The Ice Alpha’s Mate (Aria and Ryder) novel Chapter 77

Chapter 77

ARIA

I find myself in Hugo’s, the new place opening, on Friday night.

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I didn’t get a chance to tell Ryder. Tyler said it’s a place where the high-ranking members of the pack don’t want to come, so I’m more relaxed, and I’m not too worried that Ryder will find out.

Maybe this is a terrible idea, but I didn’t find it in me to tell him

It’s not that I’ll be doing anything bad anyway. Tyler is nice. Besides, I do get tired of staying indoors all the time. I wanted to cancel, then decided against it.

I mean, would it be fair for Ryder to keep me from having friends when he’s engaged to someone else and occasionally even takes her to dinner? It’s not that I’m doing this out of pettiness. I don’t want to hurt him or cause a fight.

I just want to have some fun.

“Nice place, huh?” he comments before we head inside. “I like the sign.”

The whole theme of the place is red and black, and when we head inside, I’m surprised by how loud the music is, and how the lights are all red. It’s so hard to see.

I’m also surprised by the sheer number of people in this place. When Tyler told me about this, he mentioned that it was a calm place. Not many people would show up to the opening.

So, what is the meaning of this?

I look at him and he probably senses it because he turns to me and tells me, “I guess I didn’t think so many people would find out about it.”

I start feeling nervous. Again, I’m not doing anything wrong. Tyler is just a friend. Uncle Barty was pleased when I told him about this outing. He likes Tyler, too. Tyler has asked me out and I told him no, so he knows where I stand. He won’t try anything.

But the negative feeling persists. It’s almost a presentiment at this point.

And suddenly, I don’t want to be here anymore.

I can’t tell Tyler that, though, so I follow him to the bar and we decupy the only empty stools, He takes one look at my face and punches my arm lightly. “Calm down. It’ll be alright. People are just trying to have fun.”

“Yeah,” I smile, but I don’t feel that way at all.

I keep looking around and my fear is that I’ll make eye contact with Ryder at any moment. I should’ve said something. I wouldn’t have felt this way if I had.

Tyler orders a pink lemonade for us both, and then we sit waiting for it. He turns to me and asks, “So, are you ready for the

tournament?”

“Aren’t you supposed to be the one who’s ready, since you’ll be competing?”

Uncle Barty told me about the tournament this afternoon. I’m surprised that Ryder didn’t tell me about it. Maybe he thought I already knew?

“Well, I’m ready. But you’ll have a lot of work, I guess. And you’re still a trainee.”

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09:57 Mon, Mar 2

Chapter 77

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“There’s Dan around, so it’s not like I’m by myself.”

“You know, remember the cut I got this week? On Monday, I men? It’s healed. I don’t know how you do it, Aria. I swear that every time you touch me, I heal fast. And I’ve tried it with Dan, too. He’s good, but there’s something about your touch that I can’t explain.”

The drinks arrive and I’m spared from having to answer him because I read in the book Cassandra gave me that some Nocturns have a healing thumb.

I guess that gives me away without me saying anything, and that makes this gift dangerous, even if under different. circumstances, it would be amazing for my career path.

I have a few sips of the lemonade and it’s really the best I’ve ever had.

“Wanna dance?” Tyler asks, wiggling his eyebrows.

“I don’t think so.”

“Why?”

“I’m not a dancer.”

“I am.”

“Tyler. I really don’t want to.”

“Why?” he asks, chuckling. When he sees my facial expression, he asks me, “Come on, Aria. What’s going on?”

I don’t answer him and his shoulders sag. “You don’t want to be here, do you? Come on, Aria. What’re you afraid of?”

“I don’t know,” I admit. “Maybe I’m not afraid of anything.”

“Okay. This one drink and we’ll see how it goes. If you wanna leave, you leave. Okay?”

I nod, feeling a lot better, but I also feel crappy. As I look around I feel so overwhelmed. The bar isn’t that big, and there are way too many people around. There’s an upstairs area, too, and it’s even more crowded than the bottom.

Tyler swivels around in his stool, saying, “So, how about-”

I don’t know what happens, but he spills his drink on my lap and I jump out of the stoop. Sticky lemonade is now running down my legs.

“Shit, Aria. I’m so sorry!”

“It’s alright,” I assure him, putting my glass down. “It’s fine. I’ll just go clean up. Does this place have a bathroom?”

Tyler runs a hand through his hair, flustered. “Yeah. I think it’s upstairs. The first door on the right as soon as you reach the stairs. You can’t miss it.”

“Thanks,” I tell him before walking away from him. I’m weaving through the crowd while trying not to bump my shoulder into anyone. Suddenly, right by the stairs, I see one of the ice hockey players and I panic completely.

What? Is Ryder here?

I thought Tyler said this place was only for Omegas?

I don’t have time to think about this, though. Right now, I just need to get away from this main area even if it’s just for a little while. I race up the stairs. By the time I reach the top, my thighs are burning.

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09:57 Mon, Mar 2

Chapter 77

65%

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But I see the door Tyler was talking about. I go toward it, looking down at my dress to see the damage. This is the one Cassandra gave to me and I would hate to stain it and make her think I didn’t take good care of it.

I push open the door without watching where I’m going, and when I look up, my heart skips a beat, then proceeds to shatter into a million tiny pieces.

I see a bed, not a bathroom. It’s round with red bedding, and I see Ryder’s side profile. I see him. I know it’s him.

He’s naked, and Nadia-I can tell by her characteristic blonde hair-is on top of him, moaning his name, dragging her nails along his chest, and riding him.’

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