The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over the winding road. Sanskar's hands gripped the steering wheel as he drove, the rhythmic hum of the engine providing a comforting backdrop to their journey. Swara sat in the passenger seat, her eyes fixed on her phone screen, the soft light from the device illuminating her face.

Sanskar glanced at her, a smile playing on his lips. "Tired already?"

Swara looked up, meeting his gaze with a playful smirk. "Nah, just looking for a little distraction to break your spell."

He chuckled, and a deep, warm sound filled the car. "Was that too much for you?"

She shivered slightly, exaggerating her reaction. "Oh, I can't even. Let's not go there again." She shifted in her seat, trying to find a more comfortable position. "So, where are we headed for this trip?"

Sanskar's smile turned mischievous. "Where do you want to go?"

Swara frowned, confusion flickering in her eyes. "Hold up. Did you plan this road trip without a destination in mind?"

"Hmm, kinda," he replied, his tone teasing.

Swara shook her head in disbelief, a small laugh escaping her lips. "Sanskar, you've changed so much. Back in the day, you hated doing anything without a game plan. Look at you now, dragging me into a trip without a clue."

He glanced at her again, his eyes softening. "Call it the magic of love?"

Swara's expression softened, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. She leaned over, resting her head on his shoulder for a moment. "Maybe we should. But you better hope this magic leads us somewhere cool."

Sanskar reached over, his hand finding hers and giving it a gentle squeeze. "Trust me, wherever we end up, it'll be awesome as long as we're together."

Swara squeezed his hand back, feeling a warm rush of affection. "Alright, magic man. Let's see where this road takes us."

The car continued to glide along the winding road, and the conversation fell into a comfortable silence. The sky above had turned a deep shade of twilight, with stars beginning to peek through the fading light. Out of nowhere, Sanskar suddenly jerked the steering wheel to the left, making a sharp U-turn. The tires squealed, and Swara gripped the armrest, her eyes wide with shock.

"Whoa, what the hell, Sanskar?!" Swara exclaimed, her heart racing. "Why did you do that?"

Sanskar's expression remained calm, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "We're heading back."

"Back? Why?" Swara asked, her voice tinged with both confusion and curiosity.

Sanskar glanced at her, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Wait and watch," he said, his tone mysterious.

Swara huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "You're really testing my patience, you know that?"

Sanskar just chuckled, focusing back on the road. "Trust me, Shona. You'll see soon enough."

Swara watched him for a moment, and her curiosity piqued despite her frustration. She settled back into her seat, her eyes on the road ahead, wondering what surprise Sanskar had up his sleeve.

An hour later, Sanskar slowed the car and pulled up in front of the pack house. Swara hopped out, stretching her legs and glancing around. She was about to head inside when Sanskar gently grabbed her arm, guiding her towards the side of the building.

"Where are we going?" Swara asked, with clouds of confusion surrounding her.

"Just follow me," Sanskar replied, his tone serious.

They walked to the entrance of the underground prison next to the pack house. Swara was surprised but didn't hesitate to follow Sanskar down the narrow staircase. At the bottom, they found the prison guard standing at the outer gate.

"Is he here?" Sanskar asked the guard, his voice steady.

The guard nodded respectfully. "Yes, Alpha. He's here; I did just as you instructed."

Swara's eyes widened with excitement. "The big boss is here already."

Sanskar nodded, a grim smile on his face. "Yes."

"So, you knew this? That's why you drove back." Swara asked, the pieces falling into place.

Sanskar's expression turned serious as he raised his voice. "I planned this whole trip to trap the big boss, to make him think we were out of the way so he'd lower his guard and show up."

Swara's surprise turned to admiration as she looked at Sanskar. "You really thought this through, didn't you?"

"Every detail," Sanskar replied, a determined glint in his eyes. "Now, let's go finish this."

They moved forward, the weight of their mission heavy in the air. The guard unlocked the gate, and Sanskar and Swara stepped into the dimly lit corridor, echoed with the soft murmur of voices. Swara and Sanskar crouched near the prison gate, straining to catch every word of the conversation happening within.

Amit’s voice was low and smooth, carrying an air of confidence. “Adarsh, it’s me. Wake up…”

Swara held Sanskar’s hand tightly, her fingers pressing against his to keep him quiet. She placed her forefinger on her lips, signaling for him to stay silent. Her heart raced with anticipation.

Inside the cell, Adarsh's hoarse voice trembled with desperation. “Ahh, big boss, please help me.”

A sense of grim satisfaction washed over Swara as they continued to eavesdrop, feeling a strange mix of peace and resolve and the relief of hearing Adarsh’s distress confirm their mission's success.

“But how did you get in here? What about the guards?” Adarsh's voice was laced with panic.

Amit's tone was calm and confident. “I made sure to remove everybody from my way before getting in here. So don’t worry.”

“But that bitch Swara knew about your existence and is waiting for you to come.” Adarsh’s voice wavered with fear, remembering Swara’s warning.

Amit cut him off dismissively. “Sanskar and Swara went on a holiday, and Laksh is out for work. They all made my job easier by making their own mistakes. They’re boring, but fools.”

Adarsh’s voice grew more strained as he spoke, filled with pain and anger. “They are brutal, especially Swara. Look what she did to my Kavita.”

Amit’s gaze shifted to the adjacent cell, where Kavita lay unconscious. “How did that happen to her?”

Adarsh’s voice cracked with anguish. “Swara punished her with silver lashes daily until she passed out, and then she used a few drops of wolfbane in her healing ointment, pushing her towards a slow death. Kavita’s pain... it’s like every cell of my body is burning with it.”

Amit shook his head, his face set in a grim line. “Right now, it’s difficult to save her. We have to get out before it’s too late.”

Just as they turned to leave, a voice echoed through the corridor, rich with calm certainty. “I knew you would come to rescue him.”

Amit and Adarsh froze, their heads turning towards the source of the voice. They were stunned to see that not just Sanskar and Swara but also Laksh had returned, dawning on them that they had walked straight into a well-laid trap.

“So, this was all part of your plan, huh? You wanted me to walk right into this trap,” Amit stuttered, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Sanskar smirked, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Bingo. Glad you’ve caught on.”

Adarsh’s head spun between the confident faces of Sanskar and Swara. “You... you both knew about Uncle Amit being the big boss? You weren’t even surprised!”

Sanskar and Swara exchanged a knowing look before bursting into uproarious laughter, soon joined by Laksh and the guards. The sound was almost musical, as if the entire Crescent Moon pack was in on the joke.

Amit’s frustration boiled over. “But how? I’ve kept my tracks covered for years!”

“Every criminal leaves a trail, and we made sure to follow it. Amit, you’re not just overconfident; you’re plain sloppy.” Swara cast a meaningful glance at Amit before directing her focus toward Adarsh.

Amit turned to Adarsh, his face a mask of fury. “You did this, didn’t you? Threw me under the bus to save your own skin.”

“I didn’t do anything!” Adarsh protested, trying to push Amit’s hand away as he tried to slap him.

“Then who did?” Amit snarled, grabbing Adarsh by the collar.

“How would I know?” Adarsh retorted, shoving Amit’s hand away with equal force.

The tension between Amit and Adarsh crackled in the air. Swara’s suspicious glare seemed to stoke the fire, and the two long-time allies faced off, their old bond splintering before their eyes. Sanskar and Swara watched the drama unfold, amusement clear on their faces.

“I could use some popcorn right about now,” Swara whispered to Sanskar, her eyes dancing with excitement.

“Try this,” Sanskar said, pulling out a pack of chewing gum and offering it to her and Laksh

. “Gum should do the trick for now.”

As the argument grew more heated, Sanskar signaled to Laksh, who sprinted out of the corridor. He returned in no time, gently leading someone by the shoulders.

“It was me who spilled the beans,” the newcomer said, her voice steady.

Amit and Adarsh turned, their faces registering shock, as they saw Ragini standing there.

“Ragini, my dear, when did you wake up?” Amit’s voice was filled with concern as he reached out to her.

Ragini deftly dodged his hand, her expression cold. “Dad, don’t pretend you care now. I saw you back then at the southern border, attacking Sia. That’s why I was targeted, too.”