Love Times Four My Stepbrothers Are My Mates (Alayah) novel Chapter 108

**When Broken Stars Drift Across Empty Midnight Skies by Troy Mason Venn**

**Chapter 108: Sleep**

**Alayah’s p.o.v.**

As the final rays of daylight faded away, a sense of relief washed over me. Today had been a tumultuous whirlwind, and while I was grateful to see it conclude, I couldn’t shake the feeling that more days like this awaited me in the future. My heart ached with the hope that my visits to the Packs would not always be marred by such tragedy and loss. But deep down, I knew better than to hold my breath; if I did, I might just suffocate in despair.

The journey home was thwarted, and Crystal had graciously extended an invitation for us to stay at the Autumn Pack’s Pack-house. My parents opted to remain with Grandma and Uncle Rex, leaving Nikolay to drive us to our temporary refuge. I had sent Bastian and Austin back with their respective groups, and now, all I craved was a moment of solitude—a chance to gather my scattered thoughts.

My Mates seemed to sense my need for space. After Noah had prepared a warm bath for me, they quietly exited the room, leaving me in blissful silence. I draped my clothes over a chair, the fabric a reminder of the chaos of the day, and stepped into the bathroom. A gentle smile crept across my lips as I noticed Noah had left a soft light glowing, with soothing music filling the air. It was exactly the ambiance I needed.

As I eased myself into the tub, the warmth enveloped me, and I submerged for a brief moment, allowing the water to wash away the weight of the day. Leaning my head against the cool porcelain, I closed my eyes and began to hum along with the melody, letting the notes guide me into a state of relaxation. Time slipped away, and it wasn’t until the water began to cool that I reluctantly emerged, rinsing off the suds and draining the tub.

I spotted a shirt and a pair of panties on the counter—Noah’s, I presumed. After drying off, I slipped them on, too worn out to care that they weren’t my usual sleepwear.

“Get used to sleeping in their shirt or butt naked,” Topaz teased, her voice playful as she nestled into the back of my head. Within moments, she was fast asleep, her soft snores a comforting sound. I watched her for a moment, a small smile on my face, before I padded into my bedroom.

There, Nero awaited me, his presence a balm to my weary soul. I climbed into bed, wrapping myself around him like a lifeline, and drifted into a deep slumber.

Morning arrived with the gentle light of dawn. I stirred to find myself sprawled across Noah’s chest, the warmth of his body a reassuring weight. Last night had mirrored the evening we had all marked and mated, each awakening to a different Mate, each moment pushing me closer to the edge of blissful exhaustion. It was exactly what I needed, and somehow, they had known.

“Good morning, Princess,” Noah greeted, his voice a soothing balm. “Everyone has packed their belongings, and Gamma John will handle the rest. But first, we need to rise and grab some breakfast before heading home.” A smile tugged at my lips at the thought of home, a place filled with warmth and familiarity.

Suddenly, a roar echoed from downstairs, “STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME!” It was Anton, his voice booming with fury. Instinctively, I wrapped a robe around myself as Noah pulled on a pair of sweatpants. By the time we descended to the main living room, we had heard Anton’s wrathful shouts two more times. Whoever had angered him must have had a very good reason.

“Beta, you need a female by your side. I am easy on the eyes,” Topaz ventured, her words faltering as Anton’s Alpha aura bore down on her. She trembled, forced to her knees by the overwhelming power radiating from him. None of us were pleased by what we had just witnessed, and it was evident that the female who had provoked Anton had caused quite a stir among the males in the Pack.

“Anton, can you explain what transpired?” Nathan inquired, his tone steady despite the tension in the air. I heard Anton growl softly before he turned to Nathan, his frustration palpable.

Nikolay was the first to snap out of his daze; he bolted from the room, urgency driving him.

“Baby Girl, what is wrong with Nikolay?” Mom asked as she entered, her voice rising in pitch as she caught sight of our collective astonishment. A high-pitched squeal escaped her lips, breaking the tension that had enveloped us. I was torn between laughter and tears at the ridiculousness of the moment.

Don’t misunderstand me; I wanted pups with my Mates, but the timing felt off. We had so much to accomplish, and the thought of traveling with a little one felt overwhelming. “Don’t worry, Baby Girl. You have an entire family ready to help, and a whole Pack that will do anything to protect your Pups,” Dad assured me, wrapping his arms around me in a comforting embrace.

I leaned into Dad, letting the notion of having a Pup swirl in my mind. The first image that popped up was Noah, flustered and panicked, attempting to change a diaper. “Princess, that is not nice,” I heard him growl next to my ear, and laughter bubbled up uncontrollably.

A smile spread across my face as I recalled Nikolay rushing back into the room, dragging the Pack doctor along with him. It wasn’t until the doctor reassured him that I was fine and that our Pup was healthy that Nikolay finally relaxed, though that relief was short-lived when Mom reminded everyone that we would need a nursery and all the essentials for our little one.

Panic ensued among my Mates, as if the baby would arrive at any moment. Grandma relished the sight of their distress, and even some Pack members who had known my Mates their entire lives were doubled over with laughter. They managed to pull Anton and Bastian into their frenzy, and soon I found myself crammed into an SUV with six frantic males, each one debating the logistics of preparing for a nursery.

I listened as they argued over the best location for the nursery, their minds clearly frazzled by the sudden responsibility. Topaz wondered aloud if they were always this clueless. “No, just overwhelmed,” I assured her, closing my eyes for a moment, allowing the soothing chatter of my Mates to lull me back into a peaceful slumber.