Finding Her True Alpha
Chapter 106: Moving On

Ashlyn

Mason woke me, gently shaking my shoulder. “I’m sorry Baby, James is hungry,” Mason whispered, k!ssing my cheek.

“What time is it?” I yawned, sitting up. Derek was walking around, trying to keep James distracted. I motioned for him to bring him to me.

“It’s still early, Baby. And lan has been calling you.” Mason told me, sitting beside me on the bed. Derek handed me James, and I got him latched before asking him what lan wanted. I know he knows that I’ll be portaling in this morning to retrieve Brad, but I decided I wouldn’t see lan.

I looked up at Mason, and he was watching me intently.

“Do you know why lan is calling?” I asked him and he shrugged.

“Did something happen?” Derek asked, lying down, resting his head on my th!gh.

“I dreamwalked last night, and I found Brad alive. After I came back here, I called lan. He answered, and I heard him with a woman.” I explained.

“And did that upset you?” Derek asked me.

“I don’t know how I’m feeling.” I sighed. Mason wrapped an arm around my shoulder and pulled me close.

“Feelings are hard.” He said, k!ssing my temple.

“I don’t want either of you to think that whatever I’m feeling has anything to do with us. It’s just lan, and I have been friends for 10 years. I know l’m going to have to let him go. It’s just hard,” I told them.

“Babygirl, it’s normal to feel that way. But no one is asking you not to be friends with him.” Derek told me.

“I know, but I think it’s time to put some space between us. He needs to move on and he can’t do that with me in his life.” l explained.

“Baby, whatever you decide to do, we will support you. Everything has changed in such a short amount of time, it can be overwhelming.” Mason said, and I nodded.

“Is that how you guys are feeling?” I asked them.

“Not really.” Mason shrugged.

“Nope.” Derek said, popping them.

“Thanks.” I told them sarcastically.

“What are you going to tell him when you see him today?” Derek asked, and I sighed.

Before I could answer him, my phone rang on the nightstand. Derek sat up and picked it up, reading the Screen.

“It’s lan.” He said, passing me my phone. James was still nursing, so I couldn’t just get up and move.

“We’ll give you some space,” Mason said, k!ssing my temple. Derek k!ssed my cheek before they both left the room. I answered my phone after I heard the door close behind them.

“Good morning, lan.” I answered.

“Ashlyn, where have you been? I’ve been calling.” He said.

“I’ve been sleeping. I was up with James and then I couldn’t sleep.” I told him and I heard him sigh.

“Ashlyn, I’m sorry about last night. I didn’t expect you to call in the middle of the night.” He rushed out.

“lan, you don’t have to explain anything. It’s my fault, for calling and for depending on you for so much.” I told him.

“Ashlyn, don’t say that we are friends, right?”

“lan, I should just have texted you. I didn’t need to call. I was feeling overwhelmed about finding out Brad was alive. You have every right to move on with your life.

You shouldn’t feel you have to drop everything for me.” I told him and he sighed.

“So, what are you saying?” He asked me, and I could feel the tears threatening to spill. I had to take a deep breath before I answered him.

“I think I need to give you space. I’ll text you when I’m ready to portal in and I’ll get Brad. And you can always text me about anything,” I told him.

“So you aren’t coming here to see me?” I could hear the pain in his voice.

“Please, don’t make this any harder than it has been.” I whispered.

“Ashlyn, I should get a say about this. I want you in my life.” lan said, frustrated.

“Have you moved on from us?” l asked him. And the phone went silent.

“Ashlyn, you know this isn’t fair.” He breathed out.

“lan, I’m not saying that I won’t be here for you. I’m just saying that I need to give you space. You aren’t mine, and you shouldn’t feel guilty about being with someone else,” I told him.

“Fine, what do you want to do with the house, then?” He asked me angrily.

“There are a few boxes under my bed that I would like to keep. If you could keep them safe, please? I’m not sure if Brad would like anything, but I’ll ask him and text you back. Everything else can be donated and you can send me the bill for the movers. I would also like to buy the house and you can give it to a family in need,” I explained.

“You want to buy the house?” He asked, confused.

“Yes, but I want it to go to a family in need. Everything in the house can go to families in need,” I confirmed.

“So you aren’t planning on coming back?” He said, full of emotions.

“I thought I’d be staying at the pack house, but if that offer doesn’t still stand, then I can always find somewhere to stay when I’m there.” I told him.

“No, of course not, Ashlyn. You know you are always welcome to stay at the pack house.” He rushed out.

“Can you just come see me before you leave, please?” He asked. I hesitated before I answered him. Saying goodbye to him is like saying goodbye to a part of your life that you knew would never happen, but you have been dreaming about for the last 10 years.

“Okay, lan.” I breathed out.

“Thank you. I’ll see you soon.” He said before he hung up. I sat on the bed with James sleeping in my arms, thinking about whether I was doing the right thing. It bothered me he was with someone else, but that feeling isn’t fair. I’m with my two mates and we have a child. I should be glad that he’s moving on.

Mason and Derek came back a little later, bringing me a mug of coffee.

“How did it go?” Mason asked, placing the mug down on the nightstand and sitting beside me. Derek sat down on the other side of me, taking James so I could drink my coffee.

“He wants to see me,” I told them.

“Were you not planning on seeing him?” Mason asked, confused.

“No, I was just going to get Brad and then come back home. I feel terrible that he feels guilty about things he may do.” I explained.

“Babygirl, go say your goodbyes and then come home with Brad.” Derek said, looking at me.

“Why are you both acting okay with this?” I asked them suspiciously.

“Are we not supposed to support our mate?” Mason asked me.

“Really? Both of you have complained about my relationship with lan. And now you are both okay, oh I see.” I finally understood why they were okay with this.

“Baby, it’s not that.” Mason said.

“No, I understand now. It’s fine, I get it. I should get ready to go.” I told them, climbing off the bed. They both liked that I wouldn’t be seeing lan.

I headed into the bathroom to brush out my hair and to braid it. When I was done, I walked through the room to the closet to get dressed. While I was pulling a hoodie over my head, Derek spoke from the door.

“Babygirl, I know this is hard and you will get through it.”

“Have you ever felt this way?” I asked him. I was ready to go, so I walked over to where he was leaning on the door frame.

“Yeah, I guess I have.” He sighed.

“Chantel?” I asked him.

“Our relationship was toxic. I’d go back because she was familiar, but there was a part of me that hoped that our relationship would get better.” He sighed. I felt a ping of jealousy that I had no right to feel.

“I’m sorry.” I whispered, wrapping my arms around his wa!st.

“Don’t be, Babygirl. I’m here with you and Mason and our son.” He said, k!ssing the top of my head.

“l feel guilty about these feelings, like I’m letting you and Mason down somehow.” I mumbled into his chest.

“Babygirl, one thing I’d noticed early on about you is that you forgive, even when a person doesn’t deserve it. I never understood why you would forgive lan, but he’s familiar to you. He’s been a constant in your life for the last 10 years. Mason and I both understand,” Derek said.

I pulled away just enough to look up at him.

“Thank you.” I breathed out.

“Now you should go before James gets hungry again. Hurry back and remember your phone.” Derek said, leaning down and pressing his l!ps to mine.

“I love you,” I told him when he pulled out of the k!ss.

“I love you, Babygirl.” He mumbled into my forehead.

We walked back into the bedroom and found Mason lying on the bed with James snuggling into his bare chest. My heart swelled up with so much love watching Mason with our son.

Derek wrapped his arms around my wa!st from behind and rested his chin on my shoulder. We both stood there watching our mate with our son.

“You two are just the best dads.” I told Derek, turning my head to k!ss his cheek.

“And you are the best momma wolfa baby boy could ever have. Now bring his uncle home. After, we are meeting with our dads and Mason is going to give us a tour of our new home.” Derek said. He k!ssed my cheek and smacked my a*ss before going to lie down beside Mason.

I k!ssed Mason and our boy before thinking of where Brad was. I imagined the place, and a portal opened up and I stepped through. The portal closed behind me, and I was now standing in front of the cave.

“Brad?” I called out. I heard him before he pulled back the vines and stepped out.

“Buttercup, you came? | thought I was dreaming.” He said before engulfing me in a hug.

“I’m so glad I wasn’t dreaming. I’ve missed you so much.” Mumbling into his chest.

“So where are we off to, Buttercup?” Brad asked, pulling out of the hug.

“I need to speak with lan. And I need you to take anything that you still might want from the house. I’m going to be buying it and donating everything to a family in need. If you don’t mind seling it to me?” I told him.

“There are a few family things I want, but I think your plan is great. Some good should come out of all of what has happened,” he said.

“Do you want to talk about you and lan?” Brad asked me after we stood there silently. I knew we needed to go, but I wasn’t looking forward to the next conversation.

“After I found you, called him. He was with someone and I felt guilty for making him feel guilty. I have two mates and a child. He should feel like he can move on.” I sighed.

“You two have been friends for 10 years, Buttercup. Feelings just don’t go away just because our lives change. My heart still loves Grace, even if my mind thinks she’s a fucken bitch.” He said.

“I still love her, too. Even if I want her dead” I told him and he laughed.

“That makes two of us. lan will understand. It will hurt, but he will move on and then, when you are both ready, you can become close friends again. Sometimes, even if you love someone, giving them space can be good for both parties.” He said, giving me a smile.

“Look at you being all wise and mature.” I teased him.

“Yeah, I think dying has taught me. I’m not bulletproof.” He laughed.

“I’m glad that you are bulletproof,” I told him. I opened up a portal and motioned for him to step through.

We were both now standing in front of the pack house. My stomach was in knots, thinking about seeing lan again.

“I’m going to retrieve my things from the house. Come meet me when you’re ready,” Brad said. He k!ssed my temple and made his way to his house.

Sighing, I walked up the stairs and into the pack house. The place was eerily quiet and as soon as I entered, goosebumps erupted all over my body.

“lan?” I called out.

“Look what the cat dragged in.” I whipped my head to the side before I was hit and my vision went black.