want any problems between the couple.

She dreamed of having a relationship like them for herself too. Only time will tell!

"Ruth? What are you-"

"Shhhh!"

Ruth shushed Ida immediately and signalled her with her hands to keep her voice low.

"Ida... keep your voice low."

"But, why?"

Ruth placed her finger on her lips and signalled Ida to look inside the room.

Ida's eyes widened at the sight of Lester and Elsie in each other's arms. She heard how they said sweet things to each other.

They both giggled when Elsie hit Lester for the second time when he compared her long fingers with beans. What? Beans were his favourite!

Closing the door completely when they felt like it was time to stop intruding on their private moment, they both walked away from the room.

They could not stop laughing.

"Oh my God! Ruth! How long you were listening to them?" Ida asked, trying to take a breath between her fits of laughter.

"Long enough to hear more funny things from Lord Lester. I tell you, he is a charming man, but very bad with words."

And they laughed again.

Minutes later, when they sobered up, Ida said, "I am very happy to see them together."

"Yes! They both look adorable together! I am waiting for the day wen they will tell their families about their love for each other." Ruth said dreamily.

"Oh, Imagine Lord Lester proposing Lady Elsie, kneeling before her and reading her a poem he has written."

"That sounds romantic only if he does not add beans in them!"

And the two women again burst out laughing till their cheeks hurt.

Little did they know that someone was listening to their conversation and was not happy at all. Eloise stomped towards her chamber after passing a glare in Ruth and Ida's way.

Eloise flung a fishbowl as soon as she went into her chamber. The bowl crashed against the wall, and the two tiny fishes inside fluttered in hope of life.

She screamed, pulling her hair from its roots in frustration. She was finding it hard to believe that Lester and Elsie were together. And they loved each other?

Ridiculous!

A werewolf loved only his mate and no one else!

Then did that mean her worst fears that she kept denying all her life was true? Was Elsie Lester's mate?

No! NO!!!

It was impossible! That stupid girl did not have a single quality of being Luna of the Bluemoon pack. No. Moon Goddess could never do such injustice with her.

After some minutes when Eloise pulled herself together. She wiped her eyes and decided to tell her younger sister to stop being delusional.

Eloise left her chamber and marched towards Elsie's. She stopped at the door when she heard laughing sounds coming from inside.

Her already worse mood deteriorated further, and pushing the door with force, she stomped inside.

"Elsie!"

Elsie and Ruth were discussing something. Upon hearing Eloise's outraged voice, their smiles wiped out of their faces.

"Sister Eloise?"

Ruth stood up to leave the room as she did not want to witness another fight between the two sisters. The last time was a lesson for her.

"You! Stay here." Eloise stopped her.

Ruth was surprised but did as she was told. She prepared herself mentally not to interfere in their fight. For once, Ruth expected Elsie to stand up for herself.

"Sister Eloise, what happened?" Elsie asked, still unaware of the reason for her sister's bad mood.

"What happened? Why don't you tell me what is happening, because clearly you think that the world is blind to see your plans."

Eloise was too angry, to say the least. This time although she had stopped Ruth, and was still not over the last time they fought. She avoided looking at her and focused only on Elsie.

"I do not understand what you are saying." Elsie told.

"Oh, you do not?! Fine! What the hell were you doing with Lester?"

Elsie's eyes widened in shock. How did she know?

"I... I was..."

She did not know what to tell Eloise. She and Lester had decided to break the news of them being mates to both families when his parents would visit Vincardine in the next few days.

"Let me answer that." Eloise said. "You were trying to flirt with him with your wicked ways!"

"Sister Eloise!" Elsie could not believe her sister was saying such a thing about her.

"Do not you dare raise your voice at me! You think I do not know anything, huh? I know that you are playing your card of naiveness to get closer with Lester. He is a good man and cares for you.

And you... you are trying to get the advantage of his good heart like a woman in a brothel!"

Ruth gasped at that. She was too shocked and speechless. She knew that Eloise was jealous of Elsie, but she had never imagined how much poison she harboured in her heart for her younger sister.

"I have warned you before and I am warning you again Elsie. Leave Lester alone, because he does not need you. He will love only his mate and do you want to know who that could be?"

Taking a step ahead, Eloise said, "It is me! Lester and I should be mates. He deserves someone like me as his mate. So little sister, trust our father to find a son of some merchant or politician for you.

You deserve that and not Lester! He is mine, and you should stop with your evil games!" Eloise yelled at Elsie's face.

Ruth did not understand why these people kept referring to their lovers as mates. She had heard it from Rees too and thought it must be an elite thing that she was unaware of.

She was having a hard time controlling herself. She was trying to come up with an appropriate way of teaching this soul mothed woman some mannerisms with her powers.

Could she turn her into a chicken or a chameleon with her powers?

Satisfied with her threat, Eloise smiled at herself. She then looked at Ruth challengingly. Ruth clenched her jaw and fists refraining from slapping that smile off her face.

Thrusting her chin up, Eloise was about to get out of the room when she heard Elsie's voice.

"Sister Eloise!"

Surprised, she frowned at her.

"You are right that Lester can only love his mate. And do you want to know who she is?"

Taking a step closer, Elsie stared directly into Eloise's eyes. Her wolf was awake and not happy.

"It is me! I and Lester are mates! We both love each other! And I will not allow any woman to even look in his way. And this is my last warning to you, sister Eloise. Stay away from my man, or you will not like the consequences!"

Shellshocked, Eloise could not stay there even for a minute. Still feeling like it was some nightmare, she hurried out of her room with a thumping heart and her shattered dreams.

But she did not fail to hear Ruth's voice before she left.

"Lady Elsie..."

Stunned at herself, Elsie asked Ruth. "Ruth did I... did I do the right thing?"

"Of course Lady Elsie! This is the first time you have stood up for yourself and, I am very proud of you! I am sure Lord Lester would feel the same. Do not worry about your sister. She needed an eye opener anyway."

Now Eloise knew from where that courage came to her younger sister! The root of the cause was that maid- Ruth Moore! And she needed to eradicate that root before the situation got out of control.