The Ice Alpha’s Mate (Aria and Ryder) novel Chapter 66

Chapter 66

ARIA

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Before we get to my uncle’s car, Tyler finally brings up the issue of my going missing. “You disappeared for a while. I know because I looked for you everywhere.”

I turn to look at him while Uncle Barty continues to the car. He doesn’t even look back at us and he’s been acting… I don’t know if strange is the right word:

Maybe, like me, all he wants to do is go home.

“I was just around,” I lie. “Walking.”

I can’t tell if Tyler believes me or not, but then again, what is he supposed to believe? That I left with Ryder and we spent some time kissing in his car in the middle of the woods? Even I’m having a hard time believing that and it happened to me.

“I needed some air,” I add lamely.

“Oh, well. Maybe I just wasn’t looking hard enough, right?” I offer him a small smile because it feels like the only thing I can do right now. “I just…the reason why I was looking for you is because I really wanted to talk to you about something. Something I really consider to be important.”

“Sure. Tell me.”

He’s uncomfortable now and his whole mood has shifted. “Well the truth is that I wanted to ask you out, Aria. I mean, I don’t think it’s a secret that I care about you. I have from the moment I saw you.”

I freeze like a deer caught in headlights because this is the last thing I expected him to say. I think I’m staring at him stupidly at this point.

“What do you say?”

I straighten my spine and try to appear as collected as I can, even though my mind is a mess right now. “You see, Tyler, I don’t really see you that way. To me, you’re nothing more than a good friend.”

Disappointment is written all over his face in a flash. “Yeah, but thought that maybe there could be more between us. I know you don’t have feelings for me now, but maybe that can change. I don’t know. We could go on dates and get to know each other better, and maybe then you’d be able to make a decision.”

I start feeling sorry for him because of the despair I hear in his voice. It gets to me; it really does. I lower my eyes and wish there would be some divine intervention of some kind so I wouldn’t have to give him another no, but that doesn’t happen.

I’ll have to deal with this on my own.

“I appreciate the effort you’re putting into this and I’m honored, but-”

“It’s a no?”

I nod after a moment of hesitation.

Tyler nods and runs a hand down his face so roughly that it becomes red in places. He’s not even looking at me anymore. “Okay. Sure. Fine. I understand. I’m sorry for having bothered you, Aria.”

I want to say something else to him as he walks away but I decide against it. It’s better if we end this now. Cleanly. Before it

even starts.

The last thing I want is for him to get the wrong impression.

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09:56 Mon, Mar 2

Chapter 66

65%

55 vouchers

I make my way to the car. My uncle’s eyes are on me the entire time. He even gives me a questioning look when I settle into my seat, and when I still don’t say anything to him, he asks loudly, “What?”

“It’s nothing. Could we go home? I’m really tired.”

“No, we’ll head under the bridge,” he mutters sarcastically before starting the car and speeding toward the exit. I turn my face away from him, staring out the window at the forest, and my lips stretch into a smile from ear to ear as I recall how Ryder and I took this exact same road.

I have butterflies in my stomach every time I think about the kisses we shared. I know it was totally unexpected, but it happened nonetheless and I’m not even questioning it, no matter how confusing things are.

Desire pools in my core at the memory. The promises he made the things he told me… I believe him. It might be crazy, but I do, because I don’t see why he would need to lie to me. Why go through all the trouble when he could so easily reject me and move on with his life?

This makes me think of Tyler. I feel a little bad. Tyler is a nice guy and definitely didn’t deserve the way I treated him. I didn’t treat him badly, per se, but things could’ve definitely gone better for us. I won’t lie about that.

Maybe if Ryder had rejected me tonight, I would’ve said yes to Tyler.

Who knows?

Even his parents treated me kindly. Though I was too preoccupied with Ryder to fully pay attention to what was happening, I have to admit that they were nice to me. They treated me like someone who mattered and not an Omega, the way other Beta-borns would.

Uncle Barty clears his throat, capturing my attention. “It seems like Tyler Hawke is pretty serious about you, Aria.”

My face turns a bright shade of red. “Uncle Barty!”

“What?” he asks, looking genuinely confused. “I’m only mentioning something I noticed. I spoke to his parents, too. They seemed nice. They were interested in getting to know us.”

This just makes me feel more guilty.

“You know, he’s a Beta-born. He could really help protect you. No danger would come to you. The risk of an investigation would be close to zero. I don’t like the thought of any boy near you, but I have to start growing up and accepting that at some point, you’re bound to choose someone.”

I don’t say anything because I don’t trust myself to speak right now. What could I even say to something as crazy as this?

“Just think about it,” he adds softly. “It’s all I ask.”

The weakened passes by in a blur. Ryder’s birthday party starts feeling like a dream in the back of my mind, but I hold onto the memories. They keep my heart racing. Blood pumps through my veins.

I breathe a lot easier whenever I think about him.

Come Sunday evening, my phone lights up with a message. Because nobody texts me, I feel confused as I reach for it. Who could it be? I’m sprawled on my bed and Uncle Barty is in the living room.

He wouldn’t have messaged me.

I open the text and see Ryder’s name. I saved his number, but until now, it hasn’t occurred to me to contact him. I’m not sure why.

My insides twist into tiny knots that can’t be undone.

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r

09:56 Mon, Mar 2

Chapter 66

Ryder: I miss you already. Can I call?

I chew my bottom lip as I type back a reply.

Yes.

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AD