Love Times Four My Stepbrothers Are My Mates (Alayah) novel Chapter 48

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

**Chapter 48**

Alayah’s perspective

In the dimly lit room, tension hung thick in the air like a storm cloud ready to burst. It was apparent that no one wanted to extend an invitation to the Blood Stone Pack, but the reality was that they could not simply exclude them. As I voiced this truth, I felt the atmosphere shift. Noah’s reaction was explosive. His Lycan surged forth, raw and untamed, as he advanced toward me with a predatory grace. But before he could close the distance, Dad interjected, positioning himself firmly between us.

“Eiji, calm the hell down,” he commanded, his voice low and steady, but laced with authority. “Alayah is right. As the future Alpha and Luna, Marc and Crystal must invite them. It’s protocol, and breaking it isn’t an option. All they can do is implement safety measures.”

Despite Dad’s words, Eiji’s agitation was palpable, a tempest barely contained. In a moment of desperation, I reached out to Mom through our mental link, asking her to relay an Alpha order to Gordon, hoping it would bring Eiji back from the brink. Moments later, I felt the weight of Alpha Gordon’s command wash over Eiji, and slowly, the storm within him began to settle.

“What the hell was that about, Noah?” Dad growled, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the room, taking note of the shared glances among the others. It was clear they were privy to some secret I was not.

“Nothing, Dad,” Noah replied, his tone dismissive, but the words felt hollow. “I just don’t like them coming to our territory; we’ve never had to deal with them before.”

His answer was a blatant falsehood, and a flicker of realization sparked within me—perhaps I had uncovered another of my gifts. I could sense the lies that wrapped around his words like a shroud. I reached out to Grandma, hoping to uncover the truth behind Noah’s deception, but she, too, chose to weave a web of lies, leaving me feeling more isolated. It seemed the answers I sought lay within the Blood Stone Pack.

“I needed some time to think,” Topaz said, her presence a comforting balm amidst the chaos. I felt a surge of relief at her return, especially after she had withdrawn following Noah’s evasive response to Mom’s inquiry.

“I revisited your memory about the Mate-bond and the sibling bond that Grandma explained to you,” she continued, her voice steady. “She mentioned that those bonds form in a similar manner, but a sibling bond tends to develop more swiftly. Still, it takes a day or so to solidify. Have you tried linking with any of them since your test with Nero?”

I hesitated, realizing that I hadn’t attempted to reach out again, but now felt as good a time as any to explore that possibility.

“Why did you lie to Dad?” I confronted Noah, and he stumbled out of his chair, shock etched on his face. He looked at me, rising from the floor, while Mom shifted her gaze between us, confusion evident in her eyes.

“What happened?” she inquired, her brow furrowing with concern. When I revealed that I had linked with him, laughter bubbled forth from her lips, breaking the tension momentarily.

And then there was the matter of my mother. I had never felt deceived by her; she simply left when she wanted or needed to. As I packed another bag, Anton walked into my room, his expression a mixture of confusion and concern. “Alayah, what are you doing?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder at my stepbrothers, who lingered behind him. I shook my head, grabbing a cherished picture from my nightstand and placing it carefully in my bag.

“Alayah,” Anton called again as I brushed past him, but I chose not to respond. If he didn’t remember my previous words, I wouldn’t remind him. Mom and Dad waited for me on the landing, and I caught Uncle Paul’s gaze, sensing he wanted to say something. But as Grandfather cleared his throat, Uncle Paul looked away, silenced by the older man’s presence.

“Wonderful, now the old man decides who can speak to us,” Topaz growled in my mind, and without another word, I descended the stairs.

In the lobby, Grandma stood fidgeting, her hands twisting nervously as she cast anxious glances my way. When our eyes met, I noticed her gaze flicker over my shoulder toward Grandfather, who seemed to be blocking anyone from approaching me. I couldn’t help but feel a swell of frustration; he had unwittingly ensured that I would find it exceedingly difficult to forgive any of them. By the time one of them might come looking for me, I would already be on my way to the Blood Stone Pack.

I held onto a glimmer of hope that I would uncover the answers I sought, and perhaps, just perhaps, they would finally be truthful with me.

**Chapter 49 Connection**