Love Times Four My Stepbrothers Are My Mates (Alayah) novel Chapter 21

**When Broken Stars Drift Across Empty Midnight Skies by Troy Mason Venn**
**Chapter 21: Thoughts**

As I settled into my seat at the table, surrounded by my Brothers and the emerging leaders of the Autumn Moon pack, a swirl of confusion danced in my mind. Why were we—my Brothers and I—gathered here, at this table, among those who would shape the future? We were not destined to be part of that future leadership. Yet, here we were, sharing this moment. Don’t misunderstand me; I cherish the company of my Brothers and the others at the table. However, I can’t help but feel a twinge of melancholy when I think about the day Nero will take his rightful place on that stage. The thought of missing our lively dinner conversations fills me with a sense of loss I can hardly articulate.

Across the table, Eiji’s gaze was intensely focused on Alayah. She sat there, seemingly lost in a labyrinth of her own thoughts. I wished, with a fervor that surprised me, that I could dive into her mind, to understand what she was contemplating. When Crystal had revealed her ability to distinguish between us, Eiji began to whine in my head—a clear sign that the bond we felt with Alayah might resemble that of siblings. While I would accept such a connection, a part of me had harbored hopes that this link would signify the discovery of my mate.

My breath caught in my throat as I watched the Omegas glide into the dining room, wheeling carts laden with an array of desserts. The sight was almost overwhelming. Each Omega approached the table, inquiring about our dessert preferences. I was taken aback when one of them placed a dessert in front of Alayah without even asking her. The way she described the impact of a mere walnut on her palate filled me with pride for Nero. His attentiveness had spared her from a potentially disastrous evening in the Infirmary, had he not noticed her aversion to tree nuts.

Once Alayah had savored her dessert, she excused herself, claiming she needed to attend to a few matters in her office. I found myself questioning whether this was a genuine need or merely an excuse to escape. Following my Brothers, I ascended the stairs to the Gamma floor, nearly colliding with Nathan, who had halted abruptly in the living room.

“Am I the only one feeling let down that the connection Yuma sensed with Alayah might just be a sibling bond?” Nathan voiced, his disappointment palpable. “I genuinely believed we had finally found our Mate. But if today serves as any indication of the bond that might form among the five of us, I fear we may need to schedule a Mate meeting soon.”

Eiji’s growl reverberated in my mind as we absorbed Nathan’s words. “Crystal was never able to tell us apart. So, what changed after she left for the Mate meeting?” Nikolay interjected, and a heavy silence enveloped us as we pondered his question. We were all aware that Crystal had found her mate, but that did little to clarify why she could now distinguish between us. We also knew she had spent all her time at the Crimson Moon Pack after that meeting.

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