The Ice Alpha’s Mate (Aria and Ryder) novel Chapter 102

Chapter 102

ARIA

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When I woke

up in the

morning, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go to classes, but what else can I do? Stop and wait to see how

everything will unfold?

Having something to do keeps my mind occupied on something other than this whole situation with Ryder and his father. I’m a nervous wreck. I still haven’t told him about being a Noctum.

So many things all at once.

Every time I tell myself that I should just tell him the truth and be done with it, I panic and back out. I don’t know why I’m so terrified. This won’t work if we’re not completely honest with each other, and it’s his choice if he wants to leave me and not tolerate the fact that I’m a Nocturn.

I head home directly after class, which is what Uncle Barty asked me to do. There’s a lot of chaos at the university, and most of the classes were empty. I guess people are scared of this war. The tournament has even been canceled.

It’s starting to get serious. Then again, it probably always was.

I find Ryder’s car parked outside and happiness washes over me, but the closer I get to the door, the more worried I become. He didn’t even tell me that he would be stopping by. I’m so anxious to find out how the talk with his father went.

When I walk into the living room, that’s when I realize that I have reason to worry.

“Ryder?”

My heart is beating so fast right now and I can feel his anger. I can feel it. He turns around to look at me, brows furrowed. “I’m sorry. I let myself in.”

I forget how to breathe. “What’s going on? What happened?”

Ryder looks at me for a long time without saying anything. My heart is all but slamming out of my chest right now. I can feel it in my throat. “Ryder, for the love of the goddess, tell me what’s wrong!”

“How could you keep something like that from me?”

I still and the blood in my veins turns to ice. I know what he means.

Only a fool wouldn’t.

Ryder steps toward me while I try to figure out what to say to fit this mess. The problem is that I have no excuse. None. I should have told him, plain and simple.

“Why didn’t you tell me, Aria?” he asks in a low voice. I feel his anger again, right in the pit of my stomach, and I’ve never felt guiltier in my entire life. I ignored all my instincts and now, it’s too late for me to take my actions back.

“I was afraid, Ryder.”

“Afraid?”

I part my lips to speak, then decide against it. He turns around and runs his fingers through his hair. I stare at his back and wonder what I can possibly say. Then, it occurs to me. “How did you find out?”

Ryder turns his head and looks at me. “Did you think you would we kept it a secret forever? My father’s the one who told me,”

I gasp. “He knows?”

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10:00 Mon, Mar 2

Chapter 102

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“No, I told him you were an Omega, and that I recognized you as my mate before your birthday,” he states as he walks toward me. “I figured that part out on my own, because we both know I didn’t tell him the truth.”

“Ryder-”

“All this talk of us being honest with each other…what was it all about when you’ve been keeping something of this caliber from me? How am I supposed to navigate all this? You’re my mate and you didn’t trust me enough to tell me!”

“I know I should’ve told you,” I explain, stepping toward him after what feels like an eternity. “I should’ve told you who I was from the very start. I didn’t because of my uncle. In case you didn’t…in case you had no true feelings for me, then I wouldn’t have condemned my uncle. He could die because of this. He did everything to protect me.”

“And what about after we sealed the bond?” he questions, pointing at the couch. “What stopped you from telling me then? Did you doubt my love for you, is that it? Do you even believe in any of this?”

“Of course I do,” I argue, fighting back tears. “Of course, I do! I was just…there’s no excuse. I’ve been thinking about telling you for a long time now. Keeping this from you haunted me, Ryder. I wanted to tell you. I would’ve. Please, believe me.”

I reach for him and he steps back. It breaks my heart into two. “Do you have any idea how bad this is? How bad things can get, not just for you, but for everyone around you? If you had told me…I would’ve been able to do something about it. This makes everyone around you a target, Aria! And now my father knows.”

I take deep, shaky breaths but nothing helps me shake off this miserable feeling rotting inside of me. Ryder shakes his head at me and I feel pain deep in my soul.

“I need to figure out what I’m going to do,” he claims in a low voice. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me. This puts everything into question for me. Is any of this even real?”

I don’t know what else to say, so I keep my mouth shut. Right now, all I can truly focus on is Uncle Barty. Now that his father suspects, I’ll only be a danger. Ryder was fighting for our relationship when he thought I was an Omega.

He didn’t sign up for any of this Nocturn crap.

“I feel betrayed, Aria,” he adds. “I can’t help myself. I opened myself to you. I have nothing to hide.”

My eyes are still trained on the ground. I lose all hope when he walks right past me, heading toward the door. Once I hear it closing, I let out a gasp and sobs bubble to the surface. I hold onto my chest as I make my way to the couch, sitting down.

What have I done? I ruined everything.

Uncle Barty.

Cassandra, who forged those documents to help me pass as an Omega.

They’re all condemned because of me.

I have a clear idea in my mind of what I have to do. I can’t stay here where I’ll be a threat to everything I hold dear to me. I need to leave to at least try to fix something.

I feel so guilty. I head toward my room, but stop in the bathroom to throw up.

This is all my fault.

I wash my face, then leave the bathroom quickly. I have to pack Uncle Barty can’t come home from work and find me here, waiting around for the worst to happen. I leave him a note and leave with whatever I can take with me. I have some savings. I don’t know where I’ll end up, but I’ll figure something out.

Right now, it seems like the right thing to do.

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