A Mate To Three Alpha Heirs novel Chapter 176

{Elira}

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Rennon stood nearby with his arms folded loosely and quietly watched the nurse finish bandaging my arm.

When she left, he stepped closer and leaned slightly to meet my gaze.

“You did well today,” he said softly. “Don’t downplay it.”

I gave a faint laugh that broke halfway through. “But I didn’t win perfectly.”

“You didn’t need to. You endured till the end.”

Something in his tone made my throat tighten again, and I looked down, focusing on the clean white cloth around my wrist instead.

Before I could say anything, the door flew open.

“Elira!”

Four voices collided in a rush. Nari was first to reach me, nearly knocking over a stool in her sprint.

Juniper followed right behind, wide-eyed and breathless. Cambria moved with more care, but her worry was clear, and Tamryn, who was usually so composed, looked ready to throttle whoever had dared to hurt me.

“Moon above, look at you,” Nari breathed, dropping to her knees beside the bed. “You are covered in bruises!”

“Sit,” Juniper ordered quickly, already reaching for a clean cloth on the counter like she might somehow fix what the nurse already had.

“I’m fine,” I tried to say, while glancing at Rennon, whom they had yet to notice, but the moment I smiled, pain tugged at the corner of my lip, and Nari scowled.

“Fine?” she echoed. “You look like you wrestled a bear!”

“I think she won, though,” Tamryn said quietly from behind, her tone softening. “Everyone’s talking about it. You didn’t give up.”

Cambria’s smile was small, proud, and full of warmth. “We knew you wouldn’t.”

For a moment, I couldn’t speak. My throat burned again, but this time from something gentler.

Juniper huffed, setting the cloth down. “Next time, at least warn us before you decide to terrify half the school.”

Nari grinned faintly through her tears. “But gods, Elira… you did it.”

I let out a shaky breath, a laugh mixing with the tears that threatened again. “Barely.”

“Barely still counts,” Cambria said.

Tamryn nodded once. “You earned every second of that victory.”

Their words sank deep, each one soft and steady, filling the quiet that had been lodged in my chest for so long.

Just then, Rennon, who was standing at the back of the door, gave me one last nod before turning to leave silently. Yet, my friends never noticed his presence.

Regardless, I returned my attention to them. The relief of seeing them here made the ache in my ribs feel a little lighter.

Nari was the first to break the silence. She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes in thought.

“You know,” she said slowly, “I don’t think you should show up at the cafeteria for dinner like this.”

I blinked. “Why not?”

“Because,” Nari said, gesturing at the bandages around my arms and the faint bruise on my cheek.

I winced slightly when the cool fabric brushed against a bruised shoulder, but Tamryn’s steady hand found hers, giving a reassuring squeeze.

“There,” the nurse said after a few moments, patting the last knot of the bandage. “That should do. You can remove them tomorrow, your body should have taken care of most of the healing by then.”

She gave me a knowing look. “You are not an Omega, so you will recover quickly. But still, no training or duelling until I say you are fit for it, understood?”

I nodded quietly as a small wave of relief washed through me.

Just then, Cambria stepped forward politely. “Can we take her back to our dorm? She will rest better there.”

The nurse considered for a moment, then smiled and gave a curt nod. “Fine. Just make sure she doesn’t overexert herself. If she feels dizzy or her wounds reopen, bring her straight back here.”

“Got it,” Cambria said with a grateful smile.

Nari and Juniper immediately moved to help me up, each taking one of my arms while Tamryn carried my backpack.

Every step toward the door was careful but full of warmth. My friends practically formed a human shield around me as we left the clinic.

The moment we stepped into the main hallway, curious glances began to follow. Whispers rippled through the air like a quiet wind.

“…That’s Elira Shaw, right? The Omega who fought Kallista?”

“She won, didn’t she?” another voice whispered in disbelief.

“Yeah, but that’s the weird part. How does an Omega win against a second-year wolf? It doesn’t make sense.”

“Maybe she is not really an Omega.”