A MAZE OF GREED

At this point of the story, Ruth was so connected to the unfortunate young she-wolf that she nervously waited to hear more.

"Rees recognised that man Ruth. And thus was too scared to inform about it to anyone.So he decided to wait until they found her. And he regret that decision to this date and will keep carrying it for all of his life."

Ruth understood why Rees did that. He was young and scared. She understood that he was trying to save his friend. There was a possibility that nobody would have helped him to find his friend after knowing she was a mate of an enemy.

And even if they would have found her, Rees must be scared of the treatment she would receive after everyone got to know the truth.

"So did they find her?"

Thea nodded her head in a yes.

"They did."

The chilliness of her tone made Ruth wrap her hands around her.

"But it was too late."

"What do you mean?" Ruth asked in a whisper as if she was afraid to hear it.

"A few hours before they found her, a devastating news landed early in the morning. A news of bloodshed."

"b-Bloodshed?"

Thea nodded her head somberly. "A small village of about sixty to seventy houses was destroyed overnight. Not a single person was spared- children, women, elders... everyone was brutally killed.

Those who managed to run into the forest were also killed after chasing them, their dead bodies were scattered all around the perimeter of that humble village."

Ruth's hands shakily covered her mouth as her eyes bulge out in fright. "You mean... it was..."

"Yes Ruth. She killed all of them, destroyed their lives in a fit of rage."

"But... but that is just an extreme step. She did not need to do it."

Now Ruth was confused if she should feel pity for that young she-wolf or, should she be angry at her.

"That is the thing, Ruth! When werewolf gets rejected by their mate, they are also cut by their pack. Because other pack members see them as a threat or a competition to their mates.

These supernatural creatures are very possessive about their mates and can not tolerate any possible threat to their relationship with their mates. And thus they abandoned the member who gets rejected by their mate." Thea explained.

Ruth was stunned. "You mean if I reject Edwin, he would also be abondon by his pack?"

Thea paused thoughtfully for a second before she shook her head. "I highly doubt that as he is not any werewolf but is also a leader. They all need him. But yes, he might face hostility from other males from not only his pack but also from the other packs. He will be seen only as an asset and not as a respected figure."

Ruth cast her eyes down in her lap. She had a deep frown etched on her face.

Now she understood why everyone was telling her that Edwin needed his mate, his Luna.

"How did they find her then?" Ruth asked, looking up at Thea again.

"Rees was beyond shock when the news reached the Academy. His father was there at that time as he is one of the mentors in the Academy. He went to his father and told him everything.

My father-in-law then spoke with his colleagues, and they decided to inform it to Lord Augustus."

"Lord Augustus? But he is not the leader!"

Thea was taken aback by the sudden zeal with which Ruth spoke. Sensing she had overreacted, Ruth cleared her throat awkwardly. "I mean... does Lord Augustus have the authority to take decisions in such matters? He is just Edwin's guardian, isn't he?"

"Ruth, you have no idea how much authority Lord Augustus has gathered in his hands over all these years. Young Master was only a nominal figure back then, but all the authority was concentrated in Lod Augustus's hands.

But since you came into Master's life, he has begun taking his responsibilities. Perhaps that is the reason Lady Theodora and Lord Augustus want you away from Young Master."

Now Ruth understood it all. Theodora's tussle was not only because she had grudges against Ruth, but it was because she feared if Ruth continued getting closer to Edwin, she would change him completely.

And that might lead to Edwin assuming the complete charge, and then Lord Augustus would be left with nothing in his hands, and so would Theodora.

Well wouldn't that be great to see?!, Ruth thought.

"What did Lord Augustus do?" Ruth asked next.

Thea leaned back with a sigh. "He could not do much other than sending search parties to find her. He also sent his men to handle the bloodshed in that village.

They had to do a lot of work to suppress that news. And even though the word spread about it, people consider it as a rumour as nobody found any proof of that mass killing. Because Lord Augustus cleaned all the pieces of evidence."

Ruth felt her head become heavy. She felt like a fool, an ignorant person. So much was happening around her, with her, yet she did not get even a whiff about it. Was she so blind and lost in her confined life?

"Do not think much about it Ruth. No humans have any idea of what happens around them. There are two different worlds at the same time, on the same land, in the same community and yet they are well distinguished."

Thea tried to help Ruth feel less foolish.

"When they could not find her for long, they finally decided to tell Young Master. At that time he kept himself away from all these matters. He was very different back then." Thea said slowly.

"I have a fair idea of it." Ruth whispered.

"But it was just a facade!"

That made Ruth snap up her head in surprise. "What?"

"Yes. Young Master was aware of the dangers lurking around him. So he created this illusion of careless, reckless, selfish and irresponsible rich brat around him to fool the world. He used it to keep his enemies unwatchful to avoid the unnecessary tussle."

A long minute passed in silence. As Ruth learned more and more about Edwin, she realised that the man she knew was only a half part of him. There was so much more to him that she had no idea about.

He indeed was a fathomless ocean!

"The moment Young Master got the news, he himself went to that village. The destruction and the gruesomeness shook the witnesses' souls. That was the first time Rees interacted with him personally, as he was always shy to do so during their sessions.

When Rees told him about the she-wolf's mate, Young Master was surprised just like others. He saw the clear hesitation and doubts in the eyes of other werewolves present there. To avoid any possible complications, Young Master decided to go by himself in search of her.

Although she was now a rogue and a mass killer, he did not want her to get hurt by any of his people." Thea narrated further.

"So he believed that it was not entirely her fault. The rejection in love made her do that."

Thea smiled, shaking her head. "No. He never believed in love until he fell in love with you."

That made Ruth bite her lower lips as she fought the smile.

"When Master found her, she had lost all her senses and rationale. After a werewolf becomes a rogue, he loses his emotional and psychological connection with his pack members, which directly hampers their emotions.

And thus, they did not see the destruction or hurting others as something forbidden. To them, it is a way of letting their wolf enjoy the freedom and spread the terror so that no one dares to cross their path."

Ruth felt like Thea was prolonging the story to avoid telling the end of it. But she desperately wanted to know it.

"Did he... did he save her?"

"Yes. He saved her from her misery by killing her."

That was the last thing Ruth wanted to hear. She clenched her eyes shut as the corners of them moistened. Her heart ran to that innocent soul who lost at the hands of destiny.

"Isn't there any way to save them Thea? I mean one should not lose everything for the mistake of other person." Ruth did not like this way.

She did not want anyone to lose their life only because someone else failed to acknowledge destiny's wish and their heart call.

"Fortunately I think Master has found a way."

"Really?"

Thea nodded her head with a smile. "Kevin!"

Ruth's mind instantly pictured the handsome young man she had met in Bluemoon town.

"He is rejected by his mate?" Ruth asked in astonishment.

Thea told Ruth about Kevin- how his mate rejected him, how Edwin had to go and help him. And that was how Ruth finally got to know how Edwin got so badly injured.

Ruth felt like her head was spinning with all the shocks she had received.

"I think now you know more than enough for a day. Let me get you something to drink." Thea went into the kitchen to prepare a drink for both of them

Ruth, on the other hand, sat silently staring at the vase placed in the corner of the living room.

She replayed her long conversation with Thea, absorbing every detail about this newfound world.

In the afternoon, when Ruth got ready to leave. She paused near the door before turning to face Thea.

"Thea, what was the name of Rees's fiend?" Ruth asked out of curiosity after listening to her tragic life story.

"Grace! Her name was Grace!!"