Chapter 4 1

JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

PRESENT

Aria is beyond nervous the moment her feet landed on the ground after a long flight from New Zealand where she had been hiding the whole time she was gone. And she is a nervous mess, and it's not because it's her first time coming back to her home country in 3 years, but because she knows that no one should know that she is back if she wants to live a peaceful life. Three years ago, she left with nothing but a few old clothes in her small luggage. She left not of her own accord, but because someone forced her out of her own home and separated her from her little family. After learning that she lost her angel, someone forced her to leave.

Aria gulped as she saw that she was indeed back after long years of being alone in a foreign land just to survive, to keep her heart beating... to be alive.

She could still feel the pain, the agony of longing for her mate, and the horrible memory of losing her daughter, her angel...her pup. It's been three years since she grieved the loss of her baby and yet the pain never subsided. It's as if the hole in her heart never healed.

FLASHBACK

Aria could still remember how her best friend Alex informed her about the death of her pup. She couldn't believe it. She never wanted to believe it because she knew Kiana was born a healthy pup. But then Alex drove her towards the Carter's mansion so she could see it for herself.

Unfortunately, she never made it inside the grand mansion of her mate's family because a very livid Julius Carter approached her first. She could still remember how the older alpha growled at her, as if he were ready to rip her head off. She could still remember how Cyrus's father shoved two documents at her the moment he faced her. The first paper didn't even surprise her anymore. It was a divorce paper for her and her husband, her mate. She took the paper and ignored the older man because she went there for another reason. Seeing her pup was her wish. She wanted to see Kiana with her own eyes because no matter how Alex explained and convinced her that her baby was dead, her heart wouldn't just accept it.

"What are you even still doing here? My son only married you because he wanted a pup, but you just ended up giving him a weak one! Now your omega pup is dead, too. So you have no business here. A lowly Omega like you doesn't even deserve to step foot in my house!" Julius yelled as he threw the other document in her face.

The Omega felt so numb at that moment. She couldn't even cry. Her mind and her heart refused to believe them. She knew in her heart that her Kiana was still alive, but the moment she saw the other document, she began to tremble. Tears welled up in her eyes and her hands shook as she read the contents of the other document.

'Death Certificate of Kiana Carter'

Kaya felt like her soul had left her body. She felt like her heart broke into pieces. She couldn't believe it. The other day, she left Kiana with her nanny because she needed to attend her last seminar in order to graduate."No. No... no, this isn't real. Where is my daughter? Give me my daughter back!" Aria started to scream as she tore the death certificate in her hands.

Julius blocked her way when she attempted to run towards the mansion.

"Where do you think you're going? Cyrus does not want you near him and his dead pup. Why do you think I'm giving you the documents? You have no place here! A poor lowly Omega like you does not belong to our family, so do yourself a favor and sign those papers before you leave or else you will face my son's wrath too! I'm sure you wouldn't want that!" he smirked before he pushed the omega away.

Aria cried. She cried harder not just because she lost her pup but because she felt like she was also about to lose her mate. She knows it's all her fault for leaving and prioritizing her seminar, but Cyrus also agreed to it, too.

Her mate even helped her pack her things. He even brought her to the airport when he also left for Los Angeles.

"No, I want to see them. Please, Mr. Carter, let me see my pup. Let me talk to Cyrus, please." Aria began to beg when she felt like she was losing hope.

"I already told you, Cyrus does not want to see you anymore. He does not want anything to do with you anymore, so do yourself a favor...just sign the divorce papers and leave in peace." Julius tried to convince her again.

Aria knows the old man could be lying, but there was a probability he was telling the truth because if Cyrus was really inside, then why was he not coming out yet? She was screaming and yelling for almost half an hour outside the mansion now, and yet her mate didn't even come to see her. The omega started to sob. This time it was not just because she lost her pup and mate, but also because she knew she wouldn't be able to survive without them. She only spent a short period with her mate while Kiana was just 3 months old and yet her whole life revolves only around them.

" Please..... I will do anything you ask me to do. Just please let me see my daughter one last time." Aria knelt in front of the older man. She didn't care if she looked desperate. She doesn't even care if the other wolves around gave her odd looks.

Hell, she didn't even think to ask herself why Rina and Alex were standing in front of the door of the Carter's mansion. All she wanted was to see his pup one last time.

Julius smiled to himself when he realized his plans were working. He nods at Aria after having the satisfaction of watching the Omega beg in front of him.

"You have to sign the divorce paper first before I show you where she is.... and you also have to leave after that. I'm sure you don't want to add another burden to Cyrus's shoulders. I will arrange your departure as soon as possible. I will give you enough money to start your new life away from my family. Just promise me one thing..." Julius trailed off.

"I will do whatever you want me to do..just please let me see my daughter," Aria pleaded.

"My driver will take you to our family's cemetery. Your pup belongs to the Carter's so we decided to let her rest there. After that, he will take you to the airport. I am counting on you, Aria Thomson. Never show your face to my son ever again. He hates you and he will never forgive you." He said before he turned his back on the crying Omega.

END OF FLASHBACK

Aria closed her eyes one more time before she took a deep breath. She knows she promised Julius that she would never show her face to any of them again and she had no plan to break that promise. She didn't even contact her only friends Alex and Rina because she also cut all ties with them since she left 3 years ago.

There are still many questions in her head regarding what happened back then but for now, all she wants to do is find the address she saved in her phone. Harris gave her the address when she told him she wanted to come back to the US.

She met Harris Williams on the plane when She was leaving. The older beta started a conversation with her when he noticed that she was crying. He tried to comfort her too and even offered her his house in New Zealand when he learned that she had nowhere to go.

It was as if Harris was sent by the Moon goddess herself because he didn't just offer her a temporary house but he offered to give her a job as well. Aria learned that the beta owns a brewing business in New Zealand so he often travels from New York to Wellington to oversee his business.

It was tough for the young omega but since she still wanted to survive despite all the heartbreaks she had been through, she managed to learn everything with Harris's help.

Aria is still taking in all that is in front of her when she suddenly remembers that she has to leave soon to avoid any eyes that will recognize her. She knows that Cyrus is now more popular because he was involved in politics so she doesn't want to take the chance of being spotted by anyone who knows about her. Little did she know, one of Cyrus's staff already spotted her.

Evan who had been pinning over his boss. At first, he wasn't sure he saw Aria walking towards the exit of the airport so he discreetly followed her.

Evan's eyes widened when he finally took a closer look at the omega who was, on suppressant, her hair was also different from how it used to be but the beauty mark on the tip of her nose confirmed that it was indeed Aria, the runaway mate of his boss.