Love Times Four My Stepbrothers Are My Mates (Alayah) novel Chapter 112

**When Broken Stars Drift Across Empty Midnight Skies by Troy Mason Venn**
**Chapter 112: Guessing Games**

**Alayah’s p.o.v.**

+5 Free Coins

“Dad, I urgently need you to retrieve some files from the Archive,” I state firmly the moment he picks up the phone. “Specifically, the files on the Bronze Crest Pack.” I can almost picture him nodding, envisioning those documents neatly placed in my office, eagerly awaiting my return. I know that as soon as we get back, Anton will dive headfirst into them, analyzing every detail with that intense focus of his.

In the backdrop, the twins have seized his phone, and for the next five minutes, I find myself captivated by their animated chatter in their own little language. It’s a delightful symphony of babbling that no one else can decipher. The way they express themselves, their faces lighting up with emotion, is both amusing and endearing. Yet, there’s a certain hilarity in their quick tempers; they can become quite furious if you misinterpret their words, which often leads to a comical scene. “If you don’t hurry home, you’ll miss their first steps,” I hear Mom tease, her voice filled with warmth.

“Mom, are you serious? They’ve just begun crawling! I’m not ready to think about them walking around just yet,” I reply, a hint of exasperation creeping into my tone. I can hear the laughter bubbling up in the background, a comforting sound that envelops me. “Cassandra can already pull herself up to stand, and Maxwell isn’t far behind her,” Mom adds, and a pang of anxiety tugs at my heart. What if I actually miss those precious first steps?

After we hang up, I find solace by crawling onto Nikolay’s lap. I crave his embrace as I prepare to indulge in a brief pity party. Over the past year, I’ve learned to seek comfort from different Mates based on my emotional state. They each have their unique way of helping me regain my composure. Nikolay is my go-to when sadness creeps in, Nero is my outlet for frustration, Nathan is my sanctuary for cuddles, and Noah is the one who grounds me when anger flares up. Each of them patiently holds me until I feel ready to re-engage with the world. Nikolay wraps an arm around me, while his other hand gently rubs my back, soothing me with his touch.

As morning light filters through the curtains, I awaken sprawled across two of my Mates. I must have drifted off in Nikolay’s arms, his embrace still securely wrapped around my waist. My head rests comfortably on Noah’s chest. “That doesn’t look comfortable to me, Princess,” Nathan’s voice echoes in my mind, and I can’t help but smile up at him as I slowly blink my eyes open.

“I can’t really answer that just yet; let me get out of bed first,” I respond playfully, attempting to wriggle free from the warm hold of Nikolay and Noah. But as soon as I make a move, their grip tightens protectively around me. “Now it’s getting uncomfortable, and I really need to pee,” I confess to Nathan, catching sight of the mischievous grin spreading across his face. Trapped in their firm embrace, I realize I’m going nowhere fast.

Suddenly, I feel the bed dip behind me, and I keep my gaze locked on Nathan as he shifts toward the headboard. “Get ready to run, Princess,” Noah warns through the mind-link, and in the blink of an eye, the four arms that held me vanish. With a burst of energy, I leap out of bed, greeted by roars of laughter from Nikolay and Noah. I can’t help but chuckle; I doubt their reaction has anything to do with my sudden departure.

Nero and Nathan swiftly grab their wrists, holding them firmly above their heads, effectively immobilizing Nikolay and Noah. “Alright, you can let them go now. I’ll be right back,” I say, making my way to the bathroom. I can’t stifle my giggles as I hear the sounds of wrestling erupting behind me.

Within a minute, a series of loud thuds reverberate through the room, signaling that they’ve tumbled off the bed and onto the floor. This morning ritual occurs far too often; they seem to relish in it. Occasionally, I’ll have the twins watch, and it always results in Maxwell and Cassandra mimicking their antics in the living room.

“Everything okay in there, Alayah?” Bastian’s voice punctuates my thoughts through the mind-link. “Yeah, just my Mates engaging in their usual morning wrestling match. Tell Janina not to worry,” I reply, and I can hear him chuckle softly before he disconnects our link.

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