Love Times Four My Stepbrothers Are My Mates (Alayah) novel Chapter 116

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

**Chapter 116: Idiots**

**Alayah’s p.o.v.**

A flicker of disappointment coursed through me when the first words uttered by my Pups weren’t the familiar calls of “Mom” or “Dad.” Yet, pride surged within me as I realized they could distinguish between various shifters. My heart swelled at the sight of Maxwell confidently declaring “Wolf,” revealing that one of our Pack members had an old friend visiting—a Wolf, no less.

In the dining room, a palpable tension filled the air as each Pack member stood by, anticipation etched on their faces. One of the twins boldly stepped forward, waiting for the moment to reveal their understanding of the shifter world. I couldn’t help but chuckle at Molly’s reaction when she entered the room. She halted abruptly upon spotting Harper, her expression a blend of confusion and curiosity, which quickly morphed into a smile as Maxwell announced, “Bear.”

After that little episode, I made it a point to clarify to everyone that our Pack was home to an entire family of Bear shifters and that Janina was a Leopard. It was amusing to witness the flurry of questions that erupted from Pack members; they were just as intrigued as I was. They soon realized, much like me, that they had never encountered a Bear or a Leopard shifter in their lives.

As I sifted through the multitude of files, I focused intently on the list Bastian had handed me. The names on the tablet screen seemed to swirl before my eyes, each last name a haunting echo of history. The realization struck me hard—this issue had been festering for nearly a century. How could our Alpha have overlooked this?

I passed the tablet to Noah, who barely needed a moment to grasp the gravity of the situation. “Are you kidding me? Why are they still living in the Pack?” he questioned, frustration lacing his tone. I could only shake my head in response; I had no answers to provide. The collective gaze of those in the meeting room fell upon the tablet, and it was clear they reached the same unsettling conclusion I had: something was terribly amiss.

“Bastian, we’re leaving at the crack of dawn. Someone will answer for this, and there will be consequences,” I declared, resting my forehead against the cool surface of the table. This case was proving to be more perplexing than the three Packs we had previously dealt with. “We need to find out if anyone here knows a member of that Pack. Perhaps we should take a day to gather more intel on their leadership,” I mumbled, my mind racing with possibilities.

“On it, Alpha. A childhood friend of mine moved there to live with his grandparents after his parents were killed in a Rogue attack,” Hondo chimed in, rising from his seat. “I’ll give him a call and see what he knows about those families. I’ll also let him know I’ll be dropping by for a visit.” He closed the door behind him, a gesture that signified trust—trust in his friend’s loyalty and discretion.

As my Mates and Bastian exited the meeting room to brief our Elite Warriors, Harper and Janina set off in search of my Pups. Soon, the room felt emptier, leaving just Anton and me. I offered him a smile as he returned the tablet to me, but a nagging feeling crept in. “What’s on your mind, Anton?” I asked, sensing he bore news that might not sit well with me.

“Bree has been spreading a rather scandalous tale about you and your Mates,” Anton began, his tone serious. “She’s telling anyone who will listen that the five of you grew up together, and that you stole them away from females who felt a bond with your brothers.” He handed me several reports from our Trackers, each one echoing the same narrative.

As I scanned the documents, an unsettling feeling gnawed at me. Bree’s name was a constant, and while I understood her animosity towards me—after all, I had taken the Alpha position she coveted—I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

“Go find your Mate and spend some time together. I’ll dive into these reports and then seek out my Mates as well,” I instructed Anton, linking with my Mates to summon them back to the meeting room. I spread the files across the table, my heart racing with anticipation as I awaited their arrival.

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