LYALL
My eyes flashed with fury as they landed on the bruises on Aria's neck. She picked up her shawl and tried to cover up her neck but I snatched it away with a growl as my eyes lingered on the angry red marks on her skin.
My hands automatically balled into fists. Who dared lay their hands on her? On my mate?

“Who did this to you?” I repeated, louder this time as a snarl escaped my lips. Aria avoided my gaze and the action did nothing to soothe my bubbling anger.
“No-no one.” She answered with a slight tremor and I hissed under my breath. She tried to scamper away from my grasp but I held her in place. I hated the fact that she was lying about this and I didn't plan to let her off until she told the truth.
“Then how do you explain this?” I gently cupped her neck despite my simmering anger. It took everything I had to maintain a level of self-control as my wolf was ready to unleash fury on whoever did this to our mate.
“It was nothing, alright?! Just a little accident.” She said, still unable to meet my eyes and my grip on her tightened.
I scoffed. “That's bullshit. Tell me the truth! Who did this to you?”
“Let me go! Why do you even care?” She yelled, struggling against me.

“Are you seriously asking me that? After all this time? You know why I care but you're trying to deflect from the actual problem. Tell me who did this to you while I'm being nice. If I have to ask you again, I won't be so pleasant.” I spat. I had enough of the games.
Tears welled up in her eyes and her lips wobbled as she finally looked at me. “Please, Lyall. Just let this go. I promise it's not a big deal.”
I shook my head, still gripping her waist tightly. “I can't. Nobody harms you in my palace and gets away with it. Give me the name.” I added in a softer tone.
She let out a sigh and her face took on a pained expression. “It was your wife. Sheila did this to me.”

My eyes hardened and my nose flared. “What?”
“Lyall—”
Aria let out a squeak as I stood abruptly from the chair. I gritted my teeth as my insides started to simmer with rage. Hurting my mate was a line one should never cross and right now I didn't care that it was my wife.
I was going to make her pay for what she had done. My eyes burned with cold fury and the sight must have alarmed Aria that she turned ashen. I began to storm out of the room but Aria threw herself in my way.
“Please, Lyall,” She said with wide eyes. “Don't make a big deal out of this. I'm fine. I really am.”
“I shouldn't make a big deal out of this? Look at your neck! She choked you, didn't she? No one lays a hand on my mate!” I thundered, side-stepping her and storming out of the room.
She followed me and grabbed onto my arm. “Don't do this. It isn't worth it.” She said frantically and I turned looking into her mesmerizing gray eyes.
“Yes, it is. It is worth everything,” I pried her hands off and stormed across the hallway. “WHERE IS SHE?!” I bellowed, scaring the servant girls in my way without remorse. They let out squeaks and scampered to get out of the way. “Where is Sheila?!”
One of the girls pointed a shaky finger at Sheila and I's shared bedroom and I stormed over there with Aria hot on my heels. I flung the door open, startling Sheila who was getting dressed by a maidservant.
My eyes zeroed in on Sheila and she had the nerve to look smug as she glanced from me to Aria.
“Leave us,” I said to the maidservant and with one look at my icy expression, she fled.
“What is it, Lyall? You've come to defend your little mistress?” Sheila turned to Aria and sneered. “You're a little snitch, aren't you? You're going to make him fight all your battles?”
She shook her head and Aria recoiled. “Pathetic little thing. Once he's done with you, he'll discard you like the waste of space that you are, and guess who would be standing? That's right! Me! Because I'm his wife and you're nothing but his mistress!”
Aria flinched and I decided that I heard enough. In two steps, I was in front of Sheila. Her eyes widened as I roughly wrapped my fingers around her neck and squeezed.
“Lyall! Stop!” I heard Aria call in the background but I was too far gone to listen. Blood rushed to my ears and hot rage boiled my insides.
Sheila's face still looked smug and I was determined to wipe that expression off her face. I squeezed her neck tighter and she slowly began to turn red.
“Let..go.” She choked but I refused, smirking in satisfaction at her reddened face. Let her have a taste of her medicine. This would teach her to never lay a finger on my mate.
Aria grabbed onto my hand, eyes wide with fear. “Lyall, please let her go.”
“No, I will not let her get away with what she did to you. She deserves to suffer.” I said through gritted teeth.
“Lyall—”
Suddenly, a strong hand yanked me off Sheila and I turned to the intruder with a growl as Sheila coughed viciously, gasping for air. My uncle, Kendrick stood in front of me, eyebrows raised in displeasure.
“What is the meaning of this?” He said, his voice hard and laced with disappointment.
“It's nothing, uncle.”
His nose flared as he looked from me to the coughing Sheila on the ground. “What do you mean nothing? Look at what you did to her,” He pointed at Sheila.
“You choked your wife and called it nothing? I'm disappointed in you, Lyall. I can't believe you would raise your hand against a woman and worst of all, your wife. And they call you the Alpha of all Alphas.”
He spat and I lowered my eyes, unable to bear the disappointment on his face any longer. I idolized my uncle and his harsh words stung a little bit. My anger subsided and it was quickly replaced by regret as I looked from my wife who was clearly in pain to my mate whose eyes were round with fear.
This was all because of me.
I did the only thing I could think of at that moment. I walked away.