A Mate To Three Alpha Heirs novel Chapter 32

{Elira}

~**^**~

Two weeks had crawled by since I took the ESA entrance exam. Two weeks that felt like two lifetimes.

I scarcely managed it through each day that passed.

Every day since my exams, the brothers would leave for ESA to carry out their teaching duties. I felt lonely, locking myself in my room after breakfast, only daring to go out when the brothers returned.

I had been afraid of bumping into the Luna, so staying out of reach was the best bet.

Last night, I barely slept. I lay awake, eyes on the ceiling, heart thudding painfully, twisting the sheets between my fists until dawn.

When I finally drifted off, it was only for a few hours, and I woke up with my nerves raw and my head heavy.

And now…

Lennon sat behind his sleek black laptop in the study. The morning light streamed through the tall windows, catching in the silver of his wristwatch.

I hovered beside him, trying not to wring my hands. My heart felt like it might actually stop with every breath.

He typed quickly, logging in to the school’s admission portal and entering my exam number. The screen blinked, then…

Loading…

A circle spun in the middle of the page. My chest rose and fell in sharp, shallow breaths.

A full minute passed. The page kept loading.

Lennon leaned back, exhaling. “Well, at least it didn’t say Not Admitted.”

I swallowed, caught between relief and crushing disappointment. “Does it mean… we have to wait again?”

“Seems so.” Lennon’s tone was kind, but I could tell he was frustrated too. “I will ask Zenon if there’s any update. If he knows something, I will let you know. Otherwise, we check again in two days.”

My shoulders dropped as my hope dimmed. “Alright… thank you.”

Lennon shut the laptop softly and stood, motioning for me to follow. “Come. Let’s get you something to eat.”

—

At breakfast, I barely touched my food. Each swallow felt forced, a lump in my throat refusing to go down. I didn’t want to ruin everyone’s mood, so I kept my gaze on my plate, forcing my fingers to stop trembling.

Alpha Cyprus, noticing, asked Zenon quietly, “What about Elira’s admission? Has the result been posted?”

The dining hall fell into tense silence. I lifted my gaze slightly, heart hammering.

Zenon didn’t even look up from his cup. “I don’t know,” he answered, voice cold and flat.

Alpha Cyprus frowned. “How can you not know, Zenon? You are the Dean of Studies.”

Slowly, Zenon lifted his head and met his father’s gaze. “Maybe we should all exercise some patience.”

My chest squeezed. I felt his words were meant for me more than anyone else — a silent command to calm down when calm was the last thing I felt.

Then Zenon continued, tone even colder. “The supplementary exam results were on fast track. It’s been two weeks. Everyone who passed and was admitted should have received a letter from ESA by now. That’s the new notification method.”

His words crashed into me like cold water.

Everyone who passed… should have received a letter…

No letter had come for me.

I could feel Luna Gwenith’s mood shift, her aura growing darker and colder like a winter storm.

And then… she spat words that confused me completely.

“Is it because of that woman, Cyprus? Are you doing all this because of her?”

Alpha Cyprus sounded startled. “What are you talking about?”

Before anything more could be said, Zenon’s cold voice cut the air. “Are you two really fighting at the breakfast table?”

Silence fell, heavy and uneasy.

Alpha Cyprus’s voice softened. “We are not fighting,” he murmured.

But my heart couldn’t take it anymore.

Tears blurred my sight completely. I couldn’t see their faces — only shapes and shadows. My breath came out ragged.

Because of me… they’re arguing because of me. I’m a bad omen…

Sniffing, I stood up quickly, my chair scraping the floor. My voice trembled as I bowed my head. “Forgive me… I will excuse myself.”

I didn’t wait to hear what anyone said next.

As I turned away, I heard Alpha Cyprus call my name, gentle but firm — “Elira—”

But I couldn’t look back.

I fled, blinking away tears that wouldn’t stop, heart heavy with shame, disappointment, and something darker I couldn’t name.

I only knew I needed to be alone — somewhere Luna Gwenith’s words couldn’t reach, somewhere my own failure couldn’t echo so loudly in my chest.