My tears were still falling nonstop when the weres arrived. I realized the weres took Ved's warning seriously when they arrived in their beast form and remained like that. An ambulance was following the wolves which stopped right in front of us.

Abhay was leading them. I recognized him when he shifted back to his human self and quickly donned a pair of trousers lent by one of the men that came along with the ambulance.

He rushed to my side with an expression between shock and panic. His eyes widened immediately after witnessing the overtly exposed vision behind my back until they strayed from me and landed on Ved.

"What- how the hell did that happen to him?" Abhay exclaimed as soon as the paramedic team came running towards us with a stretcher.

The men gave me an equally shocked look before their eyes averted to Ved, and their panic rose to the fullest. They moved Ved to the stretcher and carried him inside the ambulance and left for the pack's private hospital. Three wolves left with the ambulance while Abhay and others stayed back with me.

Abhay stole a few fleeting glances at me. More like his eyes were examining my wings which were still spread out behind me, but he did not ask me anything about them.

We watched the ambulance leave standing at the side of the road while the wolves surrounded us in vigilance.

Once the ambulance left, a deep sigh escaped me. I glanced down at my bloody hands and realized the wounds had healed already. They weren't stinging anymore. I didn't know what to do now. I felt extremely directionless. Especially without Ved by my side.

Abhay must have noticed that as he looked at me sideways and asked, "Are you alright?"

I gulped. My throat ached all of a sudden. I took a brief moment before responding. "Yes. Just my vision is still silvery."

He nodded. "Your eyes are pure white including the pupil and iris."

"I can't see my own eyes right now, but I'll trust your words on that." I nodded as a gesture to convince myself, then requested, "Shall we move? I feel like I should be present there at the hospital."

From my peripheral vision I saw him nodding. He said after a momentary pause, "Uhm- if I ask you to ride one of the wolves, will it make you feel agitated?"

I sighed and answered truthfully, "Considering the recent events in my life, it is highly doubtful that anything can agitate me anymore. So, it's fine as long as I reach the hospital."

Abhay shook his head and frowned. Then he gestured to one of the wolves and it came forward.

"This is Radhe. He'll take you."

I observed the wolf. He was big, and majestic. He had thick golden-brown fur and his big golden eyes were staring back at me unwaveringly.

I nodded in acknowledgement, then went ahead and stood beside the wolf. Comparing to his size, I looked like a little girl. Abhay came after me, then helped my petite body up on the wolf's back.

I looked at him from above the wolf's back and asked, "Are you shifting?"

As a response he smiled half-heartedly. "I'm out of options Urvi."

I blinked then nodded understandingly.

After that, he instructed me, "Bend forward and wrap your hands around his neck. Don't tug on his fur, it makes things slightly painful." He frowned while saying so, continued nonetheless, "And if you feel uncomfortable, don't shy away from asking him to stop. Okay?"

I blinked several times trying to calm down my nerves. Things were progressing much faster than I would've liked. But currently, I was in no such position to care about my likes and dislikes. So, I reprimanded myself mentally and hardened my heart. I can do this!

I took a deep breath before leaning over and wrapping my hands around the wolf's neck. As soon as I did so, without any warning, the wolf took off. The gust of chilly wind rolled past my ears rumbling like a cacophony. I should be scared of these occurrences. But I wasn't. It was a strange feeling. These mountains, these beasts and the night... everything uncannily felt home.

We reached the hospital in a few minutes.

Radhe stopped in front of the hospital. Others followed him, coming to a halt right after him. A brown wolf came forward and stood beside Radhe. He vaguely resembled Abhay. I straightened up and eyed around the area. There were more or less thirty wolves standing guard around the hospital building.

As we stopped in front of the entrance, all of them shifted their glowing eyes towards me. The attention felt eerily alarming. It made me uncomfortably conscious of my current appearance.

I averted my gaze on Radhe as he gently lowered himself on the ground. I realized it was to make it easy for me to get off his back. My hands still rested on his fluffy fur. I was grateful for the little warmth it provided. But it was gone shortly after as the brown furred wolf nudged my side. My eyes strayed towards him as he urged me to climb off with another nudge. I nodded once, then got off.

The wolf gestured towards the entrance of the hospital with a small head tilt. My eyes locked with his glowing honey-colored eyes for a few seconds before I blinked and took a deep breath.

Then turned and walked towards the door. I prayed to the heavens for Ved's wellbeing before stepping into the hospital hallway.

The first thing that caught my attention was the melancholic stagnant atmosphere. There were many worried faces waiting outside the emergency ward. Both Alpha and Beta were present there, and Ved's parents were also there. Triveni had tears in her eyes as she held onto his husband, looking crestfallen. And rightfully so. It was her son, the future alpha of the pack, who was fighting a life and death situation.

When their eyes fell on me, their expressions changed from depressing to shock. It must have been my wings which I was sure were still flapping behind my back.

As I was eyeing everyone, unable to voice out my feelings, someone knocked on my shoulder. Startled, I turned just to encounter with a disheveled Veer. I frowned examining his disorganized appearance. His face was scarred here and there, dried blood still marring a large portion of his forehead and cheeks, his hair was a mess, his clothes were torn at places. But what surprised and worried me the most were his eyes. Each of his irises had a prominent red ring around it.

I was staring at him apprehensively and he was mirroring my expression equally tensely. I could tell he was concerned for me and my new form. But before anyone could say a word, my instinct took over me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my head in his chest.

"What is going on? Why are these happening to me? I don't want to stay here any longer. Everything's seems to be on an ever-changing spree. And I hate it here. I never wanted any of these. Then why?... Me sprouting out two massive wings in the middle of a combat with a dangerous creature, Ved receiving poisonous blows and injuries, and your beautiful eyes seem to have permanently changed into something that screams of a scarred soul! I am sure you have been fighting with the faes. People are dying around me for I don't know what reason. But apparently, I am the kernel of it. I don't want this kind of life. I don't want this!" I shook my head frantically as my words came out in mumbles.

I was doubtful for a second if Veer could make out any of it. But when he wrapped his hands around me securely and held me for a longer period quietly, I knew he was giving me time to calm down. I was glad that he didn't ask me questions about my wings. Because I had no answers to them. My new identity warned me of the upcoming danger but I was unable to verbalize my displeasure about it.

A while later a calmness settled in my heart and I stopped crying.

Observing that as an opportunity, Veer finally opened his mouth. His voice was hoarse and weary. "How are you feeling now?"

He must have used his calming powers on me, and indeed it helped. I was no longer hiccupping and hyperventilating. In response to his question, I released my hold on him and stepped back. Wiping the tears with the back of my hand, I nodded once before he reached and took my hand in him. I was aware of the stares of others as Veer led me to the ward where Ved was kept.

As we entered the room, my eyes fell on an unconscious Ved. He was covered by a white sheet up to his chest. The wounds on his shoulders were all stitched up looking grotesque. The poisonous wound on his chest had spread out by half an inch, becoming a circular wound with a radius of three inches. It had taken a darker shade of crimson, looking almost black.

Another sob erupted out of my mouth as I sat down beside him. Tears blurred my vision as I held his motionless hand on mine, while Veer stood beside me placing his hand gently on my shoulder.

"Did it all happen because of me?" I whisper-asked.

As a response, Veer squeezed my shoulder softly and said, "It was because of that demon, and his illegitimate son. You did nothing wrong."

I shifted my teary-gaze from Ved to Veer. "His son?"

"The hybrid." Veer nodded. "He's Noraak and Mythia's son."

"What?" I was so stunned at the news that I stood up hastily and faced him.

Veer continued nonetheless. "When I went to the fae land, I had a heated conversation with Mythia. Nonetheless, she has given me her words that the killing of the innocent girls will stop." He took a potentially dangerous pause and fixed his unrelenting gaze on me.

"But that's good. The killing of the innocent girls will stop. She's given you her words."

"It's not so simple." Veer shook his head and shifted his eyes on the unconscious Ved. "She demanded something in return. And it's too dangerous to agree on her terms."

I took a moment to process his words. Then asked him directly. "Did she ask for me?"

Veer averted his gaze back on me, slightly surprised. "How do you know?"

I blinked and inhaled deeply before opening my mouth. "He made the same statement during the attack. He wanted me to go with him." I remembered what the hybrid said only a few minutes ago.

A frown crossed Veer's face as he clenched his jaws.

"What do they want from me?" I asked, my voice wavered slightly.

Veer noticed that and quickly drew me near him by wrapping one of his hands over my shoulders. I inhaled the subtle lemon and peppermint scent when he said, "I'll never give you up. I'll crush their bones whoever lay a finger on you."

A pained whimper left me as I clutched onto his jacket. Which was when the doctor came through the door and stood beside Ved.

I looked up at her with tears in my eyes and asked in a shaky voice, "How is he?"

"The poison is spreading rapidly. I have been giving him drugs that might fight off the poison to some extent but I am not sure if it could do more than that. I am extremely sorry."

The update on Ved's condition devastated me. I rested my head on Veer's chest and the streams of tears started falling freely. I never knew when did I develop feelings for Ved, but my chest tightened at the thought of losing him, of never seeing him again, of never smelling the clove and peppermint scent of him.

Veer held me close firmly. I knew he was hurting for his twin too. But right now, I, myself, was too disconsolate to provide him any words of comfort.

After some moments, the doctor urged us to leave the room.

Veer agreed almost immediately. "Urvi, let's take care of these first. Come with me." He meant about my wings.

I really didn't know what to do with my unwanted wings and life, and now that Ved's condition is like that, I didn't know how to cope with life without him.

I unwillingly obliged Veer's request and let him guide me out of the hospital room.

Outside the ward, everyone was waiting anxiously. As soon as we came out, they approached us.

"How is he?" Maya asked.

"How is my Ved?" Triveni asked, almost at the same time.

Veer made an eye contact with me before averting his gaze to the elders and shook his head slightly.

"No!" Triveni exclaimed and shook his head. "He can't leave us like that! Tell me what's going on?" She clutched onto her son's upper arms tightly and shook him. "Tell me the truth."

"Maa!" Veer caught her mother's hands and said emphatically, "Calm down! Doctors are still trying. His alpha genes are strong. I'm sure he can make it!"

"But they don't have any antidote for this poison! It's a hybrid's poison!" Triveni yelled equally loudly.

"Papa please! Make her stop! She can't yell inside the hospital like this!" Veer addressed his father, Vishal, who grabbed a hold of his wife and pulled her back. She broke down again clutching onto his husband.

Maya averted her hard stare from Triveni to Veer, finally me. "What are you waiting for to retract the wings?"

I blinked my teary eyes then lowered my gaze. "I don't know how, alpha."

She shifted her gaze to Veer then ordered him in a resolute tone, "Take her to the packhouse and stay with her. I'm sure the demon hybrid didn't come to kill anyone tonight. Ved got injured inadvertently. He came for something else, and he has succeeded in achieving that."

I looked up as the words rolled out of her mouth confusing me.

"What did he come for?" The question left my mouth before I could think of it any better.

Maya eyed me critically then blurted without any prelude, "He came here to lure your fae to come out."

I blinked, processing her words. To lure my fae to come out? But why?

Before I could ask Veer beat me to it. "But why?"

"The magic in her blood. The demons want that."

I shifted close to Veer. "I don't understand." I admitted honestly, scared crapload.

"I'm not so sure either. But the occurrences pointing to that possibility. Veer, take her to the packhouse and work out how she could control her fae magic."

Veer nodded his consent and took a hold of my hand. Then we left. I held onto him the whole time and let him guide me up to the jeep, parked beside the hospital. The wolves were still pacing outside the hospital.

Once outside the building, Veer asked me to withdraw my wings, but I had no idea how.

I shook my head. "I really don't know how, Veer! I really DON'T KNOW! I DON'T WANT THESE IN THE FIRST PLACE!" I yelled at the end and threw up my hands in frustration. It was a torture. The obscurity of my life was a torture. But I knew I had no idea but to accept my fate. If it was written excruciating torture in my fate, I'd have to eventually face and endure it. There was no way of escaping my fate. And the truth hit me like a canon ball. I was helpless, on the brink of a break down.

"ALL RIGHT! FINE!" Veer bellowed, running a hand through his hair. The wolves nearby perked their ears at our direction and stopped pacing. I averted my gaze and glared at the wolves and they resumed moving again. Which was when Veer grabbed me by the arms and turned me towards him. "Calm down!" I tried jerking my arms off his grasp but he was stronger. I could not free myself. We struggled for a few moments before he said, "Look at me! Urvi! Stop it and listen to me!"

I was past mad! I did not want to look at him. I avoided every possible way to avoid meeting his eyes. I hated everything at this point. My appearance, my origins, my fate, my life. I had a raw burning hatred inside me that I wanted to give up on living. Why was my life so unfair? I never had a happy and healthy childhood. My parents were missing. I had to kill someone to save myself from being raped. A demon was after the magic in my blood which I didn't even want. And... the person who I felt safe with for the first time in a while, was fighting a life and death situation. I hated it. All of it. I just wanted to disappear at that moment. But even, that wasn't possible for me.

After struggling like this for a while, Veer finally cupped my cheeks and forced me to look into his eyes. When I did so, my vision was blurred. But he took care of it too. He wiped the tears with the pad of his thumb and said, "Remember how Ved taught you about the wolf at the cabin?"

I stopped moving at the mention of Ved. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion as my mind went back to the time when Ved and I encountered my wolf for the first time. I talked to Mani for the first time.

A second later, I nodded once.

Veer's hold on me got firmer as he said, "Try that again. Find the magic in your blood and it'll lead you to your inner space. I'm sure your fae is waiting for you somewhere in your inner space. Just seek for her. You'll find her."

I whispered, "But I'm not so sure about that. Last time, I did it with Ved. He guided me to find my wolf."

"Then do it now with me!"

I stared at him, confounded.

I could do it with Ved, because he knew stuffs about werewolves. How would Veer help me in controlling my fae magic? How much he knew about faes?

"But, you're a werewolf. How-"

He interrupted me. "It's not too different. All shifters have an inner space. We just need to connect with them. It's really all about your will, Urvi. The stronger your will is, the stronger is your alter-ego."