A MAZE OF GREED

Days passed, and Ruth heard nothing from Florence. Perhaps she had learned her lesson well, or was she planning something bigger this time?

Whatever it was, Ruth was eased that she would not need to see her heavily painted face for some time. That was not the only thing running in her mind though. She still had to figure out how to mend things with Edwin.

They barely saw each other these days. After her eye-opening encounter with Theodora, she knew that now she needed Edwin more than before. She could not achieve her goals without him by her side. She realised that when Edwin proved his dominance by punishing Lord Agustsus's man.

That man was something else that was she sure about. He was a prince in the race of becoming a king, and she needed only a king by her side. Once she get her hands on the king, she did not need to waste time on the pawns. She would have the entire game in her favour.

Today when Ruth left home for the job, she was determined to mend things with Edwin in one way or another.

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A heavy tension made the air suffocate in Edwin's chamber. He was pacing in distress while Lester sat with a deep frown and anger on his face.

They did not know how much time it had been after Rees gave another unfortunate news through the mind link.

Lester heard a frustrated groan coming from Edwin as he kicked the heavy wooden table in anger.

"Fuck it!"

Edwin cursed loudly.

"Another cub went missing Lester. One more cub. And what we have in hands is nothing!" He greeted through his teeth.

Lester ran his hand on his face in frustration. "To be honest, I do not know what else to do Edwin. Now we can not provide security to each and every werewolf pack in the world now, can we?"

"But we need to do something Lester. I can not sit in my office thinking about the next step when those small children faced only Moon Goddess knows what kind of hardships."

Lester could understand Edwin's frustration. They were doing everything in their power, but nothing seemed to be working. Rees had not come to Vincardine in the past few days. He was constantly on the run, travelling from one pack to another, hundreds and thousands of miles away.

He was trying to alert all the packs and see if he could get any clue regarding these kidnappings, but so far he did not get much.

Lester was trying his level best to communicate with his alpha friends of other packs. And Edwin... he had to look for ways to keep his wolf in check.

This act of kidnapping werewolf cubs- next generations, the future of their breed- took by his wolf as a challenge to his dominance. And the beast did not take it well.

Edwin had run miles in these days, letting his wolf completely loose, yet there was no way of venting out his fury. He was still on the edge. Edwin was both physically and mentally exhausted. Apart from his heavy build and constantly frowning face, he looked like he could collapse down any minute.

And that worried Elsie. She asked Lester to try to talk with Edwin after her failed tries.

"You are right my Alpha. You can not sit thinking about the plan. It is time for action but the question is- are you capable of it right this moment?"

"Lester!" Edwin growled in warning. "Are you doubting the strength of your leader?" Edwin's eyes instantly turned a dark shade of blue, his wolf awake and agitated.

Lester maintained his composure. He needed to show Edwin the mirror before it became too late.

"Yes I am!"

Lester's confidence caused him heavily when Edwin's punch landed on the side of his face. Lester fell out of the chair and on the ground. He quickly recovered from the shock of the attack and stood up on alert.

"It is bitter to hear I know. But you need to hear it! How long you are planning to go like this?" Lester asked, moving his jaw that pained like bitch.

At least Edwin's human side was careful to not break it.

"What do you mean?" Edwin asked darkly, taking a threatening step towards him.

"I mean how long you are planning to pamper your ego Edwin? You know what I am referring to! Do not play dumb!" Lester said confidently.

Edwin's shoulders moved a little, the frown on his face dipped more.

"She started it! It is her fault!" He grumbled like a kid.

Lester rolled his eyes, still trying to get used to the pain in his jaw.

"Fine! She started it so you finish it. What is so difficult in that?"

"But why should I always take a step? Can not she do it once? I did not do anything wrong by hugging Florence. You know I have... I have not touched any woman in that way since I got to know that Ruth is my mate." Edwin was convinced that the fight that happened between him and Ruth was all Ruth's mistake.

She failed to understand him... like she always did.

"Does she know that?"

Edwin blinked, puzzled. "What?"

"Does Ruth know that you have not touched any woman after you found out that she is your mate?" Lester elaborated on his previous question.

Edwin opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out of it. He closed it again in defeat.

"Edwin... how can you be so clueless?! Can not you see what is happening here or has your brain turned into a walnut?" Lester groaned, annoyed at his friend's stupidity.

"Stop throwing insults at me and say what you want clearly." Edwin slumped down on the couch. His eyes returned back to his cerulean blue colour.

"Edwin, any woman in Ruth's place would have reacted in the same way as she did. You yourself have created this image of a dirty womanizer. And she has seen it. How is she supposed to understand you when after she saw you in the arms of a woman with whom you used to share bed?"

Edwin had thought about it before, but the way Lester put it made him cringe inwardly.

"Women- irrespective of any breed- are sensitive. The werewolf females express their anger through aggression. But human females are different. They find it hard to express. They want others to understand their silence instead of reacting to their words.

I know that her words hurt you but try to find the deeper meaning of them. She did not mean to insult you or daunt your male ego. Women like her do not give a dime for the male ego. They only speak the truth."

Everything that Lester said went above Edwin's head, yet it sounded sensible.

"Stop preaching about human psychology Lester. Come straight to the point!"

"So the point is to leave your ego aside and apologise to her, makeup things with her. Edwin, by acting stubborn, Ruth is hurting only herself and you. But by pampering your ego, you are hurting not only you two, but you are also compromising with the expectations of your people.

Stop brooding, man up and talk with Ruth. Because from what I see, it is clear that she has begun liking you. That is why she is so hurt by you touching another woman. And if you can not do that, then I do not know how Moon Goddess is going to forgive you for your foolishness."

Saying that Lester walked out of Edwin's office, still holding his jaw in hand. He needed to find the physician as soon as possible.

In everything that Lester said, only one sentence remained stuck in Edwin's mind.

"She has begun liking you."

'Has she?' Edwin asked himself.

As if eager to answer his question, a knock on the door diverted his attention. The door opened, and his eyes met the answer to his question.

"May I come in?" Ruth asked in a low tone.

Edwin did not say anything as he kept staring at her with his lips slightly parted. She was in her uniform, her hair secured in a bun. A couple of notorious tendrils fell on the sides of her face. Her large hazel eyes looked at him in expectation.

Yes! That was the moment! A moment comes in one's life that seemed random and unexpected when one realised the core of life. This was Edwin's that moment.

At that moment, when he was asking himself if she had begun liking him and she appeared in front of him, he realised that he loved this woman not only because she was his fate but also because she managed to give birth to warmth in his cold heart.

She was just... perfect!

Ruth cleared her throat audibly to gain his attention back.

Edwin blinked once, then nodded his head while saying, "Yes."

Her heart was beating in nervousness. Edwin wondered what she had to say this time. But whatever it was, he had already made up his mind on what he wanted to say to her.

He was done waiting for her!