Finding Her True Alpha
Chapter 139: Not Vampires?

Derek

Before Lance and I could even move, a portal opened up. I was terrified that it was Ashlyn until Nathan and some of his men walked through.

“Nathan?” I called out.

“Derek, it’s good to see you alive.” He said, rushing over to us.

“Your sister would have turned this place into a winter wonderland if I hadn’t been,” I told him, and he chuckled.

“I think our entire world would freeze,” he said, and we both chuckled.

“You’re Ashlyn’s brother?” Lance asked him.

“Lance, this is King Nathan of the magic kingdom. Lance is a warrior on my elite team.” I introduced them.

“What are you doing here?” l asked Nathan.

“Sage called me. Ashlyn is worried.” He told me.

“I know she is, but someone almost killed James, Mason, and my father.” I told him.

“And Ashlyn and Mason shared some heated words. Sage is trying to defuse the situation.” He said, and I sighed.

“I’ll deal with it when this is done.” I told him and he nodded.

“So what’s the plan?” He asked me.

“We have a couple of people to interrogate,” I told him.

“This should be fun. You want me to portal?” He asked him. But before I could answer, Lance told me to hold on and rushed off.

“Yeah, we can portal, but let’s wait for Lance.” I told him.

“And you should probably change,” Nathan said. I forgot I was just in sweatpants.

“Yeah, maybe.” I answered. Before I could move, Lance came back and threw a bag at me. Opening the bag, I found a shirt, socks, and shoes.

“Thanks, man.” I told him, pulling out the shirt.

“I have your phone as well. Figured you’d want that just in case,” Lance said, and l nodded. When I was done getting dressed, Nathan took my hand, and I thought of the front of the bakery. After Nathan and I stepped through, his warriors and mine followed.

“So why here?” Nathan asked me before we entered.

“I don’t know. I guess we are both about to find out,” I told him.

I found the front door unlocked, as I pushed it open. I could hear banging coming from the basement. After everyone entered, I locked the door behind us. I didn’t need unexpected visitors. I led us over to the basement door and as soon as I opened it, the stench of b***d hit me. Walking down the stairs, I found Nana, Matt, and Matt’s father, Lucas. They tied both the men from earlier to chairs. The one l punched in the stomach was a bloody mess while the other looked untouched.

“Prince Derek, I swear I had nothing to do with the blast at the castle.” The man name, Jeremey, pleaded when he saw me.

“He’s no prince! Breeding with a hybrid monster!” The other man growled out. I think Nana called him Mr. Edwards. Nana punched the man in the face and we all gasped out. I now understand why my father was terrified of her.

“Say that again, a*sshole. I fvcken dare you!” She screamed at him. I looked over at Matt and my uncle, and they both looked just as terrified.

“Who’s the lady?” Nathan asked me, leaning in.

“That’s my grandmother.” I told him, before walking over to Jeremey.

“Jeremey, tell me everything you know and you can go home. I just need to know who is behind this.” I told him and he nodded.

“Fvcken traitor!” Mr. Edwards yelled out. Nathan walked over to him and touched his forehead, his head slumping forward. I looked at him and he shrugged.

“Just sleeping.” He said.

“I wish I had that power.” Nana huffed out. I shook my head before turning back to Jeremey.

“Tell us what you know.” I told him and he nodded.

“There’s a young man named Ryan. He’s been coming around and telling everyone how crazy hybrids can be. He even has video proof” he said.

“What is he?” I asked him, wondering if the man was a vampire.

“I’m not sure. He didn’t have a smell. But we all saw the videos. Your mate makes vampires explode. Her elemental use. Even her magic. She’s terrifying.” Jeremey said.

“You have no idea. But these vampires attacked her. Nothing she did was unprovoked. She was doing what she had to do to protect her family.” I told him and he nodded.

“l’m sorry. I shouldn’t have believed the rumors. We all thought she was a monster, but she was quite sweet.” He said, and I chuckled.

“When she’s not pissed,” I said, and Nathan and Matt chuckled.

“So where did this Ryan guy come from?” Nathan asked him.

“He was making rounds at all the pubs. A lot of us believed what he was saying. But after seeing her today, that’s not the case anymore,” Jeremey answered.

“And you met him?” I asked him, and he nodded.

“What does he look like?”

“He’s young, around your age. He was tall but not as built as you. The man had brown hair and blue eyes.” Jeremey described him.

“That could be anyone. And we don’t know which kingdom he is from,” Nathan said.

“And how the hell did he get into my kingdom?” I asked out loud.

“I can’t answer any of these questions, but I know that after seeing her white dragon. No one in their right mind would go against her. White dragons are sacred.” Jeremey said, and I nodded.

“It shouldn’t have taken her to get a dragon for you to respect her. But l see where you are coming from.

Have you seen this, Ryan, lately?” I asked him.

“He was at the dragon’s den pub yesterday evening. That’s the last time I’ve seen him.” He answered.

“And do you know his problem?” I asked Jeremey. Pointing at Mr. Edwards.

“I don’t know. Ever since his mate died, he seems a little unhinged.” Jeremey sighed.

“If you see this, Ryan, again, I want you to call me immediately.” I commented, and he nodded.

“Matt, release him and give him our numbers.” I told him. After Matt untied him, Jeremey came over to me.

“Prince Derek, I’m truly sorry for how I treated your mate today.” He said, bowing his head.

“l almost lost a mate and our son today. Your king was injured, as well. You can redeem yourself by helping us.” I told him and he nodded. I sent Lance to escort him out of the building.

“So, what are you thinking?” Nathan asked me.

“How did this Ryan guy get into the kingdom? They would have noticed someone without a scent.” I said.

“Maybe he’s working with someone? Witches can spell to change their scents and the same with the faces.” Nathan said, and I growled in frustration.

“It literally could be anyone.” I yelled out, and punched me in the arm.

“Derek, this is your family. Pull your head out of your a*ss and start listening to the facts.” She growled at me. I pushed my l!ps in a line as I rubbed my arm. How can this little old lady be so strong?

“And what facts am I missing?” I asked her and she gave me a pointed look.

“This Ryan guy has to be a warlock or a Fae. That’s a good start. So we know the vampires aren’t involved.” She said, and I nodded.

“I still don’t see how this narrows things down?” I asked her.

“Wow, what the hell does your mate see in you?” She said, making Matt laugh.

“You know it’s the body, Nana.” Matt laughed out and even his dad chuckled.

“Thanks, Nana. I love you too.” I told her.

“Think who else would want this? I don’t think this has anything to do with hybrids, but with the power that Ashlyn possesses. They are just using the fact she is a hybrid to manipulate people to their side.” Nana said.

“That makes sense. As soon as Ashlyn explains what happened, people seem to quickly change their minds about her and hybrids.” Matt said, and we all agreed.

“Ashlyn has all the kingdoms then, so who does that leave?” I asked.

“Clearly, someone is holding onto a grudge, either towards Ashlyn or her family,” Nana said.

“Could it be one of her mother’s mates? Or her grandmother’s mates?” Nathan asked.

“James is dead. My father would never hurt her. Your father is also dead. We had suspected King Draco, but my father told me he wasn’t involved. So that just leaves King Jordan, but I don’t think he’s involved. Ashlyn blessed them with a child and she saved their daughter.” I told them.

“We should probably track down her grandmother’s mates then. King Draco’s father was involved,” Matt said, and I agreed.

“Then what do you want to do with this guy?” Lance asked me, pointing to Mr. Edwards.

“I’ll take care of him. Derek, get back to your mate and child.” Nana said.

“It’s mates, Nana. I have Ashlyn and Mason.” I corrected her.

“Oh, lucky girl,” Nana said, and Nathan g*****d.

“What’s your problem? We are all adults here.” She said to Nathan.

“Ashlyn is my sister.” He told her, and she chuckled.

“Don’t want to picture that,” Nana said.

“No. It’s bad enough my other sister called it a mate sandwich.” Nathan g*****d and everyone laughed.

“Who wouldn’t love a mate sandwich?” Nana asked, and we all g*****d.

“Mom, no.” My uncle said, shaking his head.

“What? An old lady can’t have fun.” She said.

“Nana, you can have all the fun you want. We just don’t want to know,” I told her.

“Whatever. Take some pastries when you leave. And I want to meet Mason and your son the next time you visit.” She told me.

“Thanks, nana.” I told her, k!ssing her forehead.

“Yeah, yeah. Get going before I put you boys to work.” She said, shooing me away. Nana may be more loving than my mother, but she wasn’t affectionate.

“Matt, go with them. Your father can give me a hand here. And I also want to meet your mate.” She told him.

“How did you know?” He asked her, stunned. She just tapped her nose. Nothing gets by nana.

“Right. As soon as everything calms down, I’ll bring her by.” He told her.

“Good. Now go.” She said, and we all left, not waiting for her to put us to work.

“I’ll grab some stuff before we leave.” Matt said, moving behind the counter after we made it upstairs.

“So am I portalling the two of you home?” Nathan asked me.

“I need to check on my father first, and then I’ll go home. But 1’ll call Mason to see how everything is going there.” I told him and he nodded. I stepped outside to call Mason.

“Derek, you okay?” He answered.

“Mason, I think we found something” I told him.

“Derek, before you tell me, do you know what colour Theo’s b***d was?” He asked me and the question threw me off. What kind of question is that?

“Red, why?” I asked, confused.

“Just something Ashlyn said. I’ll explain later.

Anyway, what did you find?” He asked me.

“We have a name,” I told him.

“Wait, Sage is here. Let me put you on speaker.” Mason said.

“Mason, where is Ashlyn ?” I asked him.

“She’s sleeping.” He said, and I sighed.

“I guess we can talk about what happened when I get home. I just wanted to let you know we found out that a guy named Ryan has been going around, trying to manipulate people against the hybrids. Also, he doesn’t have a smell.” I said, and I heard Sage gasp.

“What?” Mason asked Sage.

“This Ryan is a warlock or a Fae,” Sage told him.

“So no vampires?” Mason asked.

“I don’t think it’s vampires. I just need to check on my father and then I’ll be home.”