The Ice Alpha’s Mate (Aria and Ryder) novel Chapter 78

Chapter 78

PART TWO

ARIA

I don’t know how I make it to the exit of the bar but somehow, I lo.

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I don’t see Tyler or anyone else. I’m not even aware of the fact that I’m pushing people out of the way. I just run.

When I make it outside, I run my fingers through my hair and breathe deeply. The scene keeps replaying right before my eyes and it makes me sick to my stomach. I want to vomit. The urge is so strong that I double over and my eyes get watery, but nothing comes out.

After what feels like an eternity, I stand upright and look around I should tell Tyler that I want to go home or something. I should look for him. But right now, I don’t feel like doing it.

I think I should explain it better: I can’t do it.

I can’t make my way inside Hugo’s to find Tyler. I just start walking down the sidewalk, heading home. My heart has turned to pulp in my chest, and every step I take feels like my last one.

My head is spinning so fast that it makes me dizzy. I wish I could erase that memory and start over. I don’t know how it was possible to see such a thing. Maybe I imagined it? How would there be a room in such a small bar?

Ryder and Nadia Palmer?

I have to stop and hold onto a light post to catch my breath. My stomach gets all knotted again, and I taste bile in my mouth.

It starts raining. I look up at the sky and feel no urgency at all. I continue walking. It doesn’t take me too long to get drenched, and my dress clings to my body while the cold wind lashes my face and wet body mercilessly.

I wrap my arms around myself and keep walking. I don’t even have the strength to run-I just walk at a low and measured pace, all while seeing that girl on top of him, moving her hips. I only saw the scene before me for a second. It didn’t occur to me to scream or something. Make a scene. I just wanted to get as far away from that place as possible.

I can’t believe how stupid I’ve been.

How could I believe that Ryder Drexel was loyal to me in any way? He’s literally engaged to someone else and I foolishly thought that he’d keep his promises to me. Why? I can’t understand it now.

The hatred I have for myself can’t be compared to the one I feel for him. All my life I’ve been someone careful. Guarded. I’ve never allowed myself to be seduced, not by life or anyone. Its like, deep down, I’ve always known what awaited me.

This is a lesson I’ll never forget.

I’m crushed. It’s as simple as that.

By some miracle, I make it home. The house is dark, which means Uncle Barty went to bed early. I head into the bathroom and stand there, making the floor wet, while staring at my reflection in the mirror. My eyes are red from the mascara running into them, and I look terrible.

I’ve done this to myself. Me and nobody else.

I sabotaged myself by falling in love with a man who would never be able to keep his promise to me. Goddess, I still can’t understand it. Was this just a game for him? How could I allow myself to fall so deeply?

After a long time, I manage to strip and dump my clothes in the bathtub. Then, I clean the mess I made. I don’t want Uncle

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09:57 Mon, Mar 2

Chapter 78

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Barty to find it in the morning.

I throw myself on my bed afterward, and I stay there for two days. On Sunday, my uncle knocks on my door and opens it without waiting for me to say a word. He takes one look at me and shakes his head. “That’s enough now, Aria. That’s quite enough. What’s wrong with you? Yesterday you told me you weren’t feeling well. What about today?”

I open my mouth to answer him and cough instead. “I feel even worse.”

He walks up to me and puts his fleshy hand on my forehead. He then steps back. “You’re burning up. What happened?”

“I don’t know.”

“On Friday, Aria. You went out with Tyler. Then what? Were you in the rain?”

I don’t answer him and he eventually gives up and heads outside. I’m not trying to be difficult. How can I explain to him what the problem is when I never told him about it to begin with?

My uncle has no idea about Ryder.

Speak of the devil.

My phone rings for the hundredth time. I’ve checked. I have a few missed calls from Tyler, specifically from Friday night and Saturday morning, but since last night, Ryder has been calling nonstop.

Just calling and calling.

I decide to ignore it like I have for the past twenty-four hours, then decide I’m done with it. With my last burst of energy, I reach for my phone under my pillow and switch it off. I feel a hundred times better afterward, even though my body’s still weak from whatever flu I got.

Uncle Barty returns to my room moments later with warm tea. “it up. Drink this. You’ll feel better.”

It’s lemon and mint tea. He infused it with ginger, too. I take a few sips and the warm drink feels lovely in my dry, rough throat. Uncle Barty keeps on watching me, then suggests, “Maybe I should call Cassandra.”

“No, the drive is too long,” I remind him. “I’m fine. It’s just the flu.”

And a broken heart. Add a bruised ego on top of that.

He watches me suspiciously and I add, “I’ll feel better soon. I’ll even go to classes tomorrow.”

“You’re sure?”

I nod. “I am. I’ll feel better in no time, Unc. You’ll see. I just really needed to rest.”

He straightens his spine. “Well, that really makes me feel better,hen. I’ll leave you to it. If you need anything, yell. I might go to the store, but only later. I’ll let you know when I do.”

I nod and he caresses my cheek before exiting my room and closing the door. I sigh and hold back my tears. I’ve been lying to him this whole time. It’s deception, whether it was out of love or not.

I’ll never do that to my uncle again. Ever.

I was a fool. That’s true. I can’t take back the things I’ve done. Bu I can change how I act from here on out, and I choose not to be one anymore.

I’m glad I know the truth. I’m glad I found out who Ryder truly i

From now on, I’ll be back to my usual self, not the lovesick puppy he transformed me into. I feel so ashamed of the things

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09:57 Mon, Mar 2

Chapter 78

I’ve done, but that’ll pass at some point. I know it will.

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As for Ryder, I’ll just go back to ignoring him. At some point, I’m sure he’ll leave me alone, and if he doesn’t, I’ll just keep ignoring him.

I hate him.

So much that it hurts.

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AD