It's been a week since Cyrus and Dylan found Aria in her hometown. 

It's been seven long tumultuous days. They have traced where the omega lives and what she is up to because Cyrus is determined to bring his mate back to him and his pup's life.

He still wants answers. He still wants to prove that everyone else is wrong assuming that Aria left them for another alpha.

 He's doing everything in his power to locate his ex-wife, discreetly. 

He does not want his father to know that he's been searching for Kiana’s mother because he doesn't want to put Aria in danger if he is right about one thing.

"Cyrus!" Dylan suddenly barged into his office with a Manila envelope in his hand. 

"Dylan?"

"We've finally found her and you wouldn't believe it," Dylan said while settling on the leather couch inside the Assemblyman's office.

The older alpha opens the envelope and slowly takes out the documents and photographs that are taken discreetly because most of them are zoomed in and at a bad angle.

"Gems-Harmony Inc. Why would Aria…oh! Fuck!" Cyrus suddenly cussed once he realized something.

Of course, the omega was working in that agency because it was her lifelong dream. 

Gems-Harmony was easily one of the Biggest Entertainment agencies in the country and now that he's thinking about it,

"Travis Cromwell was Knight Ashbourne's classmate at University back in the day. We also found out that Ashbourne’s assistant Justin  Steele is the cousin of Cromwell’s mate. I guess it's not a coincidence that Aria is working for the company that is very capable of hiding her for years Cy. I'm sorry." Dylan says he’s disappointed with all the information they gathered because it only led them to one thing.

It looks like Aria really ran off with Knight to pursue her dream, of being a musician. 

But still, the alpha is doubtful about the whole thing because there's one thing that's not adding up.

"She left us to pursue music? But Dylan, why would she keep hiding if this was all she wanted? She doesn't even have her own name as a producer! I don't understand." 

Cyrus feels a little lost about everything.

Dylan might be right that  Aria, his ex-wife, might have left them because of this.

Now that Cyrus is trying to decipher the big picture, the possibility that Aria really chose to break their family to be with Knight so she could continue to pursue her dreams.

"But what about the mark?" Cyrus didn't realize that he said that out loud.

 Dylan turned to his cousin and saw how stressed Cyrus was about the whole thing.

"Cy, I'm sure we're missing something here. Just give me more time and we'll figure this out. Remember, you have a gala to attend tonight and you promised Kiana you'll take her with you this time." Dylan said, trying to divert Cyrus's attention from Aria at least for a while.

Cyrus sighed. 

He hates it whenever he feels like he can’t do anything about something he really wants but he knows his cousin is right.

 He needs to pull himself together more than ever if he wants to keep his family safe.

"Thank you, Dylan, I don't know what I'll do without you." The pure-blood alpha forces himself to smile at his cousin to convince him that he still has his shit together even when the truth is, he's already breaking apart piece by piece every new information they obtain about his mate.

The truth is, he is very eager to get Aria back, and he's willing to offer everything that he has just to have her back in his and Kiana’s life but at the same time, he's also so scared because he feels like the closer he gets to the omega, the closer he'll know the truth about what actually happened three years ago. 

And he might not admit it out loud, but Cyrus is so scared to know the truth.  He knows it will change everything in his life again whether Aria was really forced to leave or if his mate just wanted to get rid of him.

"Just go home, Cy. Please don't let Alex dress my little princess again." Dylan scoffs while putting back the pictures inside the envelope.

"Come on Dylan, what did Alex ever do to you? Let her be. You are constantly throwing snarky comments  when all she has ever done is to be with me and Kiana all these years." Cyrus said it because he felt bad for his friend.

 Dylan just rolls his eyes as if he's boring him.

"The girl is too sweet for her own good Cy. Also, you're right..she's been by your side all those years even after you refused to fuck her, it smells fishy to me."

Cyrus's hand froze mid-air upon hearing his cousin. 

He knows Dylan didn’t mean to offend him but he doesn't like the way he uses his words when it comes to Alex who's always available for Kiana and himself.

"Dylan, please just leave Alex alone. You don't have to like her but please at least treat her with civility for Kiana’s sake ?" Cyrus pleads because he doesn't want any drama between his cousin and close friend.

"I'm not saying I hate her Cy, just be careful around that girl, yeah?" Dylan insisted before he left the younger's office.

Cyrus just clicks his tongue in disappointment because he knows Dylan would never like Alex.

 He sighs as he reaches for the envelope again.

Dylan left it in his office because he knew his cousin would check them again and he was right because the moment Cyrus was finally alone in his office again, he took out one of Aria's pictures.

He knows it's illegal to stalk someone but who cares if that someone is the other mother of his child?

The pure-blood alpha sighed as he grazed his finger over the photo of the beautiful omega. It was taken inside a cafe and Aria might be alone in the photo but Cyrus knows she was with Knight during that time because he read the note at the back of the picture.

[8.30 PM, Sweets Cafe with Ashbourne]

"Do you drink coffee now? Why are you inside a cafe Ria? Do you still love those strawberry souffles?" Cyrus almost teared up while asking those questions when he knew that the photograph in his hand would never give the answers even to the most basic questions

"Ria, are you ready?" Knight knocks on the omega's bedroom for the second time because Aria just keeps screaming inside.

"I told you, you don’t have to come if you are uncomfortable to go out in public. 

You know I can always talk to Alyssa and Travis about this." Knight says while leaning his forehead on the omega's door.

She was answered by silence again then followed by footsteps before the door finally burst open.

Knight always knew Aria was beautiful, so beautiful with her golden blonde hair but the omega in front of him was gorgeous.

"uhmm do I look alright?" Aria asked when the alpha remained quiet, his mouth hanging open.

"You're gorgeous! Wow, your hair...it’s black it looks good on you Aria." Knight finally managed to find words.

"I just don't want to embarrass you. This is the first gala I am going to attend in all my life and I'm going there with you so..." Aria suddenly gets nervous as she remembers how big this event is because the grand ball is a celebration for the rich and powerful wolves in the County.

It is a fundraising event where the most powerful families come together to boast their wealth, and power and make connections.

Knight didn't want to invite her when he learned about the event because he didn’t want to pressure her but Travis and Alyssa informed her about it. 

At first, Aria was hesitant to join them because of the Carters but Alyssa talked her into it

She remembers how her fellow omega told her that it would be a great opportunity for her to show Cyrus that she was already over him and that she didn't need to be scared of Julius Carter anymore. 

It is also Alyssa’s idea for her to get a makeover including changing her hair from her usual golden blonde locks, which she dyed to black, and her natural curls added a little to add a little drama to her hair. 

They also shopped for a few pairs of clothes so she would have something beautiful to wear for the big event.

Alyssa helped her prepare for everything but now that she was standing in front of Knight, she couldn’t help but feel so little again not only because she was not used to using makeup but also because the pure-blood alpha was just so gorgeous.

"Alright, can we not talk about being embarrassing here because I feel like I'm gonna embarrass myself all night for staring at you. You look so beautiful Aria and thank you for agreeing to be my date this evening." Knight said before taking out a small box in his pocket.

Aria's eyes widened when she saw the thin long jewelry in Knight's palm.

"Knight what is…..”

"Can I put this on Ria? This is just a simple congratulatory gift for you coming out in the open after years of hiding. You are beautiful and the world doesn't deserve to even take a glimpse of you but I'm so proud that you finally want to do this." Knight said with a small smile before he carefully put on the necklace on Aria's neck.

The omega gasps in surprise when she sees the pendant. It was a tiny diamond that looked like a sunflower.

"Knight,  It's beautiful but this is too much and…,,"

"Come on Ria, or we would be late. if we keep arguing about this. Besides, I love showering you with pretty gifts because it's what you deserve." Knight said with a smile on his lips so Aria chose not to argue anymore.

 She just leaned closer and hugged the alpha before she whispered a small thank you in his ear.

*****+*+**+*++++*+***+++*

Cyrus momentarily forgot  his worries about his ex wife because of his daughter.

"Princess that looks good on you baby." Cyrus  coos at the cuteness of his growing daughter.

He may never admit it to Dylan ever but he really went home so he could choose his baby’s dress for the event instead of letting Alex or anyone else dress her.

"Kiki likes pink daddy! Kiki is so pweetty!" the little girl squealed as she ran towards her father who immediately opened his arms to catch his princess.

"Of course you're the prettiest baby. Daddy will be all eyes on you the whole evening. But promise me you'll behave there okay? Aunty lex will be with us but I want you to be on your best behavior too princess. Do we have a deal?" 

Cyrus said, leaving a tiny peck on his daughter's cheek.

"Yes daddy. Kiki behaves in the pawty!" Kiana replied before giving her father another round of kisses that made Cyrus laugh.

The father and daughter duo were still having their moment when Ale  finally arrived.

"Hello Cyrus, good evening angel. Are you ready for the bestest night?" Alex smiled widely at them because she really was genuinely ecstatic about the fact that Cyrus chose to invite her as his date for such a prestigious event. 

It is also their first appearance with Kiana with them so she really dressed to impress everyone since she was already expecting the press and media to take a thousand photos of them.

Cyrus smiled back at the alpha as he carried his daughter.

"We're ready!" Cyrus and Kiana cheered in unison before they all went inside Cyrus's car so they could finally go to the gala!

The alpha was in  deep thought when she bumped into someone on her way out of the bathroom

"Lexi? Alex?" Aria's eyes widened with excitement the moment she recognized her best friend.

She didn't even wait for the alpha to reply before she threw herself on her best friend.

Alex froze for a second. She didn’t know what to say or do because she was just planning something evil for the same person who was hugging her tight at the moment and now she's torn whether to continue her plan or just to ask her best friend for forgiveness. 

But when she thinks of the fortune and the perfect life waiting for her once she gets Cyrus to like her back, she pushes the option of asking for forgiveness away.

 NO, Aria would never forgive her once she finds out that she lied to her about her child.

The gear in Alex's head starts to move; she doesn't want to make a mistake. 

She is on a mission now and that is to eliminate Aria from Cyrus's life permanently whatever it takes no matter what happens.

Aria!" the alpha finally reacted and she wrapped her arms around her friend. 

She had always been envious when it came to Aria's body because unlike her, the omega could eat anything she liked without needing to worry about a bloated stomach.

The Omega smiled in their hug before she finally pulled away.

"Wow, Lexi I'm sorry for startling you like that but I missed you!" Aria blurted out when there was finally a decent distance between them.

The alpha forced herself to give her sweetest smile to her best friend. She knows that Aria falls for her charm every time.

"It's okay, I've missed you too! Where have you been? Aria, how are you? you just vanished!" Alex said. In her mind, she has started to devise another plot for her best friend's demise.

The smile on Aria's face slowly fades when he remembers.

 Right! Alex is now with Cyrus, and yes her best friend shouldn't know that she is still bitter about it because she didn’t want her to think that she wants to stop her happiness.

 Aria must admit that she was really surprised when Rina told her that Lexi and Cyrus had become a thing after she left. 

She didn't know that the two alphas would click with each other but then she remembers how Alex and Rina used to gush about the heir of Carter’s when they were still in university. 

With that thought in mind, she forced a smile again.

"I..well after what happened to Kia...in the past, I thought of moving away so I could move on, Alex." Aria didn’t even know why she couldn't say her pup's name now. 

Maybe she's just not ready to say the name of her angel out loud because she knows Alex saw her too before she passed.

The alpha smiled to herself when she realized that Aria was still clueless as ever. 

Good thing that her friend is still stupid and oblivious because that means she'll have more time to make Cyrus fall for her.

"D-do you wanna catch up a bit outside, it's a little loud here," Alex suggested just to fish out more information from the oblivious omega. 

She doesn't want to waste this opportunity and she also wants to make sure Cyrus or Kiana won't see her from the pavilion.

Aria hesitated for a while since she only told Knight that she was going to use the restroom.

"Let me just send Knight a message," she said before quickly typing a short message and sending it to the pure-blood alpha.

Alex's eyes were almost shining upon hearing that Aria was with someone now. 

That information would surely help her in the future so she just nodded at her friend before they left the pavilion and walked towards the garden outside.

The two finally found a wooden bench placed opposite each other so they both settled facing each other.

"So where have you been Aria? We tried to look for you." Alex starts to act, she even frowns a little to show Aria she really tried her best to look for her even when she knows that's so far from the truth.

 Aria smiled almost apologetically before she answered.

"I'm sorry Lexi. I was in so much pain and I just felt like I had to move away so I could save myself or else I might have followed my baby.”

 Aria said in all honesty not knowing that if she did that, then she would be the one who abandoned her child.

"You don't have to apologize Aria. You did what you thought you needed for yourself. You know, sometimes it's not bad to be selfish too especially when it is something about your well-being and happiness." Alex said and she sounded emphatic at that moment but deep inside, she's already talking about herself.

Aria smiled and took her best friend’s hand in her own. 

She knew Alex had always been so wise even when they were just still students. She always admired how Alex seemed to always know the right words to say.

"I'm glad you've helped him move on too. I'm happy that you're both happy now Lexi." Aria suddenly uttered while squeezing her hand.

Alex acts surprised when she hears the omega's words even though she already knows that Rina already planted the seed of doubt in Aria's heart a few weeks ago.

"H-how..? Aria I'm so sorry. I didn't know that Cyrus and I would fall for each other. All I did was just be there for him after you left." Alex purposely made her voice a little hoarse to add effect to his drama.

Aria almost winced at the mention of the nickname towards her mate but he reminded herself that Cyrus wasn't hers anymore

She smiles.

"Hey, it's okay. I bumped into Rina a few weeks ago and she told me about you guys. I'm really happy for you Lexi." Aria said even when she feels like she's pouring alcohol on her thousand newly stabbed wounds.

 "Oh, thank you, Aria. I thought you would want to get back with…."

"No! I mean, Lexi please don't even think about it. I won't interfere in whatever you have with him anymore. He's my ex and that won't change anymore. You are his present now." Aria almost choked when she said those words but because she didn’t want to sound bitter, she forced herself to smile at her best friend.

The two were still talking when a little girl suddenly appeared followed by another omega.

"Kiki is waiting for Lex!" the little girl yelled at the omega who looked so worried while chasing her.

Alex's eyes suddenly widened when she realized that it was Kiana so she immediately stood up from her seat to catch the little girl in her arms.

"Angel! What are you doing here outside?" Alex asked, her back facing Aria so she didn’t see how the Omega purposely turned her back on them too because the moment she heard the voice of a little girl, she almost cried thinking how Cyrus was so quick to replace her in his life. 

Alex glared at the omega who was in charge of looking after Kiana before she turned to Aria because she was so worried that the omega would figure out who Kiana was. 

The alpha even squinted her eyes when she noticed that Aria kept ignoring them until she remembered Kiana was on scent blockers so just like in the restaurant, there was no other way Aria would know that the girl in her arms was actually her child.

The alpha wanted to laugh he mentally thanked the moon and stars for putting everything in her favor tonight.

"Baby, I'd like you to meet my friend." Alex smiled so sweetly because based on Aria's reaction she knows that the omega probably is now assuming that Kiana is hers and Cyrus ' daughter.

 Aria tries his best to pull herself together before she stands up to face her best friend with her pup.

"Oh."

"Pwetty Pwincess!"

Aria and Kiana gasped almost at the same time when they recognized each other. 

Alex hated how the little girl practically beamed when she saw the omega because she had never seen that reaction from her towards her no matter how hard she tried. She tried her best to doll up whenever she visited them at the mansion still nothing.

The omega on the other hand looks at Alex with a little smile.

"You have a very beautiful pup right here," Aria uttered while she stared at the little girl again.

Kiana giggles at the compliment the male omega has given her.

"Of course, our angel is the prettiest," Alex replied while faking a smile.

Aria suddenly felt a pang of jealousy when her friend called the little girl 'our angel' because she suddenly remembered her own child.

Alex felt the change in Aria's mood so she quickly took it as her opportunity to excuse herself and the little girl so they could go back inside too.

"I'm sure daddy's already looking for you angel. Say bye-bye to Ria. Yeah, say bye to Ria now." Alex said while wanting to slap herself for almost slipping out Aria's name to the child.

 Kiana looks at the omega with a wide smile.

"Bye-bye, Riri! Kiki gonna tell daddy that I saw pretty pwincess here again." Kiana said while waving her tiny hands at her.

Aria forced herself to smile and wave back at the little girl even when in truth, her heart was breaking again. 

She doesn't know why she suddenly feels the hole in her heart gaping as if it's reminding her that it's there. 

This time, it's not just a simple reminder of its existence because this time it feels like the emptiness in her heart suddenly wants her to fill it with happiness too just like what Alex has in her life.

The omega didn't even realize that she was crying alone in the garden until a hand holding a handkerchief appeared in front of her. 

She shakes her head and forces herself to smile because she knows the scent of that pure-blood alpha well.

"You know you're ugly when you're crying. Stop crying please."