A Mate To Three Alpha Heirs novel Chapter 82

{Elira}

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“Hi,” I murmured, offering a nod as I took a seat across from him.

I sat there for a moment, wishing I could be anywhere else. The seat felt a little too formal, too upright.

The air carried the scent of roasted herbs and wine sauce—delicious, really—but my appetite was still faint.

Lennon and Zenon entered soon after. Lennon’s hair was slightly tousled, his shirt sleeves rolled up casually. Zenon looked the same as ever—polished and unreadable.

Lennon grinned when he spotted me. “Hey, Elira. How are you feeling? Did you get any rest?”

I let out a breath and tried to sound light, “Not really. I had assignments… a lot of them. ESA doesn’t exactly believe in giving students a break.”

Lennon laughed and leaned back in his chair. “Good. That’s the spirit. But don’t forget—my class is tomorrow morning. And it’s not going to be gentle.”

I groaned aloud. “Can’t you be lenient just once?”

“Not in my DNA,” he said with a wink.

Just then, a presence shifted the room’s energy.

Alpha Cyprus and Luna Gwenith entered, graceful and commanding.

But before any of us could rise, Alpha Cyprus lifted his hand with a smile. “Please, remain seated.”

He took his usual spot at the head of the table, Luna Gwenith slipping into the seat beside him like a poised shadow.

Then he turned his gaze to me, warm and welcoming. “Elira, it’s good to see you back.”

I offered a small smile and bowed my head slightly. “Thank you, Alpha.”

But that moment of ease didn’t last.

Luna Gwenith’s voice slid across the table, sharp and laced with disdain. “It’s only been a few days, and you’ve already run back home?”

Her tone sliced right through my fragile confidence. I didn’t dare meet her eyes. My fingers tightened around my napkin on my lap.

“This isn’t just any academy,” she went on. “ESA is not a place you leave at your own free will whenever you feel like it.”

My throat went dry. I stared at the empty plate in front of me, wishing it could swallow me whole.

“Gwen,” Alpha Cyprus interjected, his voice calm but firm. “This is Elira’s home now. She’s free to return when necessary—especially with the school’s permission.”

Luna Gwenith sneered faintly and opened her mouth again—

But Zenon’s voice came in, cool and commanding: “Mother,” he said, without even looking at her, “I’d like to enjoy my dinner in silence.”

I blinked. My eyes slowly flicked to him. He didn’t look away from his plate.

Luna Gwenith’s lips parted, visibly surprised. I could feel the tension in the air—the slight weight of disbelief.

Then she smiled thinly. “Of course,” she said. “I understand.”

And just like that, the rest of the table fell quiet.

I was stunned.

Not by her silence, but by the fact that Zenon—stoic, distant Zenon—had the power to silence her with a sentence. And she had obeyed.

It was Monday—time to return to ESA.

I sat up slowly, rubbing my eyes. My backpack was already packed. I’d arranged everything last night to avoid rushing.

I stretched, let my feet touch the cool floor, and padded toward the bathroom to freshen up.

After a warm shower and brushing my teeth, I stepped back into my room and changed into a fresh uniform—one of the ones the maids had neatly laid out on the armchair yesterday.

Next, I tied my hair, glanced once in the mirror, and nodded to myself before going downstairs for breakfast.

The table was filled again—fresh fruits, bacon strips, hash browns, buttered toast, and stacks of blueberry pancakes.

But today, the mood felt different; light and peaceful.

Breakfast passed without tension. Luna Gwenith made no remarks—blessedly. I took it as a win.

By the time I finished eating, my heart was already thudding softly in my chest.

I didn’t want to leave… not entirely. I didn’t want to face another week of uncertainty, whispers, and tasks like those during the Power Channelling class, but I had to.

As I stood up, preparing to excuse myself and grab my bag, Lennon called out.

“Wait.” He and Rennon exchanged a glance before each picked up a gift bag from beside their chairs.

“What’s this?” I blinked, surprised.

“Just… something small,” Rennon said gently, handing me a sleek navy bag with a silver ribbon.