The Ice Alpha’s Mate (Aria and Ryder) novel Chapter 38

Chapter 38

ARIA

The week has gone by so quickly I don’t know where the time has gone.

My twenty-first birthday is in a few days-as a matter of fact, it’s on the day of the rematch with Moonveil

And I’ve just gotten sicker and sicker.

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Things haven’t been easy for me, especially since that attack on Luca, who insisted that he didn’t want it to be reported.

The moment he opened his eyes, it was the first thing he said to me. “Don’t tell anyone about this. Please.”

I looked at him in confusion. I remember feeling revolted. “But they have to be reported! Are you kidding? Look at what they did to you! How will you explain this?”

“I’ll figure it out,” he insisted. “Just don’t tell anyone.”

“Luca-”

“I don’t want to get into trouble, alright?” he said harshly. It was the first time I’d ever heard him use such a tone of voice and it shocked me a little. “I don’t need any of this. Not me or family

I tried to help him stand, but he declined my offer. So, all I did was watch him try to get on his feet, and then he skated away from me.

I haven’t heard from him since, and his mother never called, either.

The good news? He meant it when he said that he wouldn’t tell anyone. Uncle Barty had no idea about this whole situation.

If he did, he wouldn’t hesitate to confront me, and it would be such an unnecessary pain.

I’m not looking forward to my birthday this year. Before, I’d count the days for it, hoping and praying that my wolf would make an appearance. Now? It’s just a regular date.

There’ll be the game we won’t be able to miss, and I’ve got all this crap going on. I’m sure this ‘sickness’ of mine has everything to do with stress.

Uncle Barty walks into the living room and locks our door behind him. I’m in the kitchen, dishing up his dinner. He’s been with the team all day, working hard for the upcoming match. Dan was on duty today, so I didn’t have to go. Good, because I’ve been avoiding Ryder since that thing with Luca, and I’ve been successful.

I haven’t seen him at all this week.

Uncle Barty takes one look at me and frowns. “You okay? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

He narrows his eyes at me as he sits down. “What do you mean, nothing? You look terrible.”

“Just feeling a little under the weather”

He’s suspicious now, and he looks at me for a long time with an unwavering expression. I start to eat, ignoring his look, but then it starts making me uncomfortable. “Uncle, what?”

It’s his turn to say, “Nothing II’ve been so stressed lately that I forgot your twenty-first birthday’s coming up.”

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17 21 Sat, Feb 21

Chapter 38

I feign hurt. “How nice of you to say that to me.”

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Though he starts to eat, he keeps looking at me the same way, and after about five minutes, he says. “I can’t believe it. You’ll be twenty-one soon”

I shrug. “It’s no big deal. Unc. It’s just a regular day”

“Don’t say that.”

I meet his gaze. “It’s true. I used to be excited for it because I kind of always hoped that you know what? Never mind. I won’t think about it. It doesn’t matter.”

I know he knows what I mean because I used to tell him about this all the time. But now I’m just done with it.

Uncle Barty is still silent even as we finish our dinner. It’s strange of him, but I’m not in the mood to question his decisions. I need to lie down. Rest for a while.

But Ryder haunts me even in my dreams now. Hopefully, I won’t have a dream with him tonight.

As 1 rise to pack the dishes away, he tells me, “After the game, you and I are going to have a talk.”

I still right away and feel cold even though I’ve been burning up for weeks. Slowly, I turn my head to look at him. “About what?”

Does he know what happened? Did Mrs. Ortega tell?

He shifts uncomfortably in his seat. “When the time comes, you know. I don’t think telling you anything right now is going to help you.”

“Help me with what?”

He lets out a breath. “Please, Aria. For once, don’t argue with me on this. You’re only going to find out after your birthday, alright? It’s the only time the talk will make sense.”

“Okay”

I don’t say anything else, and I start to clean up but he tells me to go ahead and rest. He tells me, “You look terrible. Why don’t you get some sleep?”

“I’m fine,” I lie.

He studies my face, and then something unexpected happens-he smiles. “Have I ever told you that you look a lot like your mother?”

“Yeah. All the time,” I mumble before turning away from him and heading to my room. I close the door behind me, thinking hard about what this conversation could be about. He seemed a little too calm for it to be about the attack on Luca,

I don’t know My uncle can be so mysterious sometimes.

When I throw myself on the bed, exhaustion takes hold of me and I fall asleep in no time. My dreams are restless. I’m in the woods, running as fast as my legs can carry me, and I’m being chased by a pack of wolves I don’t recognize

I know that Ryder is the wolf in front-he’s massive Black His eyes are shining even in the dark. Desperately, I run through the woods. I’m out of breath, and it feels like I’m slowing down even though I’in giving it my all

At last, the black wolf catches up to me and jumps on top of me. We both go crashing down, and he’s on top of me still. I think of begging for my life, but the words don’t come out

His paws are on my chest, and he’s so heavy that it feels like he break my rib cage. I stare into those yellow eyes and feel

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Chapter 38

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fear, but there’s something deep inside of them that feels a lot like…hunger. The kind that makes my heart beat even faster

The kind he shouldn’t feel for me.

Suddenly, he’s a man, and I’m peering into his wicked face. He’s totally naked and I refuse to look down and see what’s hanging between us. It’s straight. Ready.

By the goddess!

Before I can tell him to stop, he’s nuzzling my neck and I feel him licking along my neck. A shiver races down my spine and heat pools in my core. I clench and relax my thighs, feeling that weet, delicious pressure in my center. His kisses become more heated, and I see myself put my traitorous arms around his neck.

I wake up to the sound of my alarm, and a gasp escapes me when I realize that my hand’s between my legs, moving. I’m so close, though. I can’t stop. I keep moving it, and in my sleepy stage, it’s almost like I can feel his weight on top of me. His mouth is at my throat. Kissing. Biting. Licking.

With a whimper, I come hard, moisture seeping out of me and making my hand wetter. Groaning, I pull my hand out of my underwear and the waistband snaps against my skin.

Oh my goddess.

What the hell am I doing?

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