Yara entered her home and frowned at how quiet it was. The living room and kitchen were empty so she moved towards the passage to reach her room. She was about to open her room but then turned left when she realized that scent of cousins was coming from Hritika's room.

She was about to knock but then decided to chuck it. It was unlikely for both of them to be so quiet unless they were sleeping. Fortunately, the door wasn't locked so she slowly opened it and saw that Hritika was sleeping, with her head on Nihal's lap.

Nihal looked up and waved lightly when he noticed Yara's presence. He carefully replaced his lap with a pillow, before standing up from the bed. Covering Hritika with a blanket, Nihal moved out of the room with Yara, closing the door softly behind them.

"How is she?" Yara asked in concern, as they entered their own room.

"Better than before but still far off from her usual self," Nihal replied with a sigh, before sitting cross legged on his bed.

"And how are you?" Yara sat beside him in the same way, their knees touching each other.

"Me? Surprisingly, I am fine. I am more concerned about Hritika and Dad. She told me that he isn't faring well," Nihal answered, playing with his thumbs absentmindedly.

"What?" He asked in defense when he saw her expressions. "I haven't forgiven him but he is still...he is still my father." Nihal muttered the last two words so quietly that Yara wouldn't have been able to hear them if she didn't have heightened senses.

She side-hugged him, before assuring him, "It's totally alright to feel like that. You don't have to explain."

Nihal came out of the hug and moved a little to face her directly.

"Listen about earlier, I am so sorry that I never realized that you were being disrespected by the pack. I should have done something...so sorry." Nihal spoke with regret filled eyes.

"Don't be sorry. It was nothing new. I am used to the disrespect and their ignorance. What baffled me was how quickly they changed their mind upon Rehyaa's request."

Having spoken with Vivaan, she was already over the hurt and jealously. But sharing this with her mate was liberating.

"They had already seen you working hard and knew that you were capable. They just needed a push to acknowledge the fact. Rehyaa's request was that push," Nihal explained.

Seeing her furrowed eyebrows, he elaborated further, "Think about it. Would the pack members believe Rehyaa's words if you were doing a lousy job. No, right? They know you are working hard but it's difficult to change the age old thinking overnight."

Yara smiled gratefully at her mate. They spoke for a few more minutes but stopped when Yara started yawning. She moved towards her bed to take a short nap, urging Nihal to do the same.

                           ★★★★★

Vivaan and Rehyaa came with Hritika's favourite pizzas, to try and uplift her mood. The girls squeezed themselves to fit on the loveseat sofa, while the boys took one armchair each.

The two sets of mates frowned when all their jokes, dramatics and every other thing they tried was an utter failure. Hritika still had that faraway look. She was physically present but her mind was somewhere else.

"Sorry," Yara mind-linked Vivaan, confusing the hell out of him. Before he could ask for clarification, Yara spoke up.

"Hritika, what do you think about Gamma?"

Vivaan closed his eyes, agitated with Yara, who mouthed a 'sorry' once again.

Until now, Hritika wasn't paying too much attention but now the question was directed towards her, she had no choice but to respond.

"Umm...Gamma? He is a piece of art. He is irritating as hell but he has his nice moments," Hritika answered, unsure why they were discussing about him.

"No, not our current Gamma. I am asking about Gamma position," Yara clarified.

"What about it?" Hritika raised her eyebrows.

"Well...You know we have been thinking...like you have all the qualities...I mean...would you like to become the future Gamma of our pack?" Yara finally managed to blurt out.

Hritika turned towards Nihal, looking at him with pity. "Your mate has lost it."

"So rude." Yara pouted, taking a huge bite of pizza to heal her wounded heart.

"It was Vivaan's suggestion and we all agreed to it." Rehyaa spoke up.

"Have you all forgotten that I am a human?" Hritika looked at the werewolves with disbelief.

"Everyone was okay with a human becoming an Alpha, they why can't a human become a Gamma?" Vivaan grumbled, not taking Hritika's blatant rejection well.

"Don't reject the proposal directly. How about a trial? You can decide later." Rehyaa suggested, not liking her mate's fallen face.

"I can't believe you are saying that. I thought you didn't like my ways. How would you be able to withstand my presence in your inner circle?" Hritika asked in an incredulous tone.

"I said sorry for my behaviour," Rehyaa said in a peeved tone. Gosh! There was a height of holding grudges.

"Now now, don't fight." Yara who was sitting in a middle, acted as a referee. "You can solve your petty fight later, yeah?"

Hritika rolled her eyes but nodded nonetheless.

"Hritika, remember? You gave us the idea about the grievance box and awareness programs. Let's work on that together. As it was your idea, it makes sense for you to be on the team and this can also work as a trial for the Gamma position." Vivaan suggested, crossing his fingers.

He really wanted Hritika to become his Gamma but even if this didn't work out, at least he could console himself that he tried. Plus, this could help to divert Hritika's mind from the rogues.

Hritika sat thinking over the suggestion, making everyone antsy. Her smallest nod was enough for everyone to jump out in cheers.

"We five are going to be an awesome team." Yara clasped her hands, adjourning a blissful expression.

"Five? I think you meant four." Nihal corrected, pointing towards the other four people in the room.

"No, I meant five. You are handling the business of the pack, aren't you?" She responded.

"But that's temporary," Nihal said, causing Vivaan to start coughing.

"It's temporary, right?" Nihal asked again, looking at Vivaan and Yara with suspicion.

"Yeah...but you are working now and Hritika will be having a trial, we three would also be training for our positions. So...in that sense...," Yara trailed off, hoping Nihal would buy her explanation.

"I may not be as observant as Hritika but I am not an idiot," Nihal said in a blank tone, causing Yara to gulp and Vivaan to look away sheepishly.

"To the fabulous team." Rehyaa raised her slice of pizza, hoping to diffuse the situation.

Hritika, Yara and Vivaan too raised their slices, looking at Nihal with a hopeful expression. Nihal rolled his eyes at their dramatics, but raised his slice as well.

They all toasted to the rise of their new beginning,

"TO THE FABULOUS TEAM."