The Ice Alpha’s Mate (Aria and Ryder) novel Chapter 28

Chapter 28

RYDER

My eyes haven’t left Aria’s table since I sat down.

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From my table. I have the perfect view of her, and if she looked my way, we’d make eye contact, but she knows I’m watching so she’s avoiding this at all costs.

All around me, the talk shifts from topic to topic, and I’ve lost interest in trying to keep up with what they’re saying a long time ago. I’m staring at the back of Luca’s head and I want nothing more than to sink my teeth into him and tear him apart. limb from limb.

What kind of arrangement even is this?

“Yeah, I hear Zach say. I think that’s a really great idea for a party. We could always celebrate before the game. Cement the win. It’ll be awesome. What do you think, Ryder?”

“What?”

“A party before the big game,” he echoes. “Like we’re celebrating our win beforehand.”

“What would the point of that be?” I ask genuinely. “We can always throw one when we win.”

“Yeah, but it’ll be cooler. Like we’re showing the whole pack that we’re confident in our win.”

I don’t answer him, and he continues brainstorming with Finn. Right now, I’m not in the mood for any of this. I focus on Aria and whether or not she’s looking at Luca.

By the goddess. I feel like I’ve lost my mind.

Suddenly, she excuses herself and I watch her head to the other end of the restaurant, where the toilets are. I look around at the table and notice that nobody’s paying any attention to her, so I stand up, too.

“Where are you going?” Zach questions.

“Toilet,” I reply dismissively.

I have to walk past her table to get there, and I make eye contact with Coach Murdock, who gives me a withering look that I ignore completely. Right now, I have bigger things to worry about than his warnings.

This might be a mistake-but I can’t do shit about it.

As soon as I reach the women’s restroom, I open the door and sure enough, she’s standing with her hands braced on the sink, her head hanging low. I lock the door so we’re not interrupted. Upon hearing me approach, she looks up and her eyes widen immediately. “What are you doing here? Have you lost your mind?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” I retort, closing the distance between us. There’s a thin layer of sweat on her forehead and she has this wild, untamed look about her. “What are you doing participating in something like this?”

Aria sucks in a breath. “I can’t believe you’re asking me this because what I do with my personal life has nothing to do with you, Ryder.”

Her words hit a nerve, mostly because she’s right. I’ve been acting so unlike myself that I might as well have lost my mind. But I can’t walk away.

And I can’t hide the fact that I’m pissed that she’s here, getting to know someone else.

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17 20 Sat, Feb 21

Chapter 28

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Aria’s back hits the wall, but I only stop when our bodies are only inches apart. “You don’t want to be here, so why are you doing this?”

Anger flashes in her eyes. “That’s none of your business!”

1 slam my hands on the wall behind her, caging her in. “Everything you do is my business. Haven’t you realized that yet?”

The flash of possessiveness that takes over my body confuses me but there’s no taking it back. We’re both shocked by what just said.

“What are you talking about?” she asks weakly. “I’ve asked you to leave me alone.”

“But I can’t,” I admit.

Despair crosses her face and she throws her head back. My gaze drops to her neck, and I get a whiff of her scent that drives my wolf wild. It’s warm. Creamy. So fucking good that my mouth waters.

I inch closer to her, and the look in her eyes shifts, too. Something passes between us, and my heart’s pace picks up. I stiffen in my pants and the longer I inhale her scent, the more I want her.

She’s so damn beautiful.

I start to say, “Aria, I—”

I’m cut off by the sound of someone knocking on the door while trying to twist the door handle. “Aria? Are you in there?”

Panic clouds her features and she pushes me away. “Look what you’ve done!”

The knocking continues, and irritation washes over me because our moment came to an end. Before I know it, Aria is pushing me into one of the three stalls. “Stay there! Don’t come out!”

She slams the door in my face and all I can do is lock it. Then, she opens the door and the woman says, “Oh! Is everything alright? You look flustered!”

“I’m fine,” she lies.

“I just wanted to check on you,” the woman claims, and I suddenly realize that she can only be Luca’s mother. “You were taking so long.”

“Oh, I was just busy.”

“I’m sorry if I intruded, then,” the woman remarks before laughing maniacally. I frown, wondering what the hell is wrong with her. “I just want you to know that I’m very happy that we’re all getting along so well.”

“I am, too.”

I clench my jaw and strain my ears to hear better. Mrs. Ortega adds, “I don’t know how much your uncle has told you, but I want my son to…be with a girl like you, Aria. You seem so responsible. So sure of yourself.”

I have to hold back the scoff threatening to pour out of my lips. What kind of guy depends on his mother to do this for him?

What the fuck is going on here?

“What do you think about that?”

I realize that Aria hasn’t answered yet and that can only be a good thing. Aria hesitates some more, not giving the woman the answer she wants right away.

“I don’t know,” she reveals, and relief swarms me. “I haven’t thought about any of this. It’s all so new I…I can’t tell you what I

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Chapter 28

want. I don’t know your son very well.”

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“Yes, yes,” Mrs. Ortega answers. “Of course! You need some time to think. It’s only natural. But you can call me anytime you need something. Here-this is my phone number. I’d appreciate it if you did.”

“Thank you.”

“You can even stop by our place and we could bake something together,” she adds before giggling. “I think it would be so much fun!”

“I do, too,” Aria answers, but I can hear it in her voice that she’s tired of this conversation.

I hear footsteps, and then the woman says in a lower voice to Aria. “I know your uncle did his best with you, but I think it’s about time you had a motherly figure in your life, and I volunteer. I think you’re an amazing young woman, and any man would be lucky to have you.”

“Thank you.” Aria says again and I’m not so sure about her tone.

I’m fuming. What the hell is this about? Why are they forcing this on her?

I hear them leave the bathroom. Running a hand through my hair, I decide that I’m not going to let this shit happen.

Not on my watch.

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