A MAZE OF GREED

*Flashback*

Edwin matched the dark grey rogue's gaze unfalteringly as they stood on a place not far away from the town of Wildline. Kevin's wolf was analysing the man in front of him, studying him and seeing if he was a challenge.

"Kevin shift back NOW!"

But Edwin's command resulted in a contrary effect. The rogue got angry at his command, and with the speed of the wind, he ran towards Edwin. Not giving him time to shift, the grey wolf attacked Edwin with his big head. He slammed his head into Edwin.

The children screamed, seeing their leader go flying in the air and collided with the nearby tree. The impact was so violent that the poor tree could not take it bravely, and its trunk broke right where Edwin's back hit it.

The grey wolf howled loudly, looking up at the now dark sky. The clouds of dust made everything blurry, and when the dust particles finally settled down on the ground, every heart trembled by a bone-chilling growl of a giant shiny black wolf.

The alpha of the Wildline pack stumbled back with wide eyes at the sight of that mammoth-sized wolf.

It was the first time that the members of the Wildline pack saw such a giant wolf. They had heard about their leader's strong black wolf but seeing him right in front of their eyes felt like a vivid dream.

Kevin's wolf was now alert as the realisation of his strong opponent downed upon him. The big black wolf slowly stalked towards him. His giant paws fell on the ground like a curse of the angry gods.

Lester stifled his laugh at the sight of every mouth opened agape and their eyes bulging out of their sockets.

That big wolf was his best friend, his leader, and now the dark grey wolf stood no chance of mercy!

Edwin's wolf's obsidian eyes burned with the electric blue fire as he glared at Kevin's wolf. A loud growl rumbled in his chest, commanding Kevin to submit in front of him.

But Kevin was no normal werewolf anymore. The moment his mate rejected him, his fate had flipped dramatically, and now there was no sanity left in his dark grey wolf.

All he could think and want was blood and destruction. If he could not be happy, then he would not let anyone else be happy!

The dark grey wolf defied his leader's command and pounced again at him, aiming for his neck. Lester did not expect that.

He watched cautiously as the two werewolves of two different sizes engaged in a brutal fight. A fight that would result in death.

The crowd broke into gasps and shrieks as the two wolves tried overpowering each other. The Alpha's heart was lurching to his throat at the thought of his brother's blood.

Edwin's wolf pushed the grey wolf back, then spinning around, he kicked him in the side made him howl in pain.

The grey wolf again managed to balance himself and, bite the black wolf's front right leg. Its sharp and long teeth broke through the thick layer of black hair and tugged deeper into his flesh.

Lester took an alarming step ahead. But then he realised he could not just jump into the fight. Not when people were watching.

At this time, Edwin was not fighting in general, he was fighting to prove his dominance. If Lester intervened to help him, a wrong message would be spread in the mass.

They would misunderstand their leader thinking he was not strong enough to protect them. Lester clenched his fists at his side when he saw blood dripping from Edwin's right front leg.

Edwin's wolf had a chance to finish this tussle with only one move. Although Kevin was a well-trained warrior with exceptional skills, Edwin could easily go for his neck, but he did not.

Lester narrowed his eyes, trying to figure out what was going in Edwin's head. He could have used mind link to ask him directly, but he knew the dangers of distracting him in between the bloodthirsty fight.

"No..." Lester whispered in shock after realising what Edwin was trying to do.

He was not fighting to kill Kevin. Instead, he was trying to only tire him. But why?

A gut-wrenching growl left Edwin's mouth that shook every living soul around. He fell to the ground, whips of hot breath escaped his open jaw. Lester ran towards him, not caring if the grey wolf attacked him too.

And what he saw made him freeze in shock. A nasty wound decorated the black wolf's back. The marks of claws made the inner pinkish flesh visible even from a distance.

Horrified, Lester looked ahead at the dark grey wolf to see Edwin's skin stuck in his claws, and he licked it with its rough tongue.

The guards around instantly made a protective wall between the wolves and the people. They began losing hope at the sight of their leader's painful condition.

"Edwin! What the fuck are you doing? Get up and finish him!" Lester did not care if he looked like a madman then as he yelled from the very core of his belly.

Before Edwin could balance himself on all his four, the grey wolf again launched himself at him. But this time, Edwin used his head to defend himself. Both wolves pushed each other with all of their might.

With every ounce of force that Edwin exerted in the fight, more blood drained through his wounds.

"Edwin kill him!" Lester screamed again.

The alpha glared at him, but Lester ignored his glare. He knew if Kevin managed to break through Edwin, then he would not stop until he destruct the town, where innocent humans were sleeping peacefully without knowledge of a battle fight not far away from them.

Edwin's wolf was agitated. He was done with the soft way. He was impatient for the final results.

It was time to show who the real boss was.

Edwin grumbled loudly and kicked the grey wolf in the chest with his front left leg. As soon as the Grey wolf stumbled back, he took the advantage of the situation and with the speed of light he crashed his head in his chest.

The loud sound of breaking bones made everyone cringe as the dark grey wolf fell on his back. He was shocked. Until now, the fight was in his favour and easier than he had anticipated. But the tables turned around within a minute.

Before he could comprehend anything, he saw the giant black wolf that looked nothing less than a furious beast hovering above him.

Edwin's wolf howled in victory. Every werewolf felt the sharp wave of his dominance that made them quiver in submission. Every person present knelt down with their fists on their chest, and head bowed low.

The black wolf ran his front left paw in the air ready to weed Kevin's heart out of his chest when someone screamed loudly.

"STOP!!!!"

Kevin's wolf saw his death paused momentarily. The black wolf looked down at the Alpha, who was on his knees.

"Please, Lord Edwin! Show some mercy!!" And then he broke into tears, not caring about his position or the way he was expected to be strong.

He could not see his brother dying in front of his eyes.

The dark grey wolf watched a human crying on his knees. He whined in pain.

"Kevin... please come back my little one. Please!" The Alpha called out with every ounce of love he held for his brother.

Shockingly, Kevin's wolf shifted, and lay on the ground a young man who looked in his early twenties. His wolf was exhausted after the fight, and the injuries he had received from Edwin's wolf were not bloody, yet they had damaged him severely.

"B-brother...." Kevin stuttered. His face scrunched up in pain as he tried to move his body.

Lester quickly stood by Edwin's side.

"Edwin, shift back." He requested.

He was surprised to see that Edwin's wolf obliged so easily. The two men-stark naked- stared at each other with strange emotions swirling in their eyes.

"L-Lord Edwin!" Kevin was astonished to see him. Soon the crowd's eyes widened in horror when they saw an ugly wound on Edwin's back.

He was matted in dirt and blood. His right hand was also bleeding profusely.

A guard hesitantly ran towards them and covered both of their lower halves.

Tears fell from Kevin's reddened eyes as he howled in grief. He was overwhelmed with everything that had happened, and the pain in his body broke him even more.

"My Lord, kill me! Why did you stop? A rogue like me deserves nothing but death!" Kevin was still restless, and if not handled well, his wolf might come back and be more dangerous than before.

"No!"

A deathly silence fell around, after that one word came from Edwin's mouth.

The Alpha, who now stood near Kevin yet was still hesitant to go near him, looked at Edwin flabbergasted.

"I am not going to kill you Kevin! You do not deserve death!" Edwin said calmly.