Semua Bab The Ice Alpha’s Mate: Bab 51 - Bab 60

RYDER I stare at the back of Aria's head as she heads to her next class, wondering if I should approach her or not. If I do, what the hell could I even say to her? I'd only be getting myself into more trouble, especially after what I did to keep her here at Ironclaw U. No, it would be best if I keep her at arm's length. As her uncle said: I'd only get her into trouble, and that's not what I'm after. Though everything I am, everything I'm made of, rejects the idea of letting her go, there's not much I can do about it, considering she doesn't want me either. Besides, I made a promise to her uncle and my father that I'd stay away from her. Telling my father that I'd reject her and subsequently stay away from her is the only way I could keep her studying here. Nadia had to be expelled and I made that happen, too. She was out of control and I wouldn't be able to tolerate seeing her face around campus. My father agreed to that, too—anything to keep me in the team and reject Aria Murdock

ARIAWhen I make it home, I lose my will to bake.I just feel so depressed.I throw myself on the bed and stare at the ceiling until my eyes start to burn. I can't stop replaying that scene over and over again in my mind until it feels like I'm literally going crazy. The worst part is that every time the memory of Ryder hugging that girl crosses my mind, I feel a stab of pain right in my chest. It's pathetic because I know we could never work so this possessiveness and jealousy have no place inside of me, and I blame him for my feeling this way because he's the one stalling the rejection.But I feel this way regardless and there's not much to be done. I'm having wildly dangerous thoughts in my mind, and the only thing that reassures me and makes me feel a little better is when I imagine myself walking up to them and hitting them both, but I'd especially hurt her.Crazy, I know, and I'd be too embarrassed to ever admit this out loud.Lying on my back and with my eyes glued to the ceil

ARIAIn a matter of moments, Ryder is standing in front of me and I forget how to breathe and be myself all over again. His eyes meet mine, drawing me to him in ways that simply can't be explained. His scent. His presence. It all has an effect on me, and I forget the hurt and the pain he has caused me and continues to do so with these contradictory actions.Like how he told me he wanted me and yet, I saw him with my own eyes, hugging that other girl who is allegedly his chosen.Goddess. The thought breaks my heart all over again, but I have to focus because he's standing right in front of me, and I can't lose control.Not when he's this close."Are you alright?" he asks, stepping closer to me. My back hits the wall when he raises his hand, almost like he was going to touch my clammy cheek with it to test my temperature. "Something's wrong. What is it?""Nothing," I mumble, determined to escape from him.I can't. He grabs my arm to stop me, and his touch seems to light me on fire. Our

ARIAFor the rest of the day, I feel like a walking bruise, and at home, things aren't better because now, I have Cassandra asking me how things are going with Ryder when Uncle Barty isn't looking, and I definitely don't want to share all my exhausting, conflicted emotions with her.If I'm a pain to myself, I can't imagine what I must sound like to other people."There's no progress," I whisper to her before shaking my head. "He's going to marry someone else. I don't see the point of this."Cassandra says nothing for a long time. I'm not sure what she's discussed with my uncle or if he told her anything. If so, she certainly doesn't share it with me."You don't sound happy about any of this."I shrug. "It's how it is. My feelings don't matter.""Of course, they do.""No, Cassandra. They don't."I barely touch my dinner and I have a hard time acting normally in front of my uncle when I'm hurting on the inside. If we just rejected each other, this pain would pass, right? It's my wolf th

ARIAIt seems that I blinked and all of a sudden, it's Saturday.Ryder's birthday.Uncle Barty and I are in the car now, headed there. I'm wearing a deep red silk dress that Cassandra lent me for the evening. It's a little risqué, as I've never worn anything that shows off my breasts the way this dress does, and it's tight and fitting, but comfortable.When I tried it on in the mirror, she came up behind me and said, "I knew it. I knew it would look stunning! He won't be able to resist you in this."My heart sank. "We're rejecting each other tonight, Cassandra."Her expression was one of genuine shock. "What? Oh, Aria. That's not a good idea at all. Remember what I told you?""It's the only way," I told her sadly. It seems even my wolf has tired of fighting with me on this. Cassandra said nothing else. I try to keep these thoughts out of my mind as we drive toward the Alpha's house. Naturally, I've never been there, and I don't know what to expect. I'm also nervous about being approa