Finding Her True Alpha
Chapter 122: Incomplete Bond

Ashlyn

I woke with a g***n as I tried to remember what had just happened. My head was pounding and my face felt sticky.

“Ashlyn, wake up.” Liam was yelling, shaking my shoulder.

“Liam, stop.” I g*****d out.

“Oh, thank the goddess. Are you okay?” He rushed out.

“Liam, what happened?” I m****d out. My whole body ached while l tried to move. I was lying on my stomach, on this hard, icy surface.

“The floor gave out. Does anything feel broken?” He asked, trying to help me up. I sat back on my heels, looking at him.

“Sh!t, you cut your forehead.” He said. I reached up and winced when I found the cut. The sticky must be b***d.

“l called Mason. He should be here soon.” Liam told me and I g*****d.

“l wish you hadn’t done that.” I breathed out.

“What? Why?” He asked me, helping me to stand on my feet.

“Because l already have a massive headache and all he is going to do is scold me like a child,” I told him as I stood up on shaky legs.

“Ashlyn, I’m not sure what happened, but I know Mason loves you. He just wants you safe.” Liam tried to defend his friend.

“No, he wants me locked at home. He and Derek can do whatever they want. They don’t even need to tell me where they are even going. But me, I have eleven warriors around me at all times. So, it’s not about safety, it’s about control.” I vented.

“Let’s just get you out of here. I need to clean that cut.” Liam said.

“Did you at least have the books?” I asked him, as he led me over to a ladder.

“Yes, I got the books. Can you climb?” He asked me, and I nodded. I just wanted to get out of here.

“You go first, just in case. If you are having any trouble, I’ll carry you.” He said before I started climbing, and Liam’s face was in my a*ss the whole time.

I was trying to take my time as my entire body was screaming at me to stop and my head felt like it might explode. I had to stop to rest a few times, as I was quickly winded.

“Take your time, Ashlyn. You fell a few stories high.” Liam would tell me when I needed to rest. I was hoping to get out of here and home before Mason or Derek showed up. I knew Mason would have called Derek, and I didn’t need the scolding that I knew was coming.

Finally, I made it to the top. The man in the white hardhat helped me up and Liam was right behind me.

Liam grabbed my waist from behind to steady me when l felt like I was going to fall. I felt dizzy, and the room was spinning.

“I have a medical team outside,” the man spoke.

“Ashlyn, do you need me to carry you?” Liam whispered in my ear.

“I’m okay, Liam.” I told him. We followed the man out of the building and Liam led me over to the ambulance that was waiting in the driveway. I sat down on the steps of the ambulance while a medic cleaned up my wound and my face. Covered in dust and dirt. And I’m sure I looked like a hot mess with my face covered in b***d.

“My queen, you are going to need stitches.” One medic informed me.

“Do what you need to do,” I told them.

“But my queen, we don’t have any numbing.” He told me.

“I’m stronger than I look.” I told him.

“Can you hold this to your forehead, applying pressure? l Just need to get the stitch kit.” He said, and | nodded. Wincing at the throbbing behind my eyes.

“Are you okay?” Liam asked me, while I did what the medic asked me.

“Yeah, I just have a headache,” l answered.

“My queen, you also have a concussion.” The medic called out from the back of the ambulance.

Before I could even get stitched up, Mason finally showed up. And I was glad that Derek wasn’t with him.

My head was still spinning, and I was ready to throw up.

“Ashlyn, what the hell happened?” Mason rushed Out.

“Mason, it was an accident. We were just about to leave when the floor gave out.” Liam tried to explain, earning him a glare.

“I’Il deal with you later. You were supposed to keep her safe, not go along with her ridiculous ideas,” Mason growled out.

“Liam, where are the books?” I asked him, ignoring Mason.

“I’ll get them for you.” Liam said before he rushed off.

“Books? You went into that building for books? Are you fvcken kidding me?” Mason yelled out.

“Is it true that Theo planned on taking out all the other kingdoms?” I asked him and he looked at me, stunned.

“How do you know that?” He asked me.

“Is it true?” I asked him again, and he looked away.

“If you came here just to scold me about my safety, then you can save the lecture. You and Derek can do whatever you want, but I have to play the good little stay-at-home mommy.” I told him. Liam came back and handed me the books we had collected.

“Now, I’m going home.” I told him, moving around him. I felt dizzy, and all I wanted to do was throw up and lay down, but I would not show him any weakness.

“My queen, you still need stitches,” the medic called out.

“I’m sure it will be fine. Thank you.” I told him.

“Ashlyn!” Mason growled out.

“f**k off, Mason. Why the fr*k are you even here?” I growled at him. I noticed the man was talking to Liam.

“Mason, they found something.” Liam told him.

“Liam, what did they find?” I asked him. I was curious, but then I remembered I had more important things. Both Liam and Mason looked at me.

“Never mind, I’m sure you two can handle it. I wouldn’t want to get myself killed again.” I said before I opened up a portal. It closed before anyone else could step through. Sage was waiting on the porch with James on her h*p.

“Ashlyn, what happened?” She rushed over to me. I couldn’t take James, so l just gave him a k!ss.

“I fell. It’s no big deal,” I told her, heading to the house.

“Ashlyn, you’re covered in b***d. And you have a gash on your forehead.” Sage rushed out, following me up to my room.

“I know, and I’m fine.” I tried to reassure her. Before I went to start the shower, I put the books on top of the dresser.

“Ashlyn, where are Derek and Mason?” Sage called out.

“Mason is at the council building. I guess they found something. And I haven’t seen Derek,” I told her.

“I’m just going to shower and then I’ll be down to take care of James and make dinner. Arthur and Victor are coming for dinner,” I told her.

“Do you need help?” She asked me and I shook my head.

“You’ve done enough just watching James for me. I can handle the rest,” I told her.

I closed the bathroom and stripped down. Looking in the mirror, bruises covered my arms and chest. I finally looked at my mark. It was the same as before, but Tundra’s name was missing. I’ll need to get a tattoo to represent her. I’m not even sure I want to keep this mark anymore. And that thought broke me. I love them both, but I’ve given up enough of myself. I’m not some submissive housewife that will just take their crap.

Taking a deep breath, I hopped in the shower to get clean. I winced when the water hit my forehead, but I needed to get it clean. I couldn’t even see the wound in the mirror since it was covered in b***d again. When the water finally ran clean, I hopped out to get ready. I needed to get James and to go start dinner. I also needed to find some meds. My head was pounding, and I didn’t have time to have a nap.

I checked out my wound in the mirror and it appeared to have stopped bleeding. So, l just brushed out my hair and went to get dressed. Sage was sitting on the bed when I came out.

“James’ is napping. I just wanted to make sure you didn’t die in the shower.” She said, making me laugh.

“Thanks, l love you too.” I told her, walking into the closet.

“What’s with the books?” She called out.

“I need to research this bond stuff. I also wanted to read about if anyone else had lost their wolves. Also, I probably should read up on the other kingdoms.” I answered her. I pulled on some leggings and just a t-shirt. Before the grandpas show up, I can always change. I walked out of the closet to find Sage flipping through one of the books.

“You okay?” I asked her, and she sighed, closing the book.

“How are you feeling?” She asked me.

“I’m fine, Sage. Maybe some meds for my headache, but I should go get dinner started.” I told her. She followed me downstairs and into the kitchen.

“I got you a new phone today,” Sage said.

“Thank you.” It was sitting on the kitchen island.

I was looking through the fridge when the front door was thrown open and we heard someone storming

“Derek, calm down.” I heard Matt yelling.

“Sage, can you go check on James, please?” I asked her. I knew this was about to get ugly. She rushed out right before Derek stormed in with Matt on his heels.

Matt moved in front of Derek, blocking him from me.

“Why the hell would you go to the council building?” Derek growled out.

“I needed to look for something, and Sage was watching James. It’s no big deal,” I told him.

“No big deal? You feel three stories and it’s no big deal.” he screamed.

“Derek, calm down. Ashlyn, are you okay?” Matt asked me.

“I have a headache, but I’m okay.” I answered.

“Derek, she’s fine. Calm down.” Matt told his boss.

“Derek, what is your problem, anyway? James was with Sage and it was an accident. I’m fine and no one else was hurt. So why the hell are you so angry?” l asked him and he huffed.

“Matt, leave.” Derek growled out. Matt looked at me before he left the kitchen.

“Your father is coming over for dinner with Arthur tonight.” I told him.

“Ashlyn, why the hell can’t you just stay out of danger?” Derek growled.

“I had everyone with me. I made sure James was safe. What more do you want from me?” I huffed.

“I want you to stay alive.” He said, frustrated.

“Why? So you and Mason can just go to work and leave me at home. Both of you can do what you want, but I can’t. You run into danger and you are the hero. I do it and I’m this selfish b!tch who left her child. I’m never going to be this submissive mate, and if that’s what you want, then you shouldn’t have marked me.” l yelled.

“We watched you die. We have the right to be concerned for your safety,” he argued.

“Was Theo planning on attacking the other kingdoms?” I asked him, changing the subject. I knew l would get nowhere with all this safety crap.

“Who the f**k told you that?” he growled.

“Does it matter? ‘m asking you if it’s true.”

“It doesn’t change the fact that you died protecting your ex.”

“So, you would have just left Matt to die? So you and Mason can sacrifice yourselves for another, but I can’t. Would you have just left Chantel down there to fvcken die?” I screamed at him.

“Mason and I have kingdoms to take care of, things you don’t understand,” he defended.

“So, what the f**k do you want from me? From this fvcken relationship?” l yelled.

“I don’t fvcken know!” He screamed. I couldn’t pretend that what he said didn’t hurt.

“If you can’t move past what happened, then I think you should reject me. Because l didn’t come back to live like this.” I told him, wiping the tears from my eyes.

“Maybe if you’d stop running to another man, I would f*****g know.” He growled out.

“And maybe if you made me feel safe, I wouldn’t feel like I needed to,” I yelled, with tears streaming down my face. Derek slammed his fists against the counter, making me jump.

“That’s fvcken bullsh!t and you know it. You don’t need a fvcken reason to run back to that fvcken alpha.

He even fvcken cheated on you and you still act like his fvcken lap dog.” Derek yelled out.

“Then why did you fvcken mark me? If I was such a horrible mate the first time around, why would you want me?” I screamed.

“You don’t get to play the victim this time. If either Mason or I did any of the crap that you did with lan, you would have rejected us, and you fvcken know it,” he growled.

“I don’t love lan. Saving Alex and lan was the right thing to do, and I don’t regret that. I came back because I love you. But I don’t think you can love me without the bond. Even being marked, the bond isn’t the same.” I cried.

“I think you’re right,” he said, and I could feel my heart breaking. I moved to rush out of the kitchen when a window shattered. I screamed before l ducked down behind the counter. There was a sharp pain in one of my arms.

Looking down, I noticed I was bleeding. Mason, Brandon, Liam and Matt all rushed in. Mason rushed to me, kneeling in front of me.

“Baby, you’re bleeding,” he said, reaching for a towel.

“Derek, what the f**k happened?” He yelled out. When Derek didn’t answer, he asked me.

“Baby, what happened?” He asked me softly, wrapping the towel around my arm.

“I don’t know. The window shattered.” I told him.

“Okay, It’s okay, Baby,” Mason said, k!ssing my forehead. His behavior confused me. When I left him at the council building, he was pissed at me.

“Mason, the sniper got whoever was shooting at the house,” Brandon informed us. Mason helped me stand.

“Is he alive?” Mason asked.

“He is. He’s a dragon. Derek and Liam are dealing with him,” Brandon answered.

“Why would a dragon be shooting at the house?” I asked, and Mason sighed.

“Mason, you need to tell her.” Brandon said, and my mind was racing.

“I’m going to check on James.” I said, before rushing out of the kitchen and running to James’ room. As I rushed into his room, I heard him cry. Sage was consoling him. I immediately took him from her and he calmed down.

“Ashlyn, you’re bleeding.” Sage exclaimed.

“I’m fine. What happened?” rushed out.

“I think the noise just startled him.” Sage answered, and I nodded.

“It’s okay, baby. I got you.” I cooed, while I held him to my chest.

I sat down in the rocking chair and rocked him until he was asleep again. Holding him helped me feel better about the argument I had with Derek. I can’t blame him for having second thoughts, because I was also having them. Sage left to get a first aid kit. And soon after, Mason entered the room.

“Baby, what Derek said?” he said, kneeling down beside the chair.

“Mason, I don’t want to talk about it.” I told him, closing my eyes.

“I’m sorry about how I’ve been acting today. Not having the bond seems to affect all of us. It doesn’t feel the same, even after marking.” Mason said, and I nodded.

“Hence the reason I went to the council building today,” I told him.

“I’m sorry, Baby.” He sat down on the arm of the chair and wrapped an arm around me.

“I shouldn’t have overacted like that, and I shouldn’t have gone to work. You needed me, and I wasn’t there again. And I’m so sorry. I want you to know that even without the bond, I want this to work. I love you so much, Baby.” He told me and I sobbed into his chest.

“We will get through this, Baby, we have to.” He whispered.