The Ice Alpha’s Mate (Aria and Ryder) novel Chapter 105

Chapter 105

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RYDER

I carry Aria in my arms with a destination in mind. Thankfully, is not too far away from where I originally found her-we walk for two more hours and arrive at my family’s holiday cabin nestled deep in the woods.

We used to come here all the time, whenever my father needed young, so I don’t remember her as well, but back then, Dad was belonged to his parents, and they always brought him there too

break from the world. My mother died when I was very someone else, and we always got along. He told me the cabin

bring him into contact with nature.

1. I’m in

I haven’t been back here in years. What’s there to do in the middle of nowhere? Right now, though, I’m just relieved that it’s still standing and it’s a place where Aria and I can spend the night.

She’s still pretty shaken up. It was her first shift, after all.

Honestly, I’m pretty shaken, too.

I’ve never seen a Nocturn in all my life. Where would I have seen one? The books don’t describe their appearance, so in my mind, they looked just like the rest of us. Alpha-born wolves like myself tend to be bigger than the other ranks, but Nocturns? They’re magnificent.

Aria is magnificent.

In her presence, I felt the extent of her power, even if she never realized it. It would make sense to her. Leadership is sensed by subordinates, and not necessarily by the leader. I felt weak in her presence. Unworthy.

I only understood every Alpha’s concern when I saw her with my own eyes.

Nocturns could take over packs, and Alpha-borns would blend in with everyone else. That’s why they’ve invested so much time into wiping them off the face of the earth. This is ridiculous to be fair. Ridiculous and cowardly.

The thought of someone hurting Aria for who she is seems so fucking wrong. How can they even think about destroying something so beautiful?

She’s asleep in my arms now. I stare at her face as I approach the cabin. The wooden stairs are all covered in dirt and dead leaves. I take one step at a time, careful not to wake her. I remember my first shift. It was…horrific. My bones ached for weeks afterward, and I didn’t want to ever shift again.

My body was foreign to me. I felt like an imposter.

I bet Aria feels the same way. She was crying for help while in wolf form the entire time; her wails helped me find her.

The key is hidden inside the overgrown plant pot by the door. I have to dig a little deeper into the earth to find it. I unlock the door with ease, then head inside. It’s pitch black. I’ll have to turn the generators on once I drop her in one of the rooms. The wooden floor is covered in a thick layer of dust that tickles my nostrils. I’ll have to clean up a little before she wakes up.

I remove the white cloth covering the bed while still holding her then set her down. I stroke her face lightly and brush her hair out of her face with my fingers before heading outside. Once the lights are on, I get to tidying up.

There’s no food around here, so I’ll have to head out hours before dawn to grab something before she wakes up. We’ll both need clothes, too.

Once the place is presentable and free from dust, I head to the room. As expected, Aria is still sound asleep. I lie down beside her, staring at her face as she takes shallow breaths in her sleep.

I can’t stop thinking about how she looked. My heart swells with pride each and every time. I always knew she was special, but seeing her in wolf form was proof of that. There’s always been something about her that I’ve been desperately attracted to from the moment I met her.

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10:00 Mon, Mar 2

Chapter 105

“My love,” I whisper before kissing the tip of her nose.

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Before the sun rises, I set out to do everything I have to do. I haven’t slept a wink all night. I can’t stop thinking about everything that we’ve been through. Where we’ll end up. I can’t believe she tried to run from everything, including me.

It’s my job to make her feel safe and secure with all this. I didn’t mean to instill despair so deep inside of her that she thought her life was a risk to everyone else’s.

My father and I should continue our talk. I left without imposing my will and I regret that. I was just so stunned by what he told me about her that it was all I could focus on.

I return hours later. The sun is high in the sky, and I have everything I need with me. Clothes, food, and water. It was a hard journey, but worth it. This will be a hard moment for Aria mentally and physically, and I intend to spend every moment with her.

I made sure to tell Coach that she’s safe. He wanted to come get her, but Cassandra convinced him to stay out of it. I see it in his eyes that he hates me, and I’m not entirely sure that I blame him.

I could’ve done better. I still can. I went from someone who only ever had to worry about themselves to suddenly not being able to take a proper breath without knowing she’s alright. Aria is the only thing on my mind. For once in my life, I’m not just living for myself.

It’s new. And terrifying. I’m definitely learning along the way.

The cabin is silent as I walk in. Aria’s still asleep in bed. She’ll likely wake up tomorrow morning. I have a quick bite to eat, then lie down right next to her. I cover our bodies with a blanket then allow her scent to lull me to sleep.

The whole world can wait.

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