A MAZE OF GREED

After the wedding, the crowd stepped out of the church and into the backyard, where the post celebrations were organized. The flower decorations and the white curtains along with them, made the green lawns dazzling.

A four-tiered wedding cake was resting on the table that was also decorated with flowers. Everybody cheered when the newlyweds walked on the red carpet, followed by their family and friends.

A stage was prepared with a roof made up of clothes and with the support of a wooden frame.

"Its finally done, Ruth! I am married!!!" Thea hugged her with bubbling happiness.

"I know! I have spent hours on that dress Mrs Welby!"

And they both laughed.

After the speeches by their parents and them, the couple cut the cake followed by howling and cheering.

And now was the time to dance and shine!

The first dance was of Thea and Rees's. The music started, and they both forgot the world as they swayed in each other's arms.

The crowd was enjoying seeing them together as they looked perfect together.

"What are you thinking?" Rees asked as he gazed down at Thea.

He could tell that she was overwhelmed by the way her eyes watered frequently.

"I... I still can not belive that this is happening. We are... we are maried Rees! Oh my Lord!"

Rees laughed wholeheartedly at her reaction.

"Well... start believing it fast because it is already done and now you do not have any escape from this wolf." He said with a playful smile on his face.

Thea stood on her tip-toes, pulling him down near her face. Looking at him flirtatiously, she whispered in his ear. "Can not wait to get his paws on me!"

Rees's wolf jumped in a thrill, making a distinct noise at the back of his throat.

Thea laughed loudly, throwing her head behind as his body reacted in the ways she wanted it.

The time went fast and, their dance was already done. Now was the cue for the guests to join the dance floor. Mr and Mrs Green first joined the stage along with some other couples.

Mrs Welby forwarded her hand to her husband. "Shall we, Mr Welby?"

Although Mr Welby always carried a serious face, he could not hide the blush that crept his face seeing his wife in a mood after years.

"Sure, Mrs Welby!"

Then they joined the dance floor too!

Ida and Ruth were with Mrs Payne at the nearby table. They were busy cheering the newlywed couple at first and then the elders. Ida's comments made both Mrs Welby and Mrs Green blush like young girls.

Ruth laughed at their reactions and tried adding a filter to Ida's mouth, but the woman was living her dream life and was not ready to keep quiet.

She only stopped after a man walked their way. He was a decent looking man with a charming personality. He was from the bride's side and thus was a human. He first eyed Ruth that made her blush furiously.

Her heart fluttered at the possibility of him asking her for the dance. But her face fell when the man turned his attention to Ida.

"May I have a pleasure of this dance with you, My Lady?!" He asked courtesied with a dazzling smile.

Ida eyed his hand warily, but a push from Mrs Payne made her stand up from the chair and accept his invitation. Besides, it was Thea's wedding, and Ida did not get to enjoy such moments every day!

She winked at Ruth while walking to the dance floor.

Ruth smiled forcefully, hiding her disappointment. Her eyes swept over the place to see that no woman of her age was sitting alone.

Well... was not she alone even though she had a whole world around her, and when she finally started accepting and loving it, she got to know that it was a fake play someone had written for her because of their selfish motives.

"Ruth? Ruth?"

Breaking from her thoughts, she turned to face Mrs Payne, who had her brows scrunched up and worried.

"What are you thinking my dear?"

Ruth did not say anything and only shook her head.

"You know you can share what you are thinking with me. I am your family Ruth!"

Ruth stared at the elderly woman for a minute longer, trying to find where she get the courage to say that. She surely knew something about her past, and yet she hide it from her all this time. And now she was telling her that she was her family?!

Ridiculous!

Wordlessly, Ruth stood up and walked to the food counter, which was at some distance from the dance floor. She asked for a glass of juice and chugged it down in one go.

Her insides were burning.... they were burning in hate, anger and the heat of betrayal! She had managed to suppress everything inside her this long because she did not want to ruin this day for Rees and Thea. But now that the wedding was done and, she had no reason to keep it at bay, every pent up emotion rushed at her punching her mercilessly in her guts.

Ruth emptied another glass of juice as her eyes stung. She knew that Mrs Payne was still looking at her. She could feel it. But she did not care about it!

Suddenly she felt suffocated even though she was standing out in the open. The sound of the music and the laughter of people, their happiness and joy, mocked her misery. They were oblivious of what she was going through. They did not care what she was feeling!

Ruth's eyes were about to tear up again when she felt the tingles on her skin.

"You need to calm down, Miss Moore!"

That voice... that deep and rich melody caressed her bleeding heart so gently that she wondered if such soft touch was possible.

"Come with me!" She heard him say.

He took her hand in his, not asking for her permission and walked her to the dance floor. He intentionally chose a secluded corner, to not get more attention than they were already receiving by Mrs Payne, Ida, Thea and Rees.

~"I do not want any disturbance, till I say otherwise."~ Edwin reached to every pack member, including Rees and Mr and Mrs Welby.

"What happened Rees?" Thea sensed how he went stiff instantly.

Rees only glanced in Edwin and Ruth's way and, that was enough for Thea to know what that meant.

Edwin had not planned to go near Ruth in front of all people. But when he saw her state, he could not stop himself. His wolf did not let him sit back and watch her hurt.

"Give me your hands." He commanded.

As if under his spell, she obediently did what she was told. Edwin took her right hand in his and placed her left hand on his shoulder as his other hand rested firmly on her waist.

"Do as I showed you before." This time his voice held softness.

Ruth calmed down after a minute or two till then he kept silent, swaying them softly on the rhythm.

"Do you want to get out of here?" he asked.

Ruth was taken aback by his question. She then turned her head to see everyone. Rees and Thea were again on the dance floor- smiling and enjoying the moment.

She could not be so selfish and leave.

She shook her head in negation. Edwin nodded after a pause. Now that Ruth was in a better state than before, she realised what she had done.

She was swaying in the arms of the person who belonged to the woman she discovered only today. She regretted giving in to her weak point.

"You can leave me here if you do not want to dance with me. I will not mind! I never did!"

Ruth's heart skipped a beat hearing that. She saw his face, but it did not give away anything. She knew exactly, what would give her an idea of what was going in his head- his eyes.

Even though he said that he would not mind, she could see a slight fear in his eyes. Edwin did not want Ruth to run away from him... again!

"I... I am not going. I... want to stay." She said in a low voice.

She probably would never understand what her words meant to Edwin. Feeling relaxed than before, he enhanced their movements as he guided her on the floor.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He knew something was definitely wrong. Ruth was not a person who would get upset over nuisance things.

Ruth peered deep into his eyes, trying to find the answers, which she needed to find within herself. She thought he could see through her and, thus she was trying to save her efforts and see what his eyes reflected.

"Some things are difficult to say out loud."

"Not when you have someone to listen and understand."

"And how do you trust them?"

She finally got a hold of dancing by matching his steps.

"You just... do! You do not always need a reason to trust someone." Edwin said.

"And you think that I trust you enough to tell you?" She did not know what reaction she was expecting from him.

Edwin turned his head to the side, clenching his jaw because he knew the answer.

He had a long way to walk to gain her trust!