Love Times Four My Stepbrothers Are My Mates (Alayah) novel Chapter 69

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

**Chapter 69: Trouble**

**Alayah’s p.o.v.**

“Absolutely, I did. But I’m starting to suspect that Alpha Randell has a genuine dislike for anything resembling modern technology,” I quip with a playful smirk, my gaze drifting toward the towering stack of papers he insists on sifting through. “His methods for keeping track of things seem to belong to a bygone era.” As I speak, Noah leans in, his eyes gleaming with mischief as he attempts to snatch a sausage from my plate. I swat his hand away, a teasing growl escaping my lips, and his face morphs into one of mock surprise.

“Feel free to ask for seconds if you’re still hungry, but don’t even think about stealing my food,” I warn him, my tone light yet infused with a hint of authority. He chuckles, leaning in to plant a quick kiss on my lips, his eyes dancing with mischief. “I thought I could be quick enough, but it seems I need to refine my skills,” he admits, a wide grin spreading across his face.

I lean in closer, lowering my voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Would you like to continue breathing?” I tease, watching as his expression shifts, his face paling slightly at my playful threat. Laughter erupts around the table, but Noah closes the gap between us, pressing his lips to mine in a swift kiss when he realizes I’m merely joking. I find myself leaning in deeper, returning the kiss with a playful fervor that leaves us both breathless.

After we finish our breakfast, the three of us head back upstairs to gather our bags. I feel a burst of energy and leap onto Nathan’s back, demanding a piggyback ride down the stairs. As we descend, the excited chatter of their fan club waiting at the bottom fills the air. Lily steps forward, her eyes fixated on Nero, but she quickly retreats when Topaz growls a warning at her.

Mom shakes her head disapprovingly as we exit the front door, while Dad chuckles at the sight of Noah and Nikolay bickering over who gets to sit in the back with me. “It’s amusing to see them squabble over seating arrangements instead of who gets to drive,” he muses, shaking his head in disbelief.

“Nathan, you take the passenger seat,” I instruct him through our mind-link, nudging Nero toward the seat behind the driver. As Nikolay tosses the keys back to Noah, I snatch them out of the air with a swift motion, feeling a rush of triumph.

Nero locks his door as I slide into the driver’s seat of the SUV, followed closely by Nathan, who secures his door immediately. This leaves Noah and Nikolay to squeeze into the backseat beside Nero. “That wasn’t very nice, Angel. I wanted to sit next to you,” Nikolay whines, sounding more like a petulant child than a grown man, while Nathan and Nero erupt into laughter.

The remainder of our drive is filled with playful arguments about who gets to sleep next to me. Noah and Nikolay ultimately win, leveraging the fact that they are closest to me at the moment.

“This is going to be quite the adventure when you’re carrying their Pups,” Topaz chimes in my mind, and I can’t help but groan audibly at the thought. Nathan glances at me, confusion etched on his face. With a resigned sigh, I decide it’s time to share my thoughts. “Topaz just had to point out that things might get even more complicated during any future pregnancies,” I say, keeping my focus on the road ahead, my heart racing at the implications.

A heavy silence envelops the SUV as the realization sinks in. All four of them mutter a collective “Fuck,” and I know they’ve pieced together the same truth I have. “We didn’t use any protection last night, and given our marking, the chances of pregnancy are quite high. We could have a Pup sooner than we think,” I add, feeling a mix of excitement and anxiety coursing through me, the weight of the future pressing down.

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