A MAZE OF GREED

Edwin was waiting for Rees and Lester in his chamber. He sent Ruth to her home to get a shower. Thea was cleaning his chamber. A glass of juice and breakfast remained untouched on the table beside Edwin.

"You should eat it before Ruth comes. That woman can be very persistent when she decides to be." Thea said.

Edwin recked his hand through his hair. "Do you know anything about Ruth's nightmares?" He finally asked.

Thea stopped cleaning the vase in her hands. She put it back in its place and walked towards him.

"I have heard from Mrs Payne about her nightmares. But I have not seen her having one by myself. Why?"

"She had one last night. She was very scared and was crying." Edwin told.

Thea's face morphed in worry instantly. "After her first encounter with Harold Davies and attack on her by those goons, she had nightmares for a few nights. Mr Payne's death also triggered her bad dreams."

"Hmm" Edwin nodded in understanding.

He had seen her having nightmares when she was in the old building after the attack in the woods. Perhaps stress triggered her nightmares.

Their head snapped in the direction of the door as Lester broke through it with a frantic look on his face as if his house was set on fire.

"What happened? Edwin, are you alright? Lets get you to physician. Thea hold him-"

"Lester"

"Yes?"

"You are not wearing any pants," Edwin said calmly with a bored look on his ace.

Lester paused in his panic attack and looked down to see only a blue coloured towel covered his most precious body part from the world.

He looked up to see Thea staring at him with wide eyes and flushed cheeks.

Lester turned around in embarrassment but saw Elsie along with Rees, and they both shared Thea's expressions.

Elsie looked down aghast, and a scream left her mouth joined by Thea's as she covered her eyes. Edwin's face scrunched up in discomfort, and to top it, Lester also joined in their screaming event.

Edwin closed his ears with both his hands. He thought he would go deaf hearing their irritating screams.

"Rees!"

Rees recovered from the shock and was in front of Thea within a second to cover her mouth.

"Elsie shut up!" Edwin yelled again that made Elsie shut her mouth.

But Lester was still trying to win this screaming match even though he was the only one screaming with a pink face and wise eyes.

Elsie slapped at the back of his head, making his voice die inside his throat.

"Thank you!" Edwin sighed while rubbing his ears to see if there was any blood after this brutal torture.

"Lester what the hell is this?" Elsie was furious as she glared at her mate.

"I...I..."

"Why the hell you are running around my home in only a towel?" Her voice rose by an octave.

"I... Rees!"

Lester turned around, throwing daggers at Rees. Rees stilled, then removed his hand from Thea's mouth.

"Huh?"

"You told me that it is an emergency, did not you?"

"So what? Did he tell you to run in a towel?" Elsie's eyes darkened at the thought of maids looking at her mate in that condition.

"I thought something happened to Edwin. I was getting ready for the shower and... and...." Lester stuttered.

"But I did not say anything about Master." Rees said innocently and still trying to wrap his head around the situation.

"But you said it is an emergency and come to Edwin's chamber as soon as I can!!" Lester pointed his finger at Rees accusingly.

Elsie looked at her mate incredulously as if he had lost his sense after hitting his head on a rock. Edwin groaned, rolling his eyes at his friend's stupidness.

Who would believe that this man in a towel was soon going to be an alpha of one of the strongest werewolf packs?!!!

"Oh help me Moon Goddess!" Elsie muttered under her breath as she took deep breaths to calm herself.

Before they created another ruckus, Edwin brought their attention to an important thing.

"What is the emergency Rees?"

Rees unsurely glanced in Lester's way to see him frowning angrily at him.

"Lord Lester, will you please sit down?" Rees asked cautiously.

Lester was about to jump at Rees's throat before Edwin stopped him with his command. "Sit down Lester."

Lester was torn between his wish to punch Rees and the serious look on Edwin's face. In the end, he sat down, grumbling incoherently.

Thea passed him a shawl to cover his remaining sanity. She could not help but giggle before she clamped up her mouth. Lester snatched the shawl from her with narrowed eyes. He covered his bottom by the shawl, yet he was still brooding with a frown.

"Rees?"

"Master... we... have just recieved a news from Bluemoon pack."

Lester forgot about his embarrassing incident as he sat straight in attention.

"And it is... bad." Rees added while looking at Lester.

"What happened Rees? Is Mr and Mrs Wright fine?" Edwin leaned forward, sensing the gravity of the situation.

"Yes, they are perfectly fine. but..."

They could not enjoy the moment of relief because of his 'but'.

"A cub from the Bluemoon pack is missing."

"What?" Both Edwin and Lester exclaimed in unison.

Elsie and Thea's face suddenly pulled the blanket of worry as they listened silently.

"Yes, Master. I just received the news from Mr Wright. He has called Lord Lester home."

Edwin and Lester's eyes met. Edwin saw how shocked and worried Lester was. Although Lester was a playful person, he was very serious, when it came to his pack and his people.

"Whose child is it?" Lester asked as he knew all of his pack members by name.

"It is a daughter of Mrs Wright's headmaid."

Lester sat stunned. He recalled the time he accompanied his mother to see that little bundle of joy after she was born. Since then, Lester had quite a few chances of meeting her.

Elsie could feel his emotions intensely, as she was marked by Lester. She put her hand on his tensed shoulder as if she was telling him that she was there with him.

"The girl went to play with her friends. The mother of one of the children was there to keep a watch on the kids. They went near the forest early in the morning.

They were all playing together. After some time the woman with them realised that the girl was missing. They searched her all around but could not find her." Rees explained the details.

"Master... I think... I think this kidnapping is also related to the recent cases of missing cubs." Rees opined.

"But Rees did not you say that the missing cubs are from the weaker and smaller packs?! Bluemoon pack does not fit into that criterion." Thea jumped in the conversation.

"Yes. But... I do not understand anymore." Rees said dejectedly.

"Come on Lester, we should leave as soon as possible." Edwin said while getting up from the bed.

"Oh no no no leader. You are not going anywhere. I am the only one leaving Vincardine. You need to rest more." Lester quickly stood up, and the shawl he had scrawled on his legs fell on the ground.

"How can I rest when someone is threatening my people?" Edwin roared.

The sudden change in the air around the room was an indication that Edwin's wolf was agitated. All except Thea could feel his anger. And the way his veins popped out told Thea the same.

"I understand Edwin, but you can not go out there like this. People have just started worshipping you. I do not want your wolf to lose control when you are severely injured. You need at least a week to be able to travel that long." Lester reasoned.

"Not now."

"What do you mean?" Lester was confused by his answer.

"I was recovering slowly because... because someone was giving poison through the medicines."

"WHAT?" Now all four of them thundered in unison.

Edwin told them how he found green lumps in his vomit after Ruth applied the medicines given by Mrs Payne. Of course, he held back parts of their conversation as he had to be sure about some things before telling them to others.

"Mrs Payne? But how did she know that you were poisoned?" Elsie asked, not understanding anything.

"Because she knows that we are werewolves."

"I did not tell her anything! I swear!!"

"Thea, I know that you have not told her that. I do not know how she knows but she does and she had not told Ruth. She wants me to tell Ruth at the right time." Edwin cleared.

"Oh, Moon Goddess! My head is spining with every shock. Whose face I saw first in the morning? Is there anything else any of you want to throw at my face. If yes then please do it right now. Kill me at once instead of killing me slolwy!"

Edwin sighed again at Lester's overdramatic reactions. That man turns into a theatre actress in such critical situations, and that was annoying.

After some more discussions and planning, Lester left for Bluemoon pack without a shower and a goodbye kiss to Elsie.

The others also left one by one as they had things to be taken care of, leaving Edwin alone to think by himself.

He and his wolf were angry. But right now, he was waiting for Ruth as he wanted to ask her something important.