Finding Her True Alpha
Chapter 46: Coming to terms

Ashlyn

I woke up lying on my bed in my room, confused about how l got here. The last thing I remember was being in the hospital. Emotions swelled in my chest at the memory of yesterday. I took some deep breaths to calm down.

Not only did I lose my love, but I lost our baby. I was only two weeks pregnant in human weeks, but werewolf pregnancy is different. Our pregnancy is only around 20 weeks, but with both of us being Alpha’s, I’d probably only go to 18 weeks.

I know I was still early in my pregnancy, but I still needed a moment to mourn what could have been. There is no one to blame but myself for this. I knew people were after me, but I still took the risk of loving someone, knowing they would come after the people I loved to get to me.

Now, instead of being sad, I was angry. I was angry that I let this happen, that I let them live. I should have stayed behind to make sure they were all dead. My mistake cost me dearly, but I won’t let my loss be in vain.

They will all pay, even if I have to give up my life. I threw the blanket back with newfound determination and l noticed I was now dressed in shorts and a camisole. Sage must have changed me, I thought.

I stood up from the bed right as Derek opened my bedroom door.

“Babygirl, you’re up. How are you feeling?” He asked softly while walking over to me.

“I’m okay,” I whispered, and he wrapped his arms around me, and I wrapped my arms around his waist. He k!ssed the top of my head as his scent of the crisp morning air calmed my racing mind.

“We’ll get through this, Babygirl.” He whispered, and I nodded into his chest. I will get through this and everyone who caused this will die.

“Are you hungry?” He asked me.

“Yeah.” I breathed out.

“Okay, let’s get you something to eat, but can you maybe put more clothes on?” He asked me. I pushed my l!ps together.

“Fine.” I rolled my eyes while I made my way to my closet. I put on some sweats and a hoodie before I met Derek back in my room. He was waiting by the door for me.

“Do you know where my purse is?” I asked him.

“I think it’s still in the living room.” He answered, and I nodded to him. I decided I needed to call Mason. He may not want me anymore, but he still deserves to know about the loss of his pup. Our pup.

Derek and I walked down the stairs until we hit the main floor. I told him I’d meet him in the kitchen. I just wanted to make a call first. He k!ssed my cheek before he turned to walk into the kitchen. I walked into the living room, finding my purse on the floor by the loveseat.

I opened it to find my phone. Thankfully, it was still alive. I notice a ton of missed calls and texts, but I’ll check them out after. Pulling up my contacts, I found Mason. I hit his number and placed the phone against my ear, feeling anxious as it rang.

“Ashlyn?” He answered breathlessly.

“Hi Mason,” I whispered. The sound of his voice twisted my heart painfully.

“Where are you? Are you okay?” He rushed out. But I didn’t answer his questions.

“Mason, I need to tell you something,” I told him.

Tears prickle my eyes.

“Ashlyn, I know. And I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry, baby.”

He cried, and I broke down.

“Please, come home, baby. I promise to make this right. I love you so much.” He pleaded.

“Mason, what happened?” I gasped out.

“Magic. I don’t know the details. But I know you were able to break the magic that was suppressing our bond.”

He told me.

“How do you know that?” I asked him, calming down.

“Your friend Sage told me. You freed me from the spell, baby. I love you so much. I’ve always loved you.

Please come home. I need you.” Mason asked desperately.

“Mason, I just need some time. I’ll be home in a few days and you can call and text me anytime. Okay?” I told him.

“Okay, Baby. I understand, but I miss you and I love you more than anything. Please don’t hate me?” His voice cracked, and it broke my heart to hear him like this.

Over something that neither of us could have controlled or predicted.

“I don’t hate you, Mason. I love you. I just need some time to clear my head. Be safe. I’ll call you later.” I ended the call and just sat on the loveseat thinking about everything that had happened.

Taking in deep breaths to help control my emotions.

As much as Mason hurt me, I knew it wasn’t his fault. They were after me, and their goal was to hurt me, not him. I dragged him into this and I should have waited until this war was over before l committed to him.

Derek entered the room and sat down beside me. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders, rubbing my arm.

“Come, Babygirl. You need to eat.” He said, and I nodded. We walked into the kitchen. lan and Alex were sitting on the kitchen island. I walked over and took a seat beside lan. He wrapped an arm around me, giving me a side hug.

“Coffee?” Alex asked.

“Please,” l answered, and he got up to make me a Cup.

“What would you like to eat?” Derek asked.

“Maybe just some toast, please?” I told him, but lan got up.

“I’ll make it, Derek.” lan told him, and it surprised me that lan didn’t use his title.

“Friends?” I asked Derek.

“Oh, no. Dragon Prince Derek is just a mouthful.” He chuckled.

“Derek, why didn’t you tell me you were the Dragon Prince when we first met?” I asked him while Alex passed me a mug of coffee.

“Because I didn’t want to scare you,” He told me while drinking his coffee. lan slid over a plate with some toast and jam. And I smiled at him.

“Thank you, lan. I appreciate it.” I told him. He knew me all too well. When I’m sad, sugar and sweets make me feel better. I started eating and drinking my coffee, while the three guys just stared at me.

“What?” l asked them with a mouth full of toasted jam goodness.

“We are just making sure you’re okay, Ashlyn,” Lan answered, his voice laced with concern. I finished chewing before I answered him.

“lan, I’ll be okay,” I said, and he nodded.

“Where are Brandon and Sage?” I asked them.

“Ashlyn, they went to help Liam with Mason,” Derek answered. And I remember Mason mentioning Sage earlier.

“ls that who you were talking to on the phone?” Derek asked, and I nodded.

“How are you doing?” lan asked, leaning over the kitchen island.

“I’ll be better once this is all over,” I told him, and he nodded.

“Is it okay if I stay here for a few days, lan?” I asked.

“You’re always welcomed here, Ashlyn. And Derek, you are welcome to stay as well. Alex and I have to head out now to handle some pack business. But we’ll be back tonight. Ashlyn, I have my phone if you need anything.” lan answered, and l gave him a smile.

“Thank you lan.” He walked around the island to give me a hug.

“I’m always here for you.” He whispered before he pulled away. Alex and he left the kitchen, leaving me alone with the Dragon Prince.

“Can I ask you a question?” Derek asked hesitantly.

“Of course, you can,” I told him while drinking more of my coffee. I had already finished my toast and was feeling better.

“How can you be so nice to that guy?” He asked, referring to lan.

“Simple. We had been friends for years and I know he cheated on me, but he was going through a hard time after his mother’s death. He needed things I wasn’t giving him, and he didn’t know how to communicate that to me. I forgave him because l missed my best friend.

That may sound strange to you. I should hate him, but I don’t. If he hadn’t done what he did, I never would have met iMason. lan was the reason I left here and went to Silver Moon. Also, I spend a lot of time here. His mother practically raised me after my parents died.” I explained.

And he nodded.

“Maybe whomever gave you two the love potion used it to keep you away from Silver Moon.” He suggested. And that made sense. If l never caught him cheating, we would still be together.

“But then someone knew that I would have been mated to Mason. And how would someone have known that?” l asked him. And he shrugged. I turned to face him while grabbing his hands in mine.

“You can leave, I’ll understand. I know this is a lot to deal with,” I told him, and his eyebrows furrowed.

“Ashlyn, I want to be with you. I don’t want to give up my fated mate.” He told me and I was stunned.

“But Mason?” I asked, and he shrugged.

“Would it be selfish of me to ask you to share?” He asked me.

“You’d share me with Mason?” I asked, speaking slowly.

“If it means I get to keep you, then yes. Most Dragons have more than one mate, so it’s not uncommon for us.” He told me. And now I was curious.

“Did your father ever get another fated mate?”

“He didn’t. He chose my mother. She wasn’t a good choice. She ran off with her lover when I was 10.” He said sorrowfully.

“I’m so sorry, Derek. That must have been hard.” I told him sympathetically, squeezing his hands that I was still holding.

“That wasn’t hard. I hated my mother. She was a cruel woman. I was glad when she left. It was hard growing up knowing that you would never have a fated mate.” He said, and I gasped.

“How did you know?” I asked, stunned.

“My father told me she died with her pack. He never got a second chance, so I probably wouldn’t either. But then I found you in the middle of nowhere.” He said, smiling at me.

“After this is all over, we can sit down and talk about our relationship and where we think it should go. But all parties would have to agree, okay?” I smiled at him. He leaned in and wrapped his arms around me.

“I’ll do anything that you ask of me,” he whispered.

And how could I not give him a chance? He was my fated mate, and making him live with a chosen mate wouldn’t be fair.

Just then, Derek’s phone started ringing in his pocket. He leaned back to pull it out. Looking at the screen, he told me Brandon was calling.

“Brandon?” He answered.