The Ice Alpha’s Mate (Aria and Ryder) novel Chapter 118

Chapter 118

ARIA

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I try to ignore the bite of the silver chains as I impatiently wait for something to happen. Something. Anything.

When I handed myself over to a group of men patrolling the city in the name of the Alpha, looking for me, I specifically told them that I wanted my uncle and Ryder to be released. The could have me and do whatever they wanted to me, but Ryder and Uncle Barty had to be freed.

That happened over two hours ago. I know because in the room where I’ve been placed, there’s a plain circular clock on the wall. I don’t know what’s worse-losing track of time or monitoring it like a hawk the way I am.

With each passing hour, I feel the effects of silver on me. Not only is the skin on my wrists on fire, but I feel weaker, like I can drift off to sleep and never wake up.

I fight to keep my eyes open, though. I have to be awake when they come with the news. I don’t know who I’m expecting to see. The Alpha, maybe? What does the procedure even look like Will I be killed right away? Will there be a trial? Will they torture me and make me suffer for the crime of being born a Nocturn before getting rid of me?

At last, I don’t have to keep wondering anymore. The door opens and Ryder’s father walks in. Alpha Drexel is a tall and imposing man, much like his son. What sets them apart is the fact that this man is cold through and through. He has nothing behind his eyes.

His jaw is set and he’s glowering at me.

He stops only inches away from me, standing so close that my knees are brushing against his pants. I meet his gaze, not wanting to cower.

The slap catches me off guard.

“You whore!” he spits while I try to recover. Goddess, my head is spinning like crazy and I taste blood in my mouth. “You ruined my family. You almost ruined my pack!”

My ears start ringing and all I can focus on is the pain in my check. I bit myself. Blood coats my teeth and my tongue, and the taste of it sickens me.

He fists my hair suddenly, forcing me to look up at his face. A paned groan slips from my lips. It feels like he’ll rip my hair right out of my scalp.

“I’ll have you killed like I did your mother,” he spits. His eyes are filled with rage and he doesn’t loosen his hold on my hair once. My eyes start tearing up. I have to clench my jaw to keep from crying out. “But first…first you’ll understand the consequences of your existence. Of your betrayal.”

He releases me and I feel like I can breathe again. I ignore the comment about my mother. There’s nothing I can do about it and there are more pressing matters I need to discuss with him. tell him, “We made a deal!”

“Your deal means nothing here, Nocturn!” he snarls, still heading toward the door. “If you think that I’ll keep my promise to someone who shouldn’t even be alive!”

He reaches the door and throws it open. For about five seconds, don’t understand what the hell is going on, but then I see my uncle being dragged in.

He’s followed closely by Cassandra.

I throw myself forward. The chains hold me back and pain spreads up my arms. “Uncle Barty!”

His hands are tied behind his back, and he raises his head to meet my eyes. I don’t see anger in them. I see sadness and something that looks a lot like resignation.

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10:03 Mon, Mar 2 M

Chapter 118

“No,” I whisper, a sob catching in my throat. “No, goddess. Please no.”

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Alpha Drexel looks very pleased with himself. He smiles and says. “I’ve finally managed to get all the traitors in the same room. How satisfying it is to know that you’ll all be dead by the end of the week. Some of you will die quicker than the others, but the point is that justice will be served.”

I lose my temper. “What justice!? You’re killing innocent people You’re a monster!”

“You’re the monster,” he states. “You’re an abomination and it is my job as Alpha to rid the world of you and your kind! I should never have let things go as far as they did! But no matter. Now, I have a chance to fix things, and fix things I will.”

I start fighting against the chains, crying desperately. I have to do something. I came here to save them.

This can’t be. I can’t let this happen.

“Aria.

I raise my eyes to look at my uncle. His expression is stern the way it usually is, but his eyes are filling with tears. The sight destroys me. “You have to be strong now. Do you understand me?”

I shake my head, unable to get any words out. Cassandra adds, “Don’t cry. We’ve all made our choices. This isn’t your fault, Aria. Oh, my darling girl. You should’ve never come back.”

“I had to,” I say in a voice barely above a whisper while still fighting against my restraints. It hurts, but not more than knowing what happens next if I don’t do something about it. “I couldn’t let you die for me.”

“Aria-

“Set them free!” I tell the Alpha. “You have me! You don’t need them! You told me you’d let them go!”

“I gave the order to tell you whatever it took to get you in here,” he claims. “No. I won’t do that. These betrayers have no place among our pack.”

“Then make them rogues,” I say desperately. “Anything. You don’t have to kill them! I’ll do whatever you want! I’ll die in whatever way you choose!”

A dark chuckle escapes his lips. “You think you can tell me what to do? See that window up there? I suggest you look out if you want to have one last look at your uncle.”

They’re dragged out and I scream until my throat hurts. Right after they’re gone, a couple of men walk in and release the chains from around the chair so I can stand and walk around the room.

The little window the Alpha referred to was taller than me. I had to stand on my toes to look out. I screamed, begging him to stop, even though I couldn’t see anyone yet. Gallows were constructed in the middle of the courtyard outside, though, and the sight of them made me cry uncontrollably.

“Please, goddess,” I pray. “Please, spare my uncle. I can’t live with this. I won’t. Please.”

I keep praying that something will happen and they won’t be taken outside. An intervention of some kind. But then, I see them and my heart jumps right out of my chest.

“No!” I yell at the top of my lungs. “No!”

I can barely see them. They’re dragged up the wooden steps and from there, my uncle is forced to step forward first. I slam my body against the wall, crying. I keep staring, waiting for that miracle. Waiting for the thing that will save my uncle.

It doesn’t come.

He and Cassandra are hanged.

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10:03 Mon, Mar 2 M

Chapter 118

My world falls apart.