A MAZE OF GREED

Thea smiled, seeing that Ruth and Rees were now on better terms with each other and her plan succeeded well. After that, they all sat in the living room, discussing random topics which came as a breather for Ruth.

Rees was saying something when his body suddenly stiffened, his eyes darkened. This time Ruth noticed how his behaviour did not put her under the pile of queries. Instead, she was calm and curious to know who was contacting him through the mindlink.

She wished it should have been one of her powers. Wouldn't it be great if she could communicate with anyone without moving from her place?!!!

Wait! Did she find it amusing?

Ruth was broken out of her thoughts when Rees's eyes turned to normal. He stood up in urgency.

"I need to go!" He told.

Thea and Ruth shared a concerned look. "Rees, is everything alright?" Thea asked.

Rees's eyes moved to Ruth before he said, "Yes. I just... need to go."

Ruth narrowed her eyes at him.

"I know you are lying because of me. Tell me what is it? You know I can take anything on me after knowing the man of my dreams is actually a mythological creature."

Rees clearly did not like the mythological creature part, yet he chose to not comment on it.

"Master has something to discuss." He said discreetly.

"And what is it?"

Rees shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other. He saw Thea nodding her head in encouragement.

~"You can tell in front of her."~ She thought as she knew he would hear her.

"Wait wait wait!" Ruth jumped out of her seat, taking both of them by surprise.

"Am I missing on something or did you two just do that telepathy thing?" She asked, pointing her fingers at them with wide eyes.

"Ruth, it is not telepathy. And after the marking a werewolf can hear the human's thoughts but a human can only feel the other's emotions." Thea explained.

Ruth blinked in confusion. "What is marking?"

Thea pushed her hair aside, revealing her neck where two dots were visible. Rees then showed his neck to show Thea's mark on her- the symbol of their love- an arrow.

Ruth neared them, studying their marks carefully.

"These marks are the indication for the other werewolves that you have a mate. This is a mark given by humans. If Thea was a werewolf then she would have left the same mark as hers on me." Rees explained.

They waited for her reaction, and when her eyes grew saucer-shaped, they braced themselves for another of her outburst.

"You worm! You bite her!!" Ruth shrieked in horror punching Rees in his chest.

While Rees tried to comprehend what was wrong with it, Thea burst out laughing.

"A.... w-worm? Really Ruth?!!! Hhaaahhaahahaa"

Rees pursed his lips in displease. "You could have just compared me with a wolf." He said dryly.

"Oh shut up! You are a wolf!"

Rees raised his finger to correct her. "A werewolf!" He told.

Ruth took a deep breath to calm herself. This was too much... this was too much. And then it hit her.

She had noticed how Edwin kept looking at her neck hungrily every time they get physically closer.

"It means..."

"Yes, Ruth. If you mate with Edwin like physically... then you will also get the same mark as me!" Thea smiled, recovering from her fit of laughter.

"Uhhh... I was happy to believe it was a giant mosquito bite." Ruth grumbled, rolling her eyes.

Thea shook her head before turning her attention to her husband again.

"Rees is there something serious?"

Rees sighed. Perhaps Ruth should know this.

"Master thinks that the rogues who attacked him and Ruth that night of full moon were not any random rogues. They went at the waterfall with the intention of killing Master."

Both women gasped in shock. There were instances when they had found rogues around Vincardine, so Thea thought this must be the same case but after knowing this, she was worried.

"You could have said hurting rather than killing." That was the reaction of Ruth.

Rees stared directly into her eyes. "We don't hurt Ruth. We always aim for the kill!"

A cold shiver ran down Ruth's spine as she flinched. Rees left after that, leaving Thea to calm Ruth down.

Five minutes of silence later, and after finishing a glass of water, Ruth finally looked up at Thea.

"Is it too hard?"

Thea did not need elaboration of her question. She knew what she was asking.

Thea nodded her head. "Honestly, yes. It is! It is like living in the other universe where the customs, culture, traditions, history... everything is different.

But I got used to it gradually. Rees helped a lot, and his parents are always nice and ready to help me."

Ruth was quiet for some time. "But I will not have in-laws like you to support me." Ruth said sadly.

Thea put her hand on Ruth's shoulder. "But you will have Master to tend every need of you. Isn't he enough?"

Ruth bit the inside of her cheek. "Thea do you know everything about this mate thing?"

"Well... I think I do."

"What if I reject Edwin?"

Ruth noticed how Thea tensed at that question. She was silent at first, but then asked, "Do you want to know the truth or a sugar-coated consolation?"

Ruth gulped down in nervousness. "I would like to hear the truth."

"Alright! So let me clarify first that this is not a made-up story. I had the same question on my mind for Rees and then he told me this as an answer. It cleared all my queries. I hope it will do the same for you." Thea told.

Ruth nodded her head, patiently waiting to hear another story, another tale that would definitely feel unreal to her.

"So this story is about a female wolf. She was Rees's good friend. They were together in the Academy- a place similar to school where the supernaturals learn, not only the warfare but also their respective powers and other subjects like history, administration, business, etc.

She had just turned twenty years old. It is the usual age from onwards a werewolf finds its mate. She was this lovely and lively young girl. She came from a simple family but was very ambitious. She wanted to be a warrior and serve her leader."

Ruth was surprised to hear that. "She knew Edwin?"

Thea shook her head. "Not everyone has met Master. But they all know his name and recognise his authority and superiority."

For some reason, Ruth's chest swelled up in pride.

"The Academy arranges special sessions guided by the previous students who have excelled in their field of expertise once in a year. She was very excited to attend these sessions as this was the first time she was going to meet her leader in person."

"Edwin went there to teach her?"

"Yes. Not only Master but also other students who studied with him in his batch were invited. This young girl was a hopeless romantic and dreamed of having a mate who would love her and cherish her.

When the special mentors arrived at the institution, everyone was excited. She was happy and excited too! Little did she know that her fate was about to make her dream come true."

Suddenly Ruth looked alarmed. "Don't tell me, she was Edwin's mate."

Thea shook her head smiling. "No Ruth. All the supernaturals have only one mate in one lifetime."

Ruth released a sigh of relief.

"She found her mate Ruth. She told Rees about it. Rees even made fun of her. She did not tell who her mate was because... because she knew it was a frowned upon scene."

"Why?" Ruth asked in confusion.

"Because her mate is seen as an enemy of the werewolves." Thea told, goosebumps formed on her skin.

"Oh no!" Ruth felt sad for the young girl who was a complete stranger to her, yet she could picture her in front of her eyes.

"What happened then?"

"She dared to approach him one day. It was the last day of the special session and the next day the mentors were going back to their respective towns." Thea told what she was informed by Rees.

"Did he say yes?" Ruth asked in anticipation.

But the sad look on Thea's face gave her the answer even before she opened her mouth.

"He didn't. He rejected her, insulted her, laughed at her for thinking someone like him would accept her as his mate. He said that the only relation between the two breeds is of enemies!"

Ruth saw that coming since the beginning of their conversation, and yet her heart hurt for the young woman.

She could not imagine how she had felt at that time after getting rejected and humiliated by the man she was in love with, who was chosen to stay by her side by destiny herself.

"Did she take it well? I am sure she must be devastated!" Ruth said with a sorrowful voice.

"Not only she Ruth but also her wolf was devastated. She went missing that night, but nobody really noticed it until the next afternoon. By that time her mate and others had ridden on for their journey.

They searched for her everywhere. Rees was looking at every corner and place where she could be, but she was nowhere to be found. He remembered her mentioning finding her mate. He thought she must have gone to him.

But he had no idea who that man was. So he checked her room, and in one of her notebooks, he found the description of that man."

"Then?"

The story was making Ruth tense with every passing second.. She did not know what happened next and how it would give her answer to her question, yet she wanted to hear it till the end.