The Ice Alpha’s Mate (Aria and Ryder) novel Chapter 85

Chapter 85

RYDER

I arrive at the dorm, at last, and the first place where I stop is Zach’s room.

ས ཊཱ 65%-

55 vouchers

Luckily, Finn’s here with him, too. They both give me weird looks that somehow confirm that I’m not imagining shit.

They were involved. I know they were.

“What’s up, Ryder?” Zach asks from his position on the bed. “Is there anything you’d like to talk about?”

“I think you know damn well what I’m here to talk about, Zach. Finn, you too. I asked you what happened on Friday and you told me nothing did!”

They both exchange a look. “We don’t know what you’re talking about, Ryder. We saw you having fun, that’s it. Then, you disappeared.”

“Don’t give me that shit!” I yell. “You’re the ones who brought me back here! Do you deny it?”

Zach stands up and Finn does the same. I stare at them and wonder how the hell we could’ve ever been friends. We went from hanging out all the time to whatever was happening right now.

“Ryder,” Zach begins, “I’m your best friend. You might not feel that way about me, but that’s how it’s always been for me.

Believe me when I say that you’ve changed, and not in a good fucking way. It’s “re losing your head or something!”

“We didn’t bring you back here,” Finn claims. “I swear it. We don even know how you made it back here.”

I step toward them slowly, trying my hardest to control my anger. “But you knew that Nadia was there? You saw me with her?”

This time, they both tense.

“I won’t ask again.”

“We thought you reconciled,” Zach finally answers. “You seemed pretty fucking glad to see her.”

“It didn’t occur to you that…” I trail off when I realize what I’m about to ask them. How would they have guessed that my drink was likely spiked? It’s the only explanation I can find. I can remember shit. I seemed happy around her.

It could only be the effect of drugs. Maybe something reinforced with silver, which is why my head is still pounding.

“You know,” Zach continues angrily, “I thought that you’d finally one back to the old you. I was so happy with how things turned out. Do you realize that you’ve become someone unrecognizable because of that Omega?”

Red flashes across my eyes and before I know it, I give him a shove that sends him crashing against the wall. Finn tries to step between us and I shove him, too. “Don’t you ever fucking talk about her! Do you understand me!?”

“You’ve lost your fucking mind!” Zach yells. “That’s the truth! You’re letting that Omega get in your head!”

The more he talks about her, the angrier I get, and I punch his jaw. Finn stays out of it this time. Zach spits blood on the floor and yells, “You’re crazy! That’s what this is! Just when I thought things were going back to normal, this happens!”

“Did I give you the impression that your opinion fucking mattered?” I spit. “Cause if I did, I take it the fuck back. Do you understand me?”

Zach smiles, flashing me his red teeth. “Is she as considerate of you as you are of her? I didn’t think she was. She was with Hawke that night. They were in each other’s fucking faces. One would assume that they were screwing each other. But hey,

1/3

09:58 Mon, Mar 2

Chapter 85

what do I know, right?”

3.65%

55 vouchers

His words hit me like a truck. I stagger, putting the pieces of that night together once more.

She was there. Of course, she had to be. How else would she have found out about Nadia?

“Guess you didn’t know that, did you?” Zach scoffs. “Forget about her, man. She won’t bring you anything but disgrace. If the pack finds out-”

“I don’t give a shit about what the pack thinks.”

He narrows his eyes at me. “You’re our future Alpha. You can’t mate with an Omega. It’s forbidden!”

“I don’t care about any of that either,” I retort in a low voice. “The sooner you realize that, the better.”

I look around the room, daring them to say anything else. Then I walk right out. I have to find Aria and try to find out what exactly she saw so I can explain the situation to her.

But what the fuck was she doing with Hawke? Why the fuck does she insist on always being around him?

I’m fuming by the time I get to the car. Dad calls me once more and I turn my phone off this time around. I don’t have time for this.

I have to find Aria. I need to go to her.

But the sun hasn’t set, and it’s likely Coach is home. I won’t have chance to talk to her the way I want to I slam my hands against the steering wheel and curse.

I’ll have to wait until sundown. Until then, I could organize my thoughts and…

I lose my train of thought when I catch a glimpse of Hawke himself parking his car along the road and stepping out. I see red. My wolf howls deep inside of me and my primal part takes over.

Son of a bitch.

What will it take for him to get away from my girl?

I’m opening the door before I can think things through. He doesn’t even hear me creeping up on him. I slam him against the wall and rain punches down on him. He tries to defend himself, but when I’m in this state, I don’t feel pain. I don’t hesitate. Remorse? It doesn’t exist.

My goal is to keep going until all I see is blood.

Satisfied, I step away from his limp body. I don’t check to see if he’s dead. I see his face covered with blood, and that’s good enough for me. Hell, I didn’t even get a chance to say anything.

Then, I get in my car and drive away. I look down at my hands and see the mess-my hands are covered in Tyler’s blood and the skin on my knuckles is split.

I’ll have to clean up before going to her.

That’s not an issue. I have time.

What I have to concern myself with is whether she’ll believe me or not.

2/3

09:58 Mon, Mar 2