Finding Her True Alpha
Chapter 131: Before the Dragon Kingdom

Ashlyn

l awoke to an empty bed, which, for me, was weird. Usually, I was the first person up. I tried not to panic as I climbed out of bed, rushing to James’ room. There was a robe hanging on a hook by the door. I was in a shirt that barely covered my a*ss. I pulled on the robe and entered his room to find that it was empty. His scent was faint and my anxiety had reached a new level as I ran out of his room and down the hallway, trying to pick up his scent.

I was panting by the time I found James with his daddies in the living room. They were sitting with Mat, Liam and Brandon. All of them were staring at me, while I sighed in relief.

“Babygirl, what’s wrong?” Derek asked me, coming over to me. Mason was holding James.

“Nothing.” I breathed out. And he raised an eyebrow.

“Baby?” Mason said.

“Both of you weren’t in bed and then James wasn’t in his room. I panicked.” I rushed out.

“Why didn’t you mindlink?” Mason asked me and I pushed my l!ps into a line.

“Because that would have meant that my brain was thinking logically.” I sighed, sitting beside Mason. James reached for me, and Mason handed him to me. I felt so much better having him in my arms.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Liam asked me.

“After yesterday, I probably will never be okay.” I answered, holding James tight to my chest. The thought of losing him was unbearable, and it twisted my heart painfully.

“Baby, we will never let anything happen to him.” Mason said, pulling me to his side.

“I know that, logically. But my anxiety and fear doesn’t see that.” l said.

“I would never let anything happen to our hatchling.” Freya said in my mind. Her calling him a hatchling made me giggle.

“What’s funny?” Derek asked.

“Freya just called James a hatchling, which is adorably funny.” I giggled. Derek chuckled, sitting on the other side of me.

“l guess he’s my hatchling and Mason’s pup,” he said.

“I wonder which one he’ll get.” I said out loud.

“Whatever it is, he’ll be bada*ss like his momma,” Liam said, and Matt chuckled.

“No kidding.” They both laughed.

“We can not have a girl.” I said, terrified. The entire room erupted into laughter.

“Oh, come on. She would look just like her gorgeous momma.” Derek said.

“And she would get all the boys,” I sung out. Both Mason and Derek let out a growl.

“Not fvcken happening.” Derek huffed, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Planning more kids already?” Liam asked, and I shook my head.

“I’ll only have one when Sage is pregnant. So talk to Sage. I refuse to do the next one alone,” I answered him.

“Brandon, you better get on that.” Mason said.

“Yeah, like haven’t. She wants to wait until this is all settled.” Brandon said.

“l actually agree with her. I would have liked to wait as well, but baby boy had other plans. Not that I would ever give him up. But I may have acted more clearly, less on instinct,” I said.

“Do you always feel you’re in protective mode?” Liam asked me, and I nodded.

“Always. I know he is safe with any of you, but all logic is thrown out the window when l feel like he is in

danger.” I told him.

“Anyway, what are you all doing up?” l asked them.

“Well, we’ve had something come up.” Mason said cautiously. My stomach immediately sunk.

“Great. Just tell me.” I sighed.

“So, four out of the six females we brought back are over the age of 18. Then there’s 16, and Gabby is 8. The four males are all over 18” Mason told me.

“And what’s the problem?” I asked him, confused.

“It’s not a problem, as it is strange,” Derek said.

“Tell me,” I gr0aned out.

“I found my mate,” Liam said, and I stared at him before it finally registered.

“I did as well,” Matt said.

“Wait, slow down. Both of you are mated to hybrids that I didn’t have to form a bond?” I asked them slowly, and they both nodded.

“Charlotte is a witch wolf.” Liam said.

“And Hazel is a witch Fae,” Matt finished.

“So both of you already felt the bond, and they have accepted?” I asked them.

“Just talking. They seem pretty scared, which we both understand. They have been locked away their entire lives,” Matt answered.

“Wow, I did not expect that.” I breathed out.

“I wonder why you didn’t need to place the bond?” Derek asked me.

“Maybe it’s because it never left them. But that’s fantastic news. I’m so happy for both of you. And I’ll help anyway I can.” I told them with a smile.

“And the others will find their mates as well. Maybe we can get some normalcy back into our lives.” I said.

“We should get ready to leave soon,” Derek said, and I nodded.

“Liam, Matt, Brandon, I’d like you all to go to the council building and get it all organized for us. Take everyone with you. It’s not safe here anymore for them.” I told them.

“We already filled them in, baby.” Mason said.

“Oh, thank the goddess.” I sighed.

“We should probably go pack a bag, since you can shift now,” Mason said.

“Yeah, no kidding. It was quite awkward shifting in front of 10 strangers,” I said, and both of them gr0aned.

“But your dress?” Liam asked.

“Freya did that after,” I said, pushing my l!ps into a line.

“Great” Mason gr0aned.

“Oh, it’s fine. I’m sure more than enough women have seen you. And I don’t want to talk about you.” I said, looking at Derek.

“What? I said nothing,” Derek exclaimed.

“Your daddies are so lucky momma loves them so much,” I said, standing with James. I had to go get James and I packed for our trip to the dragon kingdom.

“Come on my little lovely, we need to go get ready to see grandpa dragon.” I told James, leaving the guys.

When I had him and myself all packed up, I put our bags at the front door and headed into the kitchen to make James a bottle before we left. Poor little guy has been up all morning with me. As soon as I walked into the kitchen, Gabby crashed into me, wrapping her arms around my waist.

“Ashlyn,” she exclaimed.

“Good morning Gabby. How did you sleep?” I asked her, wrapping my free arm around her.

“This place is wonderful.” She said in awe.

“I’m so glad you like it here.” I told her.

The others were all sitting at the table or around the island. They all looked so much better in their new clothes.

“I have some business to take care of. But I want you to know that the people that will stay with you will protect you. You are safe with them. And you will all be heading back to the council building. I will be there in a few days. There are some things I have to clean up.” I told them.

“My queen, do you need help with anything?” One woman asked.

“Please, all of you, call me Ashlyn. And what is your name?” l asked her. She was beautiful. Light golden brown hair flowed down her back, and she had big blue eyes.

“I’m Charlotte.” She answered.

“You’re Liam’s mate,” I said, and she blushed.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you. Liam is a close friend of mine. He told me this morning. I’m so happy for both of you,” I told her. I started making James a bottle and Charlotte got closer to me.

“Ashlyn, can I ask you something?” She whispered, and I nodded.

“I don’t know if I’m ready for a mate.” She confessed.

“Just take things slow. Liam is an amazing person. Just give him time to show you.” I told her and she nodded. I grabbed her arm before she could move away.

“There is no pressure. Just take it one day at a time. I know this is all new for all of you.” I told her.

“Thank you, Ashlyn.” She said with a smile.

“l can’t wait to get to know each and everyone of you. I am sorry that I have to leave so soon after you arrive. And I’m sure one or all of the people l leave here will explain everything to you. And as soon as I can, “I’ll meet you all at the hybrid castle.” I told them.

“Ashlyn, we are so thankful that you showed up when you did.” One man spoke.

“What’s your name?” I asked him.

“Blair” he answered.

“Blair, I’m thankful that I showed up when I did. No one deserves what you all have been through. And I can’t wait to sit down with all of you and get to know you.” I told him.

“Why are you being so kind to us?” another man asked.

“That’s Oliver,” Blair told him.

“Because, Oliver, it’s the right thing to do. I’m also a hybrid and even though I have already stopped one war, people still hate me. We need to stick together,” I answered.

“And how do your mates feel about you being a hybrid? I can smell that either of them are one.” Blair asked me.

“It never bothered either of them. I was destined to have a hybrid child before I even found out that I was indeed a hybrid.” I told them.

“I promise that everyone here doesn’t have a problem with any of you being hybrids. I know that may be hard to believe, but I trust these people not only with my life, but with my son’s life.” I had just finished telling them when Derek walked in.

“We need to leave,” he said.

“What happened?” I asked him and he sighed.

“The council called a meeting.”

“Okay, just let me get James fed and we’ll leave,” I told him. He nodded and left the kitchen.

“If anyone needs anything, please talk with Sage. And Gabby, I’ll see you soon.” I told them before I followed Derek. I had James cradled and feeding him, while I rushed after Derek.

“Derek, what happened?” | asked him again when I caught up with him. He and Mason were in the living room.

“The council is demanding to meet you. They caught wind of Freya. They think this is all a trick to gain their trust.” Derek growled out.

“Hey, it’s okay. I got this.” I told him.

“Baby, they believe you will kill Derek like you killed Theo,” Mason said. I was taken aback by what he had just said.

“Why the hell would they think that?”

“They believe you want to take over the kingdoms. Even council members on our council believe the same bullshit,” Mason told me. I felt exhausted. They are changing the narrative to fit their agenda.

“I’ll just have to deal with it.” I sighed.

“I’m sorry, babygirl” Derek said, resting his head on my shoulder.

“It’s not your fault. People will believe what they want, regardless if it’s the truth. And I hope you know I would never kill either of you. Even if I could. Apparently, they don’t know that I can’t kill my mate without killing myself.” I told them.

“I believe you and Mason believes you. And we have been defending you since the day you killed that fvcker.” Derek sighed. James was finishing eating, so I held him against my chest, rubbing his back.

“Well, we should probably get this over with,” I told them.

“It’s okay, Ashlyn. After they see me, there will be no room for doubt,” Freya said.

“l hope you’re right. I really don’t feel like going up against a clan of dragons.”