Love Times Four My Stepbrothers Are My Mates (Alayah) novel Chapter 33

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

**Nikolay’s p.o.v.**

Last night was a nightmare, one that replayed in my mind like a broken record. Sleep evaded me, and every time I dared to close my eyes, Alayah’s face flashed before me, haunting and beautiful. I knew she was safe with Dad and Mara, but the guilt gnawed at me like a relentless beast. We had driven her to flee, to feel abandoned, and our disbelief had cut her deeper than I could have ever imagined. Anton was no better; the weight of his guilt was etched on his face, a constant reminder that he too had failed her. No matter how many times anyone tried to reassure him, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he had let her down.

As I sat at the kitchen table, I glanced at Noah and Nathan. They looked just as terrible as I felt, their expressions mirroring the turmoil within me. Then Nero strolled in, that infuriating grin plastered across his face, and I felt a surge of anger bubbling up inside me. I wanted nothing more than to wipe that smug smile off his face. Noah’s patience was wearing thin; I could see the tension in his shoulders, ready to snap at any moment. And when Nero began recounting his dream about Alayah, it was like pouring salt into an open wound. I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks, a mix of embarrassment and frustration. I wasn’t alone in my discomfort; I could sense my brothers shifting uncomfortably as well.

I considered a cold shower to quell the heat surging through me, but just as I was about to rise, my phone buzzed with a message from Isla. “Keep your phone close, someone is going to eat dirt,” it read ominously. Just seconds later, my screen lit up with a video call from Mara. The tension in the room thickened as my brothers gathered around me, their eyes glued to the screen. Dad’s voice cut through the air, announcing that this was a fight to submission or knockout—a rare occurrence for him. My heart raced, curiosity piqued; what on earth was happening?

Then she appeared. Alayah stepped into view, looking fierce and stunning in her training gear—bright pink yoga pants hugging her legs and a matching tank top that accentuated her figure. I was momentarily speechless, captivated by her presence. We all fell silent, our eyes glued to the screen as she deftly dodged attack after attack from her opponent, a warrior who could only be described as mediocre at best. There was no way she could defeat him, or so I thought. I leaned forward, watching closely, ready to catch any mistakes she might make, eager to help her improve next time. But it seemed Mara had faith in her, and I couldn’t help but wonder what I was missing.

“Ouch,” Nero muttered behind me as Alayah’s fist connected with her opponent’s jaw, the impact resonating through the room. Khal growled, his protective instincts kicking in when he saw another attacker rushing toward her. I couldn’t help but chuckle when Alayah landed a solid punch on the idiot’s face, causing Nathan to mutter a sympathetic “Ouch” as well. She was unfazed, not even breaking a sweat as she faced off against two men. We erupted into laughter when their heads collided, both of them collapsing like marionettes with cut strings.

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