Hi everyone, I know I have left this place for a very long time due to personal issues and I couldn't help it as the circumstances didn't helped me either.

But now I felt like coming back and so I am here. I am not going to promise weekly updates as it's too much stress to write like that but I will write for sure.

I also want to tell you guys that I am going a bit slow in the story as I want to write on some small details as well. So I hope you guys won't mind.

Enjoy the update. :-)

She opened her eyes feeling warm sunlight on her eyes. She blinked eyes two three times before realizing the surrounding of her room. Sunrise? Did I slept throughout the day? She wondered as she felt her body was slight sore but much better. She remember her mother healing her and then helped her walk till her room and the moment she drank the liquid given by her she slept off. Must be one strong healing drink.

Remembering last day events broke her from inside. It wasn't for the first time, she don't know when all this will end and when those days will be back when her father loved her more than his life. The thought itself bring tears to her eyes. She sighed and tried to get up when she saw the clock on the bedroom wall making her gasp in shock.

Oh no... it's past 8. That means training is already over. I will surely get punishment for missing this session. Beta will surely torture me endless now.

"Nothing will happen. Relax"

Khushi turned to face her mother coming inside with a tray filled with breakfast and same bitter potion from yesterday. She smiled softly at her while keeping the tray on the bedside. She caressed her face while kissing her forehead affectionately.

"How are you feeling now khushi?"

"I am much better maa. Thanks to you.. but what do you mean by nothing will happen"

"Good. Now go and get fresh and have this breakfast and medicine and then we need to go somewhere" she avoiding her question while arranging her breakfast.

She got confused by her mother's stance. "maa.. why are you not answering my question and where we need to go? What about my training and I missed it today, beta Tarun will punish me for that" she asked holding her hand.

Aakanksha sighed and sat by her side hold her hand in hers before looking into her daughter's questioning eyes.
"Khushi I already informed Tarun that you won't be coming today as we are going to Goddess temple"

"We are?" she asked confused as she doesn't remember that program being made.

"Yes. Just two of us and that is why I brought the breakfast here. Now go get fresh" she said pushing her daughter towards bathroom.

Khushi quickly got showered only halting a while to look at her marks all over her back and got ready before joining her mother as she kept her favourite breakfast in front of her. She quickly ate everything making her mother chuckle. In the end she had to drink that bitter potion. Can't deny maa...

When her mother kept tray outside for help to take it back she couldn't help but get more confused.

"maa.. did you have breakfast? And is Dad okay now?"

Her mother sighed she knew what she really wanted to ask her.

"We ate breakfast together and he went to prison to interrogate the rogue you caught yesterday with Tarun after training"

Khushi could feel her mother's pain. Her father is so distant from her mother like she is just stranger. Like she is just a formal title holder with him and not his soulmate. This all happened that night and she feels responsible for it more than ever not for anything else but for what happened to her family and her pack. It broke her beautiful family forever.

"Akash is coming tonight from his trip" her mother added with smile.

"Really??" she asked excited.

"Yes and he won't like you being sad and gloomy right?" khushi nodded in agreement.

"Also your best friends are roaming inside the hall just to get glimpse of you as you didn't came for training. I have told them that you had to go with me and you just overslept" her mother told her and she understands.

Akash was just a year younger than her and was very much into to laws of their kind. Even though he is supposed to be next leader as he is the male according to the laws, he is fighting for her to become one. But it's very hard to make our elders understand. He keeps visiting different packs for maintenance of treaties with his father, her uncle Mahinder. He cares for us too much to let this matter go and he never blamed her for the attack like others, apart from her friends.

No one knew the kind of tortures she get. No one, but from past few months her friends and brothers are bit doubtful towards her due to the scars she got, even though she hide them perfectly but they are getting more visible and she need to keep up the façade. She doesn't want anyone to point fingers on her father. She knew he wasn't like this and that incident had made impact on him. Once he will see her capable may be then he will accept her back.

"khushi?"

"yeah.."

"Where you got lost? come downstairs. We have to leave in hour."

"Nothing maa... I will just come." She said while her mother went downstairs. She stood in front of the mirror as she adjusted her hair in plait properly. Her eyes were sparkling and keep changing shades as the days goes by. Its getting hard for her to control her strength. But she need to hide this for the right time even though she doesn't want to but something tells her not to, not even her family and friends apart from her mother till she get hold of information about the attack happened last year. The night which changed everything.

The attack was targeted on her family and she had to downplay till she get to the truth. She adjusted her bright green lehnga and pinned the dupatta properly. She always wore clothes which properly covers her scars but during training nandkishore saw it first time and she lied of course. He wasn't convinced but couldn't counter her. She sighed deep as she finally look at herself and closed the door.

She smiled as she went downstairs to now buzzing place. Amar was wearing casual clothes sitting on couch reading a book as usual related to herbal medicines. He aspire to become pack doctor to help in wars.

Nandkishore and amala were fighting over food. Who can say they are beta's children when they behave like this. But they are best beta one can have with extraordinary organization and planning skills beside being good fighters.

Aman was eating in the corner of hall along with his sister just to save his food from the crazy twin fight. She can clearly see he was about to explode on these two. He was the most serious by look and prankster inside when no one predicts. He was training hard day and night with his father Narendra so that he can also become warrior trainer one day and become gamma like him. He was extremely attached to her even though he is not expressive person.

They all do care for her but if only they know how her fate is in real. They support her and will do anything for her but they also feel weak in front of elders who don't want her to take pack because a female can't rule the pack. She can never become an alpha and her only duty is to make family and keep pack strong with a alpha male. How sick is that?

She made to last step of the large round staircase when everyone gathered in front of her in a second with concern swimming in their eyes.

"khushi are you ok? You didn't came for training and queen said you overslept. Didn't you sleep well? Is something bothering you?" Nandkishore asked worried as others looked to her with same questions in their mind.

"Relax all of you. I was tired yesterday and maa said we need to go temple. So I kind of overslept. Don't worry she already informed beta for my absence." She tried to relax them and walked towards sitting area.

Amar and Aman were watching her every move with sharp eyes as if trying to find some lie in her talk.
She sat on couch with amala and nisha on her both sides while guys sat in front of her separated by small table.

"Aman I am fine. Really." She tried to divert them.

"Did you get injured?" Amar asked
Khushi stiffened at his question. He doesn't know.. does he? She hoped not.

"Injured? When? I didn't went for training today remember?"

"I am talking about the attack yesterday khushi... we didn't get chance to meet you later as King ordered us to double the patrols and report anything suspicious." He explained.

She sighed in relief. "ohh that.. few scratches nothing major"

Amar nodded "do let me know if anything bothers you. I am soon going to join queen for my final course"

"Really?? Why didn't you told me about this before? That's great Amar. This is always you wished for and I am so happy that you cleared exam to be selected by maa" khushi was indeed happy that he had been selected for this year for final training to be a pack doctor. Her mother is very strict regarding the studies of healers. Every year the pack members born with healing powers or are good with medicines are chosen for class and they have to complete the course along with the exams. The final exams and their practical excellence is taken care by her mother. Amar don't have healing powers but still he has insane knowledge of medicine and his hard work finally paid off.

"This idiot has been nagging us all to come here from last night as soon he got this news to tell you" Aman said rolling his eyes.

"So what? She is the one who saw this talent in me and pushed me in this direction. I am here because of her. Sis you ignore this jerk, I wanted to tell you last night only but they all stopped me from disturbing you and... ahem I mean king especially..."

Aman sighed and laid back on couch..

"So we should celebrate your success Amar. Akash is also coming back in the evening. What you guys think?" she said.

"wow.. finally he is coming back. Its double occasion so I am in" Amala jumped in excitement and her twin brother agreed same.

"count me in too... I have dresses for the occasion" nisha said smiling making her brother groan in annoyance but agreed. Aman is so not party person...

"You look beautiful Khushi" nandkishore said suddenly and blushed. He always get like this even if he is complimenting others.

Everyone chuckled at his comment but nodded. Khushi gasped little when amala and nisha hugged her from sides.

"She is always beautiful nanki" amala said specially using her nick name given to him to just rile him up.

"Yes she is and she makes the dress beautiful, even though I design the best" nisha said hugging her tight.

Khushi controlled her whimper of pain as they unknowingly touched her back bruises. She can't let them know about it.

"Thank you nanki. It really means a lot."

He didn't get offended when she called him by this name and was still flushed but got two slaps from his either side to get out of his state.

Amar and Aman were making use of this situation to pull his leg.
"Goddess save us when he will meet his soulmate" Amar sighed dramatically. Nanki just pouted at his comment. But jumped out of his seat as he saw fresh cooked food coming out of the kitchen and everyone know rest is history as he attacked the food leaving us behind. He is supposed to be my future beta. She sighed and sat with all of them as they ate.

"Any news from that rogue I caught?"

"Not yet, Dad kept me out of the loop" nanki said with mouth full.

She sighed I need to find answers about that man. Who was he? How he masked his scent? How does he know me?

"Stop whatever you are thinking khushi" Aman mind linked, narrowing his bright blue eyes on her.

"What?"

"Yeah stop it.." nanki joined in.
Khushi frowned at both of them.

"We know what is going on your head right now but it's dangerous to go there right now. Alpha King won't approve of this" Nanki explained.

"Well, then I trust you both to make it happen. You are future beta and gamma of this pack. Think about something. This is important for me and you know that. They knew me before they attack me. It does mean something." Khushi requested.
They sighed frustrated but nodded anyways. Soon their eyes glazed linking someone.

"Your car is here. I am going to inform queen before we leave" Nanki said firmly. His stance changed in flip of second to a serious beta. Who will say he is the same guy who was fighting for food like and complimenting her while blushing.

Wait.. he said we??

"Who all are coming?"

"Since beta is with Alpha King and gamma is training warriors right now, King has just ordered both me and Aman and some warriors to accompany you and queen. Rest are just extra luggage.
This earned a unanimous glare from rest of the people on table.

"What? Until queen approves no one can come with us. So just run away from here" Nanki explained his stand.

"And what if everyone can come?"

His eyes went round to find her mother standing right behind him. He stumbled with his chair as all the other stood and came towards her mother bowing down in respect.

"Sorry m..my queen, I didn't me..mean to offend you.. I just stated what I was told by King" Nanki said stammering still bowing his head down.

Her mother smiled "It's ok son. You have done your duty. We are going to temple but you can all come if you all wish to. But one thing I want to tell that I want sometime alone with my daughter after praying"

"We won't disturb my queen. We will just be guarding you both" Aman said affirmative. While all nodded in agreement.

"Very well then. Come Khushi" her mother said while holding her hand and moving towards castle door nodding at guards as all made way to cars.

Khushi and her mother were in one car with Aman and Nandkishore and two warriors. While two other cars one ahead and other behind have other people arranged with warriors.

After half an hour they reached their pack temple which was made by their first ancestor and first descendant of the Goddess. It was huge to fit entire pack in open yard of temple. Surrounded by waterfalls and majestic trees gave it magical feeling.

Cars came to halt and warriors made out followed by Nanki and Aman. Nanki cleared them to step out of car which made her sigh. This was their own pack why should we fear? But one can never be too lenient with power hungry people living around.
Her mother stepped out with her royal dark pink outfit flowing with wind. She was indeed queen.

As she stepped down next they followed them into the temple. She looked at the giant blue stone at temple top which glowed in sun. It was given by goddess to our ancestor as symbol of her presence. She was indeed grateful to be born here if only things were much easier for her being a girl.

All of them were welcomed by priest who was already waiting for them.

"My queen everything is ready" he said politely.

Khushi looked at her mother confused. She thought it was just casual visit.

"Thank you. We must begin then" she said and he went inside to start his work.

"Maa is there any special occasion?"

"Yes and I will tell you everything later but let's pray first." She said moving ahead. While everyone else stood behind us.

After the prayer everyone else went outside to wait for us. Even the priest went out with his students. She got more confused.

"Maa where are they going?" she looked around as everyone went out it was only two of them now in huge temple.

"Because I want to talk to you both alone" a different voice echoed off the walls.

"Nani?"

Her mother went to her and held her mother's old wrinkly hands to bring her forward.

"Maa you called after two years. Where were you? Where is papa? You know how worried I was? How is everything in our pack? Why you called us to meet like this?" her mother fired questions after questions overwhelmed to see her mother.

She didn't answered her while moved towards khushi pulling away from her mother.

She held khushi hands tightly and closed her eyes for a while before opening her now bright golden eyes showing her wolf on surface.

"Everything is going to change in few days for you Khushi." She said looking straight in her eyes stirring her uneasy.

"What you mean maa?" Aakanksha asked worried for her daughter.

"She will meet her mate" she said with final tone shocking Khushi.

"Noo.."