A MAZE OF GREED

After an awkward brunch, Thea conveniently excused herself, saying she would get back in ten minutes after giving some pie to her neighbours.

Rees knew she was not particularly fond of these neighbours. She just used it as an excuse to give Rees and Ruth some time to speak and mend things with each other.

"Let me help you with it," Rees said as he folded his sleeves to clean the dishes, along with Ruth.

His sweet gesture touched her heart. Now that Ruth knew that Rees was a son of Edwin's mentor and belonged to a well to do family, she found it admiring how grounded he was.

In the times where the household chores were entitled to only women, she had seen him helping Thea in daily errands and other things without complaining.

Mrs Green even grumbled that he had made Thea lazy.

Ruth did not say a word and focused on what she was doing. Five minutes later, the silence between them poked her mind. She had never been so silent around him before.

"You don't have anything to say?" She finally asked.

He shrugged his shoulders. "What I can say is what everyone is bombarding you with. And what I want to say is perhaps useless at this point when you are not ready to even spare me a glance. And the remaining is what I chose not to say."

His tone was flat. It was not accusing or guilty. Ruth pursed her lips, thinking why he had to be so smart at everything he did.

"What if I am willing to hear?"

"Then I would advise you to not only hear with your ears but also try to hear by your heart. Sometimes, the most logical solution is useless in decisions of life."

Ruth narrowed her eyes at him. "Are you trying to tell me that I should overlook everything and stay with Edwin only because I love him?"

Rees paused, cleaning the bowl in his hand. "No! I am telling you that we all have to sacrifice one thing or another at some point in life. Some sacrifices result in regrets, while some make one feel proud.

It is your life Ruth and thus your choice. I am just telling you to be cautious of your choices. You are a special woman Ruth. Your every choice is going to affect thousands of lives and perhaps millions."

Ruth watched in confusion as he frowned deeply at the end of his sentence.

What did he mean by millions?

"If I can do the sacrifices so can Edwin, right? What if I ask him to sacrifice his title, his family, his world and come with me? We can start fresh somewhere far away. Wouldn't it be good for everyone?"

Rees looked at Ruth as if she had lost her mind. Putting the bowl down- a little harshly- he turned to face her.

"You can rip him away from everything but would you be able to sepaate his fate from him?"

Ruth was speechless. Of course, she couldn't!

"Besides it is downright selfishness, Ruth!" Now his tone was hard.

"Exactly Rees! If asking so much from Edwin is selfishness, then asking the same from me is also selfish! I am not trying to put a blame on anyone here. This is all written in fate, and no one can run away from it.

I am just... I am just frustrated, confused, annoyed, angry and... s-scared! Who wants to die early than their time Rees? And for what? For the world which I had no idea existed until a few days before?"

Ruth turned her head to hide her teary eyes. But Rees knew her better than that. He held her shoulders and made her look at him.

"I know you are scared Ruth. I have seen Thea going through same phase before. But in your case it is more complicated than hers."

Rees wiped a single tear that rolled down her eyes.

"It is fine to be scared. It is okay if you are confused and need time to think through all the possibilities. And I don't blame you to hesitate sacrificing so much for the world, the people you do not know."

Ruth was warmed by his sincere words.

"It is not only about how much you both love each other Ruth. A mate bond is something very profound and deeper than the love the humans experience. It is not only the bonding of two hearts but also of two souls.

I am not trying to influence your decision but just want you to know that without you, he could never be the man his family needs, a leader his people needs and live a life that he deserves."

Ruth could tell how much her presence affected Edwin and his wolf after hearing the incidences when he lost control over his wolf because of her.

"Ruth, every soul takes life in this world for a purpose. Ours is to be loyal to our leader, fight by his side and die for him if it takes us to that. And yours is to be the anchorage his ship needs in the ocean of guilt, sorrow, anger and darkness.

With his immense power, he is more vulnerable to falling into the trap of darkness. And, that was the root cause of the great war. In our world, a mate is not only to make love to bring children into the world.

A mate is more than that. You are the link that can keep him connected to reality, the truth. As he is our guide, you are his guiding light. Without you, he will be lost, and so will we!"

Ruth did not know what to say anymore. Rees sensed how her shoulders fell under the pressure of responsibilities. He pulled her into a hug. That was when Ruth realised what she needed at that time was not that pie in the dessert.

She needed a shoulder to rely on and vent out all of her frustration.

*

*

*

Lester knocked on the door of Edwin's office. He then opened it to see Edwin staring out through the window. His hands were crossed behind his back.

"Edwin, you called me?"

Edwin nodded his head, his back still facing Lester.

"I haven't heard any news on the kidnapping case, why?"

Lester sighed. He should have known better than hiding it from Edwin. That man had tens of eyes and ears spread everywhere.

"Edwin, I am sorry. I-"

Edwin turned around swiftly. His face set in a hard mould, his eyes were serious.

"I do not want to hear apology Lester. I called you to hear about investigation."

Lester knew he was angry. "I am sure you already know the updates."

Edwin's jaw ticked. His eyes slowly changed their colour.

Lester quickly put his fist on his chest and bowed. "My intention was not to keep you in dark, my Alpha. You are already going through so much in your personal life and I did not want to-"

"Lester Wright! I am your leader and not your best friend when it comes to our duties and responsibilities towards our people. I would not neglect my duties even if I am on my death bed.

So don't use the happening in my personal life as an excuse. I want all the details, right NOW!"

Edwin's commanding voice and the domination oozed from his wolf made Lester's wolf acknowledge his authority again.

Lester nodded before he explained everything that his father learned about the missing spies and the rogues. He also told Edwin that he had asked for Mrs Payne's help.

"Why do you think that these rogues are involved in the kidnappings?" Edwin asked after patiently hearing everything.

"Isn't it strange that we have found the samples of saliva and other evidences of rogues' presence at the borders of only those packs where the kidnappings has occured?" Lester asked.

"But none of the cubs are missing from Vincardine and yet we found rogues at our border too." Edwin argued.

"Perhaps it was a plan?! A preparation before the act!"

Well, that made sense.

"Have you found anything about those three rogues who attacked me and... Ruth?"

Lester nodded his head in a yes. "They all had red eyes and were salivating profusely. We have confirmed it from Ruth too. They do not belong to your pack or your spy network."

"See, there is a change in pattern! All the rogues belonged to those respective packs." Edwin presented another argument.

Lester could tell that he was only trying to avoid accepting the truth that the people who were his pride- his spies- were used by someone else against him.

But avoidance is not a solution!

"That is what irks me, Edwin. It means those three rogues were not around Vincardine to prepare for the kidnapping. Or, they would have been found near the border and not at the waterfall.

It means only one thing!"

Edwin clenched his fists, his eyes darkened in anger.

"They came only for me!"