LYALL.
After training and that unexpected kiss I'd gotten from Sheila, Aries began to beat me up, reprimanding me for kissing anyone other than my mate.
But was it wrong if Sheila was my wife? Legally married to me? I mean, it had to be right, right?

Ignoring the guilt in my chest, I made my way up to Aria's room, not stopping until I stood in front of her door and knocked.
The door was immediately pushed open by the maid I'd assigned to her. I noticed she looked dull and quite angry but that was honestly none of my business.
"Where is Aria?"
"She is asleep." The lady replied. "She's not feeling so well."
"Can I at least see her?"
Something flashed in her eyes and she turned towards the room and nodded at me. "Of course, your majesty."

She pulled the door wide open and I walked in to see Aria on the bed in a fetal position. I saw her eyes move towards me and she immediately turned as soon as she saw me. Sighing, I dismissed her maid before turning to her.
"Aria," I took a seat on the bed beside her, placing my hand on her back but she immediately pulled away from me, sitting up and glaring at me. I frowned in confusion. "What's wrong? What the hell happened to your face? Who did that to you?"
She ignored me and threw back her covers, climbing out of her bed before she made her way towards the balcony and stood there. She closed the French doors to tell me she needed her own privacy but I wasn't willing to listen to any of that so I went against her and pushed the door open.
"What the hell do you want, Lyall?!" She snapped as soon as I shut the door behind me. Her eyes were wide and ablaze with a fire of anger so I believed I must have done something. Or had she seen Sheila kiss me? I wasn't too sure about that because I knew she was nowhere around.

"What I want is for you to tell me why you are refusing to speak with me! Talk to me!" I snapped. "Getting all mad at me for no reason pisses me the fuck off!"
"Why don't you go back to your wife? I mean, you sleep in the same room with her and make love to her every night, right?"
I was riddled with more confusion. Aries kept nagging at the back of my head that she definitely knew about the kiss but I chose not to believe it. "I do not make love to Sheila. I haven't touched her since!"
She stalked back to me, her chin up to look at me. "But you both have kissed, right? Like you did at the field this afternoon." I suddenly went silent and she laughed, nodding as she turned away from me. "Lock the door on your way out."
"Aria," I drew close to her but she pushed me off her. "Let me at least explain."
Her brows creased into a frown and she shook her head. "Just get out of my room. Or why don't you send me off, too? I hate this life. This bullshit we're doing. I don't like it in any way! If you want to be with Sheila, that's fine but I don't want to be with you! It shouldn't be so hard!"
"Have you ever thought about you being unfair to me? Or ever thought about life being unfair to me, huh?"
She let out a groan. "Ugh! It's always about you, Lyall! And I honestly won't get into this conversation with you! Not anymore! Get that? If you think invalidating a very good reason for me getting mad at you is unfair to you, then you are a fucking manipulative bastard and I don't want to be with—Lyall!" Her eyes widened in horror when my fingers wrapped around her neck. "What the hell are you doing?!"
I pushed her into the wall, growling and baring my teeth at her in anger. "Do not push me, Aria. Do not fucking push me! Get that?!"
When I finally released her, she staggered backwards, clutching her throat in horror as she gaped at me. "What the fuck is wrong with you?!"
"I need you to know that I won't be tolerating your bullshit, okay?! If you're going to be in my bed and in my arms, you need to know that I am married and things can happen out of my control!" Tears began to stream down her cheeks and my heart squeezed in pain. I was hurting myself more than I was hurting her and I hated that it was this way. "Sheila is my wife and if she chooses to kiss me, what does it matter? As much as you are my mate, you still hold the position of my mistress. Do you fucking understand?!"
She nodded and pushed to her feet, staggering backwards as she pushed past me and walked out of the balcony. I held back a yell of frustration, desisting from punching into the wall before I walked out of her room. It had taken a lot for me to pick her off the floor where she was crying.
Sheila was just changing into her night clothes and as soon as she saw me, her lips spread into a wide grin. She walked towards me and pulled me into a hug but I didn't even touch her. She pulled away from me with a frown, cocking her head to the side work worry.
"Is something wrong, honey?" She asked, rubbing her hand over my face. "Are you good?"
"Yeah, I am. I'm just tired and really sleepy."
"Are you sure?" She smirked, placing her hand on my face. "You might look sleepy but once my hands are on you, all you do is give up instantly."
"I am serious this time, Sheila. I really want to be left alone."
She saw that I was serious and nodded, backing away from me. I didn't miss the look of pain that crept into her face. "It's alright. You can go to bed. I'll be awake for a while."
Once I was fully tucked in bed, she joined later on but I was more concerned about my exchange with Aria and how it was starting to affect my sleep. I knew I'd done her wrong and I was selfish and I owed her a huge apology. Throwing back my bed covers, I slipped out of bed, not caring if Sheila was awake.
Once I got to Aria's room, I found her fast asleep in her bed. I stood over her, watching her for a long time before I slipped into the bed with her.
"Go away, Lyall," She whispered, pulling away from me. "I want to be left alone."
"I am really sorry, Aria. My outburst was uncalled for."
"I don't care, Lyall. You put your hands on me. I don't want to be with a man who does all that you do. I deserve to be loved and cared for. Go meet Sheila. I am sure you wouldn't treat her this way even if she isn't your mate. Just leave, please." The pain in her voice was evident.
"I love you, Aria. I don't ever mean to hurt you even if that is how it sounds or looks like. I always want to be around you all the fucking time. I need you to know that, okay?"
When she gave me no reply, I slid out of my bed and walked out of the room.