Love Times Four My Stepbrothers Are My Mates (Alayah) novel Chapter 22

**Chapter 22: Time Will Answer**

As I sat at my desk, the door swung open with a suddenness that made me look up. Crystal strode in confidently, flanked by Marc and Anton, who were already deep in a heated debate. Their voices intertwined, creating a cacophony of opinions about Crystal’s uncanny ability to distinguish between Nero and his brothers.

“She was just guessing and got lucky,” Anton declared, making his way toward the sitting area. He plopped down into one of the plush armchairs, slouching as if he were a weary toddler rather than a future leader. Marc, ever the defender of reason, countered, “She could have guessed right once, but not with all three of them!”

“Alayah, you tell that clueless future Alpha that Crystal took a gamble!” Anton shouted, his voice echoing off the walls. I shot him a warning glare, but it was too late; the moment was interrupted by a sharp yelp from him.

“Why the hell did you hit me on the head?” he protested, rubbing the spot where I had playfully smacked him.

“Because you called me dumb, you Asshole!” Marc shot back, his tone half-serious, half-amused. Crystal and I exchanged exasperated glances before rushing over to the sitting area, determined to mediate this ridiculous spat. Yes, I referred to them as boys because, honestly, their behavior resembled that of two squabbling toddlers rather than the leaders they were meant to be. If this childishness continued, I might just have to petition Alpha Randell to appoint Crystal as the Alpha; at least she had the sense to act with maturity.

“Thanks for standing up for me,” Anton said, a hint of gratitude in his voice. I turned to him, my expression hardening. “I’m saving your ass, Toddler. Marc is the future Alpha, and he can still change his mind about making you his Beta,” I growled, my tone leaving no room for argument.

“Crystal didn’t guess which brother was which; she knew exactly who she was talking to. If you two had bothered to actually listen to her, you would realize that you could tell them apart too,” I continued, punctuating my words with light smacks to both their heads. Crystal chuckled softly as Marc pouted, clearly not enjoying the playful reprimand.

“I did listen to Crystal!” he whined, crossing his arms defensively. I couldn’t help but laugh at his indignation. “Alright then, describe Noah to me, using Crystal’s description,” I challenged, watching as both boys fell silent, their brows furrowed in concentration.

Moments passed, and I could see the gears turning in their heads. They were slowly piecing together everything Crystal had shared about the four brothers. It was clear that if you spent enough time around them or heard enough stories from someone who truly knew them, you could learn to see the subtle differences.

“He makes you feel like you’ve done something wrong, like you’re about to be sent to the principal’s office,” Marc finally said, and Crystal and I erupted into laughter.

“Yeah, like he wants to take you over his knees and spank you, just like my mom did when I messed up as a kid,” Anton added, and I had to suppress a shiver at the thought. The image that flashed in my mind, courtesy of Topaz, was far more vivid—me bending over Noah’s knees, clad only in my underwear.

“Topaz, stop that! They are my stepbrothers,” I growled, my frustration palpable. But I knew it was futile; Topaz was relentless.

With an arm draped over Marc’s shoulder, Anton batted his eyelashes dramatically. “You think I look hot, don’t you, dear?” he teased, and as they made their way out, laughter erupted around us. Even the pack members within earshot were chuckling at Marc’s expense.

“Anton, leave the poor boy alone,” Uncle Paul chimed in, stepping beside me with a chuckle of his own.

As the five of us ascended the stairs, I bid goodnight to Marc and Crystal at the landing before following Uncle Paul and Anton to our floor. Uncle Paul pressed a gentle kiss to my cheek before heading off to his own room, leaving me with Anton.

Walking beside me, he wrapped his arms around my shoulders, pulling me close to his warm chest. “Goodnight, Princess,” he murmured, placing a soft kiss atop my head before retreating to his own room.

I moved through my evening routine, my mind racing with thoughts of Noah, Nathan, Nikolay, and Nero. The question that lingered was still unanswered: were they my mates or not?

“Only time can answer that question,” Topaz replied, her voice echoing in my mind, a reminder that some mysteries could only be unraveled with patience.