In the heart of the thick forest, Roshun finally stopped beneath the ancient old elm tree. His heavy breathing punctuated the stillness. From the treetops, Bharat (Valentine) observed him, noticing that the boy seemed to be waiting for someone.
From the darkness, a female shadow emerged—Alina. She ran toward Roshun, throwing her arms around him.
"Roshun, you came! What if Father finds out? Isn't this dangerous?" she asked anxiously.
Bharat, watching from a distance, was taken aback. So this was the girl Roshun had been secretly meeting? Who was she? His piercing blue eyes scanned her in the shadows. She was breathtakingly beautiful, yet the distinctive marks of her childhood were invisible under her garments. Her face had changed completely since he last saw her as a child.
Bharat thought silently, She cannot be my sister… she is merely a village girl.
Yet he now clearly understood one undeniable truth: Roshun and Alina were deeply in love. If they had to sneak away from Vikram Singh's notice to meet here, there was clearly a hidden secret behind it all.
One fact still eluded Valentine—every member of the Volkov royal lineage bore a unique 'royal mark' on their skin. Alina had that mark on her shoulder, but her clothing concealed it from Bharat's view. He assumed she was merely Roshun's lover and planted himself to eavesdrop, unaware of the full significance of her identity.
In the darkness of the forest, Roshan and Alina stood close together, when suddenly a strange rustling came from the surrounding thickets. Alina's keen senses instantly recognized the danger. She knew—these were not ordinary forest creatures; they were the rogue wolves, enemies of the Volkov lineage. Having learned that Valentine had arrived in India, they had been sent to hunt him down.
Grabbing Roshan's hand, Alina shouted, "Run, Roshan! Now! Someone is after us!" Confused but trusting her, Roshan started running. Alina deliberately guided him into the dense foliage, making them disappear from sight, and silently ensured they hid. Roshan's chest heaved, but Alina covered his mouth, signaling him to stay quiet.
Bharat's True Power Unleashed
Meanwhile, Bharat (Valentine), who had been following Roshan, noticed that Roshan and the girl had vanished. At that moment, four or five ferocious rogue wolves emerged from the shadows, circling him. They had recognized him.
Valentine did not flinch. A cruel smile spread across his face. With no one else around, he decided to reveal his true power. He didn't fully transform into a wolf, but his eyes glowed red like embers. The Alpha aura radiating from him was so intense that the forest fell silent. He let out a terrifying roar that sent the rogue wolves trembling. Valentine attacked, and with his bare hands, he struck them down into the ground. The enemies fled in disarray before his overwhelming strength.
Meanwhile, near the old ruins, Sonal had been secretly guiding Ivan with a lie. Suddenly, the echo of Valentine's roar from the forest reached them. Though inaudible to normal humans, Sonal, bound to Valentine by their Mate Bond, felt it clearly.
In that instant, the artifact in Sonal's pocket began to glow like fire. Its blue light shimmered through her clothing. She clutched her chest, struggling to breathe, feeling her heartbeat syncing with Valentine's in a rhythm only she could sense.
Ivan, alarmed, grabbed her, "Sonal, what's happening to you? Why are you here? Is Roshan really out there? Are you hiding some big secret?" Sonal trembled, "I… I don't know… I have to go home," she stammered. Ivan noticed the strange pull in her eyes and led her toward the car.
Bharat and Roshan Face Each Other
After driving the enemies away, Valentine returned to his human form—Bharat. Alina had left Roshan there, hiding in the shadows, careful not to be seen by her brother.
Roshan emerged from the thickets and encountered Bharat. "Roshan! What were you doing here? I went to check the map—how did you end up here?" Bharat asked, acting as if he hadn't noticed anything.
Roshan stammered, "I… I just… came here to get some fresh air… got lost," lying through his teeth. Bharat scrutinized him carefully. The girl (Alina) wasn't there, but her scent lingered in the air, strangely intoxicating.
"Come on, your sister and Ivan are waiting for us. If your father finds out, it could be dangerous," Bharat said, guiding Roshan toward the car. Alina, watching from the shadows, saw her father and lover leave. She was surprised by just how strong her father truly was.
Returning to the Havelis – The Tense Return
By the time everyone returned to the havelis, it was eleven at night. Sonal waited in the hall. When Bharat entered, the scent of the forest and the battle clung to him.
Sonal and Bharat locked eyes. The artifact in her hand still glowed with warmth. Bharat could hear the beat of her heart, and Sonal could feel the echo of his. Both sensed the hidden truths lingering between them, but remained silent.
When Vikram Singh stepped out of the room and asked, "Is the task complete?" Bharat gave a mysterious smile, "Yes, Mr. Singh. Today, a very big task has been accomplished."
Here's the English version of Chapter 8, keeping the same intensity, emotions, and suspense you had in Kannada:
---
In the small house at the edge of the village, even the wind seemed to stand still. Alina stood by the window, staring into the dark shadows of the forest. The terrifying roar still echoed in her ears—not the cry of an animal, but the command of an alpha! "Brother..." her lips whispered. That power, that dominance… she was certain only her brother Valentine could wield it.
She gently adjusted her garment at her shoulder and glanced at the tiny crest on the waistband, a miniature 'royal insignia'. Memories of her childhood flooded back—her brother lifting her, spinning her around in the palace courtyard. That same brother now stood before her as a seemingly ordinary businessman named Bharat.
"Brother… you've come all this way to find me. But you didn't come as a lover—you came as a hunter. I know you'll never accept Roshan. What can I do? On one side is my brother, and on the other… my love, greater than life itself..." she murmured, tears streaming down her cheeks.
In the mansion, everyone slept deeply, but Sonal's eyes held no rest. The artifact in her bag glimmered with a soft blue light, almost as if calling to her. She took it in her hands and, drawn by an unseen force, quietly moved toward Bharat's room.
Before she could knock, the door opened on its own. Inside, in the dim moonlight spilling through the window, Bharat stood.
"Why are you here so late, Sonal? Seeking answers or following my memory?" His voice carried a deep gravitas.
Sonal placed the artifact before him and spoke directly. "Enough with this charade, Bharat! Why does this stone ignite like fire when it sees you? Whose roar was that in the forest? Roshan trembled in fear, yet you remained calm… Who are you? What truth hides behind this monstrous power of yours?"
Before she could finish, Bharat moved closer, silent as a predator. Before she could scream, he pressed her shoulder against the wall. Only inches separated them. His eyes glinted like a feline in the dark.
"Some questions are better left unanswered, Sonal," he whispered near her ear. "This stone reacts because of its master's power. Do you seek the truth of my real identity… or the truth of the strange attraction now coursing through your body?"