Love Times Four My Stepbrothers Are My Mates (Alayah) novel Chapter 52

**When Broken Stars Drift Across Empty Midnight Skies by Troy Mason Venn 53**

Mara’s perspective

The moment I had been dreading for what felt like an eternity finally arrived. Xavier’s voice pierced through my thoughts when he informed me that Crystal had discovered her Mate—Marc from the Crimson Moon Pack. A place that was steeped in my past, filled with both cherished memories and haunting reminders. I felt a weight settle in my chest as I realized I had a choice to make, an unavoidable confrontation with my history. “I need to speak to Alpha Randell,” I told Xavier, my voice barely above a whisper. Without hesitation, he dialed a number and drove me to the Crimson Moon Pack, returning me to a place I had never imagined I would revisit.

Crimson Moon Pack was where I was born and raised, a place that echoed with laughter and the warmth of friendship. I spent countless hours at the Pack-house with my best friend, Maxwell. As we transitioned from carefree children to uncertain teenagers, I became convinced that Maxwell was destined to be my Mate. The others would chuckle and dismiss my certainty, but Maxwell understood my seriousness. He would often tell me to disregard their laughter, assuring me that our connection was real. When my Wolf finally revealed the bond between us, I was on cloud nine, eagerly anticipating the formation of our Mate-bond.

We shared six incredible months together, a whirlwind of joy and discovery, until tragedy struck like a thunderbolt. The news of my pregnancy should have filled me with joy, but instead, it was overshadowed by grief that enveloped me like a heavy fog. As Alayah grew, the pain of losing Maxwell only intensified. She bore his striking hair and captivating eyes, and with every laugh and gesture, she reminded me of him. I tried to push the anguish aside during those early years, convincing myself that I could learn to live with the emptiness.

How naive I was. When Alayah turned eight, her responses mirrored Maxwell’s, not in voice but in her quick wit and perceptive nature. It was one of the many things I had adored about him, and yet hearing her was like reopening an old wound, dragging me back to the day I lost him. Each time I left the Pack, I would visit the places Maxwell had dreamed of taking me, hoping that by doing so, I could find a semblance of closure.

It took severing ties with my family, leaving my daughter behind, and years of therapy to begin to come to terms with Maxwell’s death. That was when Xavier entered my life, and slowly, I began to rediscover happiness—a concept I thought had vanished forever along with Maxwell. Yet, I never found the courage to reveal Alayah’s existence to Xavier and the boys. I held onto the hope that I would find the strength to be honest before my past caught up with me.

When I stepped into Alpha Randell’s office, he didn’t need to ask the reason for my visit; the understanding was palpable. I could sense him linking with someone in the Pack, and I felt a flutter of anxiety. Alpha Randell knew I wanted to speak with my daughter, and when Alayah finally entered the room, my heart raced with fear. What if she told me to leave her life for good? I wouldn’t have blamed her; I had left her with my mother without an explanation, a decision that haunted me.

I was taken aback to learn that Alayah had awakened her Lycan at the tender age of thirteen, and she had faced that monumental moment all alone. My heart sank at the thought that she might resent me for my absence. Yet, relief washed over me when she expressed a willingness to give me a chance to form a relationship. As I left the Crimson Moon Pack, a sense of lightness enveloped me, especially after I spoke with my mother.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify