Luna was busy helping the pack doctor when Alpha called her for an urgent meeting. Upon reaching, she saw Beta and Gamma also present there, looking as confused as she was.

She sat on the third chair as the previous two were taken by Beta and Gamma, as they all faced the Alpha.

"I received a call from Peaceful pack's Alpha. Midnight Pack...Midnight Pack has gone into ruins. Only seven females who were on the kitchen duty are alive." Alpha Aarjav informed in a saddened tone.

Luna, Beta and Gamma bowed their heads for a minute in respect of the dead.

"We don't really have extra resources to help them." Beta spoke, thinking that was the reason why Alpha of Peaceful Pack had called.

"He didn't request for resources. He wants us to take care of the girls until he finds some permanent solution." Alpha Aarjav informed.

"You didn't say yes, right? I mean you surely must have asked time to discuss it with us," Luna asked hopefully.

Alpha Aarjav looked at her apologetically.

"You can't be serious." Luna growled.

Beta and Gamma too were disappointed.

"I didn't have any choice. If you were the one who spoke with Peaceful Pack's Alpha then you too would have agreed to help in an instant," Alpha Aarjav said.

"Alpha, I didn't expect you to fall for his words. You know how he is, always makes everyone compel to his words." Gamma grumbled.

"Everyone follows him because he has been always right till this date," Luna countered and turned towards Alpha.

"What did he say?" She asked in a calm voice.

If his words had any reason then she would comply or else Alpha was going to receive one hell of an opposition from her.

"You know that Midnight was/is, Argh! I don't know...the point is that Midnight pack has been a traditional pack. The girls there have always been oppressed. Seeing the condition of the pack, Peaceful pack's Alpha is worried that rogues or other traditional packs, who think that girls are beneath them, would pounce on this opportunity. The pack contains unmated, defenseless girls. Our pack and Lunar pack is closest to Midnight pack. Unfortunately, Lunar pack has suffered more loss. Hence, he asked us for help."

Luna was silent for a few seconds but that felt like hours to Alpha.

"You said unmated girls, right?" Luna asked with a raised eyebrow.

Alpha nodded slowly, scared of what was running in his mate's mind.

"Let's tell the pack that these girls are coming to find their mates instead of saying that they are refugees from Midnight Pack." Luna suggested.

"But why should we lie to our pack?" Beta questioned with furrowed eyebrows.

"Pack would not take it lightly if we say that we are going to help someone else when we ourselves are in problem. I know many pack members are understanding but there are still a few who are just like other traditional packs. We can say that these girls had taken permission way before and now we cannot cancel just because it rained silver unexpectedly. Pack members are likely to act more chivalrous towards the guests rather than refugees." Luna explained her point.

"That could work. Plus this situation is only temporary until Peaceful pack's Alpha comes up with an idea." Alpha agreed.

"It would be best to inform the truth to Vivaan and Yara. The girls would be around their age so they would be able to comfort them better than us." Beta suggested to which everyone agreed.

Alpha Aarjav and Luna Mahira suddenly felt a huge pain as a link snapped. Their eyes watered at the realization. One of the pack members had lost his life. In just a few seconds, Pack doctor mind-linked the Gamma, letting him know that one of the patient who was in critical condition had lost the battle.

They all hurried downstairs, towards the east wing. He was one of the youngest guards. Luna's eyes watered as she saw his parents and younger sister crying their hearts out while kneeling beside his body.

Luna too walked forward and knelt beside them. The mother instinctively took shelter in Luna's arms, gathering as much comfort as she could.

Soon the arrangements of funeral were made. Everyone in the pack other than the small pups had gathered.

The climate was surely rebelling today. The sun was shining brightly, contradicting to everyone's mourning expression.

One by one, everyone went to pay their respects.

As Nihal and Hritika moved forward, the guard's mother joined her hands.

"Thank you," she whispered with teary eyes, showing gratitude to Nihal.

Nihal looked at her with sorrowful eyes and held her hands, not understanding the reason behind her gratitude.

"Thank you so much. If not for you, my son would have died a lonely death. It was all because of you that we were able to spend last moments with my son." She thanked Nihal profusely.

"I am sorry that I couldn't reach faster." Nihal apologized as he choked on his words.

He hurriedly left the ground as tears started falling rapidly from his eyes.

He sat down on a nearby wooden bench, crying his heart out. He wasn't expecting this- he never imagined that his heart would bleed for someone he didn't even know.

Nihal looked up as a water bottle came into his view. Vivaan gestured him to take the bottle, when Nihal just kept staring at him.

Nihal gulped down almost half of the water inside the bottle, before muttering a small thanks.

"The whole pack loves you like you are their own, now," Vivaan commented, wiping off the stray tears.

"Should I apologize for it?" Nihal asked, his voice scratchy from all the crying.

"I am included in that whole pack," Vivaan mumbled, feeling embarrassed to blurt it out.

Nihal smiled at Vivaan's embarrassment.

"I didn't know that it would hurt so much. I had stupidly thought that once everyone got into shelters, they would survive," Nihal muttered, looking at the ground where the funeral was taking place.

"It's not a crime to be optimistic. About hurt, looks like you have finally accepted us as your family, Brother," Vivaan said, making Nihal's head snap towards him in shock.

"What did you say?" Nihal asked, not believing his ears.

"Brother. I called you brother. Although half but we are still brothers," Vivaan responded, a little hesitantly, afraid of Nihal's reaction.

Nihal looked at Vivaan in disbelief before nodding at him with a small smile.

"We hated each other so much but now look at us," Vivaan spoke, not believing how the situation had turned. A few days ago, Nihal's mere existence had been a curse to him. It was only and only because of Yara that he hadn't done fought with Nihal. But now, Vivaan genuinely started respecting his elder brother.

"I guess it was meant to be." Nihal spoke, looking at the birthmark on his wrist that matched the one Vivaan had.

Looking at Nihal, Vivaan too moved his wrist so that both their hands were next to each other and commented,

"After all, we are the Half Brothers."