Finding Her True Alpha
Chapter 49: Planning

Ashlyn

“You mean all of us are going to Emerald Lake,” Mason corrected, and I shook my head.

“Babygirl, there is no way we are letting you go by yourself,” Derek exclaimed.

“And there’s no way l’m letting any of you get hurt or even killed. She knows my weakness is you, Mason, and now with Derek. I won’t risk you both, or them.” I told them, pointing to the other three.

“Okay, Ashlyn. What is your plan?” Sage asked me.

“You are going to portal me into our spot, the place we would hide as kids, and then I’m going to burn the whole place to the ground. But first I’ll watch Susan die.” l explained.

“Are you out of your mind?” Mason yelled, standing up from the couch. I crossed my arms over my chest.

“I’ll do it, but I’m going with you.” Sage agreed, and Mason threw his arms up.

“Why don’t the three of us go get dinner and let the mates figure out the plan?” Brandon said, while standing up from the couch.

Brandon, Liam and Sage walked over to the elevator and I sat down on the couch they were sitting on. When they were gone with the elevator, Mason finally spoke.

“There’s no way in hell I’m letting you go there by yourself.” He growled.

“l won’t be by myself. Sage will be with me.” I told them.

“No,” he said firmly.

“Mason, I’m not untrained. I’m a skilled fighter, I have a powerful wolf and I have powers. I think I can handle myself.” I pointed out.

“Babygirl, it’s not that we don’t trust your ability to get the task done, it’s just that we need to protect you. And no amount of reasoning will change that,” Derek said, and I sighed.

“It’s my fault that she is still alive, and I’ll handle it. I can do this.” I told them.

“It’s not your fault, baby. You weren’t in any shape to fight when you ran. You ran to fight another day, and that’s what we are going to do. All of us. There’s no way either of us could live with ourselves if anything happened to you there and we weren’t there to protect you.” Mason sighed. And I understood his point, but how could I live with myself if one of them died, or both?

“It’s bad enough that I have to share you with a dragon. Don’t leave me stuck with him.” Mason smirked, and I laughed.

“Stuck with me. At least I’m not a grumpy ole wolf!” Derek huffed. Mason was about to say something, but I moved to sit between them.

“Can you guys stop?” I scolded them.

“He started it,” Derek pouted like a child. And I rolled my eyes.

“So what’s the plan?” I asked them. Mason turned his body toward me and crushed his l!ps to mine. I didn’t expect him to k!ss me. I gasped, and he took that moment to thrust his tongue into my mouth, tasting every inch of my mouth.

Oh, how I’ve missed his touch. It had only been a week, but it felt like a lifetime. Mason started k!ssing down my jaw to my neck, and I let out a soft m**n, turning my head to give Mason better access. Derek took that moment to crush his l!ps on mine while Mason was k!ssing my neck.

Derek and I hadn’t k!ssed before, but oh did he taste so good, but I couldn’t do this, not yet. Pushing them away, I stood up, moving away from both of them.

“Baby, what’s wrong?” Mason breathed out and Derek looked hurt that I pushed him away.

“l just can’t do this right now.” I panted, still trying to catch my breath.

“Sh!t, Babygirl. I’m sorry, we weren’t thinking of that.” Derek apologized.

“I know and I’m sorry,” I told them.

“Nothing to be sorry for, baby.” Mason came over to me, wrapping his arms around me.

“I am glad that you guys are getting along,” I told them, and Mason pulled away, looking down at me.

“I’d do anything for you, Baby. Anything to make you happy.” Mason said.

“Thank you, Mason.” I smiled at him.

“This is weird, though.” He said before jumping out of his skin. Derek had come over to us and smacked Mason’s a*ss.

“I’m sure you’ll get used to it.” Derek winked at Mason, and Mason g*****d. I started laughing. Derek wrapped his arms around my waist from behind. He nudged my neck with his nose, breathing in my Scent.

“Whenever you’re ready, Babygirl.” He whispered, and I nodded. I turned in his arms to face him.

“How do dragons identify their mates?” I asked him.

“Smell and taste,” Derek told me.

“And how do I smell to you?” I asked, curious to see if I smelt the same to both of them.

“A garden full of flowers after the rain,” he explained, and Mason gasped.

“That’s her scent to me.” And they were both confused.

“What does Mason smell like to you?” I asked Derek.

“He always smelt like a walk through the forest during the rain.” And I smirked.

“And Mason, how does Derek smell?” I asked him.

“Crisp morning air.” He said, confirming my suspension.

“Well, it would seem that you both aren’t just my mates but each other’s.” I told them and they both started laughing.

“Yeah, right? If it wasn’t for you, we wouldn’t even talk or be in the same room.” Mason laughed out.

“Yeah, Ashlyn. That sounds a little farfetched.” Derek laughed.

“Then why do you both smell the same to me as you do to each other?” I asked them and they both stopped laughing. The stunned look on their faces made me happy.

“Take all the time you need.” I patted both of their chests before walking into the kitchen to grab water from the fridge. I walked back into the living room and they were both just staring at each other in shock.

Soon after the elevator dinged, Brandon, Liam, and Sage walked out. They were all looking at Mason and Derek and then over at me.

“What the hell happened?” Brandon asked. All three of them were carrying take-away bags.

“Oh, they just found out that they are also mates.” I shrugged like it was no big deal. Sage started laughing.

Burse they did. Apparently, they didn’t learn that sharing a mate also meant that they would have another mate.” She giggled. Sage placed her bag on the coffee table and sat down beside me. Brandon and Liam did the same, but sat on the other couch.

“Did you guys at least come up with a plan?” Sage asked while passing me a burger.

“No, they didn’t like my plan. They are insisting on coming with us.” I told her while she passed me a container of fries.

“How long have they been like that?” Liam asked, while pointing to Mason and Derek.

“About 10 minutes. I think | broke them.” I said in between bites. After the day we had, I was starving.

“Will you two come and eat, please?” I asked them.

Sage moved between Brandon and Liam, and I moved to the middle of the couch. They both finally looked away from each other and walked over to sit with me. Brandon handed them both a bag of food.

“So, no plan?” Brandon asked. And shook my head.

“Well, it’s a good thing that we came up with one,” Liam said.

“And what’s the plan, Liam?” I asked him.

“We get the army ready and storm into Emerald Lake.” He told us and I was stunned.

“Liam, are you crazy? That could get hundreds killed.” I exclaimed.

“We could just get elite teams made up of wolves and dragons,” Derek suggested.

“l could also call my brother. The magic kingdom will also help,” Sage said.

“Why would the magic kingdom help?” Brandon asked.

“My brother is the Warlock King. Of course he’ll help.” Sage shrugged, and Brandon stopped chewing.

“What?” Liam asked.

“I’m technically the Princess but I never use my title,” Sage explained.

“Can we not call your brother?” I g*****d.

“Ashlyn, we are twins, we are more powerful together. You will be fine.” She tried to reassure me, but I had a bad feeling about this.

“Why don’t you want her to call her brother?” Mason asked, and Derek laughed.

“King Nathan is also Ashlyn’s mate,” Derek told him.

His face paled, and I sighed.

“You clearly weren’t listening when yours and Derek’s father were explaining what happened with my mother,” I told him.

“The Vampire King and the Fae King have already taken chosen mates. Both of you have chosen Ashlyn, your fated mate. And my brother hasn’t chosen a mate yet. He doesn’t even know that Ashlyn is alive,” Sage told them. All of this was making my brain hurt.

“Why wouldn’t they have waited to find their fated mate?” Liam asked Sage, but Derek answered.

“My father told me after Ashlyn’s pack was killed that I wouldn’t have a fated mate. That she died and I would have to take a chosen mate. I’m assuming the others did the same,” Derek explained.

“My father or my mother told me nothing about Ashlyn,” Mason sighed.

“Maybe they were hopeful,” I told him, resting my hand on his thigh.

“Maybe,” he murmured.

“So, tomorrow we will study the maps of the area and get our teams together. We should be ready to move out in a few days.” Brandon concluded our planning session.

“We should probably all get some sleep. It’s going to be a long couple of days.” Liam said while cleaning up the take-away trash. The boys started helping him, leaving Sage and me in the living room.

“Sage, you can take my room.” I offered her.

“Thanks, Ashlyn.” We both stood up. I leaned in to whisper to her.

“Or are you sleeping with Brandon?” I asked her and she blushed hard.

“What?” she stuttered. I locked my l!ps and turned the key. I would never tell.

“Thank you.” She mouthed. I grabbed her arm and led her to my old room. I needed to get some clothes, anyway. We walked in and l closed the door behind me.

“How did you know?” she whispered and yelled. I walked into my closet to get changed into sleeping shorts and a camisole.

“Just the way you were looking at him and him you.”

I told her when I was done changing.

“Was it that obvious?” She asked, worried.

“You are talking about a room full of guys. They have no clue, and I’ll never tell.” I laughed.

“Thank you.” She breathed out while wrapping me in a hug.

“I’m so happy we found each other again,” I told her.

“Me too.” She pulled away, and I walked over to the door to leave.

“Good night,” I called her.

“Night.” I heard her say before I closed the door behind me.

Entering the room I share with Mason, I closed the door behind me. The two guys were lying on opposite sides of the bed. I guess I get the middle. I crawled into bed from the bottom and snuggled in between my two mates. Laying on my side, facing Mason with Derek as my big spoon.

They both snuggled in close, and I couldn’t help but feel whole. I felt complete at this moment, breathing in the crisp morning air of the forest after the rain. It didn’t take me long to fall into a peaceful sleep.