Love Times Four My Stepbrothers Are My Mates (Alayah) novel Chapter 4

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

**Chapter 4: Normal Life**

*Nero’s p.o.v.*

For years now, Dad has been persistently nudging Noah to join the Mate meeting, but even at thirty-one, Noah remains steadfast in his refusal. Dad, wise as he is, knows better than to push the matter too far; he brings it up once, then gracefully lets it drop, as if sensing the tension it creates.

None of us are particularly eager to attend the Mate meeting. We all share an unspoken understanding of the potential pitfalls that come with it, especially the haunting possibility of a false Mate-bond. Grandfather instilled in us a deep knowledge about the Mate-bond, teaching us the signs to look for in order to avoid the heartache of being misled. This wisdom is precisely why Noah is adamant about not attending—if none of us will stand by him, he simply won’t go.

Dad has always been careful with Mara, his own Mate-bond forming as it should, and I feel a swell of happiness for him after nineteen long years of solitude. Mara is a bright light in his life, and I can’t help but think that perhaps with the merging of our two Packs, the odds of finding a Mate might actually tilt in our favor. A flicker of hope ignites within me at the thought of discovering my own Mate within the Crimson Moon Pack. If that were to happen, it would mean steering clear of the Mate meeting altogether, and Nikolay, too, could find his Mate and avoid the same fate. Yet, if he doesn’t find someone before the next meeting, he will inevitably receive an invitation as well.

While attendance at the Mate meeting isn’t mandatory, the disapproving glances from older Pack members directed at Noah’s blunt refusal are hard to ignore. It baffles me that those who should understand his reasons conveniently forget the weight of his past whenever the invitation arrives.

Noah once had a best friend who was forced to move to a neighboring Pack after his mother found a new Mate at the Mate meeting. They managed to maintain a close bond, which I always thought was a blessing in disguise. But three years later, in the dead of night, that friend reached out to Noah, desperation lacing his voice. His mother’s Mate had turned abusive, and Noah had warned him to keep a watchful eye.

Even that late-night call failed to spark any real change. Dad had alerted Alpha Gordon, who, in turn, contacted the Alpha of that Pack. But tragedy struck before help could arrive; Noah’s friend and his mother were brutally beaten to death. We all believe it could have been averted if the Alpha had shared the full family history with the Council of Elders. This is the core reason behind Noah’s aversion to the Mate meeting. He once confided in an Elder that he would rather embrace a life of solitude than ever step foot into that gathering.

I stand firmly by Noah’s decision, and I can’t help but hope that the four of us—Noah, Nikolay, Nathan, and I—will be fortunate enough to find our Mates once our Packs merge.

After two long hours of dodging the relentless advances of the females in the living room, I feel like I’m about to explode. I swear, if one more person makes a comment about being the perfect fit for a future Gamma, I might just lose it.

Just then, one of my closest friends, a strong female who is happily mated to another friend of mine, casts me a playful smirk. “So, what do you and Miku look for in a Mate?” she asks, her tone light but with an underlying seriousness that I appreciate. It’s her way of putting those other females in their place without causing a scene.

“I’m hoping for a Mate who can stand on her own two feet—someone who can fight and also make a living. I need to know she can provide for herself and our future Pups if anything happens to me. I want her to be well-versed in proper protocol when dealing with visiting Alphas or Elders, and I hope she can handle my brothers just as well as Mara does,” I reply, my voice steady and sincere.

“I don’t care about the color of her hair or eyes, or even her height. Rank doesn’t matter to me. What I care about is protecting her with my life, keeping her safe from harm, and spoiling her completely if she gives me the chance,” I declare, and I can see the understanding in Nikolay’s eyes. My brothers and I share the same conviction; we will accept any Mate our Lycans choose for us, and we will ensure that our Mates are cherished and cared for.

Just then, Noah and Nathan stroll into the living room, and Noah announces that it’s time for me to call it a night. He reminds me that I have a busy few days ahead, and I groan inwardly at the thought of all the responsibilities waiting for me alongside Dad. The thought of merging the two Packs fills me with a mix of anxiety and relief. Once it’s all settled, life will return to a semblance of normalcy, and I can finally breathe again.