Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Ice Alpha’s Mate: Kabanata 41 - Kabanata 50

ARIASome time before the last period of the game starts, I decide I can't take it anymore.It's too hot in the medical room, and nobody's coming in for injury checks anyway. So, I decide to abandon my post and hurry to the restrooms. I feel so nauseous and my body's hot all over.My limbs are all starting to shake. I suspect that even if I had to stitch someone up, I wouldn't be able to do it at this point.What's wrong with me? I've never been this sick before in my life!Maybe I should've listened to my uncle. He knows best.I have to hold onto the sink so I don't sink to my knees in front of it, and I turn the cold water tap on. I splash my face with the cool water repeatedly, but it doesn't make me feel better. I'm making a mess. Water is spilling everywhere.My stomach is churning nonstop.When the bathroom door opens, I don't even notice it until this sweet, sickly scent invades my nose. For some reason, my senses have been sharper than usual, and every little scent makes me na

ARIAMy eyes flutter open and I look around the extremely bright room in confusion.Where am I?It takes me only a few seconds to realize that I'm actually in a hospital—the only one in Ironclaw. I've only ever been here a few times when I was younger, and not once in my adolescence or adulthood.Until now, that is.Though I've already figured out where I am, I'm having a hard time remembering how I got here. For some reason, I don't seem to have that memory."Aria."My head snaps to the left of me, and I make eye contact with my uncle. He's seated on an upholstered sofa, hands clasped together in front of him. I've never seen him look this tired in all my life. "How're you feeling?""How did I get here?" I ask instead.Uncle Barty smiles. "Not too long. About a couple of hours. How're you feeling, Aria?"My response is automatic. "Okay...I think."The look he gives me is one of disbelief. Do I feel okay? Though I've just woken up, I can clearly tell that there's something different a

ARIA It's pretty late—I don't know what the time is but the whole hospital has gone very quiet, which means that most patients are probably asleep by now. I'm still awake. I'm having a hard time quieting my mind. It's just so much. I spent my whole life thinking I was a runt, but apparently, I'm not, and apparently, that doesn't matter. I'm still an outsider and I have even more reasons to worry. And then there's Ryder, who's somehow always in the back of my mind even when I try to convince myself that he doesn't exist. I don't know what to do with the memories I have of him. I don't know how to. This isn't something that can go away with the blink of an eye. He's my fated mate, and at some point, I'll have to address this. We both will. Or I'll be bound to him forever, neither of us able to do a damn thing with our lives. Unless we reject each other, we won't be able to claim another mate. All these thoughts shut down when I snap my head to the left and see Uncle Barty watchin

ARIAI feel that instant connection toward him.My very soul seems to call his name.But I know I have to keep my distance even if I can't do that physically right now. It's common sense and self-awareness battling with hidden desires deep inside of me. As he steps closer to me, parts of me celebrate while the rest fear his proximity.It's a constant fight inside of me—wanting him and knowing I can't. I shouldn't. And now that I know what I am and the threat I pose to Alpha-borns like him, things have gotten more complicated.My life depends on how well I can keep him away from me.Mine and Uncle Barty's."I knew I had to come and see you," Ryder claims, studying my expression. Goddess, is it possible that everything—all those awful events—happened just a few hours ago? It feels like a lifetime has passed since I last saw him."I tried to come earlier," he continues. He's already standing by the foot of the bed, and when he places his hand on the mattress, the foot closest to him ting

ARIAIn the morning, I leave the hospital, and Uncle Barty drives me home. I stare out the window the entire time. I couldn't sleep, and when it finally happened, I dreamt of Ryder. There's a corner of my mind that's aware that Uncle Barty is talking to me, but not a single word registers. I'm so distracted that he could shout at me and I still wouldn't hear a thing he said. At times, I ask myself if maybe I was a little too harsh on Ryder. Most of the things I said to him were meaningless and only intended to push him away. My life is so darn complicated as it is; I don't need a bond with the one person who could make my life hell. Every time I even try to entertain the thought that maybe things could work, I remind myself that Ryder wouldn't want anything to do with me if he knew what I was—a Nocturn. A beast capable of overpowering him. I scoff lightly. Any hopes I've ever had of being ordinary have just leaped out the window. What am I going to do now? When I had school, I ha