A MAZE OF GREED

Edwin was pacing around his chamber in stress. He so badly wanted to go with Lester. Rees tried everything to find the clues regarding the kidnappings of the cubs but had to return with not much.

Edwin cursed himself that he could not protect his people, the future generation of their breed. He had many things to tackle at once.

"No Edwin... pacing around and stressing over the problems is not going to help you. Lets deal with one thing at a time." Edwin muttered to himself.

~"Rees, get the physician to my chamber discreetly."~ He ordered through the mind link.

He then called Thea.

"I am going to talk to the physician. Keep Ruth busy and away from my chamber till then." He told.

"Okay." Thea replied yet lingered behind as if she wanted to ask something.

"What is it?" Edwin asked, sensing her thoughts.

Thea contemplated asking what she intended. Deciding to ask it, she looked at Edwin.

"If they can try to poison you then... does that mean they can try to harm Ruth too once the world gets to know that she is your mate?"

That was not what Edwin was expecting from Thea. She was an outspoken person and had no filters to her mouth once she lost her cool. She was the exact opposite of Rees. But this particular question took Edwin by surprise.

Edwin sighed, running his hands over his face. Thea noticed how everything was affecting adversely on him. Since she had begun working for him, she got a chance to know him closely.

Sometimes he infuriated her, while on the other times, she felt bad for him. Thea was genuinely happy that Edwin and Ruth would have each other to take care of them. But this poisoning incident had made her biased towards Ruth's security more than her concern for only Edwin.

"Thea, I know you are worried for her. I am actually glad that Ruth has a friend like you! But... you should understand that we can not always hide her in our shadows.

Ruth is not only my mate but also a Luna of the whole werewolf breed. There will be a time when she has to step out of her shields and face the troubles with both her hands.

You, me or anyone can not always protect her. She needs to learn how to fight, and I am not talking only about weapon fights. Always remember, the fights of minds are more dangerous as well as destructive than the fights of weapons."

Thea gulped her saliva in nervousness as the heavyweight of Edwin's words pressed down on her shoulders. She only nodded her head in response.

Edwin had not denied the truth. He had only presented in a subtle way. Thea understood the core of it, and that was, Ruth would need to face more than only physical attacks.

Thea left Edwin's chamber with those thoughts on her mind to find Ruth.

Ten minutes after Thea left, Rees came with the physician, who was treating Edwin.

Entering the chamber, they both bowed in respect. Rees stood near the door. Edwin gestured for the physician to come near him.

He observed the man, who was working for the O'Dell family for several decades. As a werewolf, he was also entrusted with treating the guards and the warriors of the family.

Was this man capable of betraying Edwin like that?

But then again... loyalty can be bought, at an appropriate price.

"Master... how are you feeling now?" The man asked with the utmost respect.

"I hope you will be glad to hear that my wounds are recovering well and faster." Edwin's cerulean blue eyes gauged the man's every minute reaction.

"Of course, I am happy to hear that Young Master!" The man smiled, although Edwin saw the flicker of confusion in his eyes.

Edwin pointed at the table nearby before telling, "These are all the medicines I am using now. Will you take a look at them?"

The confusion only rose in the man's eyes. Yet he neared the table and began inspecting every medicine one by one. He smelled them, touched them, even tasted some of them.

"These are the same medicines I have given you Master." The man did not understand what was going on.

"Then you must know that one of those medicines contains poison!" Edwin's face was set in a mould of seriousness, his gaze was piercing.

The colour on the man's face faded in a second after his brain registered the word poison.

"P-poison?" He stuttered, tasting the word on his tongue.

"What are you saying Master? I... I have no idea about it! If I had slightest of the idea then would have I given you that medicine?"

"That is exactly I want to know. So tell me, why this idea came into your head."

The physician looked behind at Rees to see him standing, obstructing the only way out with his jaws set tightly together.

The physician's wolf sensed the anger radiating out of both the wolves.

He instantly fell at Edwin's feet. His face washed in panic.

"Master, please believe me. I am working for your family for more than four decades. My loyalty has always been with the O'Dells. How can I dare to harm my leader?"

Rees was fuming with anger, but he held back because his Master was handling the situation.

Edwin made the physician stand by his shoulders. "Calm down first! And we will talk properly." Edwin was calm although, his wolf's energy could be felt all over the place.

"I know about the exceptional service you have provided to my family. And the O'Dells will always appreciate that. But right now, I have proof that one of these medicines contains poison that slowed down my recovery and could have been fatal if continued.

You are the only person who has given me these medicines. As you tasted some of them, I am sure that the poison is not in the edible medicines, but is in the ones that had to be applied to my wounds. I just want to know the truth! That's all."

The physician's eyes watered as fear clouded his features. "I am telling the truth Master. Please believe me! How can I dare to harm you when I have to use all my medicinal knowledge in treating the ones punished by you, for betrayal?

I have seen the consequences of trying to betray you or lie to you. Only a fool can try repeating their mistake!"

Fair enough!

But Edwin had to be unbiased. His heart told him that the physician was innocent, but justice can not be served on the basis of arguments presented by one's heart. It demands proofs and all the proofs directed against the physician.

"I do not have time to listen to your repetitive answers. I am giving you two choices. One- tell me the truth and even if you are guilty, then I will give you concession in your punishment. This matter will remain between only the three of us.

Or Two- This news will be in the mouth of every pack member with the next sunrise. You will lose their and your family's respect forever. People will turn blind-eyed to your achievements and your selfless service because you tried poisoning the werewolf leader.

Now the choice is yours!"

Edwin said with finality.

That made the physician panic even more. He shook his head as the tears freely flow from his eyes.

"Master... you can put a silver dagger through my heart and still I will tell you the same truth that I do not know anything about the posion. If I knew it then I would have died before giving it to you."

And the man broke into tears before his Master.

"You are lying!" Rees yelled in agitation. He was silent all this time only because he did not want to offend his master. But not anymore.

He took a threatening step ahead, but Edwin stopped him by showing his palm.

Edwin shook his head subtly and made Rees retreat to his previous place. Yet he kept glaring at the physician.

A minute later, Edwin said, "Okay."

"But Master-"

Edwin passed a stern glance to Rees as his last warning.

"Tell me, the night I was attacked, where were you? Do you remember anything peculiar about that night?" Edwin asked.

The physician wiped his face, but Edwin did not see the relief on his face. He was still shaken and panicked.

"I... I was at home that night. I got a guard's message through the pack link. I- I immediately rushed to my office in the manor to get the necessary surgical instruments and other essentials. I then straight went to the old building. I... I do not recall anything other than that."

Edwin was lost in thought for quite some time. He then said, "You may leave now. Do not open your mouth outside. And trust me if I know to honour a person's honesty then I also know how to deal with the liars. You will tell me if you recall anything more." Edwin warned in a dark voice.

The physician nodded his head fervently. He apologised profusely for this mess before leaving.

"Master... how can we trust him?" Rees could not hold himself back anymore.

"We have to Rees. If he was the culprit, then he had many opportunities to harm me. There are only two possibilities. One is that someone must have threatened him or lured him. Or he indeed does not know anything.

Keep an eye on him and make sure that this news should not reach the outside world."

Rees trusted the better judgement of his Master.

"Yes, Master!"