A Mate To Three Alpha Heirs novel Chapter 158

{Elira}

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Some minutes later, the assembly broke apart in a tide of chatter and footsteps, but I moved through it like I was underwater.

My friends clustered around me, their voices hushed but urgent.

“This is madness,” Juniper muttered, hugging her notebook to her chest. “They can’t seriously expect you to fight.”

“Exactly,” Nari added, glaring as though the Vice Chancellor herself could hear her. “Elira should be sitting in the audience with the rest of us, sipping lemonade and judging people’s outfits, not—” She cut herself off with a frustrated wave of her hands.

Cambria walked quietly at my side, her eyes soft but clouded with thought. “There has to be a way to protect you,” she said gently.

Only Tamryn stayed silent, her lips pressed tight, her eyes darting between me and the path ahead.

The closer we got to the dorms, the more their words pressed against me, heavy as stones.

I wanted to tell them the truth—that I wasn’t really an Omega, that my channels were blocked. But the secret was too big, too dangerous, and the words never left my tongue.

By the time we reached our room, Nari all but threw herself onto her bed. “I hate this,” she groaned. “Founder’s Day is supposed to be fun. Now it’s—”

“Bloody,” Juniper finished flatly, sitting down at her desk with a thump.

Cambria slipped onto Nari’s bunk and looked at me with quiet resolve. “We will help you however we can, Elira. Even if it’s just studying combat theory with you.”

Juniper looked at me with a sly kind of curiosity. “Thank the moons you have at least got the triplet professors training you, right? If anyone can toughen you up in time, it’s them.”

Nari sat up with a sudden burst of energy. “Ohhh, that’s true! I mean, come on—Zenon, Lennon, and Rennon? That’s like having the moon goddess herself write your lesson plan.”

Cambria gave a small, thoughtful nod. “It might make the difference.”

But Tamryn, ever the realist, folded her arms. “Don’t get carried away. Founder’s Day is less than four weeks away. Training or not, there is no guarantee Elira makes it into the top ten.”

The words landed heavily, and for a moment, the light dimmed from my eyes.

Then Juniper leaned forward, her expression fierce. “Doesn’t matter. Elira, even if you don’t make it, you fight your hardest. That’s all that counts.”

Nari snapped her fingers in agreement. “Exactly. Don’t hold back. You’ve got us at your back no matter what.”

Cambria’s smile was soft but steady. “We will be here for you, Elira. Every step of the way.”

Their faith squeezed something in my chest, and I managed a small, wavering smile. “Thanks, you guys.”

Later, after a brief, restless rest on my bunk, I pushed myself up. “I will see you later. Time for training.”

“Good luck,” Cambria called gently.

“Don’t die,” Nari added with mock solemnity, though her eyes sparkled.

I laughed weakly and slipped out, the door clicking shut behind me.

The walk across campus stretched longer than usual, my thoughts circling endlessly. Finally, I reached inward for my wolf.

Normally, their presence would have tugged something warm inside me. But not today. Not with the red card still burning in my head, not with Selene’s words circling me like a net.

Releasing a deep sigh, I stopped a few paces from them.

“I feel so tired,” I admitted, my voice low. “And I just want to be alone right now. But…” My shoulders lifted in a small shrug. “I guess I can’t escape today’s training.”

Rennon’s expression softened immediately. “Elira—”

Lennon tilted his head, his tone gentler than usual. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”

Even his voice carried less of its usual playful lilt, and that, more than anything, almost undid me. I pressed my lips together before letting the words slip out.

“I just… found out what the red card means.”

Their silence was instantly heavy.

“I’m supposed to fight. To actually fight.” My chest tightened as the thoughts tumbled out. “How am I going to do that? How am I supposed to make it to the top ten when I can barely keep up with any of this?”

The brothers exchanged quiet glances that felt loaded.

Then Lennon smiled faintly, shaking his head like I had just surprised him in the best way. “She is thinking about making it to the top ten already? Now that’s good news.”

I blinked at him, confused. “Good news? How?”