L LYALL:
I snuck out of Aria's room very early the next morning. Not because I was afraid of anyone finding out but because I didn't want Sheila to get upset. She believed I had slept on the couch and in order not to hurt her feelings, I went back to the living room and climbed onto the couch.
I slept off once again, only to be tapped awake later by Sheila.

Opening my eyes, I found her standing above me with an expressionless gaze. Two maids stood behind her, looking down at their feet.
"Can you sleep in our room next time so these maids don't have to wake me to get you?"
Yawning, I stretched and pulled the covers off my body. "What happened to them waking me up themselves?"
"Let's all act like you aren't scary." She turned and dismissed the maids before facing me with a desperate look on her face. "Can we talk?"
"Talk about what?" I asked as I stood to my feet and brushed through my hair with my fingers.
"Last night?" She followed after me. "Everything you said. We should talk about it."

I stopped at the steps and turned to her. "Why should we talk about it?"
"Because it's what we do when we have issues or have you forgotten?"
I shrugged. "Maybe I have. Or maybe I don't want to talk about it either? Which one do you think fits?"
"Why are you making things hard between us both? It isn't supposed to be. I hate that things are this way between us and I want to talk it out for the moon goddess's sake." She whimpered, her chin wobbling as tears threatened to escape.

Sighing, I shook my head. "I don't think I want to talk about anything. I have a long day today and this would do nothing but make us argue further."
A tear escaped her cheek and I felt a pang of guilt. She didn't deserve this, she didn't deserve what I was doing to her. Hell, she deserved none of this but I was putting her through a lot just for the sake of my mate. I wished I could just tell her the truth but knowing Sheila and how much of an adamant person she was, telling a rock to grow seeds was far easier.
"I'm going up to get ready for breakfast."
While I got dressed, I asked Trenton to send one of the guards a message to Aria. She was to join us for breakfast. That way, I could properly introduce her to my Uncle whom I was yet to see.
She was there when I got to the breakfast table, along with the others. Mason sat opposite Serene who was smiling at something she was saying and Uncle Kendrick helped Sheila pull out a seat. She smiled politely at him before taking her seat and glaring right at Serene.
This was one thing I wanted to address: why the hell did she hate my Uncle's wife for no reason?
The butler pulled out a seat for me and I took a seat, my eyes on Aria who shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Mason said something to her and she glared openly at him, causing me to smile. At least, I wasn't the only one who detested the annoying fool.
Sheila cleared her throat and I turned to look at her with raised brows. She smiled but it didn't get to her eyes. "I don't think a proper introduction has been made at the table today, what do you think, Lyall?"
"If you would be more specific, maybe I would understand you."
"A new member that has been added to the dining table, c'mon," She laughed and looked at Aria who tutted. "Do us the honors, please."
I ignored her and took the glass of filtered wine my butler handed over to me. Mason took it upon himself to do the introductions.
"Well, this insanely beautiful woman seated here today is Aria. She is the mistress of my brother who seems to have an eye for only pretty women and honestly, I wouldn't have taken my eyes off her if I had seen her first. I guess I was too late."
"Mason," Serene called in a warning tone. "Try to be polite."
"It was only a joke." He mouthed and winked at her. Both of them shared a smile before he leaned back into his seat. Uncle Kendrick turned to look at me with brows raised in askance.
"Was she the one you were attending to last night?" I nodded and he sighed. "We will talk about this later. Anyway, you are welcome, Aria. I hope you are not consumed by the intense dysfunctionality of this royal family."
She nodded politely at him with a forced smile. Serene also smiled at her and welcomed her. She didn't seem to mind but her husband and Sheila did.
"I hope she's able to birth a child in time. That would do a great deal to us all." Sheila muttered and formed a chunk of meat into her mouth. I snapped my head towards her in displeasure.
"Well, if she doesn't, I can always take her in," Mason shrugged. Serene glared at him. "I don't really care about having children. I just want to spend the rest of my life in the arms of a beautiful woman, you know?"
"Oh, shut the hell up, Mason," I snapped, letting my napkin drop to the table. "You don't have to say everything that crosses your fucking mind."
"You might actually be right, brother," Mason laughed. "I apologize."
"Why's he even here with us?" Uncle Kendrick asked, looking at Mason in displeasure. "Is he supposed to be here? Wasn't he given a mansion on the outskirts of the Pack before the death of my brother, your father?"
"He's insufferable. That's what I have to suffer for my father's infidelity." I shrugged. Mason nodded. "So long as he isn't causing trouble, he is welcome to stay. But I wouldn't hesitate to throw him out the moment he fucks up."
"This is my father's Palace as much as it is yours, Lyall," Mason retorted, sounding really displeased.
"But he's dead," I smiled at him with wide eyes. "Or do you want us to dig up his grave and ask him? Do you want to be reminded that I am King? Alpha King?!"
The sound of his seat scraping against the marble floors hit my ears. Everyone winced in displeasure and when he banged his fist on the table, Aria flinched in fear. "I don't give a shit, brother. Get that? I don't care about you or this stupid Palace. I can come here whenever I like and not even you can throw me out."
With those words, he stomped out of the room in anger, leaving everyone to stare after him in surprise.
"Typical," Uncle Kendrick clicked his tongue. "I told you I don't like that boy. He's an entitled brat who thinks he has any right to this Palace. His father fucked another woman and now he thinks he is Prince."
"He actually is, honey," Serene smiled. "Let's just eat and forget that it happened."
I glanced at Aria. I could feel her discomfort from where I sat. I even saw the beads of sweat forming on her forehead as she forked food into her mouth. I didn't want her to see this. Well, maybe getting used to this was the best option.
After breakfast, Sheila was the first to leave, followed by Uncle Kendrick who had tried getting Serene to follow him. She was bent on speaking to Aria before leaving.
"Honey," She placed a hand on her arm. "Don't let anything Sheila says get to you, okay? She even hates me. So don't be too worried. You are not at fault for anything. Remember you're doing this for the throne. You are providing an heir to continue the Hardingson bloodline.”