Sara's breath caught in her throat.
Viraj stood a few steps away, his golden eyes glowing under the moonlight. His voice had changed — deeper, more confident. His presence felt different now. Not the kind boy from college, but something more… something primal.
"You're a werewolf?" Sara asked, her voice trembling.
Viraj nodded slowly. "I've always been one. I was sent to watch over you. To make sure you were safe."
"Sent… by who?" she asked, stepping back.
"Our clan," he replied. "The same one your mother belonged to. When she died, we lost track of you. But when you came back into the light… we found you."
Sara's heart beat faster. "So this was all a lie? The friendship? The smiles? Everything?"
"No," Viraj said quickly, stepping forward. "That part was real. I didn't expect to fall for you. But I did."
She didn't answer.
Viraj pointed to the forest behind him. "They're waiting. Our people. You don't have to live hiding anymore. You're one of us, Sara. It's in your blood."
Sara looked down at her hands. She remembered the glowing eyes, the claw-like nails, the strange energy inside her that she couldn't explain.
But she also remembered warm nights with Arya reading her stories, and Rohan's arms rocking her to sleep when she had bad dreams.
"I don't know if I belong there," she whispered.
Viraj took a deep breath. "You won't have peace until you know where you come from. Come with me. Just for tonight. Talk to them. See for yourself."
Sara hesitated.
"I promise," he added, "you'll come back home safely. I give you my word."
Sara followed him.
They walked deeper into the forest, through shadows and moonlight. As they reached a clearing, a pack of wolves stood waiting.
They weren't in wolf form — they looked human. But something in their eyes said they could shift at any second.
An older woman stepped forward. She had long silver hair and sharp eyes. "You must be Diviya's daughter," she said, studying Sara. "You have her spirit."
"Who are you?" Sara asked.
"I'm Alina," the woman replied. "I led the clan after your mother was cast out."
Sara's eyes narrowed. "Why was she cast out?"
Alina looked away. "Because she broke the rules. She fell in love with a human."
"My father," Sara said quietly.
Alina nodded. "Yes. The clan feared what a child like you would become. They ordered her to give you up. But she refused and left."
"She died alone," Sara whispered. "No one came for her."
Alina's face softened. "I tried to. But by the time I found her… it was too late."
The others in the clan watched silently.
"We're not your enemies, Sara," Alina continued. "You have a place here. You have power you've never touched. Let us help you. Let us train you. You deserve to know what you are."
Sara looked at them. She felt a pull. The wind whispered to her. The moonlight wrapped around her like a soft hand.
And something inside her responded.
She could feel the wolf awakening.
But then she thought of Arya and Rohan. Their faces. Their love. Their sacrifices.
"I will not stay here," she said firmly. "Not yet."
Murmurs spread through the group.
Alina raised a hand to silence them. "Very well. But will you return?"
Sara nodded slowly. "I'll come back. On one condition."
Alina raised an eyebrow. "Name it."
"You never harm Arya and Rohan," she said. "They raised me. They are my parents."
Alina looked at her carefully. Then nodded. "You have my word."
Viraj walked her back through the woods in silence.
Before she stepped away, he whispered, "You're not just part of this world, Sara. You're meant to lead it."
Sara didn't reply. She just walked away — back toward the only home she had ever known.
But in her heart… the two worlds had already begun to pull at her from both sides.