Finding Her True Alpha
Chapter 99: Bring the People Together

Ashlyn

James woke me up, trying to nurse my chest. He was desperately trying to find a n!pple. With a yawn, I sat up and moved him so I was cradling him in my arms in front of my br*east. He instantly latched on, and I found the pain to be minimal.

I looked around the tent and I didn’t see my mates.

Where did they run off to now? When James was finally satisfied, I moved out of bed to find some clothes for both of us and to change his nappy.

When both of us were ready, I slid James inside my hoodie that I stole from Mason. I ripped the collar down to my chest so that James could breathe while being snuggled into me. Once, he was snuggled into me and I could see his cute little face. I made my way out of the tent.

There were a few warriors stationed outside the tent, and they all acknowledged my presence.

“Where’s Mason and Derek?” I asked them.

“My Queen, they are in the mess hall.” One warrior answered.

“Thank you.” I told him before l headed off in that direction. I noticed that two of the warriors were walking beside me on either side, and one was behind me.

I let it be, since I knew they were probably following Mason’s orders to keep me and his son safe, but I still felt ridiculous about having them around me for protection.

One warrior entered the Mess tent and held the flap open for me. The other two followed behind me. As soon as I entered, the tent became quiet. I looked around the tent and most of the men were standing and everyone looked furious.

“What is going on?” I asked the room. I didn’t see Mason or Derek, but lan and Alex were there. lan walked over to me and wrapped me in a hug.

“Oh, be careful. James is sleeping.” I told him. Lan pulled away and looked down at my chest. James’ little face was peeking out of my hoodie.

“Congrats, Ashlyn. He’s handsome.” lan whispered, k!ssing my forehead.

“Thanks lan.” I gave him a side hug since I only had one free arm. I looked around the room to see everyone was staring at our interaction.

“So what’s going on?” I asked him and he sighed. Just then, Uncle Ben entered the tent, looking exhausted.

“Buttercup, you’re up?” He asked me, stunned. Uncle Ben walked over to me and k!ssed my cheek. He even leaned down and k!ssed the top of James’ head.

I looked over at lan and he looked confused. There was so much information to explain, I should get Liam to tell the story again.

“Uncle Ben, what’s wrong? Why does it look like some kind of fight club in here?” I asked him and he sighed.

“The vampires need to feed and King Theo’s plane hasn’t arrived yet.” Uncle Ben told me. I looked around at all the men.

“I’ll help,” I said.

“No!” Both lan and my uncle shouted out.

“I’m not pregnant anymore and I can help them. If anyone else would like to help, please follow me out when I leave.” I told the room. I walked to the back to get some of the red cups and I found a bag full of them.

“ls that where my mates are?” I asked, while walking back over to lan and my uncle.

“Yes, they are trying to organize something. The other wolves that had helped before are already there helping. But we need more volunteers,” Uncle Ben explained.

“And are you willing to help?” I asked lan, and he shifted uncomfortably.

“Ashlyn, they are vampires and they have hurt you. They have attacked my pack” lan defended his decision.

“I understand that, lan. I really do, but they were forced to fight, their families were threatened. They are not bad people.” I told him before I turned my attention back to my uncle.

“Take me to them.” I told him. He sighed, but nodded. I followed him out of the tent and I noticed a few of the other men, including lan and Alex, were following us.

Finally, my mates came into view, and they didn’t look too happy. Both of them rushed over to me.

“Baby, what are you doing here?” Mason asked me. He took the cups I was carrying and threw them at Liam. Everyone looked like zombies.

“I’m here to help.” I told him, and he frowned.

“Babygirl, you can’t, even if you want to.” Derek said, but I shook my head.

“I’m not pregnant. I can help.” I told them both firmly.

“Buttercup, you lost a lot of b***d giving birth, you need to recover.” Uncle Ben said, and I pushed my l!ps into a line.

“Buttercup, listen to Gamma Ben.” Eric stepped beside Derek. I knew I would not be winning this argument. I turned around to face the others that had followed me.

“Warrior Eric, what are you doing here? And why do you smell like a rogue?” lan asked his former warrior, and I sighed.

“lan, one problem at a time,” I told him, and he looked down at me.

“Problem?” He asked me and I nodded.

“We can all sit down and have a chat, but for right now, I need your help. I just need some of your b***d drained into one of those cups. Please?” I asked him.

Never thought I would beg someone for their b***d. We stared at each other, and he eventually nodded. I let out the breath l didn’t realize I was holding in.

“Thank you,” I whispered to him. I turned my attention to the group standing behind him.

“I know it’s hard to put what you think you know aside to help them. But they were fighting for their families. They weren’t fighting because they believed in whatever cause Susan was fighting for. I would have done the same thing as they did to protect my family.

They need b***d. It’s in their nature. Just like it is in ours to shift into our wolves or dragons and for the witches to use magic. It’s who we are and we shouldn’t feel ashamed of who we are. I’m willing to help them, but I can’t. So I’m asking you all to step up and to give up a bit of your b***d. You can drain it into a cup. No one is being bitten.” I told them. I didn’t expect the group in front of me to clap, or that the vampires and wolves that were helping to be clapping behind me. Derek let out a loud whistle, and l turned to shh him.

“Everyone who is helping, follow Eric,” Derek announced, as I rubbed James’ back to keep him sleeping.

“Do you have to be so loud?” I scolded him. Everyone had followed Eric, and I was so relieved that they would help the vampires. I didn’t know that there was such a rift between the kingdoms.

“I’m sorry, Babygirl.” He whispered, wrapping his arms around me and k!ssing my forehead.

“That was amazing. We have been out here for the last few hours trying to convince them to help,” Mason told me. He stepped closer and k!ssed my cheek before leaning down and k!ssing James’ head.

“You should have woken me. I could have helped sooner. Our men look like they are exhausted, and so do both of you. Both of you need to go get some sleep.” I told them.

“We can’t leave you out here to command and to take care of our son,” Derek sighed.

“Derek, I got this. James is safe with me and I’m safe here. You have nothing to worry about. How are you going to protect us if you can’t even keep your eyes open?” I asked him and he pushed his l!ps into a line.

“l order everyone who needs to rest to go rest. But Sage and Brandon are to stay with you at all times.” Mason told me, and I nodded.

“If it gets you two into bed, “I’ll do what you ask,” I told him. Mason moved to wrap his arms around my waist from behind. He rested his cheek on my shoulder, breathing in my scent.

“We just want to keep you both safe.” He whispered before he k!ssed my neck.

“I know, and I want to keep you all safe. But you both need to rest. The vampire will get home safely and I will help with the rogue situation. I’m sure Eric can give me a hand if he’s not too tired,” I told them. Derek snuggled into my other shoulder.

“Just promise us that if anything happens, you will mindlink.” Derek sighed.

“I’m not about to risk my life or James’, I promise.” I told them and they both squeezed me.

“Okay, Baby. We trust you. But we are going to hang around until the vampires are done feeding, just in case,” Mason said, and I nodded. I understood his concern.

When vampires are starving, they lose all sense of everything except for their bloodlust.

They were still holding me when Liam rushed over to me, with lan and Alex following him.

“Beautiful, finally!” He exclaimed, k!ssing my cheek.

Derek let out a g***n, and I laughed.

“Liam, oh how I’ve missed you.” I told him with a smile, and Derek looked down at me, shaking his head.

“Good, because it seems you get to hang out with me this afternoon,” he exclaimed. And Derek let out a sigh.

“Derek, it’s fine. You know Liam would protect James and me with his life.” I told him. I love Liam, but not in the romantic sense. He was fun, careful and a breath of fresh air.

“Doesn’t mean I won’t kill him.” He mumbled, and I smacked his chest with my free hand.

“Go,” I ordered, and he sighed.

“Fine.” He pushed his l!ps into a line.

“Come on, Derek. Ashlyn said she’s got this.” Mason told Derek, and it impressed me with how far he had come. We all needed to learn to trust each other.

Derek leaned down and k!ssed James’ head before stopping to k!ss my l!ps. He rested his forehead against mine.

“You mindlink if you need anything or if anything happens.” He whispered, and I nodded.

“l promise.” I told him and I meant it. I wouldn’t risk our son’s life. He pecked my l!ps before he let go, and Mason took his spot in front of me. Mason k!ssed his son’s head and then me.

I watched both of them walk back towards the tent. Mason looked back at me before he spoke.

“Ashlyn, remember, you promised.” He said, and I blew him a k!ss. While | watched them walk away, Liam came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist, resting his chin on my shoulder.

“Your mate is a little grumpy,” he said, and I shook my head.

“I know you pushed his buttons on purpose.” I told him, turning around in his arms to face him. He just shrugged and turned his attention to James.

“Awe, my baby nephew. He’s just the cutest.” He cooed, and I smiled at Liam’s cuteness. I looked behind him and noticed that lan and Alex were giving me an eyebrow.

“ls he also your mate?” lan asked, and I started laughing, shaking my head.

“No, Liam and I are just friends.” I told lan.

“Close friends.” Liam said, squeezing me into a side hug. lan was watching me intently.

“So if everyone is organized here, can we go eat, please? |’m starving.” I told them. It was true, even if I just needed to change the subject. I could see that lan was having a hard time seeing Liam being so close to me.

We made our way back over to the mess tent.

Brandon and Sage were exiting when we were almost there. Sage came running over to me and wrapped me in a hug, but not too tight.

“Ashlyn, how are you feeling? ls everything okay?

Have you named him yet?” She rushed out, pulling away from me. She leaned down and k!ssed James on his little head.

“We have. Did Mason and Derek not tell you?” I asked her and she shook her head.

“Please tell me. I’m dying to know.” She dragged out.

“I don’t know. Maybe | should wait for Mason and Derek to be here.” |l told her, and she frowned.

“But I’m your favorite sister. Please?” She begged.

“Fine, but I need food first” I told her, and she squealed with excitement. She turned around and rushed back into the mess tent.

“Did you do that on purpose?” Brandon asked me with a smirk.

“l would never trick my only sister into getting me food.” I told him, over dramatically. And he raised an eyebrow at me.

“Come on you guys, I’ll share his name with all of you.” I told them, entering the tent. At the back of the tent, I could see Sage running around. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her move so fast before.

We all took a seat, and lan sat beside me. I knew that this must have been hard on him. He believed I was his mate and now I’m marked by two other men and we have a baby together.

“He’s beautiful, Ashlyn,” lan told me while looking at James.

“Thank you, lan.” He wrapped an arm around my back and I rested my head on his shoulder. I was so thankful that James could sleep through anything and my milk was keeping him full.

“So, about Eric? I should probably explain why he is here.” I spoke, and lan nodded.

“Eric found his mate, your father’s gamma’s daughter. She cheated on him and he killed the guy she was with.” I explained. lan pulled away from me to look down at me.

“What?” He asked me, stunned.

I know. He shouldn’t have been banished. He did what any of us would have done. Something I actually did.” I told him, and he raised an eyebrow at me.

“You killed Chantel?” He asked me, and I nodded.

“I’m not proud of it, but yes, I did. But I’m not sure when this all happened, but I told Eric that he could come to Silver Moon. And Mason was going to offer him a position in the military.” I told lan, and he nodded.

“I’ll look into it when we get back to Blue Moon. My father should never have banished him in the first place.

He’s an excellent warrior, with a clean record.” He told me and I agreed.

“Also, Grace killed Brad. I don’t know if anyone told you. I know you knew about Donny.” He nodded after I told him. He squeezed me close and k!ssed my temple.

“I’m sorry, Ashlyn.” He whispered, and I could feel the tears building. And the guilt was churning my stomach into knots.

“It’s not your fault, Ashlyn,” Alex said. He was sitting across from us with Brandon. Liam was sitting on the other side of me.

“Everyone keeps telling me that, but l just don’t believe it” I told them. Before anyone could comment, Sage rushed over with a tray full of food.

“Now, spill.” She huffed out, sitting between Brandon and Alex.

“Alright, Aunty Sage, everyone meet James Knight Landon Blake.”