Love Times Four My Stepbrothers Are My Mates (Alayah) novel Chapter 76

**When Broken Stars Drift Across Empty Midnight Skies by Troy Mason Venn**
**Chapter 76: Submission**

**Alayah’s p.o.v.**

As we pulled into the hotel parking lot, a sense of anticipation washed over me. I had braced myself for a night away from all my Mates, a thought that lingered uneasily in my mind. However, the moment we stepped inside, the man at the reception desk took one look at our group and swiftly reached for a handful of keys from the top row, his expression unreadable.

“This one is for the five of you,” he declared, extending the key toward Noah. His voice was firm, yet there was an undercurrent of warmth that made me feel oddly reassured. He distributed the remaining keys with a practiced ease, instructing us to freshen up and return for dinner once we were ready. We nodded in agreement, not daring to question his authority.

By the time we descended for dinner, the dining room was mostly empty, with only a few stragglers remaining. Within moments of our arrival, they too departed, leaving us with a comforting cocoon of privacy.

“Alayah, there’s something weighing on my mind that I’ve been meaning to share with you,” Noah began, his tone serious. My heart raced as I wondered what revelation could possibly be significant enough to warrant such gravity. He continued, explaining how his Brothers and Dad were already aware of his concerns, and they echoed his unease.

He recounted the reports the Elders sent to the Alphas whenever a Pack reported a missing person. “I’ve always questioned those reports,” he admitted, his brow furrowing in concentration. “Some details just don’t add up.” My mind raced, trying to piece together the fragments of information he was revealing.

Noah explained that the common thread in those reports was always the Blood Stone Pack. The implication hung in the air like a thick fog, and I felt as though my head might burst from the weight of the revelations. I had anticipated a restful night, but I was sorely mistaken; the moment my head found its place on Nathan’s chest, sleep enveloped me like a warm blanket.

“Princess, you need to wake up,” I heard Noah whisper softly in my ear. I groaned in response, playfully telling him to leave me be, as I snuggled closer into Nathan’s comforting embrace.

“We still have a few more hours of driving ahead, and I could really use some breakfast and coffee to kickstart my day,” he said, and the mere mention of coffee jolted me awake. My eyes flew open, and I was met with a broad smile from my Mate, Noah. He gently lifted me off Nathan’s chest, who let out a soft growl of protest at the loss of contact, grumbling something about Noah being an Asshole.

Our morning routine commenced, a familiar dance of camaraderie and teasing. Noah retrieved my bag from the bed, while Nikolay swept me into his arms in a bridal carry. “You do realize I can walk, right?” I chuckled, resting my head against his shoulder, feeling safe and cherished.

“Of course, I know that. But you’ll be in the backseat with Noah and Nathan, so I get to carry you down the stairs and to the SUV. Plus, during breakfast, you’ll be sitting on Nero’s lap,” Nikolay explained with a playful grin. My heart fluttered at his affection, and I could sense Topaz, my inner wolf, wagging its tail in delight at this display of chivalry.

Mom beamed at me as Nikolay placed me onto Nero’s lap, and I instinctively leaned closer to him, feeling the warmth radiate from his body as everyone settled in. A massive plate of food appeared in front of me, courtesy of Nathan, and without a second thought, I grabbed a fork and scooped up some scrambled eggs, offering it to Nero, who accepted it without hesitation. I giggled as Dad, ever the doting father, took charge of the sausages, cutting them into bite-sized pieces before placing them back in front of us.

“Thank you, Dad,” I said, holding a piece of sausage out to Nero, who accepted it with a playful grin.

“Okay, you’re on my lap during lunch,” Nathan whispered, leaning closer to me. I turned to Mom, holding out both my hands, counting to four on one hand while counting three on the other. I gave her my best puppy eyes, hoping for a favorable response.

“Skirt, because I haven’t seen you in one yet,” Nathan replied, his eyes sparkling with mischief before Nikolay chimed in, “Summer or winter?”

The boys unanimously picked summer, clearly envisioning me in dresses and skirts. “I wear those all year round; it doesn’t matter if it’s summer or winter. I choose winter because of Christmas. I love bringing out the decorations and putting up the tree. It’s not about the presents for me; it’s about spending the holiday with the people I love,” I answered, my heart swelling with warmth at the thought.

As we continued our game of twenty questions, time seemed to slip away. Suddenly, I spotted something unusual through the window. “Nero, pull over,” I instructed, my heart racing as I realized what I was seeing—or rather, what I wasn’t supposed to see just yet.

We all piled out of the SUV, and Dad was by my side before I could even call for him. “What is it, Baby Girl?” he asked, concern etched on his face as I pointed toward the tree line.

“That isn’t supposed to be there,” I murmured, my eyes scanning the area. I turned to Noah, curiosity gnawing at me. “Did the Council of Elders ever send out a new map for Blood Stone territory?”

“No, they didn’t. If Blood Stone territory expanded, every Pack should have been notified to prevent accidental trespassing,” Noah replied, his voice steady but laced with concern. Doubts began to swirl in my mind—had our history lessons been flawed, or was there more truth to Noah’s suspicions than we realized?

Before I could voice my thoughts, a figure emerged from the tree line. A Lycan approached us, moving deliberately, as if to convey peace. When his gaze landed on me, he halted, lowering himself to the ground in a gesture of submission. The air thickened with tension, and I could feel the weight of the moment hanging over us all.