A MAZE OF GREED

Ruth was trying to understand things as much as possible. Although she had proof of every fact, she found it difficult to accept it all.

Something kept nagging her mind. She had all the pieces, yet they somehow felt incompatible with each other. She had talked with every person she thought would help her. And they had given satisfying answers, except one thing.

Why Edwin was hesitant to tell her before?

The argument he gave that she would not have understood seems partially true. She was not understanding a thing now too.

There was something missing, and she could not choose before knowing it.

She immediately took the path to his office, where he had locked up himself since days after their previous conversation.

Opening the door without knocking it first, she barged into his office to see him drinking the usual red drink. He had the glass near his lips as his eyes looked up at her. He calmly put the glass down, waiting for her to say something.

She observed him keenly. His face did not light up upon seeing her like every time it did. It felt like he had closed that part of him deep within him. She realised he was just getting used to this hollow self because he knew she would reject him.

Although Ruth had not made up her mind, it hurt that he did not even try to be optimistic. Instead of getting upset, she felt bad. As he sat there with a face void of any emotions, she could see the vulnerability oozing out of him.

The lonely and shy kid she had seen in his childhood drawings stared at her in anticipation and a silent prayer.

"Marry me!"

Edwin blinked dumbfoundedly, as she said that. "Wh-what?" He asked slowly.

"I am ready to stay if you marry me this instant." Ruth told confidently.

She saw his facade cracking slowly. "Ruth, you don't know what you are saying."

"I know exactly what I am saying!" She took a step ahead. Her voice was steady, her eyes hard and focused.

Her chest heaved up and down as she waited for him to break down completely.

"You claim that you love me right?! And I love you too! And now that I know who you are and what I should be, why waste more time? Doesn't your people need their Luna?" She took slow steps towards him as she spoke.

With her every word and every step, she saw him tense. His eyes which were a blank canvas before was now splashed with different colours. She knew what exactly was happening to him.

He was scared!

Yes, Edwin O'Dell was scared of something, and it had to do something with her. And thus, Ruth wanted to know it.

She had seen that fear in his eyes before. Every time she brought the topic of marriage, he was hesitant. At first, Ruth thought he was hesitant because he was not sure of his feelings for her.

But after going through so much, she knew that if anyone could love her more than herself, then it was this man!

He could die for her if it took him there.

Then why did he got scared at the idea of marrying her?

Now alert, Edwin asked, "Ruth has anyone said something to you? Is it aunt Theodora or uncle Augustus?"

Ruth was taken aback by his assumption. "Yes, I heard them saying that you have no intention of getting married in this lifetime. And I want to prove them wrong. So when are we getting married?"

Ruth lied blatantly and knew that she had hit the right spot when she saw the internal chaos on his face.

"Tell me, Edwin, don't you want to marry me? Or am I going to be another Florence in your life? Tell me damn it!" Ruth's voice rose considerably.

"Enough Ruth! Stop this nonsense!" Edwin was outraged now. He sprang up from his seat and glared at her.

"Nonsense? Do you think this is nonsense? Then what is it that you are doing with me and my life? That makes any sense to you?" She was not ready to back down.

She wanted to know that last piece, and then the picture would be complete.

Edwin stepped closer to her. Grabbing her arms in his hands, he shook her before glaring intensely at her.

"Why are you doing this?" His voice came as a dangerous dark whisper. His jaw clenched tightly, as he tried suppressing his wolf.

"What am I doing Edwin? Is it unfair of me to ask you to get married? Why there is no Luna in the O'Dell family? Lady Theodora is not a Luna even though Lord Augustus enjoys all the powers as equal to alpha.

I want to be the Luna this pack needs. Don't you love me enough to marry me? Or don't you love your people enough to give them their Luna?" She asked, peering deeply into his darkened eyes.

She knew his wolf was there. It scared her a bit. However, she had already prepared to face the consequences.

"Are you doing this because you don't want to stay with me?" She heard the overbearing emotions in his voice as it cracked in the end. "Is that why you are doing this because you can't reject me directly? Tell me Ruth! Tell me!!"

Edwin's eyes had turned into his wolf's. The hot gust of air he exhaled through his nose slapped her face.

"Or is it you who do not want me to stay and thus avoid the topic of marriage? Huh, Edwin? Or this maid does not suit your status and thus you are planning on keeping me as your beautiful secret?"

At this point, Ruth knew she was stretching it too far. But she did not care as long as it guaranteed her answers.

"Shut up Ruth!! You have no idea what you are talking about!" Edwin warned her again. He begged that she would stop or else he would not be able to stop himself.

"Then marry me!" She said stubbornly.

Their gazes clashed, their hearts ran fast.

"I... I can't!" He finally pushed those words out of his mouth.

"Why? Why can't you?"

"Ruth please stop!"

"No Edwin! I want to know why you want me to be with you but can't be your wife. Tell me... tell me you monster. Tell-"

"Because you will die!"

Ruth froze, her eyes wide open and her breath stuck somewhere inside her chest.

"If I marry you then you will die, Ruth! You will die! and I... I can't lose you... I... I am not that strong enough!"

And just like that, Edwin broke. The werewolf leader broke into tears, letting his fears come out in the form of his tears. It was not only him but also his wolf crying along with him.

"I... I am sorry!" Those were the last words she remembered said by him.

*

*

*

Mrs Payne was surprised to see Lester instead of Edwin waiting for her in the old building.

"Mrs Payne, please sit."

She noticed how distressed he was. "Are you alright Lord Lester? I am surprised to see you alone."

This time Lester shared the couch on which she sat.

"I don't want to disturb Edwin when he is dealing with his personal problems."

Mrs Payne nodded in understanding. "I assume you need this untrustable old woman's help."

Lester was embarrassed when she put it in that way. "I hope you will irrespective of the previous tensions between us." he asked hopefully.

"Depends."

"Depends on what?" Lester frowned at her answer.

"If it involves Ruth then I am more than willing to help but if not then..."

"Mrs Payne! Will you please pull your head out of the waters for once? It is a serious matter."

Mrs Payne sighed. "Alright. What is it?" She was yet to decide if she indeed wanted to help.

But hearing him first would not harm.

"Can you search on Painite's uses?"

"What? Why?" Now Mrs Payne was interested.

She was sure that Edwin had not told Lester about their secret. Then why Lester was suddenly interested in it?

"Mrs Payne, you know about the kidnappings of werewolf cubs, right?"

She had heard it from Ruth and how Ruth saw one of such instances in her dreams.

"Yes, what about that?"

Lester had lines of worry on his forehead. "My father has finally found the breakthrough in this investigation."

Mrs Payne listened to him carefully with furrowed brows.

"With the help of alphas of other packs, father has found evidences of presence of rogues around those pack territories. And guess who are those rogue?"

The wheels in Mrs Payne's brain spun faster.

"They are the spies of those packs who had disappeared."

"What?" Mrs Payne was confused.

"I am not too sure about this but I have a theory. Someone is using Painite on our spies, turning them into dangerous rogues. and I think they have some connection with these kidnapping."

Mrs Payne thought about it for a minute.

"Perhaps these rogues are the ones who are kidnapping the cubs?"

"Perhaps. I cannot be so sure about it. And that is why I need your help, Mrs Payne. I refuse to believe those rogue spies can do such heinous crimes against their people. This Painite must have something to do with it.

Please, Mrs Payne, help me. I know Ruth is not involved in this directly... yet. But what if she chooses Edwin and becomes the Luna. Then she will be also responsible for our people. Please!"

Mrs Payne understood what he was trying to say.. Even if Ruth rejected Edwin, Mrs Payne decided to help Lester. It was about hundreds of lives!