As the sun dipped in the west, Aria morosely slipped on the shirt of her pale blue scrubs. No miracle happened in last seven days and here they all were, getting ready for the battle with Midnight Warriors. The pack of those demons had arrived a day before, and had put up their tents at the edge of the clearing in the forest up north of their establishment, which had been finalized as the battle ground. It would be quick, she was told. Werewolf battles don't linger on for days. They were decided fast, sometimes in a matter of an hour. Only the ones fighting were to be tackled. Others, mainly women, children and elderly from the losing pack, would come to no harm. It was an unsaid understanding. Werewolves didn't plunder the loot of the war like humans. Midnight Warriors, however, didn't have to worry about even that, having come only with their warring soldiers and healers. And they were all beefed up males in their prime ready to eat up the opposition alive.

Though females are kept out of such fights, Aria had opted to assist her father in the provisional medical infirmary he had set up in a tent near the battle ground to attend to the wounded soldiers of their pack on the spot. Or at least treat them enough so they can survive till they could be transported to the main hospital building where they can get proper medical attention.

Aria's father had reluctantly chosen her for two reasons. One, she will not be on the actual battle ground, and two, she was the only available option who had some experience assisting him. With such grave situation presenting itself for the first time, Aria's father had no time to prepare someone else for the job and she already had the basic nursing training under him. In spite of her mother's vehement opposition, Aria had agreed because that was the least she could do for her family and her pack. Shikhar and Rajit both were at the fore-front of this mess, and Dahlia, she was in an absolute state of panic in her delicate state. A wave of hatred once more hit Aria's heart at these bullies who have taken away the calm and peace of their lives. Now they were here to take away their actual lives as well.

Amid the heaviness and dread which were a permanent ingredient in the air of their pack since the last one week, Aria had spent as much time with Rajit as he could spare. And he did spare a lot considering how busy he was; attending council meetings, strategizing war tactics with Alpha Shikhar and also training other pack members in the art of combat. The looming clouds of inevitable had brought them very close emotionally. The thought of losing him had made Aria value him for his true worth. Fate chosen or not, he was her mate now. Not that he had marked her or they'd mated, but her heart had finally accepted him whole heartedly. She prayed to the Fates day and night to keep him safe, cooked him his favorite food in the beta-house where he lived alone. His parents lived in their own house. They regularly talked late into the night, where he smiled and assured her of his safety and that of Alpha Shikhar's. But by now, Aria knew he was just trying to keep her spirits up. Thus her heart stayed restless.

Since the time Midnight Warriors pack had descended, in all its reality, on their territory, she was experiencing restlessness of highest magnitude. Her wolf was going crazy inside her. The kind of crazy everyone says when your fate-chosen mate is somewhere nearby and the mating bond pulls at your wolf. And had she not known better, she would have thought that some demon from the newly arrived Midnight Warriors is whom Fates have chosen as her mate. But thankfully, that was impossible owing to the fact that she had not stepped anywhere near their temporary establishment which was quite a few kilometers away and there was no way, even in their world, for someone's presence to be so strong to be felt from such afar. So she was sure it was the anxiety that was taking its toll on her and her wolf. She had on many occasions been accused of being overly sensitive. And the scenario here was such that there was a good chance that she will lose her mate while her sister will lose the father of her unborn child. Must be fear, it has to be fear, she told herself. There could be no other reason for this acute restlessness in her heart.

#

"It has not even been an hour and this is the thirtieth wounded wolf in the infirmary," her father shook his head in dismay.

Aria tried not to react as she injected a wounded wolf with a special serum made from her father's healing blood which would hopefully keep him alive until he can be taken back to the establishment. As it is there were only sixty wolves fighting from their side. Half are already down? And each one of them lying here was a strong contender for a casualty. She was sure not all of them will survive. Also, there must be a few who were sent here by the Alpha but did not make it till the infirmary and were lying dead or wounded out there.

"How long will they be able to hold on out there?" she questioned her father.

"Going at this rate, not long," hopelessness was written all over his face.

She closed her eyes to pray for Rajit once more. It was then, that the smell of fresh cut pine trees flooded her senses out of nowhere. So potent and so strong was the smell that it felt like she was standing in the middle of a freshly cut pine tree forest. Her eyes grew wide with a startle. Where did that come from? It was winters and all the trees were bare outside.

"Papa, can you smell fresh pine trees?" she looked at her father uncertainly.

"All I can smell is blood and sanitizer," he replied and got busy in the dressing of another patient.

Just then a soul piercing howl came from outside. Both father and daughter looked at each other horrified. That was unmistakably Shikhar's wolf.

"NOOO!" before her father could stop her, Aria cried and ran outside.

Her father yelled after her, continuously. But she did not stop and he could not leave everything and follow her. Trying to ignore the overwhelming smell of pines that was increasing with each step she was taking, Aria sprinted in the direction from where the howl had come from. And, that is how Aria found herself some twenty feet from the spot where a huge unfamiliar black wolf was towering over the slouched figure of their Alpha Shikhar and violently tearing him apart with his sharp canines. While the silver grey wolf of Shikhar was bathed in blood, the black wolf was mostly unharmed and undoubtedly winning.

Dahlia's innocent face swam in front of her eyes. Shikhar was definitely not getting out of this one alive. And if that happened, half of Dahlia's soul will die with him. The black wolf must be the Alpha of Midnight Warriors and he was bringing this battle to an end by claiming the life of his opponent. Everything was lost now, Aria's eyes misted with unshed tears. Or... or maybe not. There was no way that she would stand here and be a mute spectator of her sister's mate's murder. There was no way in hell that she will helplessly watch her baby sister's painful and hollow future in the making. Not when she still had life in her. She has to at least try to save her brother-in-law. Rajit and her are not fate-mates. He hasn't even marked her yet. If something happens to her, Rajit will survive. But if something happens to Shikhar, she was not sure the same could be said about Dahlia.

Putting at stake her own life and Rajit's happiness, Aria jumped high into the air as pieces of torn pale blue scrubs flew around and four white-furred paws landed on the ground. With her heightened senses in her wolf form, this time it was like someone has shoved a fresh cut pine tree up her nose. However, with no time to waste, she ignored everything else, picked as much courage she had in her, and raced towards the two battling Alphas.

She had not given a thought to what she would actually do, but it was a given that it would be excruciatingly difficult to stop that black wolf from thwacking and thrashing Shikhar like a bloodied rag doll. She was not even sure that if she could get him to stop. All of five and a half feet, she was a female wolf who was no warrior. All she had in mind before jumping on the tight spot was to get mercilessly killed while pleading Shikhar to run away with some life still remaining in him. Hopefully, Shikhar won't be stubborn and pay heed to her. However, it did not come to that. Because as soon as she reached near them, as if incapacitated by an invisible power, the black wolf stopped dead. Freed from his tormentor's death grip, Shikhar slumped down, unconscious, unable to take any more assault and unable to fight back either. Except for faint breathing, there was no other sign of life in him. This was not... what she had... envisioned. Aware of a hostile black wolf glaring at her, her insides churned with fear.

In front of her was the most majestic midnight-black furred wolf she had ever laid eyes on. He towered at least a foot over her. And with his cold eyes, he looked at her as if he was having real difficulty believing her foolishness in interrupting him. It must not be every day that a female wolf interrupts his killing spree.

Aria shuffled on her paws and sent a concerned, and most probably her last, glance towards an injured Shikhar. A deep growl brought her attention back to the black wolf. Slowly he started circling Aria. Leisurely. Comfortably ignoring that her Alpha was lying unconscious a few feet away, fighting for his life. Probably contemplating ways he could play with his new prey before tearing it apart too. Right about now Aria cringed at the spontaneity of her plan to run here. Shikhar was in no condition to run away and she had just added to the number of casualties her family will experience by putting herself in this situation. But what's done was done. Aria steeled herself for the inevitable. Death was not very far away now. Fates had written her end this way, it seems. The fact that the whole forest was reeking of pine smell making her dizzy and her wolf paranoid, wasn't helping either.

While trying to call back her runaway courage, a shining object caught her attention. On the left front paw of the wolf circling and appraising her was a leather band with two gold wolves facing each other. Oh, so he is that royal demon Danish, she tried to scowl. To her immense shock, her wolf won't let her. In that moment she realized that so subdued was her wolf right now that it felt that he is her Alpha, and not the one who is trying to kill her Alpha. Not panicking like it should, it was bowing down to him without her permission. Finally buckled under pressure, have we?

Aria looked at unconscious Shikhar once again who was not even moving, let alone make an attempt at escape. Another authoritative growl had her attention clamoring back to this other Alpha with piercing sharp grey eyes, like clear waters reflecting an overcast sky, who was unnerving her to no end with his intense stare. Can't she even look at her brother-in-law? How absurd is it? Her palpating heart wished that this demon wolf kills her and end this drama for once and all, rather than behave as if she is a toy to play with.

Now her wolf scowled. What the hell is wrong with it today? And exactly how intense are his Alpha powers to get a wolf of another pack to get to bow to him?

Suddenly she realized that they were not alone. At least five other wolves surrounded the three of them. All of them belonged to Midnight Warriors. What happened to her pack? Her heart sank. The black wolf looked at the new arrivals with a sense of purpose. Must be talking through packs mind link, she figured. Her guess was not wrong because immediately all the eyes got trained on her, making Aria gulp. What did he tell them? Whatever it was, it could not be good. Should she try running away? But a dark-grey wolf beat her to it. He ran behind a tree and shifted back to his human form. Who in their right mind voluntarily shifts into their vulnerable shape on the battle field, her eyes narrowed. Even she could kill him right now and she does not know C of combat. He must have a lot of trust in his Alpha to put himself in such danger.

Tall, fair with dark brown eyes and hair, dressed in blue denim jeans with a sculpted bare upper body, he came forward and addressed Aria in his human voice.

"Miss, my name is Faheem. I am the beta of Midnight Warriors. We need you to shift back to your human form."

Last vestiges of courage that she was holding dear, left her in a snap. Change back? In front of all these males? She does not even have her clothes with her. What was she thinking running here like that? She felt like crying. Why not kill her in her wolf form?

As if sensing her predicament, Faheem hastily explained "No Miss. Not here. Our two men will escort you to your establishment. But you have to come back here with them. Don't try anything foolish. As you can see your Alpha is not in a position to protect you anymore," he looked at the black wolf with meaningful eyes. "We just want to talk to you. And as long as you do what we say, your Alpha will stay safe with us."

With clenched jaws, Aria nodded dutifully. There was no other option but to acquiesce to their demands. She turned back to go to the infirmary tent where her change of clothes was. Without delay, two set of paws fell in line on either side of her. Now her father will get involved too. She cringed at the thought.

Somehow she managed to reach their tent, to change back in her human form and put on a black skinny jean with a button-up woolen red plaid shirt. She hurriedly filled in her near hysterical and extremely angry father on recent events, and almost immediately he started forcing her to sneak away instead of going back. Had Shikhar's life not been kept as a ransom, she would have definitely listened to him. Her father was pack doctor and thus a no-touch zone. They will not shy away from killing Shikhar though. Heck, they were here for that very purpose and Fates only know why they hadn't done it yet and are putting conditions on her. Whatever the reason be, Shikhar's life was very important to their pack, and unknown to Midnight Warriors, particularly precious to her family.

However, this time her father did not let her go away alone and she did not resist either. She was scared to the core, confused at her wolf's hundred and eighty degree turn and uneasy at the black wolf's blatant scrutiny. She needed support. Together, they were escorted back to the same spot, where the scene had changed again. Standing guard in front of unconscious Shikhar was intensely wounded wolf of Rajit.

He is alive? A ton of gloom disappeared from Aria's heart. "RAJIIIIIIIT," she ran towards him ready to throw her arms around his furry neck.

But even before she could loop her arms around him, sharp canines sunk in her shirt collar from behind and peeled her away from him. A yelp escaped her mouth as she landed on her back wide eyed. In no time those intimidating grey eyes were looking right into hers, from a few inches away. Glaring. Glowering. The black wolf dangerously hovered over her. "Papa," her lips trembled like those of a whimpering child.

But neither her papa, nor Rajit came to help. Rajit was pinned down by two massive wolves and her agonized and helpless father was not allowed to take even a step towards her as the two wolves who had escorted them blocked his path.

"Miss, what is your name," Faheem came forward and tried to diffuse the situation. He was silently admiring the strength of this absolutely beautiful girl for facing so many wolves from an enemy pack on a battle field. Hell, she had jumped in front of Alpha Danish, whom even the best of warriors' fear. She even came back without attempting to run away. If what their Alpha was sensing was right, then Fates could not have been more generous to him.

The black wolf glared at him for a moment, before stepping back from Aria who was sprawled on the icy ground and looked away.

"Ar...Aria," she stuttered. "Can I stand?" she asked meekly.

"Sure. Here, let me help you," Faheem forwarded his hand.

The black wolf's neck snapped in his direction as a fierce growl emanated from him. Faheem could not have taken his hand back faster. Aria swallowed her pride and stood up all by her own. Who is she but an enemy from the losing side, what right does she have to deserve respectful treatment, she consoled herself.

"Aria, can you tell us who you are and what are you doing here?" Faheem questioned her.

It was apparent that everyone around, however occupied, was listening intently to their exchange. Do they have time for that? Has the battle already finished? What happened to the others of her pack?

"My father," she pointed in his direction "is the pack healer. I was assisting him in the infirmary when I heard Alpha Shikhar's howl and came here," she supplied.

Faheem looked at his Alpha as if seeking a silent permission to speak. "That was a severe breach of battle terms and conditions. I hope you know that, Aria. Females are not allowed as a shield on battle field," Faheem informed her in a grave reprimanding tone.

"I... I know. Alpha Shikhar is... he is ... my brother-in-law. I was not.... thinking," she stammered.

"Brother-in-law you say?" Faheem looked at the black wolf and nodded his head imperceptibly.

Aria nodded, baffled as to why he needs to take his Alpha's permission before every sentence. Must be a tyrant Alpha, this Danish.

"It was still very wrong. Your interruption has made things complicated here," his words were stern.

Aria licked her bottom lip with her tongue nervously. This interrogation and reprimand was not in her plans. Helping Shikhar and getting killed while doing that was. Though how will they decide the fight now? But Shikhar was alive and so was their Alpha. Will they kill Shikhar now? No. She will plead, beg, grovel, will do everything in her power to stop that, she vowed.

However, the other pack was interested in things totally unrelated to her line of thought. "And he?" Faheem pointed at Rajit, "He is your beta, right? Is he your brother in-law too?"

"No. He is my mate," Aria replied softly, but the hint of pride was evident in her voice.

There was not much noise around them, but the pin-drop silence that enveloped the air at that statement was substantial and noticeable. It was like everyone around her had stopped breathing. And then it happened. With a thunderous howl saturated with what sounded like pain, the black wolf charged on her. Like literally charged. Sheer waves of anger rippling out of him. Had it not been for Faheem who positioned himself between the two of them, Aria knew she would have met her makers up above today. She all but fainted in shock. What did she do now? In that split moment, it occurred to her that planning to die and actually dying, are two very different things.

"You know you cannot hurt her even if you want to Alpha. Do you want to try?" Faheem was talking to the black wolf.

Is this how you pacify an irrational wolf, Aria sweated standing behind him. It sounded more like he is challenging his Alpha. And why would his Alpha have any problem killing her? Oh, maybe they don't kill females. Chivalrous murderers, are they?

"If she is what you think she is, you will regret anything you will do in your anger and you know that," Faheem was still talking to his insanely growling Alpha.

Who am I? Oh Fates, does this bizarre interaction have something to do with her white fur? He did stop in his tracks as soon as he had spotted her. She looked at her father helplessly. Was her mother right? Does she truly have some latent power? Will they take her away with them?

Faheem turned back towards her and looked intently on the right side of the base of her throat which was peeking from her shirt. Was he looking for canine and teeth marks of Rajit there? That was where the mates bite their mates to mark them as theirs, extracting blood and then licking it off, and making a deep connection between them physically and emotionally in the process. So much so that they can actually feel each other's pain, happiness and moods. She was supposed to get marked after her twentieth birthday.

Her suspicion proved right when Faheem asked "Aria, you are not marked. You don't have his smell over you either. Has he imprinted on you yet?"

Today was just not her day. Imprinting only occurred in the case of fate-chosen mates finding each other. Now she will have to narrate these strangers her failure of finding a fate-chosen mate as well. Taking a deep breath, she replied as dignifiedly as possible. "No. He did not have to imprint on me. Actually, he is my intended mate. He will mark me on my twentieth birthday."

Faheem smiled, a very mysterious smile. Even tilted his head and looked at the black wolf triumphantly. "Oh I don't think that will be needed anymore," he told her. The crackling tension in the air came down several notches. A vague thought of not many days back struck Aria again with full force. Is she a fate-chosen mate of someone from their pack? Only Fates can help her now.

But Fates didn't.

When it was the mighty black wolf who turned around to go behind a boulder, all color drained from Aria's face. Her eyes involuntarily snapped at unconscious half-dead Shikhar, bloodied incapacitated Rajit and her virtually imprisoned father. Sight of her wounded fellow pack members back at the infirmary too flashed in her brain at that moment. He cannot be her mate. It was not supposed to be this way!! No, please NO. But the rational part of her knew otherwise.

The overwhelming smell of pines was his scent, her restless crazed wolf went into submission at once in front of him, his volatile reactions when she even looked at or touched any other male, he wanted to see her in her human form. Everything she had overlooked since last two days in the stress of impending war, was falling into place. She looked at her father, who was looking as stunned at the turn of events. Horrified, she then glanced at Rajit, who was looking beyond traumatized. She swallowed a lump of the size of moon in her throat.

It was in their human forms that mates imprinted and he was going to see if she was his, she figured that much. Whoever said that you should be careful what you wish for, was so right. So much for wishing for a fate mate. As two bare human feet came into the line of her sight, she kept her head down stubbornly. Refusing to look into the eyes of Alpha Danish. Hoping to elude the inevitable. Honestly willing, for the first time in her life, to let go of her wish of a fate-chosen mate.

"Aria," a deep throaty muscular voice addressed her.

Betraying her, her insides turned into mush hearing her name in that voice. A strong attraction called at her. Her wolf danced in unconcealed glee, begging her to look up. However, with a herculean effort, Aria ignored everything and kept looking at the feet.

"You'll have to look at me at some point.... Aria," the voice softly repeated her name after a while, like a prayer, and that was her undoing.

Unable to hold in her wolf and a weird magnetic pull singing in her blood, Aria slowly looked up. Stone washed faded grey denim covered two strong legs, unlike Faheem the upper torso was covered with a black front- zipped sweat shirt which liberally hinted at the taut abdomen and muscular chest beneath it. His hands were folded on his chest and she again saw that gleaming gold and leather bracelet on his left wrist. He was very tall she could tell, around 6'4″. Color of skin at his neck, she noticed, was very fair. Aware as she was that once she looked any more up and if he was the one, imprinting was not something she could stop then, curiosity worth years won.

And what she saw left her awestruck. His was the most striking face she had ever laid eyes on. Not in a charming, conventional way, but in a debonair muscular way. A square chiseled jaw, balanced lips, aristocratic nose, two bright grey eyes and a faint scar that ran from his forehead to his left cheek, and a scalp full of short jet black hair. Epitome of manliness, he looked like a foreigner. Then it dawned on Aria, that he actually was a foreigner who was right now busy taking in her finer details with great interest.

In their own accord her eyes stationed on his. Waiting for them to change color and glow in a faint shade of gold and hers to mirror them as it usually happened if he was infact her fate-chosen mate and imprinting was to occur. A jolt of current passed through her when instead of glowing into faint gold hue, Danish's eyes burnt bright yellow like untamed fire. She could certainly feel the same hot glow in her eyes as well. Two halves of one soul recognized each other. It was official. He was the one.

"Mate," he announced possessively.

Aria gaped at him. Reeling under the intensity of his imprinting, her reluctant brain spun.

"Mine," there was no mistaking the authority in that tone or gleam in those sharp grey eyes.

Her own eyes widened as her wits took their leave.

"My Aria," he took a step towards her to stake his claim.

And Aria promptly fell onto his chest, unconscious.

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