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Chapter 5- Control

Arjun couldn't sleep. He just couldn't at all. It was so hard for him. He wanted to punch someone, something, anything. He wanted to cry.

"You clean up your mess" Dia's words rang in his head.

He was going to do that. But, how exactly?
It was not going to be easy. Though she felt the mate the bond, she was not going to make it easy for him. She was going to have him on toes. She was not like other females, who held nothing against their mate for their past and loved them. She was going to hold it against him. And his unacceptable, unforgivable behaviour of course. He looked up at the ceiling and all he could see was Radhika's face. Her beautiful eyes and smile. They were having a meeting tomorrow and all the packs in the country were called. The thought of seeing Radhika made him and his wolf happy.

"Sleep well, my mate. I love you" he heard her soothing voice.

"I love you so much more Radhika" he whispered and fell into the most peaceful, deepest slumber.

Dia couldn't sleep. It was only one person she could think of. She had been dreading to talk to him for so long. She had to know if he felt it too. She never knew that her crush for him would turn out to be like this. He did treat her well and like a friend, but was it more? Did he feel something more just like her? Her fingertips brushed his name on her phone contacts. After taking in and letting out a deep breath, she decided to call. The call was answered within seconds. It felt like he was waiting for her.

"Dia" he called out, more like saying to himself.

"Hey. How are you?" she asked.

"I'm good. But now, I feel amazing" he chuckled.

"Why so?" she asked.

"I just spoke to my girl" she could feel his grin on the other side of the phone and that made her heart drop.

He had found his mate and that had answered her unasked question. So, she just got rejected even without feeling what it felt to have a mate. She felt tears well well her eyes and she had to hold back in a sob. Almost choked on it. Maybe, maybe. Maybe it was just a crush. And nothing more. So stupid of her to feel that it was something more. On the other side, Veer felt even more anxious. Her silence made his heart race. Her voice was all he wanted to hear and she was a talkative. But now, she was quiet.

"Love?" he called out.

No response.

"Dee?" he called out.

No response.

"Dia!" he growled loud. He was losing it. His mate's silence killed him inside out.

His loud voice made her jump and she almost dropped her phone. Okay, what had run into him?

"Did you have to scare me like that?" she snapped.

That made him smile. There she was.

His girl.

His mate.

His love.

His life.

His one and only.

"You had zoned. Had to bring you back to reality" he stated.

"Isn't supposed to matter to you. And I'm sorry for calling you this late. Your mate wouldn't like it" she sighed.

"What are you talking about?" he asked confused.

Wait. Did she think?!

"Your mate wouldn't like you talking to another she-wolf" she said.

All he wanted to do was shift, run to her territory, climb up her room and kiss the wits out of her and mark her. Make her his and bring her back with him to his pack. He could hear her wolf's soft broken whimper. That was enough to break his heart.

"And of all, I just called you remind of the pack meeting tomorrow. It's been preponed. It's 7:00 AM" she said "good night" and with that she hung up and let the tears she had been holding in, fall.

Veer just stood there with the phone stuck to his ear. That was it. That was all it took for him to shift and that was when Radhika walked in.

"Veer!" she called out.

He didn't seem to hear her.

"Veer! Look at me!" she used her Alpha tone.

That didn't help. He snarled and barked loud as his head whipped from side to side and ran out of the house. Radhika sighed, gripping her head, looking around and found his phone on the floor. She looked through to find someone with the contact saved as Love on the recents in his call history. She tapped in to see who it was. It was Dia's number and that made her gasp. What had her best friend said that it had pushed her brother's human and wolf form to its edge? Or, was it a misunderstanding?

"These two" she sighed, smacking her forehead.

That was when his phone buzzed in her hand. It was Dia's text.

Love

Don't forget. The meeting is at 7:00 AM.
Good night.

That was all? She looked further into the texts and it looked nothing like they were hitting on each other. It just had Dia sending him the pack meeting schedules or if it was anything that had to do with her.

So, they did love each other silently. And it was not a simple, normal crush. She had to go to her brother. What if he was running towards the Agastyaa's territory? She inhaled and heaved a sigh of relief as her brother's scent showed that he was running in the opposite direction and not towards their pack. Sounds of bone cracking was heard and within seconds Radhika stood with pride on four legs. She took a set of clothes for herself and Veer, let out a howl and jumped out of the window. It was not even minutes, she heard a painful howl. It was Veer's.

"What has he gotten himself into now?" she thought to herself.

"Radhu, help" he mind linked her.

"What.. wait.." she took a sniff "witches" she growled.

And it was Krutika's mother's scent. She always wanted trouble. It was high time she killed the old hag. Her paws dug deeper into the soil of the woods as she sprinted to where her brother's scent led her. She saw her brother in his wolf form, whining and whimpering in pain. Radhika snarled and the old witch turned her attention to her.

"There you are princess" she smirked to which Radhika only snarled.

Radhika stood steady, ready to attack and looked at her brother's huge form that shook and writhed in pain. He had no external injuries, it was a spell. She looked at the woman as she held out an arm at Veer's direction, clenched it close and he howled. It made her ears bleed and her heart broke for him. She looked at her arm that held a knife. It didn't smell of silver and that made her heave a sigh of relief.

"Hold on, I'll get you out of here" she mind linked him.

"Please" he said breathless.

Before she could make a move, her face was scratched with a knife and she whined. It was a light one, but it burned. This one had silver for sure. This was not the mother, it was the daughter. Krutika had attacked her. She had to kill the old hag soon. She was going to shift back to her human form soon. Wolves couldn't handle an ounce of silver. The woman didn't seem to notice Radhika's sudden attack as she was busy in torturing her brother. Her white wolf pounced on her and her paw dug into her chest and struck at her heart. The woman coughed out blood and it sprayed all over her snout.

"Maa!" Krutika screamed.

That was all it took for Radhika to mentally smirked. Her head lowered with a snarl and her golden eyes gleamed. She took no time in catching the women by her throat and had her head ripped out. Radhika got off the woman and let out a howl of victory. And it was also a warning to all the other witches that lived in their territory. Radhika then shifted to a half-wolf, half-human state and looked at an angry, broken Krutika.

"Leave before I snap your head like your mother" she growled.

And with that, a fear struck Krutika chose to leave. What she had witnessed was not something normal. She vanished into thin air. She turned around to see Veer's wolf bowing to her. She picked up the clothes and threw it at him. He picked them up and walked to a tree behind. She too walked behind and changed. The silver started to burn all the more. Her cheek stung and she had a bleeding forehead. She screamed as she knelt to the ground, her vision clouding.

"Radhu!" Veer came running to her and picked her up in his arms.

"Bastard, go get your girl" she breathed out "and I am dying" she laughed and choked a little.

"I will, I promise. And you're not dying. Not so soon" he said, hugging his close to his chest. His strides were fast and long as he ran to the pack hospital.

After a long wait, the doctor walked out with a nurse following behind. Dilip, stood next to a guilty Veer who had scratches all over his arms, covered in bandages.

"She's fine. The cut was a light one. It have cleaned all traces of silver. She just needs to sleep it off. She is exhausted" the doctor smiled "she needs this ointment for the next few days" he said, handing a tube.

"Thank you" Dilip whispered.

"Bade papa, I'm sorry" Veer apologised.

"It's not your fault. I should have never let the witches take shelter in our pack" he sighed.

He walked in to see his daughter sleeping like an angel. She had so much of her mother in her and that thought broke his heart. He patted her head as he took seat on the stool next to her bed.

Radhika woke up a few hours later and looked at her surroundings and realised that she was in the pack hospital. Last night was barbaric, but it felt good. She looked up at the clock to see it was 6:00 AM. She sat up and felt her head buzz a little.

"Easy there" Veer patted her shoulder.

"We should get going. I'll go take a shower" she said.

"Radhu, I'll go. You rest" Dilip said.

"No papa, I know how much you hate that place" she hissed "and of all, the people" she snapped.

"But.." he was cut off by his daughter.

"I'm not going to let you live that moment again papa" she snapped and Dilip chose it was wise to not argue.

"Okay, you can go" he smiled.

"Thank you" and with that she walked to the bathroom to freshen up.

The siblings reached the Aghastyaan Pack House by 6:55 AM and Radhika frowned as she got out. She really wanted to sleep, but she was here because she didn't want her father to be on their rival land. The Aghastyaas were the largest pack in the country with some of the strongest warriors and that was the reason why the meetings were held there.

"In we go. You better make up to Dee" she whisper-hissed to her brother.

"Who's side are you on?" he looked annoyed.

"My best friend of course" she smiled and that made him smile too.

"You guys" Neil walked out with a smile, but then his eyes widened at their injured state "are you both okay?" he asked, concerned.

"Congratulations dad" she smirked.

"Wha.. how?" he looked speechless.

"Anyone can see the happiness radiating off of your face. And your scent has changed. Smells a little feminine which means you mated with Sam and you're having babies" she replied with a grin.

She hissed the next second because of her wound. And man, it stung. She wanted to kick herself for getting excited. But who would not, when their friend was going to be a parent?

"How?" he asked.

"My sister has some extraordinary abilities" Veer smiled, snaking his arm around her shoulder "congratulations man" he smiled.

"Thanks, come on in" Neil led them in.

Sam spotted them "you guys, oh my god! Look at you both" she gasped and placed a palm on both of them.

Their uneasiness from last night vanished which made them heave a sigh of relief. Sam was a healer, so she was able to talk away pain to an extent.

"Thanks mama" Radhika smiled "you can't use much of healing. You are pregnant and it can exhaust you" she frowned.

"You Alpha, I will take care" she pulled her nose playfully.

"You know? I know you're having triplets and I know the gender of your babies too" Radhika smiled, placing a hand on Sam's flat belly and caressed it.

"You do?" she asked, tears welling up in happiness.

"Yep" Radhika nodded.

"Neil bhai, Arjun bhai wants everyone assembled in the.." Dia walked out and stopped as she saw both Radhika and Veer.

She gasped seeing Veer's arms in bandages. Veer stood there watching her with a smile. The other three smiled. The two of them were not having their hearts broken. She ran to him and gently inspected his bandaged arms.

"I'm glad" Radhika sighed and Neil squeezed her arm a little.

"I'm okay" he whispered.

"You're not. I can smell witch torture on you" she sobbed.

"I said I'm okay" he chuckled, cupping her face and wiped her tears away.

"Really?" she asked with a pout.

"Yes" he smiled, looking deep into her eyes.

"So, I'm your girl?" she asked.

"Yes" he smiled, tucking a stray lock behind her ear.

"Mine" she whispered, cupping his face.

"Yours" he smiled and placed his forehead against hers.

"She looks so happy" Sam whispered all emotional.

"Veer, you can have all the time with you want with your mate, but now we have a meeting" they heard a voice.

Their heads whipped around to see a smiling Arjun at the door. Well, that was strange. He had never eased up with them. Radhika frowned. Maybe, he had to ease up because his sister had found a mate in the rival pack. Arjun snarled when he saw the cut on Radhika's cheek.

Who dared to hurt his mate?!

And that made Veer take no time in standing in front of his sister. She was their future Alpha and he was ready to lay his life for her.

"Still a jerk" Radhika thought to herself as she huffed.

Radhika felt a hand on her wrist and within seconds, she was pulled away from Veer. She looked up to see Arjun staring at her with gentle eyes. A totally different vibe from the last time they had met.

"Who did this to you?" he asked as he stroke her faint scar gently and then to her bandaged forehead. He tried as much to keep his anger in check.

"I'm okay" she whispered, stepping away from him.

The others watched. Radhika did not feel it. She did not feel the mate bond. Maybe it was the effect of the silver that still remained in her system.

"Was it silver?" he asked, caressing her cheek to which she just nodded looking at his chest.

He shook. His mate was here, next to him and she couldn't feel the bond. But, he was glad. She was alive and safe. But still, that was not enough to control his anger. The Elders along with Raj walked out looking for Arjun and smiled. Radhika was the right person for him.

"Mate" his wolf chanted.

"Kill" he said again.

"Kill who hurt mate" his wolf took full control.

"We kill" he said.

"We will kill" it seemed like he preached it.

Radhika looked up to see him shaking with rage, his eyes pitch black, looking over her shoulder. His canines protruding as his arms reached out for her and tightened around her waist. She had to stop him from shifting. He could kill.

"Arjun, look at me" she cupped his face.

He still shook. It didn't seem to help. His canines started to protrude even more. She stepped in closer to him and could feel his warmth radiate. The others prayed for him to gain his control.

"Please" she pleaded, stroking his cheek.

He still shook. They all looked on surprised. He by this time should have shifted. Maybe it was because she had control over him.

"Breathe" she whispered, pulling his head closer.

She caressed his face. His eyes focused on hers. He was in awe. This woman was the love of life and she was here with him. For him. His eyes closed on their own accord as her fingers gently brushed his cheeks. He and his wolf hummed in pleasure as they felt their mate's gentle loving touch.

"Neil" Sam whispered, smiling.

"Yes. It's working" he smiled, pulling his mate to him.

"You can do it Radhi" Dia cheered. But not too loud.

"You mean the faceless guy on my sister's canvas is your brother?" Veer asked.

"Yes" she replied.

"Well, damn. She can't feel it because of the silver and that sucks" he sighed.

"True. But she has the Alpha blood. It will wear off soon" she smiled patting his chest.

"Yeah" he smiled, pulling her to his chest and laid his chin on her head.

The four of them looked at Radhika still trying to calm Arjun and the Elders walked to the front to watch.

"That's it. You can do it" she whispered.

"You can do it" she smiled again, her nose brushing against his.

He opened his eyes and it was all normal. He looked at Radhika who was still stroking his cheek and running her fingers through his hair to calm him down. Her smile was enough to have him return his. He was so happy to have her close to him. His head dropped to her chest and she held him there, patting gently. The grip of his arms loosened around her waist, but held her close. Her calm heartbeats could do nothing to calm his racing ones. He looked up to see her still smiling at him. He buried his neck in the crook of her neck and breathed in her scent as his nose nuzzled, sending tingles all over her body.

"You saved me. You didn't let me lose control. Thank you" he whispered.

His lips traced down to her neck and he kissed her pulse. After a few seconds he pulled away and smiled at his friends and the Elders. With that they all walked in happily.

Happy that Arjun has found his mate and that he was happy.