Finding Her True Alpha
Chapter 116: Friends & Family

Ashlyn

After I was ready, my mates led me through the house to the living room, where everyone was waiting. The house was beautiful. I was in awe as we walked through the house.

“We didn’t change much. We want you to make this place feel and look like home,” Mason told me.

“Is this how your mother had it?” I asked him, and he nodded.

“She had great taste,” he said, and I nodded.

“Its wonderful. Honestly, I wouldn’t change a thing unless either of you wanted to. And I love what you both did with James’ room. It’s beautiful.” I told them.

“I’m glad you like it, Baby.” Mason said, pulling me to his side as we walked.

They led me to a doo, and could hear the others talking. I could hear Liam cooing with James. Talking about getting all the ladies and training him and such. It was so adorable and it warmed my heart to hear the love in his voice as he talked to him.

“Awe, Jamie, why are you being so fussing now?” Liam asked him as Mason opened the door.

“Probably because he wants momma.” I said behind Derek. Mason and Derek stepped to the side, revealing me to the group sitting in the living room.

“To be fair, I’d fuss until his momma held me to her chest,” Liam said, standing up. He walked over to me and handed me James before he wrapped his arms around me.

“We’ve missed you so much, Beautiful,” Liam mumbled into my cheek. I could hear Derek gr0aning. which made me laugh.

“I missed you too, Liam. I’m surprised Derek is letting you live here.” He giggled as I laughed.

“I know, right? I think he may have a crush on me.” Liam grinned at me. I was trying so hard to hold back my laughing.

“In your dreams, pretty boy.” I heard Derek yell out.

And with that, I couldn’t hold back my laughter.

“Will you two knock it off?” my uncle Ben said. He stood up from his seat and came over to give me a hug.

“Living with a bunch of boneheads,” he mumbled.

“I’m glad you’re finally awake to tame your zoo.” Uncle Ben said, making both me and Sage laugh.

“Yeah, sis, they are all yours now.” She laughed out. I just rolled my eyes. I guess I’ll stay busy working at my zoo.

“Brad, I expected you to be halfway around the world by now.” I told him when he wrapped me in a hug.

“I couldn’t leave, just in case,” he whispered.

“Have you at least planned where you are going?” I asked him.

“Kind of. Eric and I are just going to go to the airport and get on the first flight out of here.” He laughed.

“Oh, to be young again,” I said, and he laughed.

“When did you become a little old lady?” He laughed out.

“When I had this baby boy,” I told him.

“Fair enough. But if you ever want to travel, you can just take James with you,” Brad said.

“That’s true. But I think for right now, I’m just going to keep my feet on the ground.” I told him.

“I understand, Buttercup. I’m so happy that you’re awake,” he said before k!ssing my temple.

Matt and Brandon were the next ones to come over and give me a hug.

“l saw what you did to that poor council building. You are one bada*ss witch,” Matt said.

“Was it really that bad?” I asked him. I was trying to remember how I left it, but I couldn’t remember.

“We have to rebuild it.” Liam chimed in.

“Oops, my bad.” I shrugged.

“It’s okay, Baby. We needed to remodel that old building, anyway.” Mason said, pulling me close. I sat beside Mason on a couch, and Liam sat on the other side of me. I’m not sure where Derek ran off to.

“How are you feeling, Beautiful?” Liam asked me, and I could tell the others were listening intently.

“I’m okay. It’s weird being back. It felt like I was only gone for a couple of hours,” I said.

“Were you in the in between again?” Brandon asked.

Sage was sitting on his lap in a chair and they both looked so cute together.

“Not exactly,” I said. Derek walked back in and let out a grow.

“Could you stop touching my mate?” He growled at Liam.

“Maybe you shouldn’t leave her alone. She’s very touchable.” Liam tainted him. All of us erupted in laughter. Derek looked like he was going to kill Liam.

“You really like poking the dragon, don’t you?” I laughed out.

“I had better move before he actually kills me this time.” He said, k!ssing my cheek. He moved to sit beside Matt and Derek huffed, sitting beside me. Derek wrapped an arm around me, cursing under his breath.

“You okay?” I nudged his leg with mine.

“Till be better once I’ve marked you again. Until then, Magnus will be on edge.” He answered, k!ssing my temple. looked down to see that, even with all the noise, James was now sleeping.1leaned down and k!ssed his little head, now covered in thick, dark hair like Mason.

“Ashlyn, where did you go?” Sage asked me more seriously.

“Heaven.” I sighed, and I could hear some gasps.

“Brad, Donny says hi.” I told him.

“You saw Donny?” Brad exclaimed, and I nodded.

“l also saw my parents,” I told them.

“Really, Baby?” Mason asked, and I nodded.

“What did they say?” Sage asked. I could feel my emotions bubbling to the surface. Sage moved to sit on the coffee table in front of me.

“Ashlyn, it’s okay. You don’t have to answer. You can start at the beginning or you don’t have to tell us anything right now. We can tell you everything that happened after you killed Theo.” She said, wiping some tears off my cheeks.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. Mason and Derek were rubbing my back and Sage was rubbing my leg.

“Hey, you died and came back. There is nothing to be sorry about. It’s a lot to process. You felt like you were gone for a few hours, while we had been here wondering what was happening for eight weeks. We can tell you what we found.” Sage said, and I nodded.

“Okay, what did you guys find out?” I asked them.

“Well, Susan, Grace, and the former vampire king are all dead,” Sage started.

“And Theo and Gregory.” Liam added.

“I killed Theo, but who killed Gregory?” I asked them.

“lan did,” Mason told me. I turned my body so that I could look at him.

“What?” asked him, stunned.

“He shifted and killed Gregory when he was exiting the council building after you died and your magic vanished.” Mason explained.

“Was lan okay? He shouldn’t have shifted in his condition.” I rushed out.

“lan was fine.” Mason said, and I let out a breath.

“lan and Alex were both okay,” Derek confirmed.

“Okay, so all the bad guys are dead and I destroyed the council building.” I breathed out.

“Yeah, that sums it up,” Liam said.

“Okay, is there anything else?” l asked, looking around the room.

“Buttercup, what did you give up for my life?” Brad asked me.

“Tundra gave back the powers the goddess gave us, and she gave up the ability to shift.” I answered, looking at him.

“Why would she do that?” he asked me sorrowfully.

“Because she loves you as much as I do. She knew I could never choose between you two, so she made that decision for me.” I told him, with tears in my eyes.

“That’s why you didn’t shift?” Mason asked me, and I nodded.

“Ashlyn, let me take James,” Sage offered. She stood up, and I handed over my sleeping baby to her. Brad took Sage’s seat in front of me.

“Buttercup, I’m so sorry about Tundra.” Brad said, Wrapping his arms around me and pulling me into his chest.

“I don’t regret the decision she made to save your life, Brad. I just miss her.” I mumbled into his chest.

“She didn’t come back with you,” Brad said. I pulled away, wiping away my tears.

“Everything comes at a price. She stayed so that I could come back.” I breathed out. Mason wrapped his arm around me, pulling me to his side. I rested my head on his chest.

“And Donny, says hi?” Brad asked, making me giggle.

“Yeah,” I laughed. Donny definitely knew how to give a serious situation a laugh.

“That sounds like him,” Brad said, shaking his head.

“He was always a goofball,” I told Brad, and he laughed.

“You don’t even know half of it,” he said.

“I’m sorry about Grace,” I told him.

“Don’t be. Our relationship was always toxic, the bond just blinded the truth. And besides, without Grace, I would never have met you, or had the pleasure of raising you.” Brad said. I could feel the tears coming back to the surface.

“Stop being so sweet.” I huffed, trying to wipe away my tears.

“Lets go eat, Buttercup. I’m starving.” Uncle Ben announced, standing from his seat.

“Shotgun the seat beside Ashlyn.” Liam yelled out, running out of the room.

“I’m going to fucken kill him,” Derek huffed, making me laugh.

“You know he does that, because he knows it bothers you, right?” I laughed.

“Their br0mance is so adorable,” Brandon said, earning him a growl from Derek.

“Hey, if you want to take Liam for a spin, I won’t judge.” Mason laughed out and Derek glared at him.

“A bunch of fucken bone heads.” Uncle Ben commented as we walked to the dining room.

“You guys are ridiculous.” I laughed.

After dinner, I was feeling more like myself again. It was so good to be around most of the people that I care so deeply for. I missed Tundra deeply, but she gave me so much and I couldn’t let her down. After dinner was all cleaned up, and everyone had lifted, my mates and I headed up to our room. It was located on the third floor of this massive house. I swear the kitchen alone was the size of our apartment and I can’t wait to explore more of our home tomorrow.

The first thing I did after entering our room was check on James. He was sleeping soundly, and I found myself just standing by his crib, watching him sleep. He is so perfect. I reached over and picked up the gold wolf stuffy that was on a small shelf by his crib. I held it to my chest while I watched him.

“Your momma wolf loves you so much, our little pup.” I whispered to him.