"Where on earth did Sanskar disappear to? I shouldn't have let him out of my sight, knowing the storm raging inside him," Swara murmured, pacing the room. Her nerves were frayed as she thought about Sanskar, who hadn't come back from the woods after the upheaval. He had asked for a breather, and she had reluctantly given him space, crossing her fingers so he'd find his bearings.

"It's the break of dawn, and he still hasn't shown up?" She grumbled, glancing at her watch for what felt like the hundredth time and trying Sanskar's number again, but only getting voicemail. Annoyed, she flung her phone onto the bed and kept on pacing, feeling like she was running out of patience.

After several more minutes of fidgeting like a cat on a hot tin roof, she grabbed her jacket, car keys, and phone. As she made her way to the door, she dialed Laksh’s number. But just as she was about to step outside, she was caught off guard by Sanskar standing there.

"Well, I’ll be! Sanskar, you’re back!" Swara said, her surprise giving way to relief as Sanskar stumbled toward her and wrapped her in a tight hug.

"Did you hang around just for me? That’s so endearing. Why are you always so good to me?" he slurred.

With his heavy words, Swara quickly recognized the signs of drunkenness. He usually handles his liquor well; what in the world did he knock back to get this wasted?" She thought, trying to make sense of his state.

Swara hurried over to steady him, slipping an arm around his waist and guiding him towards the bed. "Let's get you settled. Seriously, how much did you have to drink?"

He leaned heavily on her, his steps unsteady, and mumbled, "I’m not drunk, Shona. I just had a couple of beers. No big deal."

"Sure, and I'm the queen of England," she muttered under her breath, guiding him down the hall.

Sanskar tried to laugh it off, but it came out more as a hiccup. "Okay, maybe a few more than a few. But I ain't drunk, Shona. Just had... ten... twelve... okay, fifteen bottles." He showed three fingers of his freed hand.

"What, fifteen?" Swara's eyes widen. "You were calling it no big deal? You smell like a brewery." She helped Sanskar sit on the edge of the bed, starting to unbutton his shirt. "Let's get you out of these clothes."

Sanskar blinked slowly, his head swaying. "I should have trusted you over Adarsh, Shona. Shoulda... listened."

She paused and looked at him with a mix of compassion and sorrow. "Sanskar, it's alright. You couldn't have predicted what happened with Adarsh, and you shouldn't drown yourself in alcohol because of him. He's not worth it." She felt a pang of sadness after seeing him so heavily intoxicated for the first time.

"No..." Sanskar shook his head emphatically. "I didn’t do it for him. I felt awful for hurting you."

"You drank because you were upset about hurting me." Swara asked, her eyebrows arching in surprise. Sanskar nodded, his head bobbing unsteadily.

Tears welled up in his eyes. "Yes, I wronged you because of Adarsh, but he was my brother. My own flesh and blood. How could he turn on me like that?"

Swara understood that Adarsh's betrayal cast a dark shadow over Sanskar's heart, but even in his drunken state, Alpha Sanskar's pride was too strong for him to fully admit it.

She sighed, helping him out of his shirt. "Sometimes the people closest to us hurt us the most. It’s not your fault."

As she pulled his shirt off, Sanskar's face turned pale. "Shona, I don't feel so good."

Before she could react, Sanskar leaned over and threw up. Swara quickly grabbed a towel, trying to clean him up as best she could.

"Oh, Sanskar," she said softly, her voice filled with concern. "Let's get you cleaned up properly."

Sanskar shook his head vigorously, pulling away from her. "No! I don't want to go to the bathroom. I'm fine right here."

Swara took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. "Sanskar, you need to get cleaned up. Please."

He pouted, crossing his arms like a stubborn child. "No. I'm staying here. I ain't drunk."

Swara kneeled in front of him, taking his hands. "Come on, Sanskar. You'll feel so much better after a shower."

He shook his head again, more forcefully this time. "No. I don't want to."

Swara sighed, knowing she had to coax him gently. "Sanskar, please. Weren't you feeling bad for wronging me, so you must correct it for me?"

He looked at her, his eyes softening slightly. "For you?"

"Yes, for me," she said, offering a small smile. "I promise you'll feel better."

With a reluctant groan, Sanskar allowed her to help him up. "Fine. But I'm only doing this for you."

Swara helped Sanskar sit on the edge of the bathtub again, this time turning on the shower and adjusting the temperature. She guided him to stand, supporting his weight as she led him into the shower.

The water cascaded over Sanskar, washing away the grime and the remnants of his long night. He leaned against the wall, closing his eyes as the warmth enveloped him. "Thanks, Shona. You're always right."

She smiled, handing him a washcloth. "Here, clean yourself up. I'll be right outside if you need me."

Sanskar grabbed the cloth, tossed it aside, and took Swara’s hand, guiding her under the shower and pressing her against the wall, his unsteady hands encircling her.

"I just... couldn’t bear to see the truth. I didn’t want to believe my brother could be the bad guy. He was the one who used to have my back, who looked out for me when I was young." His voice trembled.

"People often morph as they get older. The thirst for power is like poison," Swara said bluntly.

Even though she felt Sanskar’s pain deeply, she had to deliver these hard truths to make him face the fact that their carefree childhood is over and it’s time to confront the harsh reality of Adarsh.

Sanskar blinked several times, his eyes growing red. "Back in elementary school, Adarsh stood up for me and beat up some bullies. Now, that same brother is gunning for my life just for power."

Swara's voice softened. "It's a hard pill to swallow, but you'll get through this. I am always there for you."

Sanskar nodded, the water mixing with his tears. "I’m sorry for everything, Shona."

"You’re forgiven," she said softly, gently patting his cheeks. She began to step out of the shower to give him some privacy, only to be pulled back by him.

Swara raised an eyebrow in surprise, but Sanskar remained silent. Instead, he leaned in and captured her lips in a deep, passionate kiss. Swara sighed, understanding his need for comfort, and wrapped her arms around his neck, meeting his kiss with equal fervor.

The kiss deepened, stretching on as Sanskar poured all his pent-up emotions into it, while Swara wrapped him in soothing comfort. After a while, sensing his once-tense muscles finally relax, she gently pulled away.

"Well, look at that—my clothes are drenched now," Swara said with a playful pout. "I need to change, but you should get cleaned up; you still reek of booze." She wrinkled her nose in jest and walked out.

Swara was drying her hair with a hair dryer when Sanskar stepped out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist, looking effortlessly handsome as always in her eyes. She had laid out fresh clothes for him on the bed.

As she caught his reflection in the mirror, buttoning up his black shirt, she thought, 'He seems a bit more composed now, but he's still emotionally bruised. I won't let the ones responsible for his suffering off the hook.'

With a firm resolve, Swara swept her long hair into a high ponytail, threw on her jacket, and marched out, her heels clicking sharply on the floor.

In the gloomy cell where Adarsh and Kavita were held, a shaft of sunlight pierced the darkness as the door swung open and Swara stepped inside. She saw Adarsh and Kavita chained in adjacent cells and couldn't help but smile with a sense of victory.

Stopping in front of Adarsh's cell, which still wore his trademark scowl, she said, "So, how’s the first night treating you in this charming little prison?"

"Forget about me. How's my younger brother? Has he managed to move past the betrayal, or is he still wallowing in misery? Poor kid, did he drown his sorrows with booze last night?" Adarsh asked shamelessly, a smirk on his face.

Swara’s anger simmered beneath the surface, but she kept her cool. "Yes, my Sanskar is starting to pull himself together, but I’m not there yet. I’m out for revenge—after all, a werewolf’s mate’s suffering is like a knife to the heart, isn’t it?" She shot back with a malevolent grin.