The Ice Alpha’s Mate (Aria and Ryder) novel Chapter 97

Chapter 97

ARIA

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Ryder has gone to the locker room to change into his uniform and I make my way to the medical room, where I’m more than surprised to find Cassandra.

“Aria?” she says in surprise. “What’re you doing here?”

“I guess I could ask you the same thing.”

“Oh, I’m here to help out. Your uncle told me you weren’t feeling too well, and I figured I could help out.” She studies me closely. “Though I have to admit that you look pretty darn good. Was that an excuse to stay home? Are you here because you feel bad for lying?”

Her words make me smile. She folds her arms and watches me, waiting for an answer.

“Cassandra…something happened, and I don’t know who to share it with, but I need to tell someone.” When I see worry written all over her face, I quickly add, “It’s nothing serious…or maybe it is.”

“Aria, you’re scaring me. Are you alright?”

I take a deep breath. I know I can trust Cassandra. Plus, she’d given me so much advice on how to deal with the whole heartbreak situation.

Keeping this a secret forever isn’t ideal. I might as well ask for he opinion before breaking it to my uncle.

“Something happened, and I don’t know who else to talk to about it,” I say. “I trust you, Cassandra, but I’m also afraid of what you’re going to say.”

She stares at me for a long time. “You and the Alpha’s son?”

I nod.

Cassandra looks around before ushering me further into the room and closing the door behind her. “We don’t have much time. Tell me what happened.”

“We consummated the bond.”

Cassandra

gasps and covers her mouth with her hand. “You did?”

I nod. “I have no regrets, Cassandra. None at all. If there’s one thing I’m afraid of, it’s what my uncle will say. He warned me about this, but we couldn’t…it was impossible to-”

She steps forward and rubs her arm. “You don’t have to explain yourself to me or anyone. He was your mate, and if he marked you, then he wasn’t using you as you claimed, am I right”

“Now that we’re bound together…I feel it, Cassandra. His love, I mean. It flows right through me. I don’t know how I ever doubted it.”

“What about the whole thing you saw at that bar?”

I tuck a lock of my hair behind my ear. “That was staged by his ex-girlfriend. You know, the one who nearly got me expelled. She was there and…it’s a long story and I don’t think it really matters at this point.”

“I guess you’re right. What matters is that you believe him.”

I nod.

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Chapter 97

“And how you feel about him.”

Again, I nod my head.

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“As for your uncle…there’s no easy way to break it to him. He has always shared his suspicions with me, and I won’t mention anything now, but he’ll be a tough nut to crack. Your uncle really loves you, and he’s protective of you, too. All his life, he has done his best to keep you out of harm’s way. Does your mate know about you being a…you know?”

I shake my head.

“Aria,” she scolds.

“I’ll tell him,” I promise. “I just didn’t have the time.”

Worry fills her mind. “There’s no predicting how he’ll react to you being a Nocturn. You’re a more powerful wolf than he’ll ever be, and his authority will have no influence over you. He has to know or you’ll never know peace.”

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I know she’s right. I’m pretty ashamed that I haven’t told Ryder yet, but the truth is that I’m terrified. Of course, it’ll be a lot worse if this comes out later and he rejects me for what I am.

I’ve been irresponsible. What can I say?

“When will you speak to your uncle?”

“Tonight. I can’t keep this in any longer.”

Suddenly, the door behind us opens and we both freeze. Uncle Barty gives us both a look before saying, “I couldn’t help but hear the last part of your conversation. What’s this thing you’ll tell me tonight? What are you even doing here, Aria?”

Cassandra gives me an encouraging shove and I approach him.” think it can wait until after the game, Uncle Barty. I don’t think this is the time or the place.”

He enters the room and closes the door behind him. He’s already starting to grow red in the face. “Now, you listen here, girl. I’m sick and tired of having to tiptoe around you. It’s like I don’t know who you are anymore. Will you tell me what it is that has you in this state?”

I hesitate, then nod.

My uncle appears relieved, but he doesn’t stop there. “So, tell me right now. I have enough on my mind with the game out there, Aria. I don’t need to be worrying about you with my hands tied behind my back. Now, what is it?”

I look over my shoulder at Cassandra and she nods, so, I take a deep breath and tell him everything as quickly as I can.

Of course, I leave out all the messy parts because he genuinely doesn’t need to know about them, but I feel a lot better once I reveal that Ryder has marked me, and our bond is permanent now.

After running a hand down his face and just looks at me for the longest time. I keep expecting him to say something to me, and I’m anxious. I have no idea what his reaction to this whole thing will be. I’ve tried to imagine it countless times, but nothing quite beats reality.

“We’ll talk about this at home,” is all he says before leaving the room.

Cassandra approaches me. Her hands are on my shoulders. “It’s okay. It could’ve been worse.”

“I really don’t think so.”

“Trust me.” She kisses my cheek. “I’m happy for you. Okay? I think you’ve done an amazing job. Trust yourself and your decision.”

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I nod. “Thank you, Cass.”

“And your mark? Do you need help…oh. It’s already healed.”

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“Yeah,” I say, rubbing the spot absentmindedly and suddenly recalling what happened between us not even an hour ago. I’m anxious about so many things. The game. What Ryder will do about Ray. How all of this will unfold.

How the pack will react to something of this magnitude.

“Be brave.” Cassandra urges. “Okay? Be strong. You’re going to need it moving forward.”

“Yeah, I know. And I’m not sure if I’m ready, you know?”

“You are. Trust me.”

We’re interrupted by the sound of a whistle and the crowd going wild. This is a different sound from when one of the teams has scored. Cassandra and I exchange a look, then step outside to figure out what’s going on.

That’s when I find out that Ryder hurt Ray. Badly.

I watch Ray be moved through the hallway in a stretcher, countless people all around him, and what catches my attention is the fact that his right hand is missing all his fingers.

Except for the thumb.

Ryder.

C

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