The Ice Alpha’s Mate (Aria and Ryder) novel Chapter 30

Chapter 30

ARIA

Friday morning arrives in a breeze.

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The important game is later, and the whole school is in shambles. Everyone’s excited, and everywhere I go, I can hear people whispering about it.

I know it’s a match that matters-it’s going to solve a dispute, so we have to win, or we’ll be the ones to relinquish land. Nobody wants that.

The members of the Moonveil Pack have started arriving to watch the pack, and there’s tension in the air because of it. For as long as we’ve all been alive, there has always been tension between the Moonveil Pack and our pack, Ironclaw. We have good relations with other packs, but Moonveil? It’s always been an issue.

That means there’s so much more to this game than meets the eye. It’s about who’s best, really-and if the hockey team loses, it’ll be shameful for us all.

Well, not me. I don’t really care much about competition with other packs. I guess it’s because I’ve always felt like an outsider. After all, I don’t have a wolf.

They’d all treat me like an outsider if they knew what I was, anyway, so what does it matter?

But I’ll be on duty alongside Dan, who’s the true medic, so I’m nervous. Of course, I am. I want Ironclaw to win. I know how much this whole thing means to my uncle. He’s worked so hard to make the team better. Despite his status as an Omega, he’s always proven to be an excellent coach.

Plus, it’ll cheer him up. He’s been in a sour mood all week, and no, I don’t think it has much to do with me.

This game is stressing everyone out.

I help Dan get the supplies ready. I’ll just be assisting him, so the load won’t be on my shoulders entirely like the last match.

The arena is starting to fill up with people, and it’s been naturally divided. Moonveil on one side. Ironclaw on the other. Right across from our medic room is Moonveil’s medic team. There are four of them, and I think the number is an exaggeration.

Four? Why would they need four medics?

I help Dan pack everything, and he turns to me with a smile and says, “Let’s just hope nothing out of the ordinary happens, right?”

I smile and nod. “Right.”

He gives me a long look that concerns me before asking, “What the matter? Are you feeling okay?”

My hand immediately goes to my forehead. It’s sticky with sweat “Yeah, I’m fine.”

I’m not.

“Sure? You seem a little…under the weather. If you need to sit this one out-”

“No, it’s just a little hot in here, that’s all. I’m fine. Really.”

The truth is that whatever struck me during the weekend is now slowly getting worse. I feel even sicker than I did before, but not in a way that stops me from getting things done.

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17 20 Sat, Feb 21

Chapter 30

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It’s this feverish feeling that refuses to go away. Like something inside of me wants to just come out, but it’s stuck inside of me. Like a pimple forming under the surface that needs to erupt It’s inflamed. Red. Hot. It’s the only way I can explain how I feel.

Otherwise? I’m fine. Sometimes, I’ll have tremors, but that’s only late at night, when I’m trying to fall asleep.

Dan disrupts my train of thought when I hear him say, “Here comes the team.”

I snap my head in the direction of the door and see them all passing by in their uniforms. When it’s Ryder’s turn to walk past the door, he gives me a sideways glance before averting his gaze. The moment is over before I know it, but the feeling of seeing him lingers.

I haven’t seen him all week. He hasn’t been showing up for the one class we have in common, and I can’t help but wonder if it’s because of me and what happened earlier this week.

I know it’s ridiculous to think this because he could very well be skipping class due to practice, but I have a feeling that’s not the case.

And I have no idea why.

I should be happy that he has finally left me alone, and not concerned about why he’s not in class. I don’t understand myself sometimes. I don’t get what pushes me to even feel this way when I know in my mind and in my heart that I just want distance from him.

It’s safer that way.

“I’ll go find out if the other pack’s medics have everything they need. We’re the ones hosting,” Dan says to me before striding out of the room.

I inch closer to the doorway and fold my arms. I look left and make eye contact with my uncle, who’s giving the team a speech. When he sees me, he excuses himself and walks toward me. The team scatters, and some of them start skating.

“Aria,” he says when he’s near me.

“Unc.”

He gives me a pointed look. “Dan told me you’ve been doing well. You’ve been helping.”

I nod. “I’ve been here all day. Prepping.”

“Good,” he says stiffly before looking away. I don’t smell liquor on his breath. That’s a positive. “I’ve been meaning to ask you something, and I don’t know if it’s the right time for it.”

A crease forms between my eyebrows and I stand upright. “Just tell me. What’s going on?”

“That’s what I’ve been meaning to ask you,” he claims. He’s serious again. “Drexel hasn’t been himself in the rink.”

I blink and swallow the panic forming in my chest that’s rising. What does that have to do with me?”

He looks around to make sure nobody’s listening. “Don’t play me for a fool, Aria. Do you think I’m blind? Even a blind man would notice something happening between you two. Is that boy harassing you? Is he your boyfriend?”

The word boyfriend shocks me to the point of choking on my breath. “No! He’s not! Why would you even ask me that-”

“I worry about you,” he cuts me off in a low but grave voice. “Every second of every day. You know the risks. Hell, if I could choose, I wouldn’t even want you to be friends with him! He’s the Alpha’s son, and you know what that means for us.”

My spirit deflates, and I swear my symptoms worsen. It gets so much hotter. “I know.”

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17 20 Sat, Feb 21

Chapter 30

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Uncle Barty sighs, then kisses me on the forehead. I don’t know why I feel so shitty and…guilty. I haven’t done anything wrong. “I didn’t mean to be so abrupt, Aria, I just worry.”

“I know. I’m sorry”

He seems sad now. “No, don’t apologize. I should be the one to do it.”

He walks away, and I have this sudden urge to cry. I feel so bad. So, so bad. I start to turn away, but then Tyler calls my name and I remain by the door. “Aria! Wait up!”

He’s smiling broadly as he approaches me. “Everything okay? We haven’t spoken in a while. I always see you around, but you always look…busy.”

“I’m fine. You? Big game today.”

“Yeah.” He scratches the back of his neck. “It’s kind of a big deal. Moonveil…they’re fierce. See how many medics they have?”

“I was wondering about that, actually.”

“Yeah. They fight, not play. But we have the best medics in the world, so I’m not worried.” He punches my arm lightly and his touch lingers, staring on the spot right next to my left breast for a little too long before his hand drops to his side.

I shift uncomfortably, and this sudden, hot feeling washes over me. Like a heat wave. “Thanks for the trust.”

“Of course. Anything for-”

He inches closer to me suddenly, like he means to kiss me, and turn my face away right on time. His lips touch my cheek.

“Tyler,” I say quickly. “What’re you-”

“I’m sorry,” he says, cutting me off. “I just—”

He doesn’t have a chance to finish his sentence because Ryder shows up from out of nowhere and gives him a shove violent enough to send him reeling backward.

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