Love Times Four My Stepbrothers Are My Mates (Alayah) novel Chapter 37

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

**Chapter 37**

Alayah’s p.o.v.

Mom leans closer, her brow furrowing with curiosity as she asks about the names of the gifts that had been documented. I ponder for a moment, recalling my Great-Grandfather’s words, “I believe he referred to it as the gift of camouflage. It’s as if I became one with the rosebush while I was gazing at it. So, in a way, we were all being honest, but I’m at a loss for how to articulate this to them.” I glance at Mom, but it’s Dad’s expression that truly unnerves me—his eyes are filled with concern.

“Baby Girl, why would you be upset with Noah for admitting he didn’t feel a connection with a female? If he ever found someone his Lycan felt drawn to, he would certainly tell me,” Dad inquires, his voice steady but laced with worry. I find myself staring down at my hands, their palms clammy, and take a deep breath to steady my racing heart.

“Because if Grandma was truthful, they should have felt a connection to me, just as Topaz feels that bond with them,” I whisper, my voice barely above a murmur. Suddenly, I feel a gentle hand cradling my face, compelling me to look up.

Kiba’s presence is palpable, close to the surface now. “Topaz, do you feel a connection to one of my Sons?” he asks, and I can’t help but smile as Topaz pushes forward, eager to respond.

“No, Dad. I feel a connection to all your Sons,” Topaz replies, and for a fleeting moment, I catch a flicker of anger in Kiba’s eyes, but it dissipates almost instantly, replaced by a warm smile directed at us.

“Why would they attempt to conceal that connection?” Mom queries, her voice tinged with confusion. “There’s no law against a Mate-bond between Stepsiblings, and Alpha Randell would never compel you to reject one another. He even insists that blended families tell their Pups the truth.”

Dad and I exchange glances, both of us bewildered by this revelation. Mom quickly recounts a troubling incident involving her friend, and I breathe a sigh of relief when she assures me that she would never stand in the way of our Mate-bond forming.

“I think I might have an inkling as to why they remained silent. First and foremost, they would want to ensure that each of them felt the connection,” Dad suggests, and I can’t help but growl in frustration as the realization hits me—this was their test all along.

I recount to Mom the brief visits they made to see me after arriving at the Crimson Moon Pack, and we both come to the same conclusion. “Not the brightest bunch, I’ll tell you,” I mutter under my breath, and Dad chuckles in agreement.

“They’ve witnessed enough people being belittled because others thought they had done something wrong. My Sons are overprotective, you see. They also believe that only their Mate can distinguish them from one another. With so many people proving them wrong, I suspect they think you can’t possibly be their Mate,” Dad explains, shaking his head in exasperation.

“They must think that the connection their Lycans feel is merely a sibling bond,” Dad continues, and in unison, Mom and I exclaim, “Bullshit!”

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