The Ice Alpha’s Mate (Aria and Ryder) novel Chapter 109

Chapter 109

ARIA

I don’t mean to, but the longer Ryder stays gone, the more I worly about him.

Where could he be?

Judging by my calculations and what he told me, Ryder should’ve been back by now. It’s two in the afternoon.

64%

55 vouchers

I rub my hands and pace the floor of the living area. Occasionally, I peer out the window to stare at the stairs below, hoping to spot him. At this point, I don’t know what’s instinct and what’s paranoia.

I have this strong feeling that something is wrong but I don’t want to entertain it. Maybe I’m just imagining the worst. In the morning, I didn’t want him to go. The urge to wrap my arms around his neck and never let him go was ‘strong, but of course, I knew it would be crazy to do that.

Now, I’m starting to regret not mentioning something and acting on that bad feeling.

“No,” I say out loud. “Stop it.”

Ryder will be fine. In fact, soon, he will be back, and I’ll feel stupid for having worried so much.

I move toward the window once more to stare at the stairs, telling myself that I’ll see him any minute now. After five minutes, I don’t see anything.

Sighing, I turn around, intending to head into the living room, and that’s when I hear something: The sound of creaking wood coming from outside.

My heart leaps with joy and I throw the front door open, heading outside. “Ryder?”

I look around, confused because I’m sure of what I heard. Someone was on the stairs. The sound is way too distant, and I’m sure I’m not making a mistake here. I call his name again, descending the wooden stairs and wondering where he could be.

It’s only when I reach the bottom that I realize I must’ve made a mistake; Ryder isn’t here. Fear replaces the initial excitement that surged through me at the thought of seeing him and I draw back, alarmed now.

What if it were someone else?

I reach the cabin and hurry to close the door behind me. I then lock it, deciding that when Ryder returns, he’ll have to knock. It’s much better to be safe than sorry.

I hear movement behind me and whirl around quickly. At the sight of the barefoot man dressed in a white robe standing near the fireplace, I draw back quickly. My back hits the door and I gasp in horror.

He tilts his shaved head to the side and says, “You look like your father.”

My heart is thundering in my chest and it takes me a shockingly ong time to react. For several seconds, all I can do is stand rooted to the spot, unsure of what to do next.

This fear will only condemn me, though. I must act quickly, before it’s too late. Without looking, I feel the door for the lock. The man watches all this patiently, hands clasped in front of him “You don’t have to try to run, Aria Murdock. I won’t hurt you. If you were in tune with your wolf, you would realize that.”

My hand freezes on the doorknob and I narrow my eyes at him. This is a strange thing for someone who’d harm me to say. Besides, my first impression was that this was a man, but his voice is way too feminine. “Who are you?”

“Someone who knows you,” he or she answers, stepping toward me slowly. “Doesn’t that count?”

1/3

10:01 Mon, Mar 2 M☀

Chapter 109

“What would it count for?”

“If I wanted you dead, you’d be dead already.”

ས ༢ 64%©

55 vouchers

I realize that I’m being a total fool for standing here and listening to this crap. I throw the door open and rush down the wooden steps. I don’t even look back to see if the person is following me. I need to get out of here.

Before I reach the bottom step, I trip. Pain shoots up my leg and I go crashing down, hitting the ground with a thud. The person is by my side in a flash, reaching for my arm.

I pull away, hissing. “Get the hell away from me!”

“You’ll need to be stronger if you’re going to survive the fight tha’s coming.”

I scramble to my feet and back away, ignoring the pain in my ankle. Dammit, how am I supposed to run? The thought of shifting fills me with horror and I have no idea why. The man or woman follows me, lips pursed.

“You do know what I mean, don’t you?”

“What do you want from me?” I ask, backing away still. “You work for the Alpha, don’t you?”

“No. I don’t. I’m only trying to help you.”

“Help me?”

“I’ve been watching you for a long time.”

1

I freeze even though I don’t mean to, then continue backing away. The person continues. “I was in your position years ago, Aria. I’m a Nocturn myself. Like I said, if I wanted you dead, you’d be dead already. You’re in no way prepared for a fight. You’re weak.”

This time, I stop completely. It might be the biggest mistake I’ve ever made, but for some reason, I feel that these words are genuine. “You’re a Nocturn…how?”

“There are more of us. You’re not the only Nocturn alive, despite what the Alphas are feeding their packs.”

“Where?” I question. “Where are the rest?”

“Hidden in a safe place. The world was never kind to us. Hiding the only way we stay alive. They once tried to wipe us off the face of the earth, but the goddess has plans of her own and they can’t be interfered with. If we don’t hide, we’re persecuted and killed, and you made a huge mistake choosing the medical field. It’s where you’re more exposed.”

This person knows about my work as a medic on the team. I’m…larmed isn’t even the right word. “How do you know all this? Why have you even been following me? How did you find out about me?”

“These are answers I can answer if you give me a chance to. Inside. It’s a long story. But for that, you must decide whether or not you trust me. Tune in to your intuition. What does it say?

Trust. That’s the first word that pops into my mind.

But deep down, something is bothering me, and every time I pay attention to the feeling, my heart sinks. It’s the absolute certainty that something bad is either happening or is about to, and I don’t know what it could be.

2/3

10:01 Mon, Mar 2 M