A MAZE OF GREED

The chirping of birds and the fresh morning breeze made a figure lying in the bed stirred in sleep. The person turned to the other side pulling the duvet up to the chin. An incoherent mumble left unheard in the silence of the room.

Unaware of the fast-approaching footsteps that person again got lost into the sweet sleep. Last night had drained that person's energy turning him exhausted.

A loud sound of the opening of the door startled the other person in the bed whom the man had forgotten about.

A feminine shriek resonated in the room that disturbed the man's sleep.

"Shut up! Why are you-" Before he completed his sentence, someone pulled the duvet away from his body.

In an instant, the drowsiness got replaced with anger, and the man was about to snap at the person who dared to intrude his private space without his permission. But as soon as he saw the familiar face, the man only groaned in annoyance.

"Go away, Lester. Let me sleep!" Edwin was about to go back to his sleep but Lester had something else on his mind.

He pulled Edwin by his hand and made him sit upright in the bed. Edwin's huge form was not easy to handle but Lester had no problem dealing with it because of his werewolf powers.

Edwin's bare body and the half-naked woman beside him gave away about their last night's business.

"Do you need to be told to get out?" Lester threw a glare in the woman's way who was embarrassed with the situation.

She had a bedsheet covered up her body as much as possible to save her modesty when last night she was everything but modest.

Edwin lazily turned to look at who Lester was talking with. He had totally forgotten about the presence of the woman beside him.

When he noticed her with her body trembling lightly, his face hardened in anger. "What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to get lost after fornicating?"

The coldness and anger in his voice made the poor woman shudder in fear.

"But- I-I thought..."

Edwin grabbed her by her hair and boring his cerulean blue eyes in hers, he seethed, "Don't show me your face again or I will kill you then and there. Now get out!"

The woman clambered out of the bed and not daring to lift her eyes again ran out of the room with a loud sob that left her mouth. But that didn't affect Edwin in the slightest. After all, it was not the first time that he was witnessing such a thing.

Edwin ran his fingers through his tousled hair and cursed loudly. He was in no good mood recently. The night a week before was eating him from inside. His ego was daunted badly by a mere human. And all he was seeking was revenge.

But his wolf was not ready for that. He was not letting him take out his fury on the person with hazel eyes. And to release the pent up frustration he grabbed one of the maids and dragged her to this room.

He didn't even bother to see who she was or what her name was. He just wanted to distract his mind from that vile vixen. And the maid... when Edwin dragged her to the room she couldn't contain her joy.

Edwin O'Dell was not someone who spared a mere glance in anyone's way if he didn't found the person worthy of his attention. But little did the poor woman knew that he needed her not because she was worthy of his attention but because he needed something to rest his relentlessly working mind.

"You didn't need to be that rude." Lester commented after the maid left.

"I was not rude. I don't like when the women stay in my bed after I am done with them." Edwin stretched his hands above his head flexing his toned muscles that glistened in the sunlight that entered through the half-opened window.

After a yawn, he asked, "How did you know where I was?"

"I went to your chamber but you were not there. Lady Theodora's personal maid Fannie told me about your whereabouts."

Edwin removed the duvet from his lower body and Lester felt relieved that it was not stark naked, as his upper body.

"Were you expecting another scenario, Lester?" Edwin smirked devilishly after gauging Lester's expressions. But Lester was in no mood to give him a befitting reply.

"Can we have a word?"

"Isn't that why you bestowed me with your presence this early in the morning?"

Sighing in defeat Lester said, "Go freshen up first. I will wait for you here. But please hurry up and don't waste time gawking yourself in the mirror. That's spooky."

Rolling his eyes at his friend, Edwin went into the bathroom to freshen up only to come out after ten minutes. And this time he had covered his body with a simple white shirt. His hair was in better condition than before and his face looked fresh without the previous torpor.

Sobering up from his sleepiness, Edwin now could sense the serious demeanour of his friend who had his brows furrowed in worry.

Taking a seat in front of Lester, Edwin was about to call a maid to bring the breakfast for both of them but Lester stopped him.

"Edwin, can we go to your chamber to talk?"

Edwin never allowed any woman other than his family to step inside his private chamber. Not even the maids were allowed to go there for cleaning without his permission. And the current room was where he usually brought his interests whenever he felt like it.

"Very well..."

In no time they both went to Edwin's chamber and a servant brought tea for both of them. After the servant left, Edwin poured the tea for both of them and gave the cup to Lester.

"What is that's bothering you?" Edwin asked while sipping his tea. The hot liquid felt good while passing through his throat.

"I got a letter from my mother this morning."

The seriousness of Lester's voice made Edwin curious. "What is written in it? Is she well?"

Lester took a sip of hot tea. "Not really. I and father are in Vincardine for many days now and my mother had to look after the business alone. When we came here we didn't know that it would take this long to resolve the issue of the deaths.

But it seems that the stress has taken a toll on her health."

"What happened to Mrs Wright?" Edwin asked in worry.

He was fond of her as she was like a mother figure to him even closer than Theodora could ever be. He had spent his vacations at Lester's home while devouring her cookies and listening to her bedtime stories when he was a kid.

Lester sighed. "She fainted two days ago and fell from the stairs. Her ankle is hurt pretty bad. She needs two weeks' bedrest. So..."

"So you are leaving." Edwin said monotonously.

"I have to. It's not like I am leaving you alone in between this mess but I have to go to my mother. But I promise I will come back as soon as possible. I-"

"It's fine. I understand."

Edwin's face didn't give out his thoughts and Lester was worried that he would misunderstand him. He couldn't reach through his mind link and thus had no idea what thought were playing in Edwin's head.

"Edwin, I-"

"Have you told this to Elsie?"

His sudden question caught Lester off guard. "W-what?"

"Lester, Elsie is not my younger cousin but more like a real sister. I know her very well. I know that you both have feelings for each other and I am more than happy that she likes a man like you. Fortunately the Moon Goddess has bestowed you with a bond of eternity with her."

Lester was too shocked to say anything immediately. He had made sure that no one would know about this before the right time comes. But Edwin was too smart and a good observer. There was nothing that could go missing from his sharp eyes.

"Edwin, how do you know-"

"Looking at your face, I assume that you haven't told her. Please go and talk to her, Lester. We will talk about the other things later."

Lester was bewildered. He never expected Edwin to say it out loud and easily. He wanted to tell Edwin about his feelings for his sister but was afraid that the fact might affect their friendship but after hearing those encouraging words from Edwin, Lester's heart fell at ease.

"I will. You get ready. We are leaving in an hour."

After Lester left in search of Elsie, Edwin was left alone in the room to deal with his untamed thoughts.

The news of Lester returning to his home was unexpected for Edwin. He felt as if he was losing a foot of the ladder that he was relying upon. The feeling of aloneness suddenly felt overwhelming and his yearning for an anchor rose to its heights.

He closed his eyes for a moment, and for some reason, the image that ran in front of his eyes was something that he didn't expect.

When he thought of seeking comfort from someone, he saw the person with a round face and gleaming hazel eyes.