THREE YEARS AGO.

"Father, you know I can't do that. Supporting the party list and joining it full time are two different things and you know I can't join the party when my mate just gave birth to our pup. I want to be there with Aria while raising our pup. Kiana is just a few months old and Aria needs me now more than ever. She's graduating soon. We can't be both busy at the same time." Cyrus explains to his father.

The heir of Carter knows that his father has been waiting for him to join politics. Julius Carter raised him with a mindset that one day, he'll become the Prime Minister.

 He didn't think that his father would actually push him to pursue that path knowing that he knows that he is a very simple man who wants nothing but a simple peaceful life.

"So are you telling me that you're holding back from having a good position in the party because you want to stay home and raise your child while that Omega gets to do what she wants? You're an alpha and you're letting an omega rule over your life!" Julius's voice booms inside his home office.

The older Carter had seen this coming. He knew his son would be powerless and spineless the moment he introduced his mate to him. 

He had a feeling that Aria would ruin his son's life and he's not going to sit back and watch her dominate his son who has a very bright future ahead of him. 

He promised to get rid of the omega no matter what it takes just to make sure his son won't be blinded by her. 

If he has to pay people or if he needs to make impossible things happen then he'll make it happen just to make sure Cyrus would have the life he designed for him.

"Father, the omega you're talking about is my mate. Please respect her." Cyrus asked politely but Julius just scoffed at him.

Julius clenches his fist under his desk. He needed to outsmart his son in order to make him take the position the party list is offering him. 

The old alpha knows they only have 2 weeks to decide and he knows he needs to level up his game in order to make sure that Cyrus would finally join them.

"I'm sorry for being disrespectful son, I just want the best for you. But if this is what you want, I won't force you anymore. By the way, when are you going to bring them home again? Your mother misses them." Julius says.

Cyrus on the other hand beams with happiness and excitement to hear those words from his father. 

Julius only met his family twice since Kiana was born so he was happy to know that his alpha father wanted to see them again.

"Maybe we could come over after Aria's seminar. She is leaving tonight and she won’t be home until the day after tomorrow. I promise I will bring them to see Mum as soon as she gets back." Cyrus said with a smile.

Julius returned his son's smile but in his mind a wicked plan was already forming.

 He nods and agrees with his son before Cyrus leaves his office not knowing that his father was already plotting to ruin the peaceful happiness of his family.

When he was sure that Cyrus was gone m, he grabs his phone and dials his colleagues number.

"Hello Elijah. you asked me if I could give you a slot on the party list? I think I have a way for you to secure that slot. Don't worry about anything you know I can back you up. I just want to meet your child. Is Alexander doing alright?" 

Julius asked with a wicked grin plastered on his face while listening to the other man's words on the phone.

"That's right, all you need to do is let me meet your daughter and you'll have a position in the party." Julius nods in victory when Elijah Perez immediately promises him that Alex would meet him.

The plan was simple and clear. All Alex had to do was let Aria, her best friend, know that her daughter died due to her poor lungs. 

She needed to convince the omega about it no matter what happens or else her father will disown her. 

The alpha female was horrified the moment she heard Julius's plan. 

How could the old man think of faking the death of a three-month- old pup to her mother?

Alex was about to refuse because she didn’t want to be involved with Julius.

That is until Julius's next word stopped her from walking out from the office of the old man.

"I will let you marry my son when you get Aria to sign the divorce papers." Julius smirks when he sees the sudden change of emotions on the young woman’s face.

"I-I don't like to marry your son!" Alex tried to deny it because how could she betray her best friend? She can't do it.

But Julius is evil. He walks closer to the younger woman to have a closer look at his face.

"Hmmm, that's not what my little friend told me. You have been my son's admirer even before you met that Omega. You were even broken hearted when your best friend informed you that Cyrus has mated with her. Don't you want to feel and experience what Aria has now? You can have Cyrus all to yourself once we get rid of that omega whore" 

Alex clenches her fist. She hates how Julius is right about everything. 

She remembers that time how she looked at Cyrus and Aria with envy in her eyes. Of course, she fucking wants what they have.

"Think of it as hitting two birds with one stone young lady. You get to help your father secure his position in the party he's been dying to have and you'll get your man too. All you have to do is tell the Omega that her pup died and be with Cyrus. You don't have to do anything else. I will do the rest." Julius uttered behind the young alpha's ears.

Alex knows it's evil. 

She knows she would not just break Aria's heart when she does this but her envious heart told her not to think about her friend and just concentrate on her future. 

Without saying a word, after that meeting with Julius...she's l telling Aria that Kiana is gone.

"I am so sorry Aria.. I really am so sorry but she's gone." Alex repeats her words because the omega seems not to understand the first time.

 "Alex, I’m  gonna kill you! This isn't funny anymore……you're talking about my daughter, my baby!"

 Aria was so pissed but when she saw the tears on her best friend's face, she suddenly felt like someone was choking her.

"I wish I'm just joking Ria. We have been trying to contact you since yesterday but your phone was out of service. I'm so sorry. I really am." Alex uttered, this time she knows that she was apologizing for something else.

The look on Aria's face tells her that the omega is finally falling to their plan. 

So when Aria started to sob on her shoulders, Alex knew that they finally got her!

Meanwhile, Cyrus and Kiana are on their way to the Carter’s house in the outskirts of Cali. 

The pure blood alpha is so excited because for the first time since his pup was born, his father prepared a celebration for her. He could still remember how excited Julius was when he talked to him.

"My grandchild needs a huge celebration, son. I will invite our family friends to properly introduce your pup to the world. Go ahead to the house in cali with your mother today and I'll just bring your mate with me l since I still have a meeting tomorrow." Julius is smiling ear to ear.

Cyrus fell into his father's trap not knowing that he sent him there so he could do what he wanted to do with his poor mate.

When Aria arrived at the mansion that day, Cyrus and Kiana were already gone. 

The old man's wicked plan has succeeded thanks to Alex who convinced Aria with their lies.

That same evening, Julius flew to Cali with the divorce paper and the fake letter Alex forged to make sure Cyrus would not search for Aria.

"I'm so sorry son. I didn't know that this would happen." Julius fakes his sympathy to his only son just to convince Cyrus that Aria really left them.

Cyrus feels so numb. He is currently holding his daughter in his arms when Julius barges into their room with documents in his hand and an envelope that looks like one of the stationaries Aria has in their home.

"Father, what are you talking about?! Where's Ria?" 

Cyrus asked as he feels himself starts to panic because Aria is supposed to be with his father and not the fucking baby blue envelope his father is holding.

"Cyrus, son please know that your Mother and I will always be here for you. We will raise Kiana together." Julius says.

"Aria came to give this. She said not to tell you but it seems like she's not coming back. I saw her with someone waiting in a car before she left after she gave this to me." 

He even made up another lie just to make sure Cyrus won't have any reason to chase after the omega.

Cyrus bites his tongue to stop himself from screaming because he is still holding his pup. 

His eyes are already blood red because he couldn't contain the emotion that is washing over his whole being.

He is even surprised when Alex appears behind his father. 

The other alpha's eyes are swollen so it makes it more convincing that something really happened to his mate.

"Father, Alex? Where the fuck is Aria!?" he asked again, this time his voice was so low.

It doesn't help the pure blood alpha when the pup in his arms starts to cry too. 

"Cy, Kiana is getting scared of your scent. Let me hold her so….”

"Don't you fucking touch my daughter not until you tell me where my mate is!" Cyrus yells at the other alpha.

"She left you! Aria, your beloved mate has left you and your pup!" 

Julius suddenly blurted out too because he saw how Alex submitted to the pure blood and it would not take long for her to confess if Cyrus so wished for it.

Cyrus has never imagined that he would ever hear that.

 He suddenly got scared that he might hurt his child in his arms so he called the other wolf he could trust Kiana with when he spotted her beside Alex.

"Rina! Could you hold Kiana for me." Cyrus said in his plain alpha voice before he carefully gave his pup to his friend who is also Aria's best friend.

Rina took the pup from the trembling alpha and went to the other room. 

She felt nauseous with everything going on and she couldn't afford to watch another soul break again. not after she saw how Aria lost the light in her eyes just a while ago.

When Cyrus is sure that his pup is finally safe, he grabs the paper from his father's hand. And saw Divorce papers written in bold

"What the hell did you do to her?" Cyrus suddenly yelled at his father. 

His eyes so red it seems like he could rip anyone's apart at the moment but Julius remains calm.

He knows he's on the last stage of his plan so whatever happens, he needs to pull it through.

"I didn't do anything. She came to me and told me to give you that paper. Well, I wouldn't lie to you Cyrus. When she told me that she wanted to pursue her career I tried to offer her some help just so she could stay by your side and poor Kiana still needs her mother but I think the career is just an excuse. I...i saw her with another alpha when she was about to leave. I was gonna stop her but…."

"Stop! Stop with your fucking lies! Aria will never do that to me!" Cyrus yelled again as he crumpled the paper in his hands.

"I wish I was lying son. I wish I could say that I didn't see what I saw but I'm not the only one. You could ask Alex. She was there too because I invited them to join us at Kiana's party. She saw it too.. she saw them." Julius lied again and this time Cyrus's resolve starts to falter.

He slowly turned to Alex who's crying on the side.

"Alex...please tell me the truth. Where's Aria?" Cyrus asked.

 He knows how Aria loves her best friends. He adores their friendship so much that he suddenly got scared of what Alex has to tell him now.

"I'm so sorry Cyrus. I'm really so sorry but Aria is gone." Alex uttered with tears in his eyes.

The pure blood alpha froze.

 He heard and understood what Alex just said but he feels like his mind and heart won't accept it.

" I swear Alexander Perez, tell me where Aria is right now or else… "

"She already left! She’s is gone Cyrus! I tried to stop her, for god’s sake I begged her to stay even just for Kiana but she said she could always have another pup. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry Cyrus." 

Alex cried harder and this time the pure blood alpha knows that a part of him is gone too.

"No, Aria won't do that to me, to us." Cyrus said. He doesn't even know who he is trying to convince anymore.

He didn’t know how he  survived that evening or how he was still able to breathe because he was very sure that he felt his heart break.

For the first time in a long time he cried, Cyrus cried. 

Julius takes a step closer to his son. He embraced him so tight as the younger pure blood cried into his shoulders.

"It's okay son...you will be okay. Prove to her that you lost nothing. Focus on your daughter for now, she will be needing you now more than ever." Julius whispered in his son's ears.

That night Cyrus cried buckets of tears while reading the divorce paper and Aria's letter over and over again.

His wolf is grieving; he remembers how Alex and his Father told him that Aria left with another man. 

Cyrus lifted his hand to his mating mark and he just knew. He is so thankful he decided to let Aria mark him.

Without saying a word, he left the room and went to where his Kiana is. 

He asked Rina to leave and give him some time with his daughter.

At first, she was hesitant to leave them but then when she realized that Cyrus doesn't smell distressed anymore, she finally left the room.

Cyrus carefully carries his daughter in his arms and pulls her close to his chest.

"Your Mama loves you, my princess. I promise, I will find her." Cyrus whispered to his daughter before he leaned closer to leave a peck on her forehead before he finally lay her back peacefully in her crib.

Three years ago, Cyrus promised his daughter he would find her mother. 

He made that promise even before he signed the divorce papers that ended his legal connection with Aria.

At first, he was so hesitant to sign them. Hell, his mind, body, soul and wolf didn’t even want him near the goddamn paper, but he knows it has to be done.

It took him a lot of time to do it, but he still ended up doing it. 

He signed the paper after he asked Dylan to verify if it was really Aria’s signature. 

With the help of professionals, they verified that it was indeed Aria’s signature.

Dylan tried to stop him from signing because he still wanted to save his marriage to his mate, but Cyrus insisted on signing the paper.

"Dylan, she signed them. I don't know if she was forced or if she really wanted it. Her signature being there tells me that I should too." Cyrus reasoned.

The pure-blooded alpha never stopped looking for his mate because, deep inside, he hoped that the mark on his neck was not lying to him.

So now that Cyrus has finally laid his eyes on Aria, he suddenly feels like the world has stopped moving.

He feels like Aria is the only person inside the bar. 

His eyes landed on the familiar face he had been longing to see for years.

The high nose, clear eyebrows, perfect features that harmonized with each other, Aria still looks effortlessly and breathtakingly beautiful.

She absolutely looks exactly as ethereal as she was before she left. 

She still never fails to leave him in complete awe, she is truly the epitome of beauty.

 And, at that very moment that Cyrus laid his eyes on his omega, he knows....he is still very much undeniably irrevocably in love with her.

"Cy!" Dylan suddenly pulled his cousin closer to distract him.

The alpha's eyes do not leave Aria’s.

 He didn’t even know he was releasing pheromones that were making everyone in the bar look at him, including Knight, who caught his strong scent too.

Aria, on the other hand, feels like she's about to explode. 

Her fingers suddenly forgot what key to press next, and she couldn't find her voice anymore because there at the entrance of the restaurant was her ex-husband, the person she'd been longing to see.

Knight doesn't know what's going on between Aria and the Senator, who looks very familiar to him, but the distress scents the omega is producing really bothers him.

 He quickly stood up from his seat and went over to Aria to check if she was alright.

"Aria, what's going on? Are you okay?" Knight asked, his voice laced with concern. The omega lifted her eyes and met Knight’s questioning gaze.

"He's here…h-he's here." Aria stuttered as she lifted her hand to touch the part of her neck where Cyrus’s mark was hiding.

Knight didn't need to ask what the Omega was talking about because he could put two and two together. 

He also smelled the newcomer's scent a while ago, so he already had an idea why Aria suddenly froze in front of the piano.

Lucas came to the rescue the moment he saw Aria’s state. 

He ordered his soloist for that evening to continue with the performance as Knight guides Aria back to their table.

The two are about to sit when Cyrus and Dylan block their way. 

Aria froze while Knight automatically wrapped his arm around the distressed omega.

"Cyrus Carter, fancy seeing you here. Knight is the first one to break the silence. 

The good thing was that they were in a private part of the restaurant where not many people could see or hear them.

Cyrus’s wolf is about to go berserk and Dylan knows his cousin is trying his best to calm down.

The pure blood alpha didn't even hide how he glared at Knight’s arm around Aria’s waist, but the son of the Prime Minister remained unfazed.

"I didn't expect to see you here as well, Knight Ashbourne. You must be superb at hiding from the Prime Minister, since no one would expect you to visit a place like...this." Cyrus says with a smirk on his face, but the truth is he's barely holding back now.

There are many thoughts that are running through his head, and they are all not good at the moment. 

The hand of another alpha on his mate's body is making him want to rip Knight’s heart out on the spot.

 But then he remembers his father and Alex’s words again.

‘She left with someone.'

Cyrus’s mind is painting ugly pictures he is not ready to accept. 

He was about to snap when Dylan suddenly spoke beside him.

"I didn't expect to see you here, Aria. It's been a while. How have you been?" The oldest among them all greeted his cousin's ex-wife.

Aria’s eyes widened when Dylan called out her name. 

Her hands were still shaking due to anxiety, but she felt like her heart suddenly stopped beating when she lifted her eyes and met Cyrus’s eyes on her too.

"I'm f-fine Dylan. H-how are you?" Aria tried to speak but the proximity between her and her ex-husband was making her feel dizzy. 

She knew that without Knight’s hand on her, she would probably fall on the floor.

"We actually came here to visit Aria’s friend. We didn't expect to bump into you. Anyway, have a lovely evening gentlemen. Excuse us." Knight tried to cut the conversation short because he could feel Aria’s body trembling beside him.

He guides the Omega away from the two, but Cyrus suddenly grabs Aria’s wrist as they walk past them.

"Where the hell do you think you're going again?" Cyrus gritted his teeth before he pulled the Omega's wrist, so she could face him, but Knight was quick enough to grab Aria’s free hand.

The two pure blood alpha growled at the same time when Aria let out a shriek at the sudden action.

"Cyrus Carter!" Knight’s voice was full of authority and Aria was surprised to see this side of the older person because, to her, he had always been so sweet and soft-spoken.

"Knight Ashbourne! I'm not speaking with you." Cyrus replied with the same rage in his voice.

The two pure blood alpha glared at each other, their eyes red while still holding Aria to each hand.

Dylan groans by the side because he knows he couldn't interfere with this one.

"Senators shouldn't be grabbing people in public. That would spoil your good image." Knight said before pulling Aria to his side, but Knight didn't let go as he pulled her hand to his side.

 "Well, I don't think it would be a problem if I just wanted to talk to my ma....old friend." Cyrus enunciated as his eyes landed on Aria’s face.

"I don't think that's the proper way of asking someone to talk to you, Mr. Carter . Let go of her hand now." Knight warned, but Cyrus just glared back at him.

"Make me." Cyrus' short reply almost made Knight jump him if Aria didn't block him with her body.

"Knight!” Aria screamed “Please. Don't"

That put a stop to the two pure-blooded alphas fighting.

"Aria?" Knight asked, but the omega had already turned to Cyrus. 

Aria’s wolf is almost bouncing when Cyrus’s hand touches hers. 

But when Cyrus called her an old friend, she suddenly remembered her conversation with Rina about Cyrus and Alex, so she used her strength to free her wrist from her ex-husband.

"I don't know why you suddenly want to talk to me when we clearly don't have anything to talk about Cyrus. Please, go ahead and enjoy your dinner. I hope we don't bump into each other again." Aria said with a straight face.

When, in truth, all she wants to do is to run into Cyrus’s arms and hug him tight.

Cyrus and Dylan’s eyes widened upon hearing the omega's words.

 They couldn't believe that they have been searching for her for years and now that they had finally found her, they learned that Aria just doesn't want to have anything to do with them?

Knight uses the opportunity to grab Aria’s hand and guide her out of the restaurant.

 He wasn't sure if that is what she really wanted to do at that time.

But the Omega just let him guide her out. He knows he did the right thing.

Cyrus followed the two with his eyes.

 He couldn't believe what she just said, and he refused to let it end like this. 

He is about to take another step to follow them to ask more questions, but Dylan stops him.

"Dylan, get out of my way! She is here. We have already found her! I am not letting her go without an explanation about what the fuck happened 3 years ago, because I am not buying the story that she really left us because of another man!" 

Cyrus feels like someone is squeezing his heart. 

He said that to his cousin not because he wanted to convince him that Aria didn't do that to him.

 He said that out loud because he wanted to remind himself that Aria would never do that to him and to their daughter.

"Cy listen, you are right. We have already found her, and now we know she's not locked up somewhere because she's with Ashbourne. But if you saw her Cyrus, you would not be able to get answers from her if she couldn't even say a word without looking like she's gonna fall at any given time. I'm sure we can easily find her now. She seems a little close to the Prime Minister's son and...”

"Dylan one more word and I'm flipping this bar!" 

Cyrus cuts his cousin off because he can't help but think of the possibility that Aria and Knight are really close to each other.

Dylan bites his tongue to stop himself from saying anything that might trigger his cousin again, because he knows Cyrus is very capable of doing what he just said. 

He just keeps quiet when he guides the alpha to one of the nearest vacant tables, so he can at least order something to drink.

They're sitting opposite each other when Lucas approached them.

"I don’t know what happened between both of you and I know it’s not my place to say this, but Cyrus, Aria, seems to be finally picking her life back up. Don’t  ruin it for her." 

Lucas uttered, his eyes focused on the pure blood alpha.

He first met him when Arian introduced him as her mate.

Dylan raised his eyebrows at that.

"What the hell do you mean by that?" he asked, since Cyrus seemed to be out of it. 

The younger man is obviously still trying to calm his wolf or else, he would chase after Aria.

"Well, as you have seen... Knight seems to be taking care of her. I hope you won't ruin that for her." Lucas said with a small hopeful smile.

Dylan couldn't help but feel sorry for his cousin the moment they heard that.

 He already has an inkling who Knight is in Aria’s life at that moment, but Cyrus suddenly shakes his head.

"No, they're not together  if that's what you're talking about."

"Huh?"

 "What?"

The two older alphas blurted out at the same time.

"Aria isn't with him...at least not intimately." Cyrus says, his eyes focused on the direction where Ari and Knight exited just a while ago.

"How did you know that?" Dylan asked with furrowed brows.

"Because Arian doesn't have Knight’s scent on her and someone once told me...everyone could lie to me but not the mating mark she left on me!" Cyrus said before baring his neck with the mark Aria left on him.

 Dylan and Lucas gasped in surprise when they saw the mark on Cyrus.

Because unlike a week ago, the skin looks glowing on him.

"You fucking grabbed her hand not just to ask her to talk to you but to check if she still really loves you?" 

 Dylan blurted out when he realized why Cyrus looks calm for someone who thinks his mate is with someone else.

"The Moon never made a mistake when it decided for fated mates to meet. I am keeping my promise to our daughter... I'm getting my mate back!"

Aria and Knight are back in their car. 

The pure-blood alpha hates the fact that they haven’t even eaten their dinner yet but what matters to him most is Aria’s well-being.

"Hey, are you alright?" Knight asked as he took the younger's hand. 

In a normal scenario, Aria would normally flinch or pull back her hand immediately but at that moment she let the older hold her hand because she feels like she's breaking into pieces after seeing her ex-husband again.

"Would it believe me  if I told you that I'm fine?" Aria replied with a small nervous smile that made the pure blood shake his head.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Knight asked, he knows what happened at the restaurant isn’t something he could just shrug off seeing how shaken Aria was. 

He also knows Cyrus as an assemblyman and seeing the other pureblood lose his shit in front of them a while ago tells him that there was something between the two.

Aria swallowed the invisible lump in her throat before she turned to the side to face Knight.

 She knows this coincidental meeting with Cyrus that evening would not end there. 

Whether she likes it or not, she will be meeting people from her past sooner or later and she has decided that she doesn't want to drag Knight into any more drama from her past.

"You don't have to tell me now if you don't feel like telling me Aria. I just want you to know that you are not alone and that I am here for you whenever you need me. I am telling you this not because of Harris anymore but because you're dear to me. I don't care about what happened in your past but please know that I won't let anyone hurt you again." Knight uttered while holding the Omega's hand.

Knight knows that he's one step closer to confessing his budding feelings for the beautiful omega but at the same time he doesn't want to push Aria away so he is trying his best to hold back.

 He has seen how beautiful Aria is inside and out during the past months that they have been together in his penthouse and he would be a liar if he says he hadn’t fallen for the most beautiful omega he has laid his eyes upon. 

The moment he admitted to himself that he liked Aria more than he was supposed to, he promised himself to take care of her without expecting anything in return.

Aria suddenly felt the shift in Knight's emotion the moment the older said the last part of his sentence. 

They've been so close in the past weeks and she would be lying to herself if she said she didn’t notice how the pure-blood alpha looked at her. 

She knows Knight is really kind but the pure-blood alpha has a soft spot for her and she didn’t wanna take advantage of that.

"Knight ...that's Cyrus Carter."

"I know Aria, they're on the opposition side of Dad's party. I know him because…"

"He's the alpha father of my daughter. He was my husband, my mate." Aria said in a clear but very low voice as if she was so scared that others might hear her.

Knight didn’t know why he suddenly felt more relieved than stressed out knowing that he was right on his first assumption regarding Cyrus ' relationship with Aria. 

The alpha tightened his hold on Aria's hand. 

Maybe he was relieved knowing that Aria chose to open up to him and that just made him want to protect her more.

"I won't let him hurt you ever again," Knight said and he knew that he would put his life on the line to keep that promise this time. 

It's insane, his parents kept introducing him to alphas and omegas for years hoping that he would finally fall for one and settle down but he never did.

Now that he looks at Aria, he knows that he wasn't able to fall for anyone before because he was meant to fall for the omega beside him.

Aria smiled bitterly at the pure blood as she leaned his head on his shoulder. 

She was just so thankful to have this man beside her at that moment because, to be honest, she had been thinking of scenarios when she would meet Cyrus again and this wasn't one of them.

"You're so good to me. I don't deserve you." Aria said after a few minutes of silence between them.

"Hmm, I beg to differ. You deserve all the goodness in the world Ria. I don't know what happened between you and  Carter, but I am sure the universe cut all your ties with him because it knows that you deserve better. I don't understand why you need to hide but if you ever decide to come out in the open, Aria I want to be there with you. I may not be as powerful as my dad in this country but I promise to protect you."

 Knight said again and this time, he brought the hand of the younger to his lips and left a very light peck on the back of it.

Aria is not oblivious to not knowing that Knight just crossed a line between them that night.

 She doesn't want to assume that the alpha wants her more than a friend since he hasn’t explicitly told her so.

 Aria still pulled her hand away from the pure blood. She doesn't want to give him false hope without the older knowing of her past the full story.

 She is not ready for the possibility of opening up her heart to Knight.

She just decided to move on with her life and she doesn't want Knight to walk into her still chaotic life with blind eyes. 

So with still his shaky breath, Aria finally decided to tell Knight everything that happened to her and Cyrus Carter from the very first day that they met until the day that she left the country when she learned that her daughter was gone.

Knight's heart broke a hundred times just listening to Aria's story.

 If he was a little hesitant about wanting to court Aria a while ago, this time his mind, heart, and wolf all agreed that all he wants to do with his life is to make sure that Aria is happy and safe. 

He wanted her and he will do everything in his power to have her.

The omega cried a lot while retelling her story to the pure-blood alpha. 

The two are both quiet when he finally finishes telling him everything.

"I don't want you to be dragged into this mess Knight."

"You are not dragging me into anything Ria, I'll gladly jump in it. Also, uhmmm can we find another restaurant first? I know you haven't eaten anything all day and you must be starving. Knowing everything you've been through makes me so hungry, for real." Knight said trying to lighten up the mood between them.

Aria shifted in her seat to see the older's face and odd enough, she found herself smiling at the pure blood.

"You're unbelievable! But fine, let's go get some food!" Aria doesn’t understand how Knight can easily lighten her mood but at that moment, she's just so grateful to have him.

Aria knows it would take a long time to go for her to finally come out of hiding but knowing that there would be someone who still wants her despite the fucked up past she has is more than enough for her to take another step toward wanting to have a happier life.

Maybe, it's not too late for her and her dream after all.