A MAZE OF GREED

Harold was still in his chair even after it was past midnight. His secretary came after he saw Ruth hurried out of his office room. He asked what was wrong but found Harold frozen on his spot.

He yelled at his secretary and told him to get out. Since then, he sat in his chair, something bothering his mind very much.

It was not how Ruth dared to slap him. He kind of expected that reaction from her. That was what few of the hot-headed women did, and he figured this young beauty could be categorised as the same.

But what kept nagging his mind was why he did not chase after her? She slapped him and just left after sparing him a disgusted glare.

He was a werewolf, once used to be a rogue. He was a predator and loved the chase. Then how did he let her leave simply?

He recalled that the first thought that crossed his mind was to get the woman forcefully. What transpired after that made him freeze on the spot. He could not recall what it was. But he felt like his mind had lost control of his body, and he could not decide what to do then.

The ringing sound of her slap still ringed in his ears. His blood boiled at the thought. That filthy poor woman considered herself higher than him that she dared to deny his wish and insult him in this way.

He could never forget her face. Her beauty had imprinted in his mind, and he was adamant on getting her sooner or later, with or against her will!

*

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*

As the distance to Ruth's home shortened, Edwin's wolf began whining. He did not want to leave his mate. He had waited for months to have her in his arms. This was the most intimate he had ever become with her.

And the icing in the cake was - she was not complaining, not even a single word of protest.

She snuggled more into his body that sent shivers inside him. He was hyperaware of her warm breath passing through the fabric of his shirt. Her heart beat rhythmically.

She felt like a doll made up of glass. He wanted to always protect her, treasure her and show the world that she belonged to him.

But she was not a non-living doll. She was a human with thousands of emotions. He had to win her trust and then find a key to her heart. For that, he needed to be patient and let her have her time.

Edwin did not have his eyes on the road, instead, they were fixated on her face that glowed and shadowed, while walking under the moonlight.

Edwin could never get tired of watching her. He then realised how much time of his life he had wasted without her. He could have lived all those twenty-three years watching her birth, then witnessing how she grew up from a toddler into an enchanting woman.

He had missed on many things, and now he was repeating the same thing. But not anymore. He would have her in front of his eyes from tomorrow onwards... always... till death do them apart.

Zoe could not decide what she felt watching Edwin so smitten by a human. Jealousy, rage, sadness, hurt... or maybe all of it in different proportions.

But was she not happy for him?

The answer was bitter, and though she would never say it out loud, she was happy that Edwin was happy.

'I have never seen Edwin like this!'

"Like what?" Rees asked.

'Like so genuine and so vulnerable.' Zoe replied.

"Had Master never been this way?"

'Never! Not even when we were training in the Academy. Every female- younger and older- was ready to lay at his feet, but he was attracted to weapons. All kinds of weapons. He wanted to grow indestructible.

Now see how he is getting destroyed by a mere human.'

Rees did not like the tone Zoe used at the end.

"I understand your feelings for Master. I have seen many women sharing the same feelings as you about him. But I would like it if you do not downgrade Ruth more.

Though she is a human, she is a kind human. The best woman Master could ever get!" Rees said in finality.

Edwin was too lost in his thoughts to listen to their conversation.

'Yes, she is indeed very kind. And naive! Naive enough to walk in danger despite of red flags. Admit it, she might be the best woman Edwin could ever get but she can never be the Luna that your pack and your alpha needs.'

"Zoe!" Rees warned.

'Do not forget to always add Lady before my name, Rees. You know who I am. Although I did not become the leader of my breed with Edwin's help, it does not lessen my status as the daughter of the Shades' leader.'

She had an arrogant tone. She was not offended, not a bit. But she liked to put people in their place.

'And you do know what I mean, I assume. Just like today, she can not even protect herself then how can you expect her to take care of the pack and the entire breed?'

"You are saying that because she is a human." Rees still argued.

'I am saying that because she is a powerless human with no physical, mental or emotional strengths that a Luna should always possess.'

Rees clamped his lips shut tightly.

'Look there. Have you ever seen Edwin act stronger because of her? Even for one moment?' Zoe was not ready to give up.

Rees did not want to think about that because he knew he was riding the lost boat.

'She has Edwin always on his lowest, on his knees. A Luna is supposed to be a source of inspiration and strength for the alpha, but Ruth... she is far from being that.

And have you given a thought to another thing?'

Zoe stopped to face Rees.

"What?" He asked annoyed.

'What role she will play when the prophecy written in the Black book will come true?'

That thought sent chills down Rees's spine. Zoe walked away following Edwin while waggling her tail. But Rees stood rooted to his spot. He looked at Edwin and Ruth lying in his arms.

Was Zoe right?

Was Ruth capable of being a Luna?

*

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*

Augustus was retelling the events of today's day-long meeting to Theodora. He paused to see her mind absent in their conversation.

"Theodora?" He called her name

"Yes?"

"Where is your attention? Is there anything you want to share?" He asked while stroking her naked back lightly.

She had her face placed on his bare chest, her nut-brown hair sprawled around like petals of a sunflower.

"Yes, there is something I want to tell you." She said after a moment.

"I am listening."

"Do you know anything about a woman named Ruth?" She asked.

Augustus recked through his brain, but the sound did not ring any bells.

"No, I do not know. Who is she?"

"She is someone related to Mr Payne, the man who was the sixth victim."

"What about her? Tell me clearly, Theodora." He was not in the mood of playing games after a stressful day.

"Fannie told me she is very close with Rees. So much so that many humans suspect Rees cheating on his fiancee with her." She told.

"And since when you became interested in his life?" Augustus turned their positions, so now Theodora lay flat on her back, and he hovered over her while balancing his weight with his hand.

She looked tempting in his bed, naked and beautiful. Even after years of their marriage, he could not resist her. Never!

He pushed the duvet that covered her front aside to reveal her two soft mounds, their peaks straight like needles. His mouth watered at the mere sight of them.

Theodora did not mind him when he latched onto her left breast, sucking it to his heart's content.

He played with her other breast, kneading it and pressing it hard. Theodora moaned in pleasure, hissed when his sharp teeth put pressure on the soft tissues.

No matter how distracting Augustus's actions were, she was still not lost in the world of pleasure to forget their topic of discussion.

"I saw Elsie telling something Rees in the garden some time before the meeting finished. Aaahhh..."

Augustus's animal was stirring in his sleep at the intoxicating taste of her skin, that had become his drug over the years. The drug that helped him survive after the loss of his mate.

His hands roamed all over her body. His mouth now left her swollen, and erect breasts abandoned moved upwards to her long neck.

He bit and sucked her skin only to shower her in peppery kisses.

"I sent a man to follow Rees. And do you... know what he found out?"

Augustus was clearly disinterested in these conversations when he had something important to do for the night. But he knew his wife too well. She would not give him all of her when something is on her mind.

"Hmm?" He prompted her to continue as he enjoyed the soft touch of her skin and the feeling of her bosoms pressed tightly against his chest.

"Rees went searching for this Ruth near Harold Davies's offi-"

The words died down in her throat when Augustus captured her mouth in a punishable kiss. It did not take her long to realise that the punishment was not from him but from his wolf.

Theodora could easily win with Augustus, but his wolf... it was a difficult task even for her.

The pressure between her legs kept growing, her womanhood drenched in her precum. Soon she found herself begging for more and more assault that Augustus offered her.

He kept fulfilling her insides with the warmth of his flesh till she cried and begged for mercy, and his wolf howled in authority.