Love Times Four My Stepbrothers Are My Mates (Alayah) novel Chapter 59

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

**Chapter 59: Doing Next**

**Nero’s p.o.v.**

As I sit there, feeling the warmth of Alayah nestled in my lap, I can’t help but observe her closely. Her eyes are distant, lost in thought, and it’s evident that she’s grappling with the weight of everything she’s just learned. Dad had advised us to give her space, to let her sort through her emotions at her own pace. Mara and Dad believe that in time, she’ll open up to us, share her thoughts and feelings. I want to believe that too, but the uncertainty gnaws at me. What if she decides that this connection we share isn’t what she wants? The thought sends a shiver down my spine.

“Topaz and I have talked it over, and we’ve decided to take things one step at a time. Right now, the most pressing issue is understanding what this connection between us truly signifies. I think we all want to unravel that mystery, because I can’t imagine this is easy for any of you,” she states, her voice steady yet tinged with uncertainty. I feel a slight sense of relief wash over me, but I know her words don’t completely alleviate my worries. There’s still a chance she might feel differently about what we have.

“Alayah, I get that this must be incredibly confusing for you. When my brothers and I first realized we had a bond with you, I dismissed it as just a sibling thing. But being apart from you has made Khal realize that this runs deeper than mere brotherly affection. He felt every moment of your absence; it was as if he was missing a part of himself. He hated not being able to see you, to be near you, and most of all, he was frustrated that he couldn’t get to know Topaz,” Nikolay interjects, his tone earnest.

“I think what Nikolay just said resonates with all of us. We all wish we had more time to get to know you over the past few days. Let’s address this connection first, and then you can tell us what’s on your mind next,” I add, tightening my embrace around her. Her laughter bubbles up as my brothers attempt to squeeze onto the couch with us, but Nathan, ever the considerate one, opts for the floor, wanting to stay close to her. Alayah expresses her desire for us to spend the remainder of the day on the Gamma floor, and I can’t help but smile at her enthusiasm.

“I know there are at least four females who won’t be thrilled about this connection, and honestly, I’m not entirely sure how I feel about your friends. Except for Isla, of course. She’s a blast and doesn’t seem to care what her mate thinks of me,” she comments, resting her head on Noah’s shoulder. We’re all aware that our friends have been cautious around her, and it’s clear that their hesitance stems from the fact that they know how much we despise females who only seek mates of high rank.