Love Times Four My Stepbrothers Are My Mates (Alayah) novel Chapter 79

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

**Alayah’s Perspective**

As I gazed at the photographs of my father, a sense of curiosity washed over me, especially after my encounter with Grandfather. I found myself pondering the origins of his features and how they might echo through our family line. But now, as I watched the man embracing my mother, a revelation struck me like a bolt of lightning: this was where it all came from. “You have four Mates?” Brock’s voice broke through my thoughts, and I merely nodded, my eyes fixed on my mother. Noah was busy introducing himself and his brothers to the rest of my family, and I felt a swell of pride at the connection we were forging.

Bryson’s gaze shifted from Mom to Dad, and before he could voice his confusion, I interjected, “Yes, Bryson. My Mom is mated to their Father.” The words hung in the air, a bridge between our families, and I could see the gears turning in Bryson’s mind as he processed this new information.

“Alright, everyone, take a seat,” Uncle Josh instructed, his voice steady and authoritative. As was our new routine since I had brought about this change, we settled onto the couch. Nathan perched me on his lap, a protective gesture that made me feel cherished, while Nero and Noah flanked me on either side, creating a fortress of warmth. Nikolay, ever the thoughtful one, chose the floor, sitting cross-legged in front of Nathan and me, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

“Sorry to keep you all waiting,” Bastian announced as he strode into the living room, his presence commanding attention. “We found the female, and she’s currently at the infirmary. Dad, we need to call the Elders,” he added, his tone shifting from urgency to formality as he began to introduce himself properly to everyone present.

“Alayah, I feel it’s important for you to understand why I never fully accepted the role of Alpha,” Bastian began, his voice steady yet tinged with an underlying tension. “First, I think I should explain our bloodline.” But before he could elaborate, I interjected, “I know about my bloodline.” He raised an eyebrow, intrigued, and encouraged me to share what I knew.

“Well, there’s a bit more to it,” he replied after I recounted everything Grandfather had shared with me. “Only the firstborn of an Alpha can have a female with gifts, and none of those females have ever been firstborn.”

He paused, letting the weight of his words settle among us. “Our family lineage stretches back centuries, with each firstborn stepping into the role of leadership, fortifying our Pack into an unbreakable force. While we don’t bar anyone from rejecting their Mate, they must seek permission from our Alpha, which requires a compelling reason for such a rejection. This principle has kept our Pack strong, even when we lost the ability to identify our Mates under the Full Moon. We have remained the strongest Pack, against all odds.”

I doubted that it would have swayed Grandfather or Uncle Paul’s opinions, but perhaps it would have better equipped us for the information we received today. The markings on the trees still puzzled me, as did the excessive number of cottages and the vast Pack house where we currently resided. Topaz’s voice broke through my reverie, “Do you know what you want to do yet?”

I shook my head, feeling a mixture of uncertainty and anticipation. “I’m still trying to piece everything together. I feel like I’m missing vital information to make a solid decision.”

I was astounded that my Great Grandfather’s Uncle was still alive. I longed to learn about his experiences and the wisdom he had gathered over the years. I craved knowledge about my family and what else awaited me regarding my abilities. However, I hoped I wouldn’t be overwhelmed with too many more. I felt as though I was already at my limit, yet the Goddess often tested us with more than we believed we could endure.

“Why did Bastian mention the need to call the Elders when he said they found the female?” Topaz asked, her curiosity mirroring my own as I sat there, lost in contemplation.