Aria
I couldn't bear to look at the anguish in his eyes anymore and I pulled him into a warm hug instead. He wrapped his arms around me immediately.
“I'm sorry you're going through so much pain, Lyall. I wish I could take it all away, I really do. What you saw in my eyes that day wasn't fear. I would never be terrified of you. Why would I when everything you did was to protect me? The only thing I feel is gratitude to you for standing up for me,” I said with a shaky voice.

This was probably not the right time to mention that I was a bit afraid for Sheila that day but I wasn't terrified of Lyall. I was terrified of what he was going to do to her for me.
“Lyall, the only way you can fix this is to talk to your wife,”
He stiffened against me but I rubbed soothing circles on his back and he calmed down a bit.
“You need to face her eventually and apologize to her. And if she's not ready to accept your apology, you'll need to give her some space till she comes around.”
Lyall sighed deeply. “I knew it would come to that eventually.”
Deep down, I didn't feel too good about comforting my mate about his wife but I knew it was the right thing to do.

“What you’re feeling is completely normal, Lyall. It just means you're a good person and a better Alpha. So now you just gotta fix things with her.”
He pulled away from the hug and placed his hands on my shoulders, looking me in the eyes. “And how do you feel about all of this?”
I shrugged. “How do you think I feel, Lyall? I am your mate and I should be the only woman in your life, right? But I still have to contend with your wife every single day and on top of that, it doesn't look like you plan on resolving all of this soon. So maybe I was right when I initially told you to leave me alone because things have gotten so complicated to the point that your mistress and wife could end up killing each other.”
Red-hot anger was beginning to boil inside me and I took deep breaths, trying to calm myself down. I knew I should not have snapped at him, not especially when he was in such a vulnerable state but I couldn't help it. The whole situation was hurtful to begin with.

“Aria—”
“Let's just get some sleep alright? We'll talk in the morning.” I cut in, not at all eager to discuss things any further.
“Fine. Goodnight, Aria.” He said quietly.
“Goodnight, Lyall.”
I drifted off to sleep soon after that before I knew it, it was morning. My eyes fluttered open as a bit of sunlight streamed in through the windows. I got up from the bed, careful enough not to wake Lyall and I went straight into the bathroom. After taking a quick shower, I picked up my shredded dress with a shake of my head and put it on.
It did little to cover up my body properly but it would have to do. I strolled over to the bed and was about to wake Lyall up but I stopped mid-way, my fingers hovering over his face. His dark hair was tousled and strands of it framed his forehead.
His eyebrows were relaxed and his long eyelashes fanned his eyes adorably. His pale skin glistened in the sunlight and my hands itched to feel his skin beneath my fingers. He looked so peaceful and vulnerable that I couldn't believe this was the same Alpha that struck fear into the hearts of people.
I gently pushed strands of his hair from his forehead, twirling it between my fingers. He stirred slightly but he did not wake up. I was about to shake him awake but a knock on the door beat me to it. His green eyes fluttered open and he was still dazed from sleep, stifling a yawn.
“Who's there?” I asked, walking towards the door.
“Trenton. I have the carriage ready,”
I opened the door and there Trenton stood dressed in a dark blue jacket and matching pants with a smug look on his face.
“I trust you had a good night's sleep,” He asked, and I rolled my eyes, attempting to shut the door in his face. He held it mid-way and slipped into the cabin.
“Alpha.” He said to Lyall who was already wide awake.
“Where are the clothes?” Lyall asked simply.
“What clothes?”
“The ones I told you to bring,” Lyall said with a raised eyebrow.
“Oops. Forgot them.” Trenton said and I narrowed my eyes at him. The corner of his lips lifted in a smirk and I knew he did it on purpose.
Lyall growled. “I specifically told you last night to bring the clothes.”
“When did you tell him to bring clothes? I only heard something about the carriage?” I turned to Lyall.
“Mind-link.” Lyall and Trenton said in unison.
Trenton scanned my ripped clothes and Lyall's half-naked frame, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Some night you two had, huh?”
I flushed crimson and Lyall glared at him.
“Shut up, Trenton,” Lyall growled, getting up from the bed. He picked up a coat off the couch and draped it on my shoulders, planting a small kiss on my forehead before sauntering off into the bathroom.
Trenton and I remained in the room in awkward silence and I shot him side glares from time to time which only made him chuckle. After a couple of minutes, Lyall emerged from the bathroom as dressed as he could be in his ripped clothes.
Trenton stifled a laugh and Lyall narrowed his eyes at him.
“One word from you, Trenton, and I will make you walk back to the palace.”
Trenton clamped his mouth shut at that and when we were ready, the three of us made our way out of the cabin. Indeed, there was a carriage waiting for Lyall and me outside and a horse for Trenton.
Lyall helped me into the carriage we headed straight for the palace. I took deep breaths, wiping my sweaty hands on my dress as we arrived in front of the palace. My heart thumped loudly against my chest and I hoped that no one was in the hallway to see Lyall and I come in.
I wasn't ashamed of being seen with Lyall. I just didn't want another round of gossip spreading around the palace about Lyall and me getting back after spending the night outside and worst of all, in tattered clothes.
That was bound to attract unwanted attention. And imagine if Sheila got wind of it. I didn't dare try to imagine what would go down. As if sensing my distress, Lyall covered my hand with his.
“It'll be fine. Don't worry about it.”
I nodded, too nervous to reply, and soon the carriage stopped. Lyall helped me out of the carriage and we walked into the palace with Trenton in tow. I blanched in dismay as we entered the main hallway. It was bustling with activities as maidservants and palace guards went about their daily tasks.
All activities stopped as all eyes fell on Lyall and me. The whispers started as they took in our appearance and I gulped as my hands turned shaky. So much for avoiding rumors spreading about me.
“What are you standing around for? Get to work!” Lyall barked and everyone scampered back to work. “Come on.” Lyall took my hand and together we walked through the hallway.
I was still a bit shaken but I was grateful that Sheila was nowhere in sight. That made me relax a bit and Lyall's solid hand in mine was a good form of reassurance.
We were just a few feet away from my room when a furious Sheila walked toward us in a beautiful black dress. She looked like she was going to murder me and I offered a small prayer to the goddess under breath.
“Uh-oh,” Trenton muttered under his breath as I let out a gasp. My face paled and I gently pried Lyall's hand off mine.
“Where the hell are you two coming from?!” She yelled, glaring daggers at me. She rounded on Lyall. “I cannot believe you, Lyall. You choked me and ran out to spend the night outside the palace with her??! I was worried sick about you. Even after what you did to me, I was still worried. But you didn't care about that, did you? All you wanted to do was run away with her!”
Sheila was screaming hysterically now, attracting a lot of attention from everyone in the palace and my cheeks reddened with embarrassment.
“I am your wife, Lyall! I do not deserve to be treated like this! After everything I did for you. After staying with you for five years! I cannot believe you would do this to me.” Sheila was on the brink of tears and I shifted uncomfortably on my feet.
Lyall flinched next to me and I bowed my head in shame.
“Sheila, please calm down. It's not—” Lyall started to say but he was instantly cut off as Sheila raised her hand. Her eyes scanned his clothes and she scrunched up her face in disgust.
“What the hell happened to your clothes?” She turned to me and examined my dress, clearly displeased. “And yours too. What the fuck is going on here?!” She yelled, seeing red. The wheels began to turn in her head and it looked like she started putting the pieces together. “Oh,” She said quietly. “That's what happened.” She was eerily calm and her icy expression sent shivers down my spine.
“Sheila, please—” Lyall began to say but he was once again cut off with a shake of head by Sheila.
“You hurt me, Lyall and you couldn't even apologize. You choked me and the next thing you did was to go and sleep with her?” There was so much anguish in her voice and despite my intense dislike for her, I felt sorry for her at that moment.
“Sheila, please listen to me.” Lyall pleaded.
“I don't want to hear it,” She snapped. “Keep playing around with your mistress.”
“And as for you,” She turned to me, her tone laced with venom. “I promise that you'll get what's coming to you. Just wait.”
Normally I would have ignored it because I had gotten threatened by Sheila on multiple occasions but there was something different in her tone this time and the look in her eyes was frightening.
“Would you please quit causing a scene, Sheila? It's too early for this.” Mason chipped in and I whipped my head to look at him, wondering where he came from and how I didn't notice his arrival.
“Seriously, Sheila. Give them a break. They only just got back.” Serene added, appearing next to Mason and my mouth hung open.
Where did the duo even come from? And why in the world were they always together? I shook my head trying not to get distracted. That was not my business and it was certainly the least of my worries.
“I don't remember speaking to both of you,” Sheila sneered. “Dirty, sneaky hypocrites.” She added before stalling away, a couple of maidservants behind her.
“Aria, are you okay?” Serene said with a concerned look on her face, placing her hands on my shoulders.
I gave her a shaky smile which might have looked like a grimace. “I'm fine.”
I turned to Lyall and he was gazing sadly at Sheila's retreating figure. My heart shattered into pieces and I looked away instantly.
“Wow, brother. I have to say that you look dreadful but it isn't that much of a surprise. You only look slightly worse than you always do.” Mason said to Lyall, smugly and Lyall narrowed his eyes at him, a low growl escaping his throat.
“Trenton, get him out of here. I wouldn’t want to be responsible for my brother's murder.”