Love Times Four My Stepbrothers Are My Mates (Alayah) novel Chapter 111

**Chapter 111: Walking**

**Anton’s Perspective**

A hush falls over the room as I signal for everyone to quiet down. My heart races with anticipation; I need to hear the details, to decipher who is behind the question being posed.

A voice breaks the silence—a confident, assertive tone that I instantly recognize. “Micheal and I have been marked and mated for over five years now. I am more than ready to take control of this Pack from his parents. It’s not particularly challenging to make Micheal believe that his father is reluctant to step aside because he harbors doubts about Micheal’s capabilities. Alpha Bane made it abundantly clear when Micheal and I discovered our bond that he would relinquish leadership only after the entire hierarchy had been marked and mated for at least a year.” The female speaker is none other than the future Luna, and her words send a ripple of tension through the air.

“Harper refuses to visit other Packs to seek her connection, and the Elders can issue a mandatory invitation for the Mate meeting. I’m determined to seize control of this Pack and ensure that Micheal dismisses anyone who isn’t a Wolf or Lycan. Harper was just the first obstacle, and now I can shift my focus to our Feline Gamma.” Her voice is unwavering, filled with ambition.

“Alayah, get the Alpha to the living room,” I communicate through the mind-link, my thoughts racing. I can hear her footsteps echoing as she rushes to obey, followed closely by Alpha Bane, his son, and their respective mates.

As we enter the living room, the tension is palpable. The recording that Bastian captured plays loudly, and I can see the irritation etched across Alpha Bane’s face. Our Elite Warriors have followed us in and swiftly apprehend the female when she attempts to flee. “Micheal, take them to the dungeons. I’ll reach out to the Elders to discuss what we can do about that bond,” Alpha Bane instructs, turning to us with gratitude shining in his eyes. “Thank you for saving this Pack from what could have been a disaster.”

We wait in silence until Micheal returns with our Warriors, ready to depart. I know Bastian is eager to get Janina home, to solidify their Mate-bond and begin a family of their own. “Micheal, how many pups do you have?” I inquire, surprised when he shakes his head in response.

Five years of being marked and mated, yet no pups. This could only mean one of two things: either one of them is unable to conceive, or one is deliberately preventing it. My instincts tell me it’s the wannabe Luna, but I keep that thought to myself. Micheal will have to unravel that mystery on his own. “Alpha, I suggest you hold a Pack meeting. Inform them of what you’ve discovered and encourage them to approach you if she has mistreated them in any way. I have a strong feeling this wasn’t an isolated incident,” Alayah advises, and I can see the wheels turning in Alpha Bane’s mind as he considers her suggestion.

Within the hour, we find ourselves in our SUVs, the anticipation of returning home buzzing in the air. I can’t wait to see Grandma; she has a knack for making Janina feel welcome. I hope Janina will show us her Leopard form because I’ve never encountered another shifter in my life—not counting the little Bear I met recently, of course.

As we drive, I gaze out the window, lost in thought while Bastian regales Janina with tales of his childhood and the trials he faced with his first Mate. “Alpha, the Beta family has relocated to the White Mountain Pack. We couldn’t ascertain the reasons behind their departure; it seems no one is certain,” one of our Elite Warriors reports, and I feel a shift in the atmosphere. A detour seems inevitable.

After several hours on the road, we pull up to a hotel just outside another Pack’s territory to spend the night. We have access to the entire top floor, and the manager doesn’t bat an eye when Alayah requests dinner for all of us. “Dinner will be ready in about an hour. Use this time to freshen up and change into something more comfortable,” Noah informs us before disappearing into his room.

“Can you elaborate on the second problem?” Bastian prompts, his curiosity piqued. We give Janina a moment to gather her thoughts.

“It didn’t take long for Charlie’s parents to discover that Steffy wasn’t a Wolf. They didn’t figure it out on their own; it turned out that Charlie’s Pack was the very same one where Steffy’s father resided. I doubt she ever confided in Charlie about this, nor do I think he ever witnessed it firsthand, but his parents made their disapproval clear at every opportunity. Even her father consistently reminded her she wasn’t worthy of a Wolf, and her half-sister made her feelings known, not just through words but through actions as well,” Janina explains, and I can see Bastian’s resolve harden. He will ensure this information is recorded in the Pack’s archives.

“Alayah, I want our next investigation to focus on Charlie’s birth Pack. If this account is any indication, I fear we’ll uncover numerous injustices within that Pack,” I declare, attempting to soothe Merric, who is visibly agitated. Everyone in this room despises injustice, but Merric seems particularly riled up. Alayah finds his reactions intriguing, and I can’t help but wonder what fuels his intensity.

Grandpa often tells me that this aversion to injustice runs in our family; no male in our lineage can tolerate it, and our Lycans are even more fervent in this regard. Observing Bastian and his brothers, I suspect Grandpa may be onto something; they all share a palpable intensity, though Bastian appears to be the most composed among them.

I listen intently as Alayah reaches out to inform the others about our findings, issuing orders that need to be addressed before our return. Sometimes, it strikes me as odd to witness Alayah stepping into her role as an Alpha, but it’s clear this is her destiny, and she excels in it. Though she loathes taking lives, she understands the necessity of setting an example.

As midnight approaches, we all retire for the night, eager to rise early the next day. I can sense Alayah’s longing for the twins; I share that sentiment. Their newfound ability to crawl keeps us all on edge, and we dread the chaos that will ensue once they begin to walk.