A MAZE OF GREED

It took Ida a lot of pleading and waiting patiently to make Edwin move from his spot and away from Ruth. He put on the clothes she found nearby. His eyes did not leave Ruth even for a fleet second.

Picking Ruth up in bridal style, Edwin's legs marched fast in the direction of 'the great manor'. Ida was fidgeting with nervousness.

She thought of apologising to Edwin first, but the way his dangerous aura made her wolf uncomfortable made her act otherwise. She did not know why and when Edwin would snap. He was silent all the way- that was a silence before the storm.

Edwin took a turn, confusing Ida at first. She then realised why he did that when the old building to the far corner of the property came into view.

Edwin had thought about it thoroughly. He did not trust anyone anymore when it came to Ruth. He could not keep her in the servants quarters or, the news would spread like a wildfire.

Keeping Ruth in his chamber meant making her vulnerable for his family. He then also had to get back to Lester, before anyone get suspicious of his absence, especially his uncle.

Ruth needed immediate medical attention. With given the circumstances, he figured that the only safe place for Ruth at that point was his headquarters.

Ida ran ahead of Edwin and knocked on the metal door in the specified manner, which they used as a secret code. The guard opened the door from inside.

He was about to ask Ida what she needed when his eyes widened, seeing Edwin walking with injured Ruth in his arms.

He called the other guards and advanced to help his Master. But one glare from Edwin made him and the others take a step back in submission.

Edwin did not stop and started climbing the stairs that led him to the first floor of the building. Ida spoke something with the guards that Edwin did not care to pay attention to.

His all attention was focused on only his mate. He opened the door of the room, where he had spent the worst days of his life. He put Ruth on the bed. And in the light of the torches in the room, she looked worse than before.

His heart shook, his wolf cried. The pain and the anger mixed together to form a hazardous concoction.

Ida tip-toed to the open door of the room. Mustering all her courage, she opened her mouth.

"M-Master... the family physician is not available. I have sent the guards to get a human physician. They will get him here in short after compelling him."

Edwin did not move. He did not make any sound of acknowledgement. He just stood there staring at his unconscious mate.

A guard came with water and a napkin. Ida took that from him and walked to the bed. She gauged Edwin's reaction, for she knew that she might lose her life at that moment.

When he did not make any move, Ida sat on the bed. She wet the napkin in the water, twisted it to remove excess water and started cleaning Ruth's wound and skin.

She gulped down the lump formed in her throat at the sight of her Luna and the person who called her her friend.

Repeating the process two more times, Ida cleaned Ruth's injured hand. She was about to dip the napkin again in the water when she saw a greenish stain on it.

She scratched it with her hands and, wetting the napkin again, she moved to clean Ruth's other hand. This time too, she found the same strain. She observed it under the fluttering light of the torch with furrowed brows.

Then it dawned upon her.

"Master, see this." She did not care if Edwin killed her then and there.

The fact that someone attempted to murder her Luna disgusted her.

Edwin tore his gaze finally from Ruth's face to see what Ida was showing. And when he realised what it was... his wolf was again eager to come out, demanding complete control.

"Someone used the masking solution on her. That was why we could not catch her scent." Ida said.

Edwin's hands twisted in tight fists. Before any one of them reacted, the guards came with a man. He was a physician and was under the compulsion done by the guards.

The physician requested everyone to go out of the room while he tend to Ruth's injuries. But as stubborn male alpha, Edwin refused to move.

Ida knew it was hopeless in trying. Edwin would not leave Ruth with another male in this state. She stepped out of the room and closed the door behind her.

She then contacted Elsie through the mind link and informed her about everything.

She only prayed that Ruth would wake up safely soon.

*

*

*

Lester had no idea of what was happening in the Vincardine. He thought of contacting Elsie and asking her about Ruth, but then he thought otherwise. If Elsie did not know anything about it, then he did not want her to panic.

Lester believed Edwin when he promised to come back before Ripon assumes the charge. But the challenge was how he was going to handle Lord Augustus till then?

His carriage reached the destination in the late hours of the night. It was a relief that Lord Augustus retired to his room, after waiting for Lester and Edwin. At least Lester did not need to answer him until morning. He wished Edwin would come by that time.

The coachman parked the carriage at its place and, carried Edwin and Lester's luggage to their room. Lester was hungry on the way but, after Ruth's news, he lost his appetite.

So he decided to fill his empty stomach with some good beer. He found the bar and took a bottle and a glass. He was not in the mood of sitting in the confines of his room, so he decided to sit in the garden of the building, where their stay was arranged.

After one glass, Lester grew more restless. Not knowing what to do, he leaned in his chair, looking at the starry sky and waiting for Edwin's message.

He did not realise when the soft breezes of the winds lulled his tired mind. His eyes closed on their own, a half-finished bottle of beer by his side.

Minutes later, his eyes snapped open. With a speed of light, he held someone's hand that was near his throat. With a forceful twist, Lester pushed that person away and, stood up from his chair.

And the face he saw made his blood boil in anger.

Darius laughed, looking at Lester. He looked the same even after years- the last time Lester saw him. And even after years, he was still the same moron.

"Nice to see you after long, dear friend!" Darius smirked.

Meeting the vampires was the only part Lester disliked since the beginning of this trip.

"Friend my foot Darius! Stop living in the delusions." Lester glared at the vampire.

"Ouch! You still are bitter for kicking your ass in the Academy lester? I thought we both are grown up above that."

Lester scoffed.

"If you are talking about putting you to your right place, then you are welcome! I will do it for you again if you give me the chance." Lester retorted.

Darius shook his head amusedly. He saw the half-filled bottle of beer and one glass that Lester was using.

"Only one glass? Where is your dearest friend's? Or has he chickened out using his stupid morals as an excuse?"

Lester knew Darius would itch to see Edwin. Especially after their last meet and how the planning of the six murders in the woods of Vincardine began.

"Eager to meet him?" Lester cocked his brow.

Darius nodded. "Eager to kill him!"

Lester broke out in loud laughter. Shaking his head unbelievably, Lester said, "You seriously believe that?"

"You will believe it too when I WILL kill him."

"And how are you going to do that?"Lester crossed his hands over his chest.

Darius slipped his hands in his pant pockets. "Everyone has weakness."

"Darius, you have already wasted time in finding Edwin's weakness and found none."

But Darius was not the one who easily gave up.

"He had no weaknesses that does not mean he will never have one. I am waiting for that time. And then I will exploit it to my advantage."

The way Darius held that confidence not only in his eyes but also on his face, made Lester's mind run to Ruth.

"If it is so then you also must have a weakness Darius." Lester tried diverting the focus of the conversation from Edwin.

His words wiped all the humour from Darius's face. He walked towards Lester and stopped near him. Taking the beer bottle, he chugged it down his throat.

Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, Darius gazed straight at Lester.

"Yes, I had one. And I diminished it with myself years ago." With that said, Darius walked away, leaving behind Lester.

Lester gulped. He knew exactly what Darius was talking about. He was talking about his only possible weakness that he conveniently eradicated without staining his hands.

But Edwin still carried its weight and those stains on his hands till this date.