"Now, stop trying to scare me with your scent Carter. Take a look at this because I'm not sure how you managed to live with snakes for the past three years. I might as well think that you wanted all that had happened." Knight uttered.

Cyrus wanted to yell at the older man's face, telling him that if he could only turn back time, he wouldn't have left on that day. 

He should've waited for Aria to come home. He should've protected his family more. 

But because he is curious about the content of the envelope, he chose to be quiet and check every document and photograph taken from different angles.

The pure blood alpha didn't know what to expect or to see in the pile of photographs but the moment he saw Rina in the pictures where she was stalking Aria, he started to frown.

"They're in this together? Her two best friends? Does she about this? Did you tell Aria about it?" Cyrus asks because, to be honest, he's more concerned about how Aria must have felt the moment she learned the two friends she treated as family were the ones who stabbed her in the back.

"She already knows. I can't hide anything from her." Knight replied.

 "I'm gonna kill them."

"And be like them? Great, I'll take care of your daughter and mate." Knight replied.

The two pure-bloods stared at each other again, this time Knight felt a strong emotion rushing over him.

 It was not the first time he’d met Cyrus, and it was also not the first time he talked with the younger pure blood but there's something in the small space between them that makes him want to pull him into a tight hug. 

He's even surprised when he finds himself wanting to protect him just like how he wanted to protect Aria.

'of course, I want to protect this idiot because I don't want Ria to worry about him.' Knight thought to himself.

"What is your plan then? I know you have no plan of getting into politics. Don't you think it's about time you tell me what you have in mind Ashbourne?" Cyrus said, trying to ignore the weird feeling towards the older pure blood. 

When Knight said he'd take care of his family, he surprisingly believed the older would do that without malice. 

It's weird, so he just pushed it away for the time being and focused on what they needed to talk about.

Knight took a deep breath before he opened his mouth to speak.

 "I want you to become the next Prime Minister so you can take down your father'," Knight announces as he chokes on air.

"Woah! Wait a damn minute Mr. Prime Minister's son. Just because your father is the one sitting in the office, it doesn't mean you can just tell me you want me to take his throne as if I'm just going to ask him for a piece of candy. We are not even in the same party. How do you plan on making me the Prime Minister?" Cyrus looks at the older pure blood as if he grew another head.

Knight clicks his tongue and rolls his eyes because he was expecting that reaction from the younger, well minus the candy part.

"The Prime Minister said it himself, he wanted you to take his seat not because I cried and asked him like a child. My father has been eyeing you for the position and he has been keeping a record of all the possible candidates. My father isn't just a politician, his heart has always been for the people and you being the star of the opposition party list won't stop him from picking you if...."

"If what?"

"If you'll help us take down Julius Carter." Knight supplied the heavy words.

 He knows Cyrus has been a very good son to his father and he knows that what he's asking is ridiculous but he's dead serious.

 A criminal like Julius needs to be ousted and put into jail and no one can do that better than his son.

"Are you seriously asking me to put a bullet in my dad's head?"

"Yes."

"And why do you think I would do that?"

"Because you will do everything to protect your family and they will only be safe if you'll finally put an end to your father."

SILENCE.

The air surrounding the two is so thick and Knight almost starts to doubt Cyrus’s ability to take his father down until the younger pure blood finally breaks the silence between them.

"Fine, I'll take down my father in one condition." 

"Name it."

"You'll make sure that no matter what happens to me in the process, you'll look after my family...my daughter and my mate!"

~~~~~^~~~~~^*~~~~~~^*~~~~~~~~

 Aria was still frowning at Cyrus by the time Knight joined them. The older pure-blood looked at the younger and gave him a questioning look but the exes just kept quiet as if they were both embarrassed to share that they're fighting over their dating history while they're separated.

"Okay, since you don't want to tell me what's going on, I'll go ahead then. Justin just called to ask if we'd join him for lunch. I'll leave you here Ria but please call me when you are  ready to come home." Knight said while softly playing with the little girl's hand who was also excited to see him.

Aria smiled back at the older, she was still carrying her daughter so she just tiptoed to give Knight a light peck on his cheeks before she said goodbye. 

It's one of the things they've developed for months, a friendly gesture.

Cyrus saw the whole exchange and heaven knows how he tried his best to calm down the moment he saw Aria’s lips touching Knight’s cheek.

They all looked in Cyrus’s direction when he started to groan when Kiana moved closer to kiss Knight too.

"What? Am I not allowed to have a goodbye kiss from this pretty princess? Bye bye Kiki, Uncle Knight will see you again later." Knight said while ruffling the little girl's hair.

Cyrus has to bite his tongue because, of course, he wouldn't want to show his daughter how petty he is.

"Bye bye uncle Knight!" Kiana waved at the older pure-blood alpha before Knight finally left the penthouse.

Cyrus was still glaring at Aria after Knight left. 

They were in the dining room while Felicia was preparing their lunch and yet Aria refused to look at the pure-blood alpha.

Kiana, who is blissfully oblivious to the cold war between her parents, was just busy playing with Arias black long curly black hair. 

The sight was so domestic, removing the fact that a certain pure blood is still Jealous about the kiss Aria gave Knight a while ago.

"So, what did you tell Lex? I mean, wouldn't she be looking for her?" Aria asked when her daughter finally let her put her on the floor so she could play with her toys splayed on the carpet in the living room.

The two are still sitting opposite each other in the dining room but their eyes are focused on their daughter while they're talking to one another.

"Alex knows that once in a while, I'd like to spend time alone with my princess so she won't come find her," Cyrus replies before he finally turns to face Aria because he wants to make sure that the omega is okay.

 After all, it isn't nice to know that the people you thought were your friends are the same ones who put a dagger on your heart.

"As much as I don't want her to be near my Kiana, I think it's better if you'll go home tonight Cy-- I mean Cyrus. We can't let her know that we already know what she did until we have solid evidence that can take her down. I want her to pay in jail for every single second she took away from me." Aria said, her eyes flashing a royal blue, the color she could only show to Jungkook for an unknown reason.

The pure-blood alpha knew what Aria meant, he understood the omega well but his eyes were too focused on his ex-wife’s lips while she was talking so the only thing that registered to him was the way Aria corrected herself when she called him by his nickname.

"What's wrong if you call me Cy?" Cyrus asks dumbly which makes the younger frown at him.

"Did you even pay attention to what I just said to you?" She asked "Are you even paying attention to what I just told you?" he asked.

"Yeah, and I noticed how you quickly corrected yourself when you called me Cy. What's wrong with it?" Cyrus stubbornly asks.

Aria opened her mouth only to close it again because she could not believe the audacity of this man arguing with her because of his name. 

And when she was about to call him out, Felicia interfered.

"Kiana! Baby why don't you tell Daddy and Riri to come eat their lunch" Felicia purposely made her voice louder just to make sure to stop the two from fighting.

Cyrus secretly winks at his daughter's nanny while Aria chooses to pick up her daughter from the carpet.

"Let's go wash your hands angel. She will feed you today." Aria said excitedly when he realized that it was indeed the first time she could feed her pup again.

Cyrus’s heart melts while watching the two. He didn't even realize that he was just staring until Aria purposely dropped the cutleries in front of him.

"Kiana said to give you this, MR CYRUS CARTER" Aria said while emphasizing his name just to annoy him.

But instead of being annoyed, Cyrus smiled at her cheekily. 

"Thank you so much Pretty Princess” Cyrus replied instead. 

He may never get to say it out loud, but he loves the pink blush that adorns Aria’s cheeks after he calls her pretty.

Aria knows she’s blushing and she hates it even more when she remembers that she's not on a scent blocker so she knows Cyrus could smell the pheromones she keeps releasing no matter how she tries his best to control herself.

Her wolf is happy to celebrate her reunion with Kiana and her mate.

Aria, deep in thought trying to communicate and calm down her wolf, Cyrus has already begun putting food on their plates.

The pure blood alpha's wolf is howling in excitement because finally, after three long torturous years...he is now able to put food on his mate's plate.

Felicia has to bite her lips to stop herself from squealing.

 She loves to see how Cyrus carefully cuts the meat before he puts it on Aria’s plate. 

He didn't forget to scoop some soup and put it in a smaller bowl for the omega who looked so stunned by the gentle manner of the pure blood.

"T-thank you." Aria wanted to slap herself for stuttering but Cyrus basks in the knowledge that Aria didn't reject his food. 

The Omega carefully picks up the meat and puts it in her mouth before she thanks him for the food again.

The quiet air between the mates is suddenly interrupted when a high-pitched voice startled them.

 "Ririiiii, Kiki wants the beef too." The little girl is pouting and Aria immediately feels so guilty for forgetting about her daughter because she was so lost in the tiny bubble Cyrus had created just a few seconds ago.

Felicia couldn't help but laugh at the scene this time before she helped Aria put some food on Kiana’s plate.

"It's okay Felicia, I'll feed her," Aria uttered before she scooped another spoonful of rice from her pup's tiny plate to feed her.

Cyrus knows how Kiana loves Felicia’s food, he knows his little pup is really a big eater despite her tiny body but he also knows that it's the first time Kiana hasn't insisted on eating on her own ever since she learned how to use her spoon and fork. 

It's as if his little girl knows that the one feeding her is no other than her mother. 

That day, Cyrus promised himself one is going to take away Kiana’s mother ever again.

Knight and Justin are having their meal together. For unknown reasons, Knight is enjoying his meal more than usual and it didn't go unnoticed.

"Is everything okay?" Justin asked before he put down his cutlery so he could pay attention to the pure blood in front of him.

Knight continued to slurp his soup before he lifted his head to answer the other. "M'okay.. you don't want your soup?"

"Yeah, want more? I can order another serving for you."

"No, 'is okay," Knight replied before he stuffed his mouth with another spoonful of rice.

Justin squinted his eyes for a few seconds before he decided to grab Knight’s spoon and fork.

"Okay enough! What's going on?" he asked, his voice void of humor because he knows his friend a little too well not to know that something is bothering him.

"Not now Justin, let me eat my food first. I'm starving." Knight replied with an equally authoritative voice before he grabbed his spoon and fork back.

Justin sighs as he gives in to his friend. He knows he'll never win against him anyway so he just lets him finish his food first. But to his surprise, Knight also stopped eating when he saw that he was not eating.

"Why aren't you eating?" He asked.

"Do you think I could swallow that food when I know that it's bothering you? Just finish your food and let's talk after." Justin replied while crossing his arms in front of his chest.

This time, Knight sighs. He knows Justin would never force him to do anything but the alpha always has a way to make him surrender in the end.

"It's Carter."

Justin slowly untangled his arms and calmly rested his hands on the table because, to be honest, he thought Knight was bothered because of Aria and not by Cyrus Carter.

 "Is he bothering you? Did you tell him your plan? Did he disagree with you?"

 "NO, no Justin. He agreed to the plan. Thankfully, we are right. Aria and their little girl are more important to him so he agreed to the plan." Knight replied while wiping his mouth with the table napkin.

"Then why are you bothered by him? Is it because of Aria?"

 "Partly yes. I mean, I was just worried about the last words he said to me before I left."

"Why? What did he say?" Justin asked, a little bothered now because he knows Knight will never worry about other people unless it's serious.

"The way he said those words, he isn't afraid to bear his life for his family Justin. And you know Julius. If he is capable of burning a fucking whole building along with the people inside it, what if he also sees Cyrus as a block to his plan? He wouldn't think twice to eliminate his son." Knight says, his brows still knitted in his forehead.

Justin tilted his head to the side this time. "And you're worried because?"

"Justin, did you hear what I just said? Cyrus will fight his father to death to protect his family." Knight said as if he were talking to a kid who could not understand him.

"As he should! we're talking about his family here. Of course, he'll do that. Why are you suddenly so worried about Cyrus?" Justin asked when he couldn't handle the confusion anymore.

Knight froze in his seat when he realized the question of his friend.

 He also doesn't understand why his wolf keeps making him feel like he needs to protect that family. He even shakes his head off as if that will help him organize his thoughts but it's still the same. He still has that little seed in his heart for the heir of the Carters and as much as he tries to deny it, he knows that it's there. 

He could feel it.

"M-maybe, I'm just scared that Aria might get hurt again. I mean, I saw them together a while ago and they're not over each other yet." Knight uttered with his low voice. 

He’s trying to convince himself too. Yeah, he's worried about Cyrus not because of the little seed inside him but because of Aria.

Justin nods in understanding. "Don't worry Knight, I'm sure we'll be able to help that family. Besides, the Prime Minister already gave you his word right? I'm sure he won't let his only son down." Justin said while forcing himself to smile because deep inside him, he also couldn't help but worry, not for the little family but for Knight.

The whole day was so eventful. Aria got to spend time with her daughter while Cyrus decided to stay and watch them. 

Dylan and Justin started to mobilize their connections.

Everything is going so smoothly according to their plans and they almost didn't even notice that it's night time already if Knight didn't arrive at Cyrus’s penthouse to fetch Aria.

The two pure-blood alphas gave each other that deadly stare again but this time, it was more of a mocking stare from Knight because he loves to annoy the younger who's obviously not happy with his presence.

"I brought something for the little princess." Knight even waves the bunny stuffed toy he bought along his way.

"Really? bunny?" Cyrus rolled his eyes before he closed the door.

"Yeah, you don't like that? It will always remind your daughter of her dad." Knight even dared to wink at the younger and to be honest, Aria thought Cyrus would snap at the older but to her surprise, Cyrus just ignored the older this time.

 "She's already sleeping. You could leave that there." Cyrus pointed at the basket full of his daughter's toys.

Knight smiled back at him before he followed Cyrus’s instructions.

Aria thanked Felicia again for everything before she went to her daughter to kiss her goodnight one more time before she walked towards the door where Knight was already waiting for him.

They were already leaving when the omega turned to look at the alpha who was already staring back at her.

"Thank you for today Ru--Cyrus. We'll call you again tomorrow. Please, take care of her." Aria says before walking out of the door without even waiting for Cyrus' reply.

The omega is already outside when Cyrus speaks to the air.

"Goodnight Ri, we'll wait for you, baby. We'll wait for you until you finally come home again," he whispered to himself.