Chapter 11 Connection

• Alayah’s p.o.v.
• The moment his arms wrapped around me, Topaz started purring in my head, she liked being close to Nero and as I sat in my office a few hours later I had to remind her of the fact that he is our Stepbrother.
• I nearly lost my shit when she told me she felt a connection to Nero and I have made sure I kept some distance to him during the weekend, but it was difficult during our family dinner. Grandma had insisted that Nero came as well, after all he is family she mentioned.
• I know from Grandma’s lessons that a connection is difficult to fight, especially if both Wolves or Lycans feel the connection and I am hoping this is just one sided. I hope Topaz will no longer feel it when Nero returns Wednesday, I want to be able to build a relationship with my Stepbrothers and I am not sure how Mom and Xavier will react if a Mate-bond between me and Nero would form.
• The furniture for my office finally arrived early this morning and it will take me a few hours to get everything in place, I chose for light colors on the walls and floor. My desk is a ebony color with a four drawer chest on the right side and one under the left side of my corner desk, it gives me lots of space to place the files I need to work on. Behind my desk there is a bookshelf dividing my office in to two sections and creating a separated sitting area.
• Against the back wall I have a screen mounted on the wall to show presentations of Pack finances, I decided to go with armchairs throughout the sitting area and a coffee table in the middle. I also got a few side tables to place in between the armchairs and each armchair has a charging station on the side, I can’t wait to see the finished results. By the time Crystal links me for lunch I am finished with the sitting area and I just put up the bookshelf, I will finish the rest after lunch.
• I hope I will have everything set up by dinner time, the one good thing from this day is that I haven’t been thinking about Nero and I hope I can keep him from my mind. During lunch Marc tells me that Nero asked to bring his Brothers with him, they wanted to meet me and see where Nero was going to live. Crystal tells us that they all look alike, each of them having the same blond hair their Father has and their Mother’s ice blue eyes.
• “It is that I know but otherwise I would say they are quadruplets, most outside our Pack that meet them jump to that conclusion and it is hilarious to see their faces when they find out there is an age difference of two years between each of them.” Crystal says and Anton asks her how she can keep them apart, “I can’t, it’s that I knew Nero was coming or I wouldn’t have been able to tell you who he was. I hope Marc is able to tell them apart, after all they are all Gammas.” She says teasingly.
• I am placing books into the bookshelf on the side of the sitting area while I am mind-linking Grandma, “Crystal said she couldn’t keep them apart, than how am I supposed to tell the difference between my Brothers?” I ask Grandma and she tells me that only their Mate or Mates and their parents are able to tell them apart. “Why did you say their Mate or Mates? They aren’t a quadruplet.” I ask Grandma and she tells me that if they are that much alike there is a huge change that they will share a Mate.
• Okay, now I am definitely screwed. If Topaz already feels a connection to Nero and there is a huge change of them sharing a Mate, will that mean Topaz will feel the connection to all of them. “Make sure you bring those boys over, I want to meet all my Grandsons.” Grandma says and I know she already considers them as her Grandsons, another reason for me to stay as far away from Nero as I can.
• I am not sure what history tells us about Stepsiblings and a Mate-bond, but I am going to shield myself from heartbreak. I was hurt by my Mother in the past and I don’t want to find out how she will react to a Mate-bond between me and Nero or with all four of them. Grandma will take my side I have no doubt about that, but I don’t want to be responsible for another break between Mother and Daughter.
• Mom calls me just before dinner and I take a seat in the chair behind my desk to talk to her, “Nero will be there Wednesday morning, he can help you set up your office.” Mom says and I tell her not to worry, that everything is already in place. I describe to her what my office looks like and she tells me to send her pictures when I am finished decorating. “I will, Mom. Talk to you soon.” I say before I break the connection.
• I am glad I don’t need Nero’s help to set up my office and I hope I will have enough work to do to keep my interaction with him to a minimum, Topaz doesn’t bug me with his image until I am in bed. She understands why I want to keep my distance, but she also wants to have her Mate by her side and if it wasn’t Nero I wouldn’t be this reluctant.
• After dinner I spend a few more hours in my office, scanning in a few more files and looking around to see about decorations for my office. I order a few small table lamps for the side tables and decorative cushions for the armchairs and a few other items to place around my office.
• It is close to midnight when I turn in for the night and in my dream I get confronted with Nero’s ice blue eyes.