"It's a positive pregnancy test kit. It has to be Swara's. But how?" Sanskar muttered in confusion. "When did this happen? Why didn't she tell me?" He felt a whirlwind of emotions and questions swirling in his mind.

Suddenly, a horrifying realization struck him, and he held his head in both hands. "Oh gosh, no... This can't be happening..."

He bolted out of the bathroom, reaching for his phone to call Laksh, but before he could dial, Laksh's call came in. He swiped the green button and put the call on speaker, frantically changing his clothes while listening.

"While following the footprints, I stumbled upon a wooden house near the southern border. Swara wasn't there, but it's clear she was holed up there for a while before being whisked away..."

Sanskar's hand halted midway as he reached for fresh clothes from the cabinet, his face clouded with confusion. "By vampires?"

"That's correct, but what concerns me are the symptoms here—they're peculiar. Before she was taken away, she was tied up and..."

"Wait, wasn't Shona unconscious?" Sanskar cut in. "Someone tied her up while she was out, which means the kidnapper feared she'd wake up and fight back." Sanskar's voice trailed off as a sudden realization dawned on him.

He picked up the phone, wedging it between his shoulder and ear, and switched off the speaker. "The kidnapper fears Swara's powers," he said thoughtfully. "This means they know her well."

"Exactly. The one who abducted Swara is someone from within our own circle," Laksh remarked.

"Swara was spot on; we've got a mole," Sanskar thought. 'Oh man, what have I done? I've not only endangered Swara but also put our child at risk,' he said, overwhelmed with regret.

"Laksh, gather all the chiefs of soldiers for an emergency pack meeting in 10 minutes," Sanskar ordered, swiftly dressing and storming out of the room.

Swara woke to find herself sprawled on something cold. Opening her eyes, she scanned the darkness around her. Stretching out her hands, she felt the chill of metal bars and jerked upright, realizing she was trapped in a cage. The sharp, pungent smell of blood confirmed she was in a vampire's lair.

'How did I wind up in this place?' she pondered, struggling to recall. She remembered standing at the cliff's edge, sensing a presence behind her. When she turned, a masked assailant sprayed something on her face, and she swiftly lost consciousness.

'Damn it, I've got to watch my step. Sanskar must be out of his mind looking for me. Can I try a mind link...?' Swara thought, consumed with worry.

Lost in her anxious thoughts, Swara suddenly heard footsteps drawing near. She swiftly resumed her previous posture, feigning unconsciousness.

With her eyes closed, she heard the eerie creak of an old iron door swinging open. A harsh light pierced through, forcing its way even through her closed eyelids, yet she managed to resist the urge to flinch.

"Where's Sanskar Maheshwari's mate?"

Swara's ears caught the booming voice, conveying the gravity of her predicament, yet she remained steadfast and unfazed.

"That's her, my king," a guard vampire exclaimed, pointing directly at Swara. Instantly, a piercing scream echoed through the air, accompanied by the pungent smell of blood that filled her nostrils.

"I will suck every ounce of your blood out, you despicable traitor! She is a witch." Rajat Shah growled, his nails digging into the guard's neck with increased intensity, causing blood to spill more profusely.

"Alpha Sanskar's Luna is a witch, the truth known by the world." The guard uttered it with difficulty.

Rajat released the guard with a jerk, and he briskly wiped his hands clean on the guard's clothing, all the while fixing a keen gaze on Swara. With intensity, he yelled out, "Gayatri!"

"Yes, my king..." An elderly woman materialized instantly, standing with her head bowed.

"Wake her up, clean her, and escort her to my chambers," Rajat commanded, poised to depart. However, the guard's words halted him.

"My king, are we not eliminating Sanskar Maheshwari's mate? He'll surely attack to save her."

'That's right, what's cooking in this old hag's mind? Why does he want me in his chamber?' Swara thought with annoyance, resisting the urge to lash out in anger.

"She's no ordinary witch; she's a descendant of one of the oldest and most powerful wizards. She will be my queen," Rajat declared firmly before striding out.

'Descendant of someone powerful? What's he spouting?' Swara couldn't quite wrap her head around the situation or discern the truth. ''Ahh, I shouldn't pretend. I need to confront that bloodsucker head-on and set him straight—I'm destined to be Sanskar's queen, no ifs, ands, or buts.'

Swara lamented, pretending to be unconscious, but there was no point crying over spilled milk. Shortly after, she was aroused and made to freshen up, then dressed in a black leather top and skirt that left little to the imagination. An hour later, she stood outside Rajat Shah's chamber, seething with anger. "I won't cave to this old hag," she muttered to herself, pushed open the door, and marched in with a resolute demeanor.

Sanskar stood in front of his chief soldiers, his presence commanding the room. The atmosphere was thick with anticipation and worry. His voice, deep and resonant, broke the silence.

"All of you and your armies must practice hard from now on," he began, his eyes scanning each face. "Prepare for battle with the vampire king. I want every warrior ready at a moment's notice."

A murmur of confusion and concern rippled through the ranks. One soldier stepped forward, his face etched with worry. "Alpha, is there any looming threat? Why the sudden rush?"

Before Sanskar could answer, Laksh stepped in, his voice urgent. "Luna Swara has been kidnapped by vampires. We need to hurry to rescue her."

A collective gasp of shock and anger echoed through the hall.

"What? How could that be?"

"That's terrible. We shouldn't waste time."

"Those bloodsucking monsters! How dare they touch our Luna? We should hurry and rescue her!"

Sanskar raised a hand to silence the outburst. "The battle will take place the day after tomorrow, on the night of the blue moon, as decided."

"But Sanskar..." Laksh began, trying to speak softly into his ear, but Sanskar cut him off with a sharp gesture.

"Though the battle is still two days away, prepare your army as if the enemy is right in front of you. Did you all hear me?" Sanskar's voice thundered through the room.

"Yes, my Alpha!" the soldiers responded in unison, their voices a chorus of loyalty and determination.

"Now disperse!" Sanskar ordered, his hand raised. The soldiers bowed respectfully before hurrying off to fulfill their Alpha's command.

As the last soldier left, Laksh turned to Sanskar, his face a mask of concern and frustration. "Sanskar, why are you dragging the fight for two days? Swara's life is in danger with those vampires. Don't you think we should act fast?"

Sanskar's eyes softened slightly, but his resolve remained firm. "We are going to attack soon. That's why I asked them to get their armies ready."

Laksh's confusion deepened. "Then why did you lie?"

"To mislead the vampires' informer," Sanskar explained calmly, a hint of a strategic smile on his lips.

Laksh sighed, shaking his head in reluctant admiration. "You're always one step ahead, aren't you?"

Sanskar clapped Laksh on the shoulder, his expression hardening with determination. "We have no room for error, Laksh. We rescue Swara, and we make those bloodsuckers pay."

Although Adarsh wasn't supposed to be part of this high-ranking meeting, he clandestinely eavesdropped and felt a surge of excitement. He quickly grabbed his phone and dialed Amit's number.

"Boss, it's on! The plan worked like a charm. Sanskar just announced an attack on the vampires on the blue moon night."

"It's all going according to my plan," Amit said smugly. "Our work is done. Now, we just sit back and enjoy the show while Sanskar takes care of Rajat Shah for us."

"Why not tip off the vampire king about Sanskar's plan?" Adarsh suggested, which instantly ignited Amit's temper.

"Are you thick as a brick?" Amit yelled. "If the vampire king catches wind of Sanskar's attack plan, he'll mobilize his army. Then we'll be up a creek without a paddle. Useless!" He scolded angrily and disconnected the call.

Swara stepped into the expansive bedroom and found a towering middle-aged man with a commanding aura lounging on a plush couch, casually sipping what appeared to be red wine. A closer sniff revealed it was blood, causing her to inwardly recoil for a moment before she composed herself and confronted the vampire king.

"Feeling intimidated, my queen?"

Swara was snapped out of her thoughts by the deep voice, prompting her to gather her composure.

"Your queen? Dream on. I'm only loyal to Sanskar, no one else." She countered defiantly.

Rajat dismissed her denial with a laugh of arrogance. He rose from his seat, pacing around her before halting behind her. Leaning in close, he whispered something into her ear, causing Swara to tightly clench her skirt in her fists.

"So, what do you have to say for yourself now?"

Swara pivoted with a rigid expression, meeting his gaze head-on. "Very well, I agree to be your queen, but I have one condition," she stated resolutely.