A MAZE OF GREED

*Flashback*

Edwin would have shown the alpha of the Wildline pack his place in a second, but at that moment, his priority was different.

"Where is Kevin?" He asked in a loud voice.

Everyone straightened up, and on behalf of the alpha, the pack's Luna came forward.

"Kevin... he..." She hesitated, stealing sideways glances at her husband to say something, but he remained silent.

"He escaped." She finally said.

"Escaped?" Lester growled unbelievingly.

The Luna, who was the same age as Edwin, stepped back in nervousness at Lester's outburst. Lester composed himself instantly. He would not like to frighten the Luna in front of her pack.

He cleared his throat before asking, "How? I got the news that you had him captured."

By this time, the world had welcomed Sun in the sky. Both Edwin and Lester's bodies glistened under the daylight.

The woman fidgeted nervously. The beta of the pack stepped up for her rescue as their leader glared at them.

"Yes, Lord Lester. We had him tied but..." He passed a sideways glance to his alpha before continuing, "When our alpha found out that we have contacted Lord Edwin, he... set his brother free to save his life."

A deathly silence fell upon the crowd. The pack members shivered in anticipation of Edwin's reaction. Lester did not know what to say after that.

One moment Edwin was right there beside him, glaring at the alpha and, after a blink of an eye, he was right at the alpha's nose. A bone-crushing sound made the women gasp and shrieked in fright. They instantly covered their cubs securely.

The men shielded their families and were ready to pounce if the situation demanded so.

Their alpha was on the ground with a bloodied nose, and Edwin glared down at him like a raging demigod except for two horns on his head to complete his look.

"You motherfucker!"

This time not only women but every person present gasped in shock, including Lester.

Edwin was about to land another punch on the alpha's face before Lester held him back.

~"Edwin, control yourself. He is an alpha of this pack. You can not humiliate him in this way in front of his own people."~

Edwin was raging in anger. As the crowd could sense his anger, he could sense their fear. He was scaring them.

~"Edwin, they are already in your opposition. Do not give them a reason to think they are right."~ Lester warned again through the mind link.

Edwin pushed him away but not forcefully and walked to the only chair available, which was meant for the alpha of the Wildline pack.

As soon as Edwin distanced himself from the alpha, the Luna ran to her husband with teary eyes.

She tried helping him get up, but the alpha was also enraged by the insult. He pushed her hand away, causing her to stumble backwards. She was about to fall, but Lester held her by her hand before that.

"Have you seen what this man did to your alpha?" The angry alpha asked in a loud voice looking at the crowd.

"This is why I did not want to call him. Have you ever seen any of the leaders treating an alpha of any pack in such a humiliating way before? No! Because they all respected us, cared for us.

But this man... he is undeserving of his title. A person can not be a leader only because of the name of his parents. Lord Edwin... I am afraid to say this, but you do not have an ounce of your father in you!" he yelled, his chest heaving up and down with his heavy breaths.

"Apologise before I forget that you are an alpha of this pack!" Lester took a threatening step towards him.

People visible quivered, expecting a battle between their alpha and the leader. And, with Lord Lester's warning, people knew it was going to be messy.

Lester was known for his playful nature, but everyone in the werewolf world was aware of his temper. Once he lost it, there was no easy way to calm him.

Besides, his love and loyalty towards his leader were world-known.

Edwin raised his hand to stop Lester and took everyone by surprise.

Edwin had a composed face, his eyes staring back at the alpha unblinkingly. There was no way of finding out what was going on in his head.

"Alpha, I am not here to prove my eligibility to you or anyone. I am not obliged to do so. I am here to save MY people. I want Kevin in front of me as soon as possible." Edwin said with a maintained tone that held command.

"Why? So that you can kill him like you have killed other werewolves?" The alpha growled.

Edwin's jaw ticked. He was trying his best to not lose his temper. He did not want people to distrust him. He needed them by his side before he officially announced him accepting his title.

"You should realise that you have put your people's lives at risk for the sake of your brother. As a leader, I can not be biased. For me, hundreds of lives are more important than one!" Edwin declared loudly.

But the alpha was not ready to quit. His love for his younger brother had made him sideline his accountability towards his people.

Edwin was being patient because he did not blame the alpha for that. He understood his love for Kevin. He needed to handle this delicate situation tactfully.

"Would you have done the same if it was Lady Elsie or Lady Eloise in Kevin's place?"

When the alpha said that Edwin did not see the strongest wolf of the Wildline pack. He did not see an alpha who condemn him. At that moment, Edwin saw a heartbroken brother who was scared for his dearest brother's life.

Edwin stood up from the chair then walked towards the alpha. The Luna instinctively held onto her husband's hand in panic.

Edwin stopped at a hand's distance from the alpha. Staring straight in his eyes, Edwin replied, "Not only me but also my father and my ancestors would have prioritised our people over our loved ones.

The rules are the same for everyone alpha. There is no exception. If my mate rejects me, then the same rule will be applied to me as well."

Lester gulped down his throat. He felt so proud of his friend that it took his immense efforts to refrain from running to him and hug him dearly.

He scanned the crowd to see elevated respect for their leader in their eyes. The alpha's face softened a little, and soon he broke into tears, not caring that his people were watching him.

He fell on his knees as his shoulders shook with his cries. The Luna was right there to support him as she cried along with him.

Edwin could not help but imagine him and Ruth in their place. They would share each others' pain, happiness, sorrow, dreams and responsibilities.

She must be waiting for him wearing those earrings to listen to his answer. Edwin clenched his fists as his heart longed for his mate.

"Why?"

Edwin was brought back to reality by the alpha's broken voice.

"Why does Kevin has to be punished when he has done nothing wrong? Why?

It should be his mate receiving the punishment for rejecting her mate, to not oblige to the wish of the Moon Goddess.

She chose some alpha over my brother for the political gains. Is that Kevin's fault? He does not deserve this pain, he does not deserve death. My little brother..."

The whole atmosphere turned sombre as all pack members shared their alpha's pain. It was rare for the alphas to show their vulnerable side to their people. They were always expected to act strong like a wall of bricks.

However, nobody judges their alpha. They all knew how much he loved Kevin. In fact, there was hardly any person who did not like that young man. He indeed did not deserve this.

Edwin stood rooted to his place as the sunlight burned his tan skin.

The past memories resurfaced again, bringing back the old guilt.

"Beta, I want you to send all of your people in search of Kevin. I want him in front of me before the sunset!"

Everybody was stunned at Edwin's command. Some even thought that he was being ruthless here. The alpha looked up at him, not believing him.

"And, if anyone tries to get in between my duty as a leader, I will not be lenient towards that person! Whoever that person might be!"

The beta had no choice other than to follow his leader's command. After all, his alpha was also helpless in front of their leader.

The Beta immediately divided their force into various groups and sent them in search of Kevin in all directions. They should get him before the sunset or, they knew how impatient their leader was.

Meanwhile, Lester made sure to stand by Edwin and keep his close eye on the alpha so that he would not do anything to help Kevin.