Love Times Four My Stepbrothers Are My Mates (Alayah) novel Chapter 61

**Chapter 61: Blood Stone Pack**

The oppressive weight of the weekend lingers heavily on my shoulders, a relentless reminder of the responsibilities I’ve shouldered. It feels as if I’m a kettle on the brink of boiling over, the steam of anxiety building within me. My role as the host to an Alpha and his three daughters has drained not only my energy but also my patience. Each tick of the clock amplifies my discomfort, and my heart sinks deeper at the thought that one of my sons is missing from this gathering—a fact that clearly irks the Alpha. I can hardly wait for him to depart in a couple of hours, yet the seconds seem to stretch into an eternity, mocking my eagerness for his exit. My sons have made their feelings abundantly clear—they will never accept a chosen mate—but the Alpha appears blissfully ignorant of their steadfast resolve.

A flicker of hope ignites within me as I ponder the possibility of revealing the truth. If I were to confess that I am merely the acting Alpha, that our true leader of the Blood Stone Pack is still out there, hidden in the shadows, perhaps he would reconsider his relentless pursuit of arranged marriages. It’s a bitter truth that no member of my bloodline is destined to claim a position that rightfully belongs to another. I can almost envision the shock that would wash over his face when he realizes he’s been barking up the wrong tree all along. Yet, decades ago, we made the fateful decision to keep this information under wraps. We have no idea where our ancestor ended up; all we know is that there is still an heir to the Blood Stone Pack, waiting to be found.

When my great-grandfather assumed leadership, he was denied the Alpha powers during the Ceremony—a betrayal that still echoes through our lineage. To this day, none of us has inherited those powers while another holds dominion over our Pack. I cherish the responsibility of caring for our family, but if the rightful Alpha were to arrive tomorrow, I would gladly step aside. My bloodline was never meant to hold the Alpha position, and I know my sons would not lament stepping down if it meant the return of our true leader.

“Alpha Josh, do you have any idea when your youngest son will return?” one of the females asks, her tone dripping with curiosity. I can only shrug, a wave of helplessness washing over me. The truth is, I have no clue when he’ll be back. He made his plans weeks ago, and I didn’t want to disrupt them for this visit. I can only imagine how much he despises this entire situation—more than any of us combined. Ever since I revealed the truth about our lineage to him, he has been on an unyielding quest to find our rightful Alpha, hoping against hope that we will locate him before he is forced to take over from me.

“He’s visiting the Autumn Pack,” I say, forcing a smile that feels strained. “I believe they are celebrating because Crystal has found her mate, but I don’t have the specifics. My best guess is he’ll be back tomorrow, probably just before dinner.” I notice the disappointment flicker across her features, and I can’t tell if it’s due to my son’s absence or the news about Crystal. My mate is doing her utmost to suppress her annoyance with these three daughters, and I silently wish that when our sons finally find their mates, they will be nothing like them.

“Thank the Goddess,” I hear my mate mutter under her breath as the SUV finally pulls away from the Pack house the following day. The Alpha had dragged this visit out for as long as he could, and thankfully, my prediction about Bastian’s return was spot on. “If they never show their faces here again, I will die a happy Lycan,” she growls, her voice low and fierce. I can’t help but echo her sentiment, a smile creeping onto my face. “Can you even imagine the look on their faces if they were to hear the truth?” I whisper conspiratorially in her ear, and she bursts into a fit of laughter, the sound lifting the weight of the past few days.

“Dad, you might want to check your phone. Bastian has been blowing it up,” my oldest son interjects, handing me my device with a look of concern etched on his face. Damn that Alpha and his stupid rules! We had turned our phones off to ensure a peaceful weekend, and now I see I’ve missed at least a dozen calls from Bastian. I know I shouldn’t be angry with him, but my frustration is already boiling over, and I can only imagine what nonsense he’s calling about. Just as I’m about to chastise him for his attitude, my mate gently places a hand on my arm, urging me to hold my tongue.

I catch snippets of Bastian’s words, but the urgency in his voice is unmistakable. He’s talking about Alpha Gordon, and then he drops a bombshell that leaves me momentarily speechless. Bastian encountered our Alpha at the Autumn Pack, and according to him, she bears a striking resemblance to her ancestors. “We’re getting a female Alpha,” I murmur to myself, my mind racing with the implications of this revelation. I quickly pull up the information I have on the Crimson Moon Pack, my fingers flying across the screen as I search for their leadership details.

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