The Ice Alpha’s Mate (Aria and Ryder) novel Chapter 51

Chapter 51

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ARIA

“Well, Miss Murdock,” the headmaster, Dr. Edwards, begins, “it seems everything has been taken care of and the misunderstanding has been straightened out. Welcome back to Ironclaw U. We’re happy to have you.”

“Thank you.” I say, flashing him an anxious smile. “I’m glad to be back.”

“Let’s hope everything goes well this time around,” he claims. The smile on his lips doesn’t touch his eyes, and I read something else in his gaze that I just can’t identify. “You’re our star Omega student-we wouldn’t want to lose you. You’re the perfect example for everyone else.”

After leaving his office, I feel a lot lighter. What the hell was that? I don’t know. I expected tension, but not from the headmaster.

“Aria?”

I turn around and see Tyler heading toward me. He looks genuinely surprised. “Hey.”

“Hey yourself,” he chuckles before stopping a couple of feet away from me and sliding his hands into his pockets. “I wasn’t expecting to see you around here.”

“You heard about my expulsion, then?”

“I think it’s safe to say that everyone did,” he claims. “It’s all everyone’s talking about. I’m glad things worked out in your favor. Nadia…she was acting crazy recently. Like really crazy. Then again,” he adds darkly, “she wouldn’t have been in that state if Ryder hadn’t played with her feelings.”

I shift uncomfortably. The last thing I want to do is talk about Ryder. Or Nadia.

“Well, I hope she’ll take the time off to really think about what she’ll do with her life. Maybe she’ll snap out of it and—”

“Wait. What?”

Tyler looks confused. “What do

you

mean?”

“What time off?”

“You haven’t heard?”

I blink a few times, even more confused. “No.”

“Nadia’s been expelled.”

The words sink all the way to my gut, where they settle heavily and make me feel like I can’t move. I’m rooted to the spot. “She’s been expelled?”

“Yeah. Her behavior was…I heard she attacked you with three other girls. Is that right?”

The fight scene flashes across my mind. How angry I felt that they’d mentioned my mom. I shake my head but shivers race down my spine nonetheless at the memory. Ugh. I don’t want to think about that night ever again.

“Yeah.”

“So, she deserved it.”

Tyler announces that he has to run, and I’m late to class, too. The first one is History-I’m not looking forward to seeing

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17 22 Sat, Feb 21

Chapter 51

Professor Denver, but I have to go. It’s compulsory.

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The whole walk there. I’m mulling over Tyler’s words. That’s cray that she got expelled. What happened? Why’d they change their decision from one to another, and a drastic one at that? Nadia is the pack’s Beta’s daughter.

Something isn’t right. I don’t know what it is, but I’ll find out.

I enter class and the first person I make eye contact with is Ryder

The sight of him sitting so normally at his desk, the one behind nine, makes my head spin. Can it be that, a few days ago, he was at the hospital, asking me not to reject him?

Could it truly be that he’s my mate? Yes. This answer is questioned right away because I can smell him from where I’m standing, and my heart’s pace is increasing. I react to him right away, and the way he’s looking at me…

It’s with a longing that touches a part deep inside of me.

Professor Denver clears his throat, abruptly pulling me out of my thoughts, and when I look at him, I see him glancing at his watch. “If you could take your seat any time today, Miss Murdock, we’d all be very thankful.”

A few people laugh at his words, and I feel embarrassed. I grab a seat nonetheless. My usual one. I’m aware of Ryder’s eyes on the back of my head and it’s torture. We can’t be this close to each other. I have the urge to turn around and touch him.

I’m almost feverish with the need to have him close to me.

A female student walks in just as the professor begins his lesson, and she’s ignored. She starts toward us, moving to the back where there are more empty seats, but before she walks past us, she inches closer to Ryder and says, “Hi, there. I’m looking forward to tonight.”

These words….they tear me up. It’s like I’ve been sliced with a knife. Ryder doesn’t answer her, but I know she was talking to him. I saw her from the corner of my eye.

I don’t know why, but my arm starts burning. I stare at it, expecting a welt or something to show up, but nothing happens.

Is this all in my mind?

This won’t do.

Anger takes over the shock and pain. I can’t stop myself from turning my head and cutting him a look. When I do, I find his other hand stroking his forearm-the same one I felt pain in.

We make eye contact for a few seconds, and then I remember myself and turn back around. This is getting out of hand.

We have to do something about this. It’s ridiculous for us to be going through this when we’re not going to end up together. At the end of the day, we’ll always reject each other.

I know he told me differently back in the hospital….but that’s only because he’s so used to getting what he wants, and right now, his wolf wants me.

Cassandra explained to me a little bit about the mating process where Nocturns are involved. She told me that, according to sources, the bond is more intense, which explains why I can smell him even from a distance, and how, just now, I felt so jealous at the thought of someone else talking to him.

But something else she said confirmed my suspicions. She told me, “Once the bond is consummated, though, it all goes back to normal, and you won’t feel all these intense emotions that don’t let you live. When I have time, I’ll bring you a book I have. It’s more of a diary from an old patient. You’ll understand a lot more about yourself.”

…and that’s exactly when he’ll tire of me and want a rejection.

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17 22 Sat, Feb 21

Chapter 51

I can’t risk it. I won’t.

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So, I stare straight ahead, barely listening to Professor Denver’s sson. Even being here makes it impossible for me not to think about Ryder. He helped me curb this pervert. He didn’t have to, but he did.

Oh, goddess. When will I stop feeling this way about him? I don want to. I swear, I don’t.

At the end of the class, I pack my bag quickly and hurry out before anyone else. As I walk down the hallway, heading toward my next class, I have this sudden and intense feeling that he’ll come after me. It’s almost like I’m hoping he’ll come after me.

But he doesn’t.

And I can’t hide the disappointment I feel at this.

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