A MAZE OF GREED

Edwin was at Rees's home early in the morning, surprising everyone, including him. Rees's all relatives were over the moon after meeting their leader in person. Although most of them worked for the O'Dell family in their business and other things, Edwin's habit of isolating himself from the crowd had given him that mysterious aura.

And meeting him face to face was a dream that every pack member and other pack members wished to come true.

When Rees asked him about it, Edwin just replied casually. "Well your best man should be with you on your special day!"

Rees was still having a hard time believing that his Master had volunteered to be his best man and was actually there for him. A thank you would not suffice his gratitude towards Edwin, so he just smiled in response.

They reached the church before the bride arrived. Edwin personally checked the last minute arrangements to make sure that everything was perfect.

He had grown stubble and had styled his coffee brown hair perfectly. And with the charcoal coat and all-black dressing, he looked like an angel fallen from heaven, ready to break every human's heart in revenge.

The supernaturals present in the guests were aware of Edwin's identity. But the humans were not. Some of them doubted that they had seen Edwin somewhere. He resembled Edwin O'Dell, but then discarded that idea thinking even though Rees worked for the O'Dells, why would Edwin O'Dell take efforts to attend his servant's wedding?

They say there are seven people in the world who looked alike. Edwin Berrycloth must be one of them.

Edwin stood along with Rees's cousins, but he stood out amongst them. The female attention he received, even made Rees jealous of him for a minute. It was his big day and, all attention should be focused on only him and his mate.

However, how he was supposed to dim Edwin's charm?!

So he only overlooked it and decided to enjoy this most special moment of his life.

They heard that the bride was here and, suddenly the air in the place changed, pulsating with buzz. A man beside him was speaking with Edwin something, but when they heard the sound of the door opening, the silence prevailed between them.

Edwin broadened his shoulders, looking in the direction that everyone else was. He heard how loud Rees's heart was beating, and he wondered why.

Did every groom has the same reaction?

Edwin was about to roll his eyes at that idea, but he forgot how to breathe when the woman dressed in blue colour walked inside. His eyes found the one he was longing for.

And the moment he took in her whole form, her beauty took his breath away. The dresses he liked on her was so lucky to hug her smooth skin. Her hairstyle was elegant and complimented her dress's style. Edwin's fingers twitched to touch those loose tendrils that playfully bounced in the air, calling him.

He had never seen her with make-up before, and even though he thought she needed none of it, he was still astonished at how it helped in accentuating her features.

Her cupid-bow shaped perfect lips looked so shiny and delectable that he had to gulp down visibly to suppress his carnal feelings. Even today, she had that pendant around her neck, and Edwin was somehow touched by that.

She was wearing the earrings that complemented her dress. His hand moved to his pants pocket, where he had carried the earrings he wanted to gift her, but she refused.

Yet, she looked absolutely stunning nonetheless.

Would she look this gorgeous at their wedding too? Edwin could almost picture her walking to the aisle in the white gown. And that made him realise that he had a heart under his rock-solid chest as it started beating dramatically.

He even needed to move his legs to adjust the reactions his body was giving to her beauty. But he froze at his spot when finally leaving her shyness, she looked up, and their eyes met.

Edwin felt that the whole world had stopped moving, the time had frozen. All that moved were their heart's longing for each other. Only he knew how many restraints he had to expense to keep himself from running to her and scooping her in his arms only to elope away from this world.

One day!

He promised himself, his wolf and hoped that she heard it too.

The bridesmaids stopped to the opposite side. Ruth pulled away from her gaze from Edwin's when Ida elbowed her lightly.

"Why do I think that some handsome man has caught your attention today?" She whispered in Ruth's ear.

Ruth was about to deny that when she noticed Rees smiling teasingly at her and the blue-eyed monster... he was not ready to give up staring at her yet.

"Shh!!" Ruth shushed Ida when the music began playing again and, finally, the bride started walking down the aisle with her father.

Ruth knew that Thea would look absolutely beautiful walking down the aisle, yet she could not believe that it was beyond her expectations. Smiling ear to ear, she and Ida gushed at her entry.

Thea was a nervous mess, her eyes were moist at the corner, and so were Mr Green's. She slowly looked up to where her groom was standing- her best friend, her mate, her love of life, her everything!

She was astounded by how handsome he looked, and that made a way for her tears. Rees was having a hard time controlling his own. He was seeing the wedding dress for the first time. He was sure that it could not have looked better on any other woman than the queen of his heart.

The crowd was cheering, praising and congratulating. But the two love birds had their eyes locked on each other.

Ruth felt that it was so romantic. Her own eyes were moist with happiness.

Reaching near the groom, Mr Green took Thea's hand with a proud yet heavy heart and placed it in Rees's.

"I am giving you a piece of my heart, young man! Always cherish it!" He said with a heavy voice that was thick with emotions.

Rees tightened his hold on Thea's hand then replied, "I will, even at the stake of my life!"

After a nod from both the men- a silent understanding between them- Mr Green walked to stand beside his wife, who had not stopped crying since she saw her princess in the wedding dress.

After all the guests sat down, the pastor began the wedding ceremony. The bride and the groom faced each other, lost in the eyes of each other. Ruth and Ida were excited and supported their friends. And Edwin had his eyes on only one woman amongst all, who he thought looked even more beautiful than the bride.

But then he would never say that out loud, at least not yet, as he knew it was unfair with Thea.

The pastor then told them to take their wedding vows after the initial rituals.

And now came the time that both Rees and Thea were waiting for.

They both held each other's hands and, gazing lovingly at each other, began taking their vows one by one.

With a proud face and happy smile, Rees began, "I Rees take you, Thea as my wife."

With teary eyes and a smile, Thea said, "I, Thea take you, Rees as my husband."

"I promise to be true to you in good times and the bad."

"In sickness and everything."

"I promise to honour you and protect you from every harm. I vow to make my life forever yours and build my dreams around you! I promise to be the man that I see now in your eyes, today, tomorrow, and for always!" Rees said with honesty.

A tear trailed down Thea's eye as she smiled brightly at him.

"I choose you and promise to choose you as my husband every say we wake. I will love you in dark and light. You are and will always be my best friend first and I will share all my happiness, sorrows, and everything that I hold dear to my heart as my heart itself is now belongs to you!"

Every person present was emotional, hearing the sincerity of their words and, the way they looked at each other.

Edwin saw how emotional Ruth was. He could hear her heart beating with emotions. Ruth was overwhelmed with many things these past days and today just had to be harder on her.

When she thought she was about to lose control of her mind and heart, her eyes met again with the cerulean blue ones, which were looking at her with such intensity that she craved to run to him and hide herself in his chest the same way she did when she had an encounter with Harold in 'the great manor'.

Edwin held her gaze for a moment, then slowly blinked, telling her that it was fine. He then softly took the air in through his nose then released it through his mouth slowly.

Ruth followed what he showed, and after a couple of times, she again found her reigns. She smiled at him in gratitude for helping her, and Edwin thought he was daydreaming.

She had never smiled his way before. At least not willingly, and that too so genuinely. His heart fluttered in his chest. His wolf shook his head in joy.

"You may now kiss the bride!"

And, that was what Rees and Thea were waiting for, sealing their vows with a kiss in front of the whole world. Showing it that now they were together for the rest of their lives and beyond.

With smiling faces, Rees pulled her closer and then their lips met each other like a river meets the ocean- willingly, completely and forever!