Finding Her True Alpha
Chapter 138: Something Has to Give

Mason

I swear to the goddess that woman will be the death of me. Hearing she wanted to run into the vampire kingdom, knowing nothing infuriated me. I’m done playing this fvcken game with her. If I had to force her to submit, I would.

“Mase, that was a little harsh.” Liam said after Ashlyn stormed out of the kitchen.

“Not harsh enough. Derek and I watched her die. And I can’t go through that again. And if I have to lock her in a lead room to stop her, I will.” I growled.

“Mason, we all feel the same way. But she’s scared. Almost losing you and James today is clouding her thinking,” Sage said.

“And all the other times she has put herself in danger?” I asked her and she sighed.

“She wants to fix this. And she doesn’t know how to ask for help. But forcing her to do something will not help.” She said.

“You wouldn’t be saying that if you had to watch Brandon die,” I told her.

“Mason!” Brandon growled.

“It’s true. None of you have any idea what we went through. Yes, you witness it, but until you experience it, you don’t know. And I refuse to go through that again. She is my mate and I love her, but I will not let her do what she wants. She has our family to think about.” I yelled before I stormed out of the kitchen. I was in no mood to play these fvcken games.

“Your a*ss better be in this fvcken castle” I mindlinked her as I went back to our room.

“I’m in James’ room.” She linked back. I growled to myself about the way I spoke to her.

Our entire relationship has always been so stressful and we can never just catch a break. I just needed a moment of peace with my fvcken family. Was that too much to ask?

“She wants to protect us, like we want to protect her,” Thor said.

“By getting herself killed,” I growled.

“We would do the same for her. She values our lives over her own. She’s a true alpha. Every time, she put her family above herself. Even if she says she’s done helping others, she will always step up and help.” Thor defended her.

“I know, and I love her for that. But I will not let her die. I can’t live through that again.” I told him.

“I can’t either, but feeling her in this much pain isn’t helping. I lost Tundra and I will never get her back. So you better get your a*ss in there and make things right with her.” Thor growled.

“I know, buddy, and I’m sorry,” I told him. He retreated to the back of my mind, leaving me to my thoughts.

I wish Derek were here to help with this. We both seem to balance each other out. Walking through our room, which is more like an apartment, I went to the door that led into James’ room. I found Ashlyn, sitting on the floor, with her face on her knees.

“Baby?” I whispered. She lifted her head, and I knew she had been crying. Her eyes were red and puffy and er cheeks were tear-stained.

I walked in and scooped her up off the floor. I carried her bridal style back into our room, laying her on the bed. Both of us were looking at each other while l lay down beside her. Tears filled her eyes as she stared into mine, her eyes now sparkled like an amethyst stone.

“Mason, I don’t know what to do.” She breathed out, holding back her cries.

“Baby, sometimes the only thing you can do is nothing. I had to do nothing while you were missing. I had to do nothing while you were in your coma. And now you have to do nothing until we figure out our next move.” I told her, rubbing my hand up her side.

“I almost lost you.” She whispered, on the verge of another breakdown. Her emotions were all over the place.

“But you didn’t. You heal me and James and we are both okay. Now you need to sit back and let us investigate.” I told her. She took a deep breath before she nodded. I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her to my chest.

Breathing in her scent, I couldn’t get over how she smells like flowers on a snowy day. The two scents should contradict each other, but they work. I lost track of how long we had been lying here. I enjoyed having her body flush with mine as I held her tight.

“Mason, I’m sorry.” She mumbled into my chest.

“I’m sorry too, baby. I just need you safe. I won’t lose you again.” k!ssing her forehead, I told her, squeezing her tight.

“What are we going to do?” She asked. I let out a sigh before I answered her.

“We will wait for Derek. When he gets back, we will come up with a plan together.” I told her.

“I need to find the next king of the vampire kingdom.” She said.

“What are you talking about?” l asked her.

“The next king, I’ll be able to tell who it is. Apparently, they will have different coloured b***d and only royalty can see it.” She explained.

“How do you know that?” I asked her, confused.

“Selene told me when I was in the tomb.” She told me.

“And what else did she say?” I asked her.

“She said that the dragon kingdom, would follow me with Freya by my side. Also, the Fae kingdom is with us because Aurora will be James’ mate.” She said, and I was stunned.

“What?” l exclaimed.

“Yeah, it’s a lot. So we went to the dragon kingdom.

Selene said that once I find the king of the vampire kingdom, everything should fall into place.” She explained.

“Okay, well, one step at a time. Let’s figure out the threat first and then we can see about going to the vampire kingdom.” I told her. We laid there in silence for a bit while I thought about what she told me.

“Can any royal b***d find the vampire king?”

“Selene said royal b***d could see the different colour b***d of a royal vampire. So I’m assuming any royal b***d can see it. Why?” She asked me.

“Just curious. But if that’s the case, Nathan, Sage, Derek or myself could find them. You don’t have to go to the kingdom “I told her.

“So, you don’t want me there at all?” She breathed Out.

“I didn’t say that. I just want to keep you safe. And if staying here is the safest place, then you are staying here. I’m not risking your life if someone else can do the job. Derek has been close to the vampire kingdom, and he can go check it out.” I told her.

“Fine, whatever you think is best,” she said, sounding defeated.

“Baby, Derek and I are just trying to keep you safe.” I told her.

“But I’m not allowed to keep you both safe.” She huffed.

“Ashlyn, I didn’t say that.” I sighed.

“It’s fine, Mason. “I’ll just stay home like a good little pet.” She said. I was almost about to say something when Thor growled in my head.

“She’s angry right now. Just leave it.” He said.

Sighing, I pulled her closer. Right now, I’ll let her be angry. She and our son were safe, and that’s all that mattered.

Ashlyn’s breathing finally evened out, and I knew she was asleep. Hopefully she’ll feel better after she gets some much needed sleep. Sleep, however, did not come to me. My mind was racing with what happened today.

How the hell did anyone get close enough to the castle to blow up an entire wing? My mind was trying to fit the pieces together when a knock sounded at the door.

Gently pulling away from Ashlyn, I got up and answered.

Sage was standing on the other side with a tray of food.

“ls she sleeping?” She asked me, and I nodded. I moved out of the room, closing the door behind me.

There was a small sitting area on the landing before the stairs. Sage placed the tray on the small coffee table and sat on one chair while I sat on the loveseat.

“Are you doing okay?” She asked me.

“She’s angry, but I can’t give into her anymore. I can’t see her die again.” I told her.

“I know, Mason. I can’t either. But she’s an alpha. It’s like fighting you or Derek. She is hard wired to protect her pack, and that’s what she is trying to do. it takes a lot of years before the hot-headed alpha learns not to jump before they look.” She said, and I chuckled.

“You know I’m right?” She said, and I nodded.

“I know. I was the same way, and I still am, but I haven’t died. Thor lost his mate. We’ve all lost someone.

I know she’s trying to fix it, but maybe she should take a seat and let us handle it.” I told her.

“What do you mean?” She asked me.

“Ashlyn told me that royal b***d could identify the next vampire king. Their b***d will be a different colour. So, you, Nathan, Derek or myself could go find them. She also said that after that, everything should fall into place.” l explained, and she nodded.

“She told me the same thing. But after today, do you think she let either you or Derek leave?” She asked me and I sighed.

“Probably not, but do we have a choice?” I asked her.

“I think you three need to take some time. With the protection spell Ashlyn placed, this is the safest place. Reconnect with each other. I know that almost losing you and James terrified her. And you were right about what you told me in the kitchen. If it was Brandon, I would have wrapped that man in bubble wrap. I would die without him. Ashlyn may have gifted the bond, but I loved him before she placed it.” Sage told me. I was happy that Brandon found someone like Sage. I’m glad my best friend was happy.

“So, we wait for Derek and then take some time?” I asked her, and she nodded.

There’s not much to do until we know where we are going and who we are going after. And Ashlyn will eventually learn to look before she jumps.” Sage said with a giggle.

“How can you two be so alike but so different?” I asked her and she laughed.

“I don’t have alpha b***d. Both her parents were alphas with a little magic from my father. She’s going to be stubborn, but that’s why you love her.” She said, and I nodded.

“That woman may be the death of me, but I love her more than anything.'” I told Sage.

“And what’s life without a little craziness?” She told me and I chuckled. I love her and she can be crazy good and then crazy that makes me want to rip my hair out.

“Do you feel better?” She asked me.

“Yeah, I do. Thor has been helping me. Sometimes it’s better to not say anything,” I said, and she nodded.

“Then let’s wait to hear from Derek. Would you like watch James tonight? I know you must be tired from today.” She asked me.

“I should be okay. I can’t sleep anyway,” I told her.

“Would you like me to help with that?” She asked me but I shook my head.

“I have to hear if Derek calls. But l’m going to need a new phone. The blast cracked my screen.” I told her.

“I could always wake you. Your body’s healed, but your mind needs rest,” she said. I was thinking about her offer when my phone rang in my pocket. Pulling it out, Derek’s name popped up on the screen.

“Derek, you okay?” l answered.

“Mason, I think we found something,” he said.

“Derek, before you tell me, do you know what colour Theo’s b***d was?” I asked him.

“Red, why?” He asked, confused.

“Just something Ashlyn said. I’ll explain later. Anyway, what did you find?” I asked him.

“We have a name.”