The Ice Alpha’s Mate (Aria and Ryder) novel Chapter 44

Chapter 44

ARIA

My eyes flutter open and I look around the extremely bright room in confusion.

Where am I?

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It takes me only a few seconds to realize that I’m actually in a hospital-the only one in Ironclaw. I’ve only ever been here a few times when I was younger, and not once in my adolescence or adulthood.

Until now, that is.

Though I’ve already figured out where I am, I’m having a hard time remembering how I got here. For some reason, I don’t seem to have that memory.

“Aria.”

My head snaps to the left of me, and I make eye contact with my uncle. He’s seated on an upholstered sofa, hands clasped together in front of him. I’ve never seen him look this tired in all my life. “How’re you feeling?”

“How did I get here?” I ask instead.

Uncle Barty smiles. “Not too long. About a couple of hours. Howe you feeling, Aria?”

My response is automatic. “Okay…I think.”

The look he gives me is one of disbelief. Do I feel okay? Though I’ve just woken up, I can clearly tell that there’s something different about me.

The sick feeling. Nadia and her friends attacking me. Fighting back. Ryder storming into the restroom. Me recognizing him

as my mate.

These events just roll around in my mind, disturbing me. I have something permanently inside of me now, and the only way I can describe it is like knowing you have something in your pocket but not knowing what it is. Or being able to see it.

I tell him, “I don’t know what’s happening to me, Unc. I feel…my wolf…”

He nods. “I take it the change hasn’t been easy?”

I furrow my brows at him. “You knew?”

“I suspected. Then again, I saw it coming. I knew your wolf would reveal itself to you when you turned twenty-one.”

I blink several times. “But…why didn’t you ever tell me anything All my life, I thought I’d never get my wolf. That I was a runt!”

Panic flashes across his eyes. “Keep your voice down! Remember where we are! I told you that I wanted to talk to you about something, didn’t I? Well, this was it, Aria, but I didn’t want to see you more than you were already scared, and the truth is that I got distracted with all that’s been going on. The Alpha…hen’t taking it easy on me at all. All these losses are taking a toll on the pack and you know how they already look down upon me for being an Omega.”

He covers his eyes with one hand and I keep watching him. A beat later, he apologizes. “Sorry about that. I don’t mean to make this about myself, Aria. It’s not about me. We’ll talk, and I’m going to explain everything to you, but not here. There are too many people around.”

My eyes fill with tears. I look around at my room. It’s not really room-just a space that’s been covered up with white curtains. I’m sure there’s someone else right next to us.

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Chapter 44

In a low voice, I ask my uncle, “So…I have a wolf now, right? I’m ke everyone else? I’m normal?”

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I see sympathy in his features. “No, Aria. You’re still not like everyone else. You have a different wolf. Your wolf is a threat to the alphas.”

My eyes widen. “What? How?”

Before he can whisper back a response, the curtain just whips open and a nurse walks closer to the bed I’m on. Her skin is dark and her hair is thick and curly. “Hello, Aria. I’m Jackie. How are you feeling today?”

I exchange a look with my uncle and explain to her that I feel fine. From her, I learn that Uncle Barty brought me here because I passed out, and she wants to know more about my symptoms so she can relay them to the medic in charge-the doctor.

I tell her I’m fine now. I’m not stupid. I can’t tell these people that I’ve gotten my wolf which is why I passed out. I’m sure he only brought me here because he was genuinely worried.

“Are you sure about that?” she asks, and I can see that she’s staring at the faint bruises and scratches on my face from Nadia’s vicious attack.

“My niece is a medic herself,” he explains to her. “She’s studying healing arts.”

“Oh, I see.”

I nod. “I’ll be fine. I was just…nervous because of the game.”

“I see. Well, I’ll relay this to the doctor and then we’ll see what he has to say.”

After she walks back out, Uncle Barty stands up and tells me, “I’ll do my best to get you home this evening, You’re sure you’re feeling better?”

I nod. Now that my wolf is no longer dormant, I feel just fine. My agony is mental-there’s nothing a healer can do for me.

I just have to think. About this new transformation in my life. Ryder and the bond between us. Everything.

“I’ve got news, but you’re not gonna like it.”

My blood drains from my face. “Goddess….tell me.”

What is it now?

“Your fight with the Beta’s daughter was reported,” he claims. “They held a quick meeting-unfair, of course, but it’s all we can expect from them.”

“A meeting with who?”

“The university’s board.”

My heart skips a beat and then starts slamming painfully against my ribs. “I’m out? Is that what you’re trying to say?”

He nods solemnly. “You’ve been expelled.”

I suck in a breath. Goddess, it hurts for me to breathe right now This is a nightmare-there’s no other way to describe it.

“Oh, Aria,” he says before patting my arm. “I’m awfully sorry, nice. I know how much it meant for you. But maybe…maybe it’s for the best, okay? Just think about it that way. I won’t even ask you what happened with those girls. I can imagine what it

is.”

No, I don’t think he can. He probably thinks it was a case of bullying for being an Omega, which isn’t entirely the truth.

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Chapter 44

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I watch as he walks away, and then I’m all alone. Tears flood my eyes and I wipe them away with the back of my hand.

Expulsion.

By the goddess. What am I going to do with myself now?

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