A MAZE OF GREED

The physician had left after stitching Ruth's injury on hand. He also treated her ankle. He gave the medicines and details about the things that should be taken care of.

It was very painful for Edwin to watch her wounds. When the physician stitched it, he felt the pain instead of her. She had not opened her eyes yet, and according to the physician, she might not open them tonight due to fatigue.

Edwin sat by her side. He wished, he could tell her how scared he was when he saw her hanging down the tree. He wished he could make her hear how frantically his heart beat then. Would she understand him then?

"Please wake up for me, love!" He whispered while running his fingers over her face.

Yes. Love!

Edwin finally found the courage and reason to put a tag on his feelings for her. When he saw that animal near her, ready to hurt her, he felt like his whole world was at the stake.

The intense instinct of saving her, even if it meant sacrificing his own life, made him realise that he did not want Ruth only because she was his mate. He was not intrigued by her, only because of her beauty.

It all was because he loved her! More than anything and more than anyone in this world!

Accepting his true feelings for her made him more possessive of her. If only he could take her everywhere he went!

"Master... Lady Elsie is here!" He heard Ida's voice.

With a small peck on Ruth's uninjured hand's palm, he stood up. He walked out of the room and, Ida immediately stepped out of his way because he looked like a man ready to kill.

Elsie stopped pacing as soon as she saw Edwin.

"Brother Edwin, Ruth-"

Edwin's hand obstructed her next words as it stretched in the air and near her throat. Every person watched with their jaws dropped on the floor. Ida gasped. Elsie froze, looking at his outstretched hand like it was a poisonous snake ready to bite her.

Edwin had never raised his hand on her ever!

Edwin stopped himself before he touched Elsie or hurt her more than he already had.

"You promised to take care of her!" Edwin hissed like a deadly viper.

Elsie's eyes teared up, seeing him angry. The images of the last time he lost control for Ruth clouded her mind.

"Brother Edwin... I... I am sorry!"

Edwin clenched his fist and redrawn his hand away from Elsie. His fist landed a punch on a nearby wall, causing cracks and a hole in it.

But no one dared to stop him.

The silence was not broken by anyone, as they let him have time to vent up his anger. Elsie was about to try again, but Ida shook her head in warning.

"The physician has said that Ruth will not wake up tonight and, even if she gained consciousness, she might pass into sleep again due to the trauma and loss of blood.

No one and I mean no one is allowed to meet her or see her until I permit them. If you fail this time..." Edwin left his threat hanging heavily in the air.

The guards gulped in nervousness and nodded their heads in unison. They all kneel in front of him, and putting their fists on their chest, they all bowed.

Ida followed them when his obsidian eyes met hers. And, when they turned to Elsie, she was already on her knees submitting to her alpha and the leader.

Edwin had many things running on his mind and, one of them was the people he entrusted with Ruth failed to protect her. He was so angry with all of them that the best punishment he could find was not letting them see Ruth.

Only he had a right to see her when she would open her eyes.

Not waiting for more, he instructed Ida about the things she had to do until he came back. Elsie was hurt that she broke Edwin's trust. If only she had not spent her time practising the warfare techniques, she might have stopped this from happening.

She still did not know what exactly happened and, what was Ruth doing in the woods. She decided to wait for Ida to tell her as Edwin was clearly in no state of speaking a word to her.

Edwin once again went into the room where Ruth was. He locked up himself with her for ten more minutes. After he came out, he did not look at anyone else and stepped out of the building.

He knew if he thought about it even one more time, then he would not leave Ruth alone. As he walked away from the building, Mrs Payne surprised him by hurrying his way.

She was as much surprised as him seeing him there.

"Young Master!" She bowed.

But Edwin's face did not change like other times.

"Ruth-" She began, but Edwin cut her in the middle.

"She is safe!"

Hearing that, Mrs Payne sighed in relief.

"Where is she? I want to see her." She asked in desperation.

But her desperation irritated Edwin more.

"I gave you one responsibility Mrs Payne. What happened with Ruth is only because of you! You or anyone else is not allowed to see her until I come back."

Only Edwin knew how he managed to control himself. If Ruth did not love and respect this woman, and if only she was not so supportive of him after knowing his secret, then he would have not hesitated to cut her remaining days short.

"What happened to her?, You can not stop me from meeting her!" She took a defensive stance glaring at Edwin.

"Do you dare to stop me?" Edwin asked, taking a threatening step to her.

But Mrs Payne did not back down. She stood her ground. Looking up at his tall frame, she said confidently.

"I will if it takes that even if you kill me. I can die for her!"

Matching her heated glare, Edwin leaned a little. With his wolf's obsidian eyes with electric blue streaks, he looked deadly.

"And I can kill the whole world if it takes me to that! It is better if you do not bring my beast out. Ruth needs you... alive!"

Edwin did not wait to hear more. As soon as he left the premises of 'the great manor', he shifted into his wolf, finally passing some control in his hands.

As he passed through the woods with the speed of the wind, only one thought lingered in his head.

Why was there Fannie's scent?

*

*

*

Elsie and Ida sat in the next room of Ruth. Elsie desperately wanted to see Ruth, but she knew better than disobeying his cousin's orders.

She cried, hiding her face in her palms. Ida did not know how to console her. With everything that happened, she did not know what to do anymore.

"Tell me Ida. How all this happened?" Elsie asked between her sobs.

"I do not think it is a right time for that Lady Elsie. You should go back to your chamber now. If Lady Eloise or someone else sees you here then it might create problems for Ruth." Ida tried dodging her question.

But Elsie was adamant about knowing everything. She shook her head, wiping her tears.

"I have this feeling that whatever you are going to tell me is bad. But, I want to listen it right now." She said with finality.

Ida was left with no other choice than tell her what happened with Ruth and Mrs Payne. She told Elsie every detail Mrs Payne gave her. She then added the part where Ruth was attacked by A hyena and, how Edwin saved her.

But they did not know what happened in the woods before Edwin found Ruth.

Elsie was shocked. She felt weak in her legs and slumped down on a couch. Tears of disgust gathered in her eyes. Although her mind was fed with the proofs, her heart was still in denial.

Her elder sister could not be this cruel. She was straightforward in speech and was a little arrogant. But, Elsie believed that she would not go as far as putting Ruth's life in danger.

Elsie was with her, enjoying games and gossips not long ago. Eloise looked so normal; as if nothing had happened.

Then what was the truth?

The one that Ida and Mrs Payne knew or the one Elsie had seen on her sister's face?

And the most nagging question was- what if Edwin found about it?

What would he do with Eloise then?

Elsie was hurt by her sister's actions. She wished if Lester was there with her. He might have known what to do in such a situation. Elsie missed him badly.

She only hoped that before Edwin returned to Vincardine, Ruth should be awake and better. Now, she understood why Edwin prohibited anyone from getting near Ruth.

How could he trust people when his own cousin planned this torture for his mate?