Aria and Kiana hugged each other as if the little girl knew that the omega was her missing parent.

When Cyrus realized that they were still in a public place, he moved closer to them and suggested finding a restaurant to eat first.

Aria growled at him when he tried to take Kiana away from her.

"Oh, easy. I'm not taking her away from you. I just wanted to help you up so we could go to the restaurant." Cyrus said while holding his hands up to show Aria he wasn’t taking Kiana from her.

Cyrus should know he should ask questions too. 

There were still many questions left unanswered but he couldn’t help but smile seeing Aria possessively carrying their pup. 

It's a sight he would never exchange with anything else in the world.

 In fact, Cyrus knows he would  die to have that sight in front of him forever.

 He just wants his family back.

Aria bit  her lower lip  as she subtly wiped her tears away. 

She is still overwhelmed with the truth she just discovered. 

She has a lot of questions she wants to ask to the pure blood alpha but Kiana in her arms calms her down. 

She even blushed when she accidentally growled at Cyrus just a while ago because she really didn't mean to act like that in front of the father and daughter but she just couldn't help it.

 Her daughter is alive and she's holding her in her arms.

Cyrus guides the two to Kiana’s favorite restaurant. 

They also chose to sit on the farthest corner where not a lot of people could see them because Cyrus might not admit it, he loves watching Aria all over their pup.

Aria was still silent while Cyrus was ordering their food but the omega's hand never left Kiana’s tiny ones until the little girl finally noticed it too.

"Are you okay now Pwetty Pwincess? We should twy stwabewwy dip here so you'll be alwight. Kiki loves it too, right daddy?" Kiana turned to ask her daddy who immediately nodded his head.

Cyrus smiled fondly at his pup before he nodded.

"Yes baby, I'm sure Pretty Princess would love it too. She seems like someone who loves strawberries just like you." Cyrus said while his eyes are already back on Aria.

The omega couldn’t help but tear up again when she realized that her pup loves the things she loves too. 

She knows Kiana could perfectly sit on her own but she still carried her and let her sit on her lap while she continued to nuzzle her.

Cyrus wasn't even surprised to see the two who looked comfortable with each other. 

He also wanted to howl in happiness just by watching the two but he knows that there are still lots of things he needed to discuss with Aria and one of those is the matter of whoever separated them three years ago would probably won't let them be together again.

With that thought in his head, Cyrus unconsciously clenches his fist under the table. 

But his angry pheromones still didn't pass Aria’s nose because he saw how the omega's head snaps towards him.

"Aria."

"Cyrus"

They said at the same time.

"We will talk, but you have to trust me on this." Cyrus said while his eyes started to look around them when he realized that he might be putting his mate and daughter in danger again.

Aria seemed to understand what he's talking about as she also scanned the place while her hands tightened around her pup.

"Cyrus I can't let her go again, not now that I know I've lost 3 years of our lives together." Aria said while trying to calm down because everything feels surreal at the moment.

"Aria, you'll never have to let her go again but we have to make sure of some things first. We have to talk, but definitely not here. D-do you trust me?" Cyrus asked with determination in his voice.

 Aria sighs as she leaves a light kiss on her daughter's forehead before she nods at Cyrus . 

How could she not trust the man in front of her when Cyrus’s eyes tell her everything she needed to know. 

Someone manipulated them three years ago. Someone tried to break their family apart and now understands very well why Cyrus was so mad at her when they first saw each other in her hometown. 

She now understands why the pure blood alpha's mark never vanished nor faded from her neck because Cyrus never stopped looking for her.

"We have to know the truth, Aria, but we have to trust each other this time. I want you to promise me that whatever happens you'll never run away this time. K-Kiana needs you too." Cyrus said and for the first time, the pure blood alpha softened while he stared at his daughter.

"I won't run away again Cyrus, but what really happened? How is she alive when Lexi told me that she died?" Aria asked in a low voice when she noticed that Kiana was busy with the bread sticks in front of her.

Cyrus’s eyes widened the moment he heard the other alpha's name. "A-Alex did what? What did Alexander tell you?" Cyrus asked with disbelief on his face.

"Cyrus, Alex was the one who called me that day. She accompanied me when we went to your private cemetery before I left." Aria said with a very confused expression on her face.

Cyrus almost cursed right there and then because what the Fuck! How could Alex do that to them? to their innocent pup?

The pure blood alpha swallowed all the bad words he wanted to spit because he didn’t want to lose control in front of his pup. 

He was  about to speak when he noticed Ari’s expression shifts from confusion to rage. 

He was about to ask her what was wrong when a familiar scent invaded his nose.

"Here you are Cyrus and our little angel. Wow, Ria, I didn't know you're also here." Alexander greeted the three inside the restaurant, beside her is Knight who was  already staring at Aria.

Cyrus suddenly had the urge to rip out Alex’s  heart right at that moment but to hid surprise, Aria stood up from his seat to hug her best friend.

"Hey lex, it's nice to see you here. Look, I bumped into your family. I just came to say hi to your little Kiana but I'm actually going home." 

Aria said with the sweetest smile she could muster at that moment when deep inside her, he wanted to explode.

Cyrus’s eyes widened with disbelief how Aria pulled that act immediately but when he saw the deadly emotion in her eyes, he just knew that his ex wife already had an idea what Alex did to their family.

"Oh, it's nice to see that you're getting along well with our little Kiki Ari. Also, I bumped into your alpha, I mean with Knight outside, I guess he's taking you home?" Alex asked again not knowing that Aria already knew how crooked her heart was.

Aria threw a glance at her friend who still looks serious before he looks back at Alex again.

"Yeah, I texted Knight a while ago because I didn't know I'd bump into YOUR family. But we're leaving now so you can enjoy your dinner." Aria said. 

She purposely put an emphasis on the word YOUR just to see her ex best friend's reaction but to her horror, Alex just smiled as if she really loved the thought that Kiana and Alex are actually her family.

"Oh sure Ari. Thank you so much and keep safe. I hope we can catch up again next time." Alex even said before she settled on the seat where Aria was just a minute ago.

Cyrus and Knight were both quiet with the whole exchange until Aria walked around the table and crouched down in front of her daughter.

 She hates how she can't scent her because they're both wearing scent blocker but she promised herself that next time she sees her, they will be both free of the chemical.

"Hey princess, Pretty princess needs to go now okay? I'll see you again soon." Aria whispered before she left a kiss on the little girl's forehead.

"Bye bye Pwetty pwincess!" Kiana waves at her.

Aria took all the shopping bags from Cyrus' side and subtly leaned to the pure blood alpha.

"Keep my daughter safe," Aria whispered as she walked towards Knight, who had been oddly silent throughout the conversation.

"Bye Ria." Alex waves at them again and this time, Aria wasn't able to stop herself so she went back to hug the alpha once again.

"Don't say goodbye to me again Lexi, we'll see each other again." Aria whispered to her best friend's ear before she finally left with Knight, leaving Alex who suddenly had a goosebump with the way Aria said those words to her.

Aria entered Knight’s car in silence. 

The omega is so cautious about everything around her now because first, she didn't text Knight, and seeing him arrive with Alexander made her a little suspicious.

After she learned that her daughter was alive and that everything that she believed was true was all lies, she suddenly had that ugly feeling in her gut about the people around her.

Knight didn't start the car. The pure blood alpha's mind was in chaos after his conversation with Alexander and now he witnessed Aria being so comfortable around Kiana and Cyrus, he suddenly felt a pang of jealousy, an envy...thinking that the omega would never be his.

"A-aren't we going home?" Aria breaks the silence because she feels like her head is about to explode if they remain in the parking lot.

Knight turned to look at the younger who was avoiding direct eye contact from him.

"Are you not hungry? We can go grab some dinner first before we go home." Knight suggested.

 Aria remained still and focused outside the car.

The omega shakes her head. She isn't hungry at all. 

Her mind is wondering about the three other wolves they left in the restaurant a few minutes ago.

She is wondering how and why Alex betrayed her. 

She doesn't have any idea why her best friend would lie to her about her child. 

Another m part of her is also wondering if her daughter got to eat the strawberry dip they ordered. 

Amidst the chaos in his head, she can't help but smile a little upon remembering that yes, her pup is alive.

Knight saw the tiny smile on Aria’s lips and as much as he wanted to ask her why, he just couldn't do it.

 He felt like anything he says will only push the omega away from him so he just kept quiet until they arrived at his penthouse. 

He also volunteered to help Aria carry the shopping bags but the younger refused immediately. 

They entered the house in complete silence until Knight slammed the door behind him.

Aria was startled. 

It was the first time that it ever happened so she slowly turned around to face the alpha only to find him flashing his red eyes directly at her.

"Why aren't you asking me why I arrived at the mall with Alex and how I found you there?" he asked, his voice so deep that almost made Aria submit. 

She would have if not because she is carrying the mark of another pure blood.

"K-knight...your eyes." Aria takes a step back from the alpha because, for the first time since they met each other, it was the only time Knight snapped at her like that.

"Answer me Aria, why aren't you asking me about what just happened tonight?" knight repeats as he takes a step closer towards the omega.

Aria gulps, she knows she is producing distressed pheromones but thanks to her scent blocker, Knight is unaware of how scared she is at that moment until the older closes the gap between them. 

Knight’s eyes turn back to normal, his scent still dominant but more relaxing than the one he was producing just a while ago.

"Did you think I would betray you just like how your best friend did three years ago? Did you think I would hurt you even after I promised that I would take care of you? Aria, I gave you my word." Knight uttered before lifting his hand to touch Aria’s pale face.

"I would never hurt you. I don't know why and I don't know how this is even possible because the moment I thought of betraying you, my heart immediately breaks as if I am compelled to protect you. It's as if you're carrying my brother's blood which is impossible because he's dead." Knight said, his voice just above a whisper as he didn't want anyone to hear him.

The pure blood alpha leans closer to the male omega and at first Aria was about to dodge him because she thought Knight would kiss her only to find out that all the alpha wanted was to lean his forehead to hers.

 "I cannot hurt you Aria. From the very first time I saw you, I just knew I could never hurt you." Knight uttered and at that moment he wasn't even sure who he was trying to convince anymore. 

He is so ashamed of himself because when Alex convinced him about her plan, he almost let his mind wonder about the possibility of conniving with her until he felt his wolf growling inside him.

Knight has never felt his wolf growl like that ever since he lost his brother but at that moment, when he almost fell into Alex’s trap..the wolf inside him reminds him of his promise to protect Aria at all costs.

“Knight ...y-you're crying," Aria mumbled when she felt his tears on her face since there was only a centimeter gap between them.

Knight lets go of the younger as he wipes his tears away.

"I'm sorry about that Ria… I was just really mad at myself for thinking about the possibility of betraying you and it hurts to think that you also thought that I could hurt you." Knight confessed.

Aria finally breathed out before gently placing her shopping bags down and tenderly holding the older’s face.

"I'm so sorry for doubting you, but remember when you told me that my daughter is alive? Y-you're right Knight. Kiana, my baby is alive." Aria admitted to the alpha when she felt the air between them going back to normal.

Knight pulled away from the younger so he could see her pretty face.

"You finally believe it! I knew that angel was yours! Aria, she's too adorable to be Alexander’s!" Knight blurted out and that made Aria smile.

 "I thought you were gonna say she's too pretty for Cyrus’" Aria said trying to lighten the mood between them but Knight immediately shook his head off upon hearing her joke.

"That idiot may look like there's always a stick stuck up his ass but he looks pretty too, well not as pretty as you of course," Knight said before taking the younger's hand to his.

Aria couldn’t help but blush upon hearing the alpha's words but she let him hold her hands.

"But Knight ... how did you know I was there?" Aria finally asks what has been bothering her after the tension between them finally subsided.

Knight guides her to their living room and lets her sit on the couch beside him before he goes to grab the brown envelope on the side table.

"First of all, I want you to know that I did what I did because I wanted to protect you and that I just want the best of you, Ria. I know you would most likely hate me because of this but I hope you'll find it in your heart to forgive me too. I would understand if…”

"Oh my god Knight stop. You are rambling. Now tell me what did you do and also what's in that envelope?" Aria pointed at the envelope he was holding.

"I hired a private investigator to….”

"You didn't stop!?" Aria interrupts him and Knight just nods before he starts to pours out what's inside the envelope.

At first, Aria thought they were just random pictures of her, Cyrus and Alex until she spotted another photo of her other best friend.

Her eyes widened as she recognized Rina in the photos taken from the places she visited in the past week after the gala.

"I-knight, why do you have Rina’s photos? And why are these....why was she...oh Luna! She has been following me!" Aria’s hands are shaking as she picks up one of the photos where Rina is pretending to be reading a newspaper inside a cafe in front of Aria’s workplace.

Then she saw another photo of Rina from the flower shop where she bought the red roses she bought for her angel a few days ago. 

Beside the said photo is another shot of Rina taken from the Hudson River where she went to scatter the petals.

Aria begins to tear up when she suddenly gets why Rina has been following her.

"She was there at the mall today too, am I right? Is that how you knew I was there?" Aria asked, her lips trembling because she could not believe that her two best friends betrayed her like that.

She was already starting to understand why Alex betrayed her. 

She remembered her father was into politics too but Rina? She has no idea why at all.

"I am so sorry Aria. When I confirmed that your daughter was alive, I just couldn’t sit back and let you wander around unprotected, especially now it is very clear that someone wants you out of Cyrus’s life. I asked Justin to assign someone who would watch over you. At first, we thought I was being overprotective until the bodyguard Mark noticed your other friend tailing you every single day from the moment you get out of the penthouse till the end of the day." Knight starts to explain but Aria is still clueless as to why Rina would do this. 

The alpha continues with his narration.

"So when we discovered that you're being tailed, I asked Mark to shift his focus. Instead of following you, he started to dig in deeper to check on Rina Perez. Nothing important came up about her, because she was following you. We found out that she had been reporting everything you do to Alexander Perez, her cousin" Knight informed her.

 "Knight, maybe it was a coincidence. I mean, Rin has no reason to lie to me. I don't think she would ever betray me not like this." Aria tried to reason but Knight just gave her an apologetic look.

"She doesn't have any reason to lie to you Aria but she has a lot of reason to listen to Alexander. We learned that the two aren't cousins. They coincidentally have the same surnames but they're not related by blood. In fact, they did not know each other at all until they met in college where they met you. Alexander’s father hired Rona’s parents as their house workers. And since Alexander’s father is fond of Rina, they gave her a full scholarship." Knight says 

He continued to give her all the information he gathered but Aria still refused to believe that Rina would betray her because of that.

"Ari, the year you left the country was the same year Rina’s mother was diagnosed with cancer. She has been receiving treatment from the  Hospital under Elijah Perez’s sponsorship. I guess your friend…”

"Oh my goodness!" Aria breaks down when she finally puts the pieces of the puzzle together.

"We were about to graduate that year. Rin..." Aria suddenly starts to cry because no matter how much she hates the idea of her best friend lying to her about the death of her child, she can't also deny the fact that Rina is just as much of a victim of the ugly fate given to her as she was.

It's not her friend's fault to be poor like her. And it's not her fault that she wanted to save her mother too because Aria knows if she was put in the same situation, she would probably do the same thing just to save her family too.

"Ssh it's okay now Ari. I already asked Justin to reach out to Rina. But I will still respect your decision if you tell me to stop interfering. I just wanted to help because I  feel Rina genuinely loves you." Knight said before showing Aria the photos of Rina feeding her mom in the hospital.

Aria’s heart breaks the moment she sees it. Mrs. Perez looked so frail in the hospital bed while Rina was obviously pretending to smile for her mother.

 "Knight... I want to talk to her. I at least deserve an explanation from her." Aria said while staring at her best friend's photo on the table.

Knight nods in understanding.

"Sure Ari, tomorrow I will let you meet with her," Knight said with a small smile.

Aria sighs after a while. She stares at the older pureblood beside her before she leans on his shoulder.

"Have I ever told you how lucky and blessed I am to have you in my life? I don't even know why and how Harris managed to bring you into my life when you both don't even look like you're close." Aria mumbles while playing with his fingers.

Knight’s breath stopped the moment he heard the softness in her voice. 

His heart melts even more for the younger but because he has decided not to put any more pressure on her plate he just playfully nudges her.

"Why are you suddenly being a baby now? Why don't you go and have a rest? You have had a long day, I'm sure you're  tired." Knight said while carefully pushing the younger to stand up.

Aria whines but smiles at the alpha.

"Thank you for everything, Knight. I'll talk to you again tomorrow. Goodnight." Aria says before she leans to leave a light peck on his cheeks.