Swara perched at the small kitchen table, her elbows resting on the counter. She cupped her chin in her hands, her gaze tracking Mrs. Wilson's every move as she bustled about, preparing breakfast.

Mrs. Wilson glanced over her shoulder with a warm smile, her eyes twinkling. "I remember you weren't too fond of the bland soup yesterday, so I added a bit of spice to it today. I hope it suits your taste better," she said, placing a steaming bowl in front of Swara.

Swara gave a small, appreciative smile. "Thank you, Mrs. Wilson. But why do you go out of your way to bring me all three meals every day, all the way to my dorm?"

Mrs. Wilson chuckled softly, her eyes shining with a kind of affection. "It's Alpha Sanskar's direct order, dear. He wants to ensure you're well taken care of. Every day, he inquires about what you've eaten, how you're feeling, and what you've been up to. The Alpha truly has your best interests at heart, Luna."

"He does?" Swara murmured, her voice barely above a whisper as she lazily stirred the soup with her spoon, her eyes fixed on the swirling liquid.

Mrs. Wilson gave a warm nod, her smile encouraging. "Yes, he truly does. More than you could imagine. He cares deeply about your well-being."

"Hmm..." Swara sighed, finally focusing on the breakfast laid out before her. The table was filled with a delightful array of her favorite dishes, each one meticulously prepared to her taste. 

For the past three days, Mrs. Wilson has been delivering all of Swara's meals directly to her dorm. On the first day, Swara threw a fit and ordered her out, only for Sanskar to storm in with a lunch box a minute later. 

Swara was ready to give him a piece of mind, but Sanskar cut her off sharply. "If you want to shut me out and be on your own, I respect your choice. But don't think you can brush aside the arrangements I've made for you. If you do, you'll be sorry—trust me on that." 

Despite taking Sanskar's warning seriously, Swara managed to keep her face impassive. 

"And what exactly do you plan to do?" she asked, her voice tinged with irritation and defiance. 

"Very well then..." Sanskar slammed the lunch box down on the kitchen table, his expression resolute. He moved toward her with a determined stride. Realizing he intended to carry her back to the mansion, Swara quickly took a step back, trying to avoid his grasp and the inevitable return to his home. 

"I'll handle lunch myself..." she said briskly, snatching the lunch box. "But there's no need for you to be here—just have Mrs. Wilson bring it." 

From that day on, Swara quietly accepted her meals from Mrs. Wilson, aware that her tantrums only seemed to worsen the situation, with Sanskar standing guard outside to ensure she stayed in line. 

Today, as Mrs. Wilson's soothing words reached her, Swara found herself on the fence, wrestling with her feelings. "Am I overplaying my hand here? After all, Sanskar cares for me deeply. So what if he hides a few things? I've kept things from him for his sake. Should I just let it go? No, I can't..."

Swara held her head in her hands, overwhelmed by uncertainty. She picked up her phone and dialed Sanskar, her voice barely audible. "Come in..."

Moments later, Sanskar pushed open the door, his face glowing with a look of triumph. Swara sighed, noting the gleam of satisfaction in his eyes, a clear sign that his relentless efforts and patience had finally borne fruit. 

"Why are you so insistent? I'm perfectly capable of looking after myself," Swara said, her voice tinged with frost.

"Yes, you are, but I can't rest easy until I see it for myself. You've been through countless dangers, and with our baby on the way, you need to be extra careful," Sanskar said with genuine concern, gently lifting a spoon to offer her a bite.

Swara was touched but chose to stay silent.

"You need to eat better. You've lost too much weight," Sanskar said, gently placing a spoonful of food in her mouth.

She nodded in acknowledgment, allowing him to feed her without protest. Each bite was accompanied by his tender concern, and she found comfort in the careful attention and affectionate words he offered with every mouthful. She couldn't help but adore him. 

"I handpicked these nutritious recipes and asked Mrs. Wilson to whip them up for you." 

"By the way, did you sleep okay? I was tossing and turning all night without you," Sanskar asked, his eyes searching Swara's face as she watched him closely.

"Hmm?" He raised an eyebrow, awaiting her response. 

Swara snapped out of her thoughts and nodded, her eyes welling up with tears. Without warning, she threw her arms around Sanskar, tears streaming down her face and soaking his blue shirt. 

"What's the matter?" Sanskar asked, his voice tinged with worry as he tried to pull away, but Swara clung to him. 

With a deep sigh, he resigned himself to the moment, letting her cry as he softly stroked her back, providing a comforting presence. 

"Thank you, Sanskar..." Swara whispered, her voice trembling as she held him close. 

"For what?" 

Swara slowly pulled back and looked deeply into his eyes. "Thank you for sticking by me despite all my outbursts. I'm grateful for how you've quietly taken care of me and kept showing up, even when I pushed you away. You touched my heart." 

Even though Swara had been harboring some frustration towards Sanskar, his persistent love and thoughtful gestures managed to melt her defenses. His unwavering support and the way he had been there for her led her to release her pent-up emotions and fully embrace the comfort and warmth of his presence. 

"Thanks for giving me another shot and coming back to me. I swear I won't let you down again," Sanskar said, placing a tender kiss on her forehead. "And thanks for showing up right on the dot," he added with a cheeky smile. 

"What's that supposed to mean?" Swara asked, raising an eyebrow in puzzled curiosity. 

"I've set up your Luna ceremony for three days from now. I'm relieved we got here just in time; otherwise, I'd have had to drag you back, and that would have been a real hassle." 

Sanskar let his voice trail off intentionally, taking in Swara's stunned expression. 

"What? Out of the blue? Why didn't you give me a heads-up earlier? How am I supposed to pull this off?" Swara blurted out, her words rushing out in a torrent of panic. 

"Shona, why are you so worked up? It's just the Luna ceremony, not a life-or-death situation. Besides, it's not early—it's already past due. How was I supposed to fill you in when you wouldn't even see me?" Sanskar said, gently massaging her arms. 

Swara took a deep breath and nodded. "You're right; it's already late, and the baby's on the way," she said, placing her hand on her stomach with a thoughtful expression. 

"He or she will also share in the joy of their parents' biggest moment," Sanskar said with a mischievous wink. 

Swara felt a wave of shyness, hiding her face against Sanskar's chest as he laughed heartily. 

They eventually made up, and Swara agreed to go back to the pack house. Sanskar didn't dawdle, swiftly gathering her belongings. Within half an hour, they were en route to their home when Swara suddenly caught sight of something. 

"By the way, I get why you're worried about my health, but what's with the extra security? I've noticed those covert guards tailing me for a while now, and they're still hot on our heels," Swara said, turning her head to glance at the gypsy who had been shadowing them since they left the dorm. 

Over the past few months, Swara had sharpened her skills under Sanskar's training, becoming much more astute and alert in tricky situations. Spotting and interpreting the presence of watchers and guards had become a breeze for her. 

Sanskar sighed, knowing he couldn't easily pull the wool over Swara's eyes. "I figured extra security was needed while you were away from me." 

Swara furrowed her brow, puzzled. "Why? Is there still a threat? I thought we'd taken care of all our enemies—Vampire King, Adarsh, Kavita, Amit, and the rest. Haven't we cleaned the house? Who could possibly be left?" 

"I'm not exactly sure; I just have a hunch that something's off," Sanskar said gravely, his eyes glued to the road as he drove with intense concentration. 

Swara's eyes widened; her curiosity piqued. "Are you hinting at something?" she asked, raising her eyebrows. 

Sanskar locked eyes with her, remaining silent. His wordless response sent a jolt through Swara, quickening her heartbeat with unease.