The Ice Alpha’s Mate (Aria and Ryder) novel Chapter 117

Chapter 117

RYDER

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Fuck, I have no idea how much time has passed. How long have been in the shithole, hoping and praying for something to happen?

At times, I have the feeling that it hasn’t been all that long. Other times, I wake up from a short, uncomfortable nap and convince myself that it’s been weeks since I last saw the sun. And Aria.

I only hope that she’s somehow figured out that I’m not going to show up and got out of there. Maybe Coach went to fetch her and they’re hiding right now. All I can do is hope, even when I feel helpless and wish for death.

My father is determined to make me suffer. I know nothing good will come of this. Since I’ve been here, I haven’t had a morsel of food. The only reason why I haven’t died of dehydration is that Lizzie brings me water from time to time.

Speaking of which.

The door opens and Lizzie walks in. I know it’s her before I see her because of the perfume she always wears. The cool glass touches my lips and I drink desperately.

I sigh in relief when I’m done. “Thank you.”

Lizzie steps back, but she doesn’t head toward the door. I can feel her eyes on me in the dark. Something is up. She usually leaves quickly so she won’t be detected.

“What’s wrong?”

I hear sniffles, and when she speaks, I can hear it in her voice that she’s crying. “I just hate seeing you in this state, Ryder! I hate that you brought this onto yourself!”

I choose to say nothing.

“I shouldn’t be bringing you any water!” she continues emotionally. “I shouldn’t be doing a damn thing for you! You humiliated me! You pushed me right into your father’s arms!”

Calmly, I disagree with her. “I did no such thing, Lizzie.”

A frustrated groan escapes her lips. “Yes, you did! If I didn’t feel so humiliated all the time, I would never have ended up in your father’s bed! I was lonely and he…he was good to me. He showed me kindness. But we could’ve been happy, Ryder. We got along so well. Everything was perfect until she stepped into the picture!”

“She was always in the picture, Lizzie,” I inform her. “You came into my life because even then, my father was trying to keep me away from her. You were the deal I made to keep her in school. I’m sorry.”

“Did you ever intend to keep your promise? Would you even have married me?”

“I guess that doesn’t matter anymore.”

“It does to me!” she exclaims. “I want to know.”

I think about her question. Yes. If Aria had rejected me, and I actually became convinced that she didn’t want me, I would’ve married Lizzie.

Not out of love, but out of duty, and because the woman I truly wanted could never be mine.

This is worse than not giving her an answer, so I opt not to answer her question. Instead, I tell her, “Such a conversation is hardly appropriate when you’re carrying my brother in your belly, Lizzie.”

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10:03 Mon, Mar 2 M

Chapter 117

64%

55 vouchers

“How can you be so cruel?” she asks in a low voice. “I truly meant nothing to you? Is that what you mean? You lied to me about everything, Ryder! I had to lean on your father because he reminded me so much of you. Even now.”

Lizzie turns around and covers her mouth with her hand to mule her cries. Do I feel terrible? Yes. But I don’t find this devastating. I don’t think blaming me is fair.

any of

“I loved you,” she adds in a much lower voice, so low that I’m not even sure if I heard her right. “And I hate myself for it. You didn’t think of me once when you betrayed me with that…that filthy Nocturn!”

The mention of Aria makes me snap my head up and I grit out angrily, “Don’t talk about her that way, Lizzie! Aria has nothing to do with this!”

“I hate her almost as much as I hate you!” she spits. “Your father will kill you. Did you know?”

I say nothing, but I feel cold. Really fucking cold.

“It’ll be a mercy,” she claims. “You’ll never be able to live with the shame of betraying your own pack.”

I knew my father had wicked plans with me, but I guess hearing her say these things caught me off-guard. What did I really expect? A pardon? A magical change in this fucked up world? He would never accept Nocturns, not with the fear he has of being replaced. I wouldn’t want his forgiveness anyway. I would rather die than deny Aria.

“I’m not ashamed,” I tell Lizzie. “There’s no shame in loving. You should know this better than anyone, considering you walked in here and told me the exact reasons why you jumped in bed with my father.”

Her slap is unexpected, but doesn’t hurt.

“You’re a bastard.”

The door opens before I can even think of responding, and Lizzie whirl around, a horrified gasp escaping her. The lights turn on and I close them right away. Fuck, they’re burning. I hear footsteps rapidly and when I crack an eye open, through the tears, I see my father glaring at Lizzie with a look I’ve never seen before.

“Lizzie,” he begins carefully, “leave. Now.”.

He’s not shouting, but he doesn’t have to. His words are lethal enough. Lizzie ducks her head and slips out of the room. She doesn’t look back. My gaze settles on my father and he looks like he’d stab me if he had a knife in his hand.

I’m sure he heard our conversation.

“I have good news, son,” he says calmly. His face doesn’t give away what he’s talking about, but I know for a fact that it can’t be good. “Your Nocturn whore has been found.”

My eyes widen and the corners of his lips twitch like he’s fighting back a smile.

No.

It can’t be.

“Sho

her

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