The Ice Alpha’s Mate (Aria and Ryder) novel Chapter 116

Chapter 116

ARIA

By the time I reach the pack, the sky is dark and the streets are all empty.

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The last thing I need is to be seen in wolf form, so I race to my uncle’s house, counting the minutes until I get there because I can’t wait to see him.

All the lights are off. That’s the first thing I notice when I reach i The front door is closed, but not locked, and his car is in the driveway.

That has to mean he’s sleeping.

I look around to ensure that nobody’s watching me, then shift back quickly to open the door. I hurry inside, fully naked, and race to my bedroom to put some clothes on before I wake him.

My hands are shaking as I pull a pair of jeans on. Ryder being captured by his father is not something I ever thought would happen. I have a terrible feeling inside of me, like all is lost.

I can only hope that this is paranoia.

I throw my door open and hurry to my uncle’s. I knock a little harshly. “Uncle Barty? It’s me, Aria. Can I come in?”

No answer comes. I knock again, louder this time. Still nothing. open his door tentatively, heart slamming against the base of my throat.

I turn the lights on. The room is completely empty.

He’s not here.

How can he not be here? His car is parked outside and he never goes anywhere without it.

The house looks completely fine. It hasn’t been ransacked or anything. But I found the door unlocked and that should’ve been my first red flag.

At this point, I don’t know what to do. I have to be careful because if I’m not, I’ll be caught next. Is it possible that he went into hiding? Does Cassandra know anything about this? I lost my phone when I shifted and abandoned the bag I had with me, so I have no way of calling her.

What do I do now? Where do I go?

I could ask neighbors, but who do I trust not to alarm the Alphas soon as I approach their door? Luca. His name pops into my mind and I become determined to find him. He usually closes the shop later in the evening, so if I’m lucky, I might still catch him.

I race my way there, hoping and praying that I won’t be seen. I stick to the shadows. I get there in under ten minutes and find the lights on. Thank the goddess for that.

I peer through the windows to make sure he’s all alone, then head inside. Luca looks up and we make eye contact. He tenses visibly. I open my mouth to greet him, but Mrs. Ortega emerges from the store room, and when she sees me, she drops the box she was holding.

“What’re you doing here!?” she asks in a shrill voice. “Get out! You’re not wanted here!”

“Mom,” Luca says through his teeth, looking away from me.

“I don’t care!” she answers wildly. “You’re going to bring us nothing but trouble!”

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10:02 Mon, Mar 2 M

Chapter 116

“I just need to find out what happened to my-”

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She throws a can at me. I evade it and it hits the glass wall behind me, shattering it. The noise might alarm other people, so I have no choice but to walk out without answers.

Oh, Uncle Barty. Where are you?

As soon as I step foot outside, Luca comes after me. “Aria, wait up!”

I whirl around to face him. He stops a few feet away from me.

Running a hand through his dark hair, he says, “I’m sorry about my mom. I just…she’s scared. That’s all I can say. The Alpha and his men were searching for you. People were questioned. It was terrible. We were warned that if we try to hide you…”

Goddess. I had no idea that things were this bad. “I understand. I don’t mean to cause any trouble. I just want to know where my uncle is.”

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Luca touches his hair again and I feel sick to my stomach. He’s hesitating, which can only mean that whatever he wants to say to me isn’t good.

“Did something happen to him?”

He takes a deep breath before rubbing a hand through his hair. ‘m sorry, Aria. They came for him. It was on the day we found out that you were being hunted. They’re saying you’re a Nocturn. Is it true?”

“What do you mean, they came for him?”

“The Alpha and his men dragged him away.”

“When was this!?”

“Yesterday.”

My heart starts pounding in my chest as fear takes over my body. This can’t be. While my uncle was being captured, I was hiding away, thinking that I was doing them a favor when I’d already condemned them.

I can’t believe my uncle has been taken away.

“What’re you going to do?” Luca asks. “You can’t stay here, Aria. They’re bound to come for you. You have to run! It’s the only way you’ll be safe.”

I can’t answer him, but I know deep down that I would never be able to run while my uncle is in their clutches. Not only him, but Ryder, too. How can I run away and let them die because of me? How will I live with myself?

The Alpha will hurt them to get to me. I know it.

“Aria.” I look back at Luca and see that he has a hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry. I wish I could do more for you.”

“I don’t expect you to, Luca,” I assure him in a small voice. “This is my fight. My mess.”

“What are you going to do?”

“What I should’ve done a long time ago. Thank you. For everything.”

“Aria…”

I walk away from him, trying hard not to cry as despair washes over me. I have to do something. Nobody can die for me. I would never let that happen.

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10:02 Mon, Mar 2 M

Chapter 116

If the Alpha wants me so badly, then he can have me.

Whatever it takes to leave the people I love out of this.

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