Love Times Four My Stepbrothers Are My Mates (Alayah) novel Chapter 36

**When Broken Stars Drift Across Empty Midnight Skies by Troy Mason Venn**
**Chapter 36: My Way**

**Alayah’s P.O.V.**

“Your mother wouldn’t dare show that to my sons, would she?” Xavier inquires, his gaze flickering between my mom and me, a hint of playful suspicion in his tone. I can’t help but smirk at his question, leaning into the moment, and I ask him whether he prefers the unvarnished truth or a more tactful response. My mother erupts into laughter, her joy infectious, filling the room with warmth. Alpha Gordon, ever the curious one, leans in, eager to hear my diplomatic answer. I reply, maintaining a perfectly straight face, “Grandma takes immense pride in providing a comprehensive education.” The room bursts into laughter as Beta Jacob, unable to contain himself, tumbles off his chair, his laughter echoing loudly. Alpha Gordon shakes his head, chuckling, declaring he will never again solicit a straightforward answer from me.

“Smart move, Alpha. Even Grandma wouldn’t want the unfiltered version from me,” I mumble, my fork digging into my food as I try to mask my amusement. My mom continues to chuckle intermittently, and I suspect Beta Jacob has completely abandoned the idea of lunch amidst the hilarity. After the meal, Mom and I make our way back to my office. Her eyes widen in surprise when she notices the door slightly ajar, and just as I feel a familiar presence behind me, I turn to see Xavier approaching. Two warriors trail closely behind him, their expressions serious as they enter my office, but as I had anticipated, it’s empty.

The disarray inside tells a different story; drawers are flung open, and papers are strewn across the floor like fallen leaves in autumn. “What on earth happened here?” Alpha Gordon asks, his brow furrowing in concern. “It seems someone is frightened that I might unearth their little secret,” I respond, my voice steady. “Dad, Mom, and I will be working on the Gamma floor. Could you assign two warriors to the landing?” I suggest, noticing the flicker of emotion in Xavier’s eyes at the mention of “Dad.”

“Absolutely, Baby Girl. I’ll ensure you have someone shadowing you at all times, just in case anyone has the audacity to try something,” Dad replies, his protective nature shining through. The two warriors who had accompanied him follow us up to the Gamma floor, taking their positions as sentinels on the landing. I retrieve my laptop from my bag, and I catch Mom facepalming herself in disbelief. “Now do you see why I insisted on taking it with me, Mom?” I ask, a hint of triumph in my voice, and she nods slowly, her expression shifting to one of understanding.

“How did you know someone would ransack your office?” she queries, her voice tinged with concern. I suggest she connect with Xavier; his presence is essential as I prepare to explain the unfolding situation. It takes a tense ten minutes before Xavier joins us, and by that time, Mom is a bundle of nerves. However, all her anxiety dissipates the moment he wraps his arms around her, offering comfort. “I think it’s best if we sit down for this discussion, preferably in your office,” I propose, stepping out of the living room.

The door to Alpha Gordon’s office wasn’t fully closed when Beta Jacob alerted me to discrepancies in the records, and I could hear someone lurking nearby, their heartbeat and breath betraying their presence. I also noted the security inadequacies in the Luna office, which led me to believe that whoever had been eavesdropping intended to seize my laptop, likely hoping to erase any evidence of the inconsistencies in the books,” I explain, my voice steady despite the gravity of the revelations.

A heavy silence blankets the room as both Xavier and Mom absorb the weight of my words. I can sense their minds racing, processing everything I’ve just shared. “Baby Girl, what is the other gift?” Dad finally asks, his curiosity piqued, and I can’t help but chuckle at the memory of what I had shared with them earlier. “Yesterday morning…” I trail off, realizing they might inquire why I had been upset with the boys for their comments. “Just tell them the truth when they ask; I doubt they will hold it against us,” Topaz whispers in my mind, a reassuring presence.

“I had been working for several hours when I felt the need for a brief respite. I often take a stroll in the gardens, and the quickest route is through the main living room,” I recount, my emotions rising as I remember the exchange I overheard between Noah and a female. I explain how I had slipped out the back door and spent what felt like an eternity in the gardens. “I lost track of time until I suddenly heard an irate Noah shouting at me, claiming they had been searching for me for hours. When I returned to my office, I realized I had been out there far longer than I intended, but none of them believed me when I insisted I hadn’t left the gardens. They accused me of lying, and in my frustration, I inadvertently used my Beta aura to compel them to back off. I left the Pack-house shortly after that,” I share, feeling the tension in the air as I prepare to reveal what I had pieced together on my way here.