The Ice Alpha’s Mate (Aria and Ryder) novel Chapter 13

Chapter 13

ARIA

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Every time I take a deep breath, it’s impossible for me to ignorest how tightly the knots in my stomach are tied.

What the hell was that?

I’ve been home for hours, and I’m terrified that Uncle Barty will snap at me for what happened. And he’ll have every right to because he specifically asked me to stay out of trouble, and what did I do?

I got myself into the kind of trouble from which there’s no return, that’s what.

Only this time, it isn’t my fault at all. I didn’t ask for any of this to happen. I didn’t ask Ryder Drexel for help, and it’s crazy that he even did all that to begin with.

How am I ever supposed to enter the History lesson after this fiasco? It’s not even that I’m dreading what Professor Denver will think—if he was truly manipulating my grades in order to obtain something from me, then he deserved to be called out.

It’s that I’m afraid of how badly things will go for me. What if he owers my grades even more? What if I get expelled? He’s the son of an Alpha. The worst that can happen to him is probably a slap on the wrist.

What about me?

Over dinner, I keep expecting my uncle to mention something to me. Everything seems normal, though, and that reassures me because my uncle has never been one to act.

When he’s angry, the whole world will know he’s angry.

Maybe I’m off the hook here and nobody will find out what happened with Professor Denver.

But early in the morning, my hope shatters.

I wake up to the sound of pounding on my door. I sit up right away, my eyes going wide. “Aria?”

I bite my lip. I wish I could ignore him, but I’ll have to face him at some point. I squeak out, “Yes?”

Judging by the sound of his voice, I already know it’s trouble. He opens the door and barges in, his dark and heavy brows furrowed. My heart sinks to my stomach before he even asks his question.

“What did you do?”

I gulp and shake my head. I have no idea what’s going on right now.

What does he know?

What has he heard?

“I asked you to stay low, Aria,” he says angrily, but not explosively It’s like he’s trying his best to be patient with me, and I usually find that this is worse than when he just yells at me. This in turn makes me even more agitated. “You know the risks. You know as well as I do what happens if you’re discovered!”

“Yes!” I burst out, losing my grip on my forced calmness. “Yes! You remind me of this every day and I’m sick of hearing about it! Sometimes I just wish they’d kill me already so this can all end! I want it to stop!” Breathing harshly, I add in a lower voice, “I’m tired of being afraid.”

His eyes search mine, and it doesn’t take me long to feel bad about my tone of voice. But my apology is interrupted by the feel of something inside of me just…lurching. Yes, that’s what it is It’s like there’s this separate thing inside of me that makes

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Chapter 13

moves, and I feel it like I would a second heart.

What is that?

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A growl nearly tears out of me, but I swallow it down and meet Uncle Barty’s eyes, alarmed. Did he hear that? If he did, he doesn’t comment on it. In his eyes, I still see disappointment.

He gives his head. “You have to come with me. Be ready in a few minutes.”

It’s Saturday. Why on earth would I be required to go with him if it weren’t serious? I used to go when I was interning as a medic.

I think I’m in a lot of trouble.

I’m left alone with my thoughts and crippling guilt. I cover my face with both hands and fight the urge to cry. This is a messed-up situation. I don’t know what to do about it at all.

I hate Ryder Drexel with all my heart. Look at what he’s done to me!

Rising from bed, I hurry to get dressed for classes. I don’t need to be late on top of everything else. I’m shocked by what’s happening inside of me. That growl was….by the goddess, why do I feel so hot all of a sudden? It’s like my cheeks are burning

I test my temperature with the back of my hand, and I’m shocked to realize that my face is cool, and I just have the impression that I’m burning up. What’s going on? I’ve never experienced anything like this.

It’s almost like my wolf…

No. What am I saying? I don’t have a wolf! It should’ve resurface a long time ago like everyone else’s. I’m a runt.

Maybe it’s just stress.

Back to Uncle Barty…what did he hear? What does he know? I’m orn between really wanting to know and avoiding this issue like the plague at the same time.

The ride to the university is silent. I’m fidgeting with the strap of my bag because I don’t know what to do anymore. I want to ask him what he knows, but at the same time, I know we’re only going to argue about this.

“Follow me to my office,” Uncle Barty says abruptly as he gets out of the car. I take a few deep breaths once I’m alone in the car, just to calm myself.

Then, I follow him to his office and brace myself for the bad news I’ll most likely receive.

Uncle Barty’s office is pretty messy. He has files filled with stats and other details covering every surface. I don’t even know how he can work at his desk. With a groan, he sits down.

I watch him anxiously and wonder what he’ll say.

He looks at me steadily. I almost want to beg him to take me out of my misery, I can’t stand the suspense.

“You’re back on the team.”

My eyes widen, and I wonder if I heard him correctly. “What?”

“An appeal was made,” he claims. “By none other than Ryder Drexel. The headmaster reviewed it, and you’re off the hook, Aria.”

A surprised, strangled sound escapes my lips and I bring my hands together. Words can’t describe how happy I am, but at the same time, I’m in shock.

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Chapter 13

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“Why did he make such an appeal?” he suddenly asks, inching closer to his desk. “What’s going on here? Is there something you aren’t telling me?”

I shrug. The full story is too complicated for me to share with him. Maybe I’ll regret this at some point, but for now, that’s what I think. “I don’t know. I thought he didn’t want me on the team either.”

Uncle Barty watches me with a blank expression on his face, and I can’t tell what he’s thinking. It’s not altogether a lie, though.

I don’t know what prompted him to make an appeal for me. He and I don’t get along, and that’s been clear from the very

start.

But maybe I got it all wrong?

Uncle Barty warns me about all the consequences (again), and then I’m free to go and get dressed. Medics have a uniform, and I should be in mine at all times. As I get dressed, I can’t stop thinking about all this.

Why did he do that? Why?

As I step out of the dressing room, I nearly bump into him. He’s not alone, though. The whole team is behind him. He turns his head to maintain eye contact, then inevitably looks away.

My face colors, and I realize that I don’t have a clue how to approach this situation at all.

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