It's been more than half an hour since Knight and Aria left that was when Cyrus finally snapped out of his trance. 

He was about to go back to Kiana’s room to check on her when his nose suddenly took a whiff of a familiar scent.

He starts to look around to see where the familiar strawberry scent is coming from until his eyes landed on Aria’s brown wool coat that she obviously forgot on the floor.

Cyrus smiled to himself when he remembered how Aria had removed the coat a while ago when she was having fun with their daughter.

He picks it up and indulges himself in sniffing the coat like a creep because well, he misses the owner of the said garment.

The pure blood alpha was still standing in the middle of his living room, the coat in his hands when a voice startled him.

 He almost dropped her coat since he didn't expect Felicia to be awake since he already told the older woman to sleep but clearly, she didn't listen.

"The scent that lingers in the wool smells nice but I'm sure, the owner of the coat smells a lot nicer." Felicia grins at the reaction of her boss.

It is extremely rare to see Cyrus Carter with his guard down unless he’s with his daughter.

"She...Ria....l, how is she still so beautiful?" Cyrus finally poured out what's in his head because he feels like his heart is about to explode.

The older woman laughs as she walks towards the kitchen to prepare some warm milk for her boss and a tea for herself since he knows Cyrus loves to drink something when they're having a conversation like this.

"She has always been beautiful. Why are you asking as if you didn't know that?" she asked back just to tease the pure blood who's now lazily sitting on the couch.

" I know... I know that. But have you seen her hair? It's l-longer now and it seems like it's softer. Her eyes, geez how those eyes turn easily from those beautiful blue orbs to those soulful brown ones. She’s so beautiful ." Cyrus knows he should be ashamed in front of the older woman but he feels like he's gonna explode the moment he isn’t able to express himself.

Felicia carefully places the glass of milk in front of the pure blood.

"Here, drink this and maybe after it warms your stomach, you'll be able to find courage to follow your mate. I am actually wondering..how you were able to let her go without giving that other pure blood a good fight." Felicia asked. 

She knows Knight Ashbourne is a good man. 

She could feel it in her guts the older pure blood means no harm to the family she's serving but still, she is a bit disappointed that Aria left because she actually thought that the omega will stay the night.

Cyrus thanked the older woman before he took a sip from the milk  prepared for him.

"Believe me, I wanted her to stay. Fuck, I want her not to go ever again but with all that happened before I don't want to make another mistake. What is another night to sacrifice to be apart with her if that will assure hers and our daughter's safety." Cyrus uttered before placing the glass back on the table.

"You really are the best mate anyone could ever ask for. No wonder, people of different ranks want you to be theirs." Felicia says before sipping her own tea.

"But I only want one omega."

"Does she know that? I mean, yeah.. she knows that you are protecting your daughter, she knows that you really didn't throw her out...but does she know that you actually want her back?" Felicia says and maybe that question hits him differently.

"I told..well I told Knight that I want my family back. And...."

 "But did you tell Aria that?"

'Shit, no.' Cyrus thought to himself but Felicia just gave him a knowing smile as if she already knows his answer.

"I had a conversation with her and to be quite honest she mentioned how fond she is of the other pure blood. I'm not saying this to---- Master Cyrus, where are you going?" Felicia feigns innocence as she asks that.

"Uhmm, Aria might need her coat. Please take care of Kiana. I'll send my security here to make sure you're safe." Cyrus says while smiling ear to ear before he left.

"Sure Young master, bring back her coat as if Mistress Aria doesn't have 10 more of those at home." Felicia mumbles to herself smiling because she knows Cyrus isn't just simply going to return the coat, maybe he would manage to take back his mate this time.

Aria and knight are relaxing in Knight’s living room at his penthouse.

They are both emotionally exhausted and mentally drained but Aria couldn't hide the fact that there's something else that's bothering her.

"Do you wanna swim for a bit? Maybe we could drink a little too before we call it a night?" Knight suggested to the Omega who's obviously thinking of a lot of things at the moment.

Aria beams at the suggestion.

"That's a great idea Knight, let me just change and grab my towel. I'll also bring the champagne." Aria says before she stands up to prepare what she needs.

"Aria, weren’t you wearing your coat this morning?" Knight asked when he noticed the missing garment of the younger.

 If it was any other day, he wouldn't be worried but today is different because he knows that Aria’s scent is all over her clothes and he's worried that it might fall into the wrong hands again.

"Oh, yes. I removed it at Cyrus’s place when I was playing with Kiana. I'll just take it some other time." Aria replied.

Knight visibly relaxes when he learns that the missing piece of clothing is at Cyrus’s home. 

He still wanted to make sure,so he fishes out his phone and sends a message to the other pure blood.

ASHBOURNE : IS ARIA’S COAT AT YOUR PLACE? SHE SAID SHE FORGOT IT THERE. JUST WANTED MAKE SURE..JUST IN CASE.

CARTER : YES, SHE LEFT IT AT MY HOME. I'M ON MY WAY TO BRING IT TO HER.

Knight's eyebrow knitted on reading the immediate reply of the younger pure blood. He quickly jabs a reply.

ASHBOURNE : NO NEED TO COME CARTER. WE'LL BE HANGING OUT AT THE POOL. SHE NEEDS TO REST.

CARTER : SHUT UP!, ALL THE MORE REASON TO COME THERE. NO WORRIES, I'M ALREADY ON MY WAY.

Knight looks at his phone with a little sad smile before he looks towards Aria’s door.

 He knows Justin is right, fated mates always found a way back to each other no matter how many miles they are apart from each other. 

He smiled bitterly to himself when he remembered how he met Aria. 

He genuinely likes the omega. 

He may never understand the constant pull that's keeping him from taking care of Aria but tonight he realized that he would never have a chance with Aria because he will always be just her friend.

A few minutes later Aria finally came out of her room wearing her swimsuit under her bathrobe. 

It is cold outside since the snow started to fall two days ago but the ambiance in the building's poolside is warm.

 The Omega knows Knight already went ahead so she just grabs a bottle of champagne and follows him to the poolside.

Aria immediately smiled when he saw the older man sitting by the pool, his feet dangling and playing with the warm water while he looked up at the sky. 

The pool is on the rooftop and half of the area is covered while the other is open so that would allow them to see the beautiful night sky.

"Knight...want something to drink?" Aria asked while skillfully opening the bottle of wine.

 The older turned half of his body to see her before he offers the younger a genuine smile.

 "Whenever you open a bottle of champagne with your bare hands it reminds me that you actually really worked in Harris’s winery. Three years made you an expert with wines huh?" Knight said while waiting for the younger to pour out their drinks.

"At first I never really wanted to learn. I just want to sing at the bar but then I realized I easily got drunk too so I figured, I have to know my way around alcohol." Aria smiled as she offered the older the other flute of champagne.

The two settled at the edge of the pool, their feet kicking the water aimlessly while they let the silence of the night consumed them until knight breaks the silence.

"How was it? I mean...being with them?"

Aria emptied her glass first before she speaks.

"It was too good to be true. I actually didn't know where I found the courage to leave when I finally had the chance to hold her in my arms again. Thank you so much Knight, this.. everything won't be possible without you." Aria says without looking at the older because she suddenly felt like the bubble around them is slowly vanishing. 

It's as if she knew tonight would be the night that will put a line between them and she's so scared to know what will happen to them after.

Knight drowned his glass of champagne before he finally put down his glass so he could hold Aria’s hand. 

The omega wanted to refuse in the beginning but Knight’s soft gaze made her relax.

"Maybe I know how you managed to leave even when your heart wanted you to stay." His voice is so low, it's as if he's afraid that someone might hear what he's about to say.

"Knight...w-what do you mean?" Aria asked, nervously. 

She knows...she knows that deep inside her she knows the reason why she left and she's so scared that Knight really knows it too because that means she has been hurting the older pure blood too.

 "You were scared to hurt me. You were scared that the longer you stay in that house, the stronger your urge to stay because you know deep inside you that you're already home Aria. I am so sorry for letting you feel that way but I want you to know that as much as I want you , I know that there's someone out there who deserves you. Cyrus, he is innocent. Just like you, your mate was a victim of his father’s manipulation and schemes. Ria...Cyrus, he deserves another chance as much as you deserve one too." Knight didn’t know how he managed to say those words clearly.

 He likes Aria, hell he loves her in the short amp of time they have spent together. 

The omega made a permanent space in his heart but that doesn't mean he would hold her there forever when he knows that Aria could finally go back home, with Kiana...in Cyrus’s arms.

"Knight, I'm so sorry..."

"Ssshhh, Aria you don't have to apologize. I loved you even though I knew that you held someone else in your heart. I wanted to take care of you even though I knew someone was looking for you. I love you and I am not sorry for loving you. I just want you to be happy Ria, I just want you to have the life you deserve." Knight uttered, his voice just above a whisper. He's scared that if he speaks  a little louder, he would bust into tears and he doesn't want that.

There are no words to describe how thankful Aria is at that moment so instead of replying to Knight, she throws herself at him. 

She wraps his two arms around the older's neck as she buries her face in the crook of his neck scenting him a bit. 

She hugs him to let him know how thankful she is for having him in her life, for protecting her, for taking care of her and for leading her back to her family.

"Thank you so much Knight. Thank you so much." Aria whispered while nuzzling her nose in Knight’s neck, a gesture for wolves to show how they adore and respect the other.

Knight smiled into their hug as he wrapped his arms around her waist. 

They are sitting by the edge of the pool under the moonlight while reassuring each other that they are still friends despite drawing the line between them. 

Knight is hurt, but for an unknown reason he is at peace and content while holding Aria in his arms. 

He sighs before finally pulling away from her but not completely letting her go.

 Knight was still holding Aria’s shoulders when he felt a presence join them.

The older pure blooded alpha knew Cyrus was close to them but because he knows he may never get the chance to do this again the moment Cyrus takes Aria with him, he still leans closer and closes the gap between him and the omega.

Cyrus gasped at the entrance of the poolside when he saw Knight leaning closer to Aria. 

His wolf growled when he saw the elder left a peck on Aria’s forehead but he managed to stop it when he saw Aria wrap her arms around Knight too.

Cyrus was about to lash out at the two because he couldn't handle his jealousy anymore when Knight suddenly speaks.

"It looks like we have a visitor."

Call Cyrus the pettiest among the petty wolves but at that moment all he wanted was to rip Knight’s head off when he saw the older alpha wearing a smug expression on his face when their eyes met.

"Who's---Oh Luna! Cyrus!" Aria screamed the moment she saw Cyrus lunge at Knight with a punch to the face.

Knight knew Cyrus had every right to get mad at him but he still fights back. 

The two pure blooded alphas  throw punches at each other, kicking each other in every chance they get until a sudden burst of a very sweet scent fills the room. They both halted their squabbling, their eyes turned red as they saw Aria writhing on the ground.

Knight’s eyes widened when he realized what was happening. 

Aria had been wearing a scent blocker and it's been 24 hours since she stopped wearing one. 

Every wolf in the realm knows that whoever uses the scent blocker will immediately go into their heat or rut the moment it wears off.

Knight figures that Cyrus’s strong scent was also a factor that triggered the Omega' heat.

"H-help...it hurts." Aria whimpered as she curled in on herself on the ground.

As much as Knight wanted to run and help the omega he knows that he cannot move from his spot. He should not move or else, he'll definitely die in Cyrus’s hands.

"Ashbourne..."

"I swear to Luna Carter! What are you doing?" Knight yelled at the younger wolf who remained frozen.

"I can't!" Cyrus replied, strained as if he is trying his best not to breathe but Knight knows better. 

Cyrus is trying to stop himself from jumping his omega.

"I can't help her, Cyrus! your wolf's gonna shred me into pieces even before I can even think of laying a finger on her. Now fucking  do something because your mate needs your  help!" Knight yelled at the younger alpha who seemed to finally snap out of his trance when he heard that Aria, his mate, needed his help.