Love Times Four My Stepbrothers Are My Mates (Alayah) novel Chapter 55

**When Broken Stars Drift Across Empty Midnight Skies by Troy Mason Venn**
**Chapter 55: Mouth Shut**

**Alayah’s p.o.v.**

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A weight presses down on my chest as I awaken, the sensation both foreign and oddly comforting. Blinking against the soft morning light, I realize that Nikolay is nestled against my side, his arm propped under his head while the other rests possessively over my body. A sudden awareness hits me, and I feel a firm pressure against my thigh. My cheeks flush a deep crimson as I instinctively push against his chest, my heart racing. I had braced myself for anger if I ever found myself face to face with him again, yet the moment he murmurs a casual “Hi,” I find myself responding with an unexpected ease.

Nikolay, with his usual nonchalance, begins to unravel the mystery of why I had woken up in different beds throughout the weekend. “Do you understand what this means?” he asks, his voice low and teasing. The way he calls me “Angel” sends a rush of heat through my veins, especially when he playfully threatens to take me over his knees or summon Noah to do it instead. I listen intently as he admits that they’ve messed up, but he urges me to hear them out.

“Give them a chance to explain. If their reasoning turns out to be nonsense, we can always tell them to get lost,” Topaz interjects, her voice steady and reassuring. I glance at her, momentarily lost in thought.

“But what if Noah insists he believes it’s a false Mate-bond?” I voice my deepest fear, realizing that the sting of his remark has lingered longer than I would have liked. Somewhere amidst my reflections, I’ve come to terms with the fact that I was more hurt by Noah’s words than the betrayal itself.

“I can sense the bond between us is genuine,” Topaz reassures me, her tone filled with warmth. “Waking up in Nikolay’s embrace only solidified that belief. I chose not to mention it before because I knew you needed time, but I felt the connection this morning, and it’s grown stronger. It’s perplexing, considering we haven’t spent much time together, yet it feels undeniably real.” I’m grateful for her patience, for allowing me to navigate my feelings at my own pace.

“So, you’re suggesting we should hear them out?” I murmur, still grappling with the implications of her words. She nods, emphasizing that we owe it to ourselves to listen.

“You can’t make a sound decision without all the facts,” she replies, playfully echoing one of my own mantras. A chuckle escapes her as she curls up in my mind, a comforting presence. I notice I’m alone in bed now, and Topaz informs me that Nikolay has taken a shower and retreated to the living room. I glance down at the shirt I’m wearing, a smile creeping onto my face as I realize it must belong to Nathan.

I can already envision Dad’s reaction when he sees me in this outfit.

In the living room, I overhear Mom teasing the boys about how I knew which seat belonged to whom. She turns to Xavier and asks if it’s true he hadn’t sat on the couch they were currently occupying. “Why do you think that, Dear?” he replies, feigning innocence.

“I didn’t realize it until Alayah pointed it out. Looking back at those first few weeks after I moved in, I see now that you seemed uncomfortable at times. You’d sit there watching Cassandra cook, and after she passed, the kitchen must have been a painful reminder. Yet, you chose to sit here, just to keep an eye on me, even when it hurt to see another woman in that space. Thank you for enduring that. I love you,” Mom says, her voice filled with warmth. Just as I hear the boys groan in response, I can’t help but chuckle, fully aware of their discomfort.

Every head turns in my direction as I step into the living room, and I’m met with a mix of expressions. Mom beams at me, while Dad and Noah share a look that suggests they might prefer to send me back to change.

“I heard I missed the yucky part,” I quip, making my way to the other couch. Before anyone can react, Nero plops down beside me, causing Mom to burst into laughter. Dad’s eyes are still fixed on me, a mixture of concern and disbelief written across his face, but a swift elbow from Mom silences any protest he might have had.