The Ice Alpha’s Mate (Aria and Ryder) novel Chapter 24

Chapter 24

ARIA

When the time to head to practice rolls around, nervousness takes over my body.

I’m not looking forward to it at all.

80%f

55 Vouchers

I’ve spent the last couple of hours in the library, trying to hide myself behind a book. However, I haven’t been paying attention to anything I’ve been reading.

Now, the time I’ve been dreading has come.

I stride into the building, holding my bag close to me, and stop by my uncle’s office, first. I can hear the sounds of the skates against the ice, so the team’s already here.

And why does that make me so nervous when I’ve finally gotten what I wanted all along-distance from Ryder?

I knock on his door and thankfully, the sound is sharp enough to pull me out of my thoughts. He whirls around and I’m surprised to see a smile on his face. “Aria! Come in here. I have a surprise!”

This is so random. I watch him, stunned, as I walk toward his desk. “What kind of surprise?”

I think this is the first time my uncle has ever said this sentence.

“There’s a new Omega family in town, and they want to meet us. Make some introductions,” he explains. The longer he talks, the harder he smiles, and the worst part is that I haven’t understood what the surprise is.

“Okay?”

“They have a son about your age,” he claims. “A little older.”

“I still don’t see where this is going.”

His face contorts. “What’s wrong with you today? You’re a little sow. I think it’s a good idea! They’re shop owners and the son will help out.” He sees it in my face that I still don’t get it. “Ara-they want to introduce their son to you. I suggested it.”

I arch a brow. “What? In that sense?”

“What other sense is there?”

I scoff. “No, thank you!”

“What does that mean?” he asks angrily. “Now, listen here, young lady! This is the best thing I’ve heard all week, so don’t you dare give me that! Maybe what you need is…is someone to keep ou grounded! There, I said it.”

His face is so red and he looks so flustered that I can’t help but raise an eyebrow at him. “What are we talking about here, Uncle?”

Uncle Barty clears his throat and gives his pants a tug by trying to pull them up even though they don’t need it. It’s something he does whenever he’s nervous. “I won’t get into that with you, but I know that at a certain age, young people start to feel…restless. And maybe what you need is a nice Omega boy to keep you company and that you can envision a future with.”

I scoff. He’s really going there? “I don’t need company, and this so bizarre! It sounds like an arranged marriage to me and I don’t even know him!”

“You have your sights on someone else?”

1/3

10:20 Wed, Feb 18 B.

Chapter 24

༥ 79%L

55 vouchers

I hesitate, for some reason, and one face in particular invades my mind, but I push it out immediately. No way. Instead, I tell my uncle, “I don’t want a boyfriend!”

“Well, you’re meeting him regardless! Then you can decide! We go to dinner tonight at the Huntington place, and then you can make your decisions there! But I met him and I think you’d be a fool to let him slip past your fingers. I know every decent family with a young lady will want to secure a match with him.”

“Fine. Whatever you want.”

This is so ludicrous that I don’t know if I should laugh or cry. I start toward the door, and that’s when Ryder appears, knocking sharply. The sight of him showing up so suddenly makes my heart skip a beat. His eyes are on my uncle when he says, “Coach, a word?”

“Come in, Drexel.”

Just as he’s walking past me, his gaze flickers to my eyes and we make eye contact for the smallest moment. Something strong passes between us that honestly makes my heart beat a little faster. But like everything else that involves him, I ignore it.

He appeared so suddenly at the door and right when I was walking out that it almost feels like…he was already there.

Was he?

Again, I push these thoughts out of my mind and make my way to the medical room. Ten minutes later, the game starts, and there’s so much noise that I have to leave my room and see what’s happening.

Uncle Barty whistles. “Hey! Time out! What’s that about?”

I realize that he’s talking to Ryder, who’s staring back at him with an anger that’s palpable while breathing hard. Already, there’s blood on the ice, and the sight of it alarms me because practice is never this rough.

A few moments later, someone needs to come to the medic room. I’m the only one on duty, so I’m the one who has to stitch them up.

Almost every player on the team comes to me-except for Ryde

When it’s Tyler’s turn, he’s breathing harshly and says, “I didn’t think that Coach’s pep talk earlier was going to do this!”

“Oh?” is all I say as I clean the cut on his leg.

“Yeah. It’s insane. Something’s gotten into the team and I don’t know what it is. It’s not exactly a bad thing. It’s just… I don’t know. Are you alright?”

“Yeah,” I answer, meeting his gaze briefly before wrapping a bandage around his leg. “You’re all set.”

Tyler stares into my eyes for a handful of seconds, then stands. Thanks, Aria.”

“Sure.”

I practically follow him out and go to stand near my uncle because the room reeks of antiseptic now and it makes me a little nauseous. He’s shaking his head as he watches the team play.

“I don’t know what’s gotten into that kid,” he claims, and I automatically know that he’s talking about Ryder because he’s the center of the whole show.

I watch as he slams his own friends into walls and hits people with the stick as he skates past, the same way he would against opponents. His face is a mask of concentration mixed with anger

I recall what happened earlier in the library and shudder. But of course, he wouldn’t be that mad about it. Why would he?

2/3

10:20 Wed, Feb 18

Chapter 24

B

ས379%°

55 vouchers

That wouldn’t make sense at all.

“Do you have enough medical supplies in there?”

“All sorted.”

“Good. I’ll order more. At this rate, we’ll need as much as we can get.”

I don’t comment, and before I can make eye contact with him again, I start toward the medical room, where I sit and wait for my next patient.

3/3

AD

Comment

Send gift