A MAZE OF GREED

After the function, the lunch was organised for all the guests. Edwin had no interest in food. He just wanted to run back to Ruth and sit by her side till she opened her eyes. Betraying his wish, his stomach revolted grumbling, demanding food.

He had not eaten anything since the previous morning. And the amount of physical and emotional drain he had been through, his body needed some rest and energy.

Lester was impatient and wanted to hear what happened with Ruth. During the boring part of the ceremony, Darius noticed Edwin getting angry and Lester frowning and widening his eyes as if he could not believe something.

Darius wondered what they were doing. Little did he know that Edwin was telling everything that happened with Ruth to Lester through the mind link.

After the function, Lester was the one to walk out of the hall dragging Edwin along with him. His head spun with all the information he received. Someone tried to kill the leader's mate.

And it was not something he could pass easily.

Lester made Edwin sit on a corner table, to have some privacy. He went to the food counter and, with the help of a servant, filled two plates with a pile of food.

He returned and kept one plate in front of Edwin. Dismissing the servant, he told Edwin to eat.

"I do not feel like eating." Edwin said with his head hung low.

Lester sighed. He could only imagine what his friend was going through.

"I understand Edwin. I felt the same when you hurt Elsie."

Edwin frowned deeper at the reminder of that painful memory.

Lester quickly added, "I know why you do not want to eat. But you have to. You need energy after running miles at that speed. Your wolf must be hungry too."

Edwin said softly after a pause. "She must be hungry too. She has not eaten anything in a long time."

Lester's face softened hearing that. After Edwin told him about what happened in the Vincardine, the first thing that Lester did was contact Elsie.

Edwin did not filter out the details and thus told how angry he was with Elsie. This time, Lester did not feel offended. If Elsie was in Ruth's place and Ruth in Elsie's, then Lester would have reacted the same way as Edwin even after knowing well, that Ruth was his leader's mate.

Sometimes he wondered what the Moon Goddess was thinking when she came with this wild idea of a mate bond. It could be a blessing but also a curse.

Elsie gave Lester details on Ruth's state and, his heart broke hearing that. No! Ruth did not deserve any of that! She was brought in 'the great manor' for the sake of Edwin and thus their whole breed. But, that did not mean that she had to go through the things which the Moon Goddess had not planned for her.

"Who is 'she' that Edwin O'Dell cares so much about?"

Not only Lester but also Edwin stilled hearing that known voice.

~"Has he heard that?"~ Lester quickly asked Edwin.

~"Let's hope not!"~

"What the fuck are you doing here Darius?" Lester asked, masking his fear with a displeased frown.

It was good that Edwin's back faced Darius, or the killer look on his face would have given away everything.

Darius shamelessly dared to pull the chair on the left side of Edwin and sat on it with a plate full of food.

"And since when the blood-sucking monsters developed taste in human food?" Lester cocked his brow.

Darius smirked. Gauging Edwin's expressions, he said, "Since the great Edwin O'Dell started caring for someone, especially a woman."

"Shut up Darius and get lost!" Lester feigned nonchalance about his comment.

Although Edwin managed to keep a straight face, he only hoped that his wolf's restless energy would not give away anything. He was not yet sure how much Darius had improvised his skills and if he could feel the energy radiating out of other supernatural beings.

"What? We all three are meeting after a long time! Are you not happy to see me? Yes, Edwin?"

Edwin, who was silent until now, had enough of Darius's bullshit. He could not tolerate listening to the killer who had killed six of his people, including Mr Payne, who was like a father figure of his mate.

"If you do not disappear from my sight in next five minutes, Moon Goddess help me to shred that dead heart of yours and feed it to my dogs!"

Darius observed Edwin for a long moment. Then chuckled. "You have not changed a bit Edwin!"

"Enough Darius! You know he meant every word he said." Lester warned.

Ignoring him, Darius continued. "As your good wisher, I have one advice for you."

"Why do not you shove it up your ass?" Lester was now getting irritated with the vampire.

Edwin held Darius's gaze.

"You should learn to manage your anger Edwin or it may cost you a disaster for you or... your loved ones. Like the last time you lost your temper, it cost six innocent lives! It all happened because of you!"

Darius knew he had hit the right spot as he saw change in Edwin's eyes. It was so subtle that one could have missed it, even Lester did not notice it. But Darius was not only wicked but also smart.

Edwin closed his eyes to control his anger as his wolf did not find a vampire's taunting amusing. As soon as he closed his eyes, a specific memory danced in front of his eyes. The memory of him and his mate.

-"It is my word that I will bring the justice to these six innocent lives and their families. It is my promise to you!"-

Edwin had promised that to Ruth after she lost Mr Payne.

Someone might think that he made that promise out of a surge of his then emotions or to impress Ruth. But no! Those were not his reasons for promising that.

Edwin's father was the beloved leader and, so was his grandfather. Their blood ran in his veins and, their values had engraved themselves in his heart. He would die first than bring destruction to his people- humans as well as supernaturals.

He had not given that promise to Ruth only but, it was also a promise he had made to himself. He would do everything in his power and beyond to bring that six life justice that they deserved.

When Edwin opened his eyes, they were not in the colour of his human form. They were two obsidian gems struck by blue thunder.

Keeping his hand on Darius's shoulder, Edwin saw him winced at the force he applied. Leaning towards Darius, he stared straight in his black dead eyes.

Lester gulped nervously, his eyes instinctively wandering around to see if someone was watching the exchange between these two men. Lester's wolf could feel the dangerous energy exuded by Edwin's wolf.

"Darius. I will definitely keep your advice in mind. And just to let you know that every eye that would dare to look in my peoples' way... I will damage it. Every hand that would try to advance towards my town will be cut from the roots.

And every mind that would come up with a thought of hurting my people will be blown into shreds. Do not and, I repeat again... do not ever misjudge my silence as my weakness. A wolf is a predator. It waits, studies, plans and then attacks... its every attack is meant for a kill!"

The way Edwin said that made Darius's confidence crack a little. To his fortune, his father was already by his side in his defence.

"Edwin! Finally we meet."

Ambrose Garfield had that charm and a way with words that could fool anyone, but not the werewolf leader. Seeing them all huddled up, Augustus excused himself from the group of men and hurried to stand between Lester and Edwin.

"Well well well... are not we fortuante to meet the most strongest werewolfs of the breed at a same place Aurora?!" Ambrose had that deceptive smile dancing on his lips.

"Of course, darling! We indeed are very fortunate!" Aurora agreed with her husband.

"Ambrose Garfield, it is better if we just shake hands and part our ways. We are in the human world right now." Augustus warned.

"Lord Augustus, but why are you so worked up? We are not here for a... WAR or something." Darius said the word 'war' leaning in front of Edwin.

Edwin did not know how long he could tolerate these leeches more. Sensing his distress, Augustus subtly put one hand on Edwin's shoulder and, the other on Lester's.

"And even if we meet for a WAR, I believe we have the best warriors of this time with us. We will maintain the peace and propserity to EVERY breed who advocates the natural balance." Augustus retorted.

Ambrose clenched his fist in his pant pocket, but his smile did not falter.

"That... only time will tell! I wish you find the right side to side with Lord Augustus. Sometimes our own people do not hesitate to decieve for their good."

Augustus caught Ambrose's indication. He was talking about Edwin.

"Mr Garfield, the moment we first breathe this air, we are bound to our pack, our people. We live together, we die for each other and we kill together! Deceiving is something that has not been passed on to us from our forefathers, but surely you can not share this sentiment of ours. Now can you?" Lester came with a befitting reply.

He knew that Lord Augustus's and Edwin's relation was no hidden secret from the world. Everybody knew that they had fundamental differences in their opinion, but no one had dared to point it out. And Ambrose Garfield just tried to exploit that loophole.

"Lester!" Darius hissed in an alert. "A blind follower should open his eyes and use that tiny brain of his to see the difference between right and wrong."

"Darius... has your papa dearest forgot to give you the same advice? Because from where I look, you need to follow it the most!" Lester burst out laughing and, the way Augustus's lips twitched slightly, it was clear that he was trying to suppress his.

Darius was ready to call for a fight, but Ambrose stopped him. Aurora caught people staring their way. Of course, people would stare when the two rival families faced each other.

"It was nice meeting you, Lord Augustus! Hope to see you soon Edwin!" Aurora said with a playful smile.. And then the Vampires left.