A Mate To Three Alpha Heirs novel Chapter 192

{Elira}

~**^**~

Fenric lunged first. He was fast and deliberate.

I dodged left, narrowly missing his strike. His strength was obvious; every movement was sharp and efficient.

He came again. I blocked him, twisted my body, and struck at his side. My blow connected, but barely made him flinch.

He grinned, low and taunting. “You hit like a cub.”

That familiar spark of irritation flared, but I shoved it down. I wasn’t here to prove strength through rage.

Fenric tried to grab me again, but this time I pivoted just as Lennon had taught me, slipping under his arm and driving my knee up into his midsection. He grunted and stumbled back.

Gasps rippled through, reaching my ears.

I didn’t chase the advantage; I remembered one of Zenon’s profound warnings about never losing my center, even when I’m winning.

Fenric recovered quickly, his smirk gone now, replaced by a flash of annoyance. He came harder and faster. His strikes were almost a blur. One clipped my shoulder, another grazed my ribs, and the sting of pain made my eyes water.

Still, I didn’t falter.

Each dodge became sharper, my mind narrowing to movement and rhythm until suddenly, I saw it: a small hesitation in his stance every time he struck high.

There was a weakness.

Nine minutes passed, and I let him think he was cornering me, his steps pressing forward until my back nearly brushed the wall. He swung; I ducked. His arm overextended, just like I hoped.

My hands shot out—one gripping his wrist, the other sliding up to his shoulder—and with a twist and shift of weight, I brought him down. The mat shuddered beneath the impact.

He cursed, trying to throw me off, but I planted my knees firmly, pinning him the exact same way I had pinned Lennon during our last training.

My hands locked against his chest, my focus steady as the timer ticked louder in my ears.

Ten seconds… Nine… Eight…

“Get off me!” Fenric growled beneath me, thrashing once more.

But I didn’t move. I pressed down harder, using every ounce of balance and control Zenon drilled into me.

“Ten minutes!” The professor announced, followed by the blow of the whistle. And just like that, it was over.

The hall erupted into a low buzz of noise—surprise, disbelief, whispers of my name.

I stood, breathing hard, every muscle trembling, my heartbeat echoing in my ears. And Fenric lay there glaring up at the ceiling, furious and humiliated.

“Winner, Elira Shaw.”

The words struck me like a jolt—sharp, unreal, and utterly overwhelming.

My throat tightened, and before I could stop myself, tears slipped down my cheeks. Not from pain this time, but from sheer relief—from the weight of proving to myself that what I had learned, for what I had endured, wasn’t for nothing.

And that I wasn’t a cheat.

I had done it. Again.

When I finally looked up, I saw Lennon and Rennon at the far end of the hall. They were standing in silence, watching. Lennon’s lips tilted in a grin, Rennon nodding slightly in approval.

Zenon wasn’t there. But I could almost imagine his voice anyway— “Better.”

I dragged the back of my hand across my cheeks, wiping away the last of my tears. My breath still came in shaky bursts. And the hall still buzzed, the whispers chasing my name, but all I could think about was how, for once, I felt worthy of it.

Around me, the whispers grew louder.

“She did it again.”

“That omega girl—no, she is not an omega.”

I didn’t look back as I stepped out of the mat and walked towards the door.

The heavy doors creaked open as I stepped out into the hallway, the sudden rush of cooler air brushing against my heated skin.

My legs felt unsteady, half from exhaustion, half from the storm of emotions tumbling inside me.

And then—

“Elira!”

I turned my head sharply.

Down the hall, by the long windows overlooking the courtyard, my friends stood waiting.

Cambria, Juniper, Tamryn, and Nari—their faces alight, their voices rising above the murmurs of the other students clustered there.

Before I could react, they were running toward me.

Cambria reached me first, her hair flying behind her as she wrapped her arms around me.

Juniper joined in from the side, laughing breathlessly, and then Tamryn and Nari were there too, all of them hugging me tight until I could barely breathe.

“You won again!” Nari squealed, shaking me a little. “Elira, you actually did it!”

Juniper grinned so wide her dimples showed. “That last move—the way you pinned him down—I swear, my heart stopped!”

I could feel my cheeks ache from smiling.

“Come on,” Nari said, looping her arm through mine with a grin. “The cafeteria’s waiting. You’re not escaping dinner tonight, champion.”

I laughed softly, letting her pull me along. “You make it sound like I just won a tournament.”

“You kind of did,” Juniper teased, brushing her dark braids over her shoulder. “And besides, after what you’ve been through, you deserve a feast.”

Cambria nudged my shoulder gently. “Also, if you don’t eat soon, I’m convinced you’re going to pass out on us.”

They weren’t wrong. My stomach had been growling since before the match, but adrenaline had drowned it out. Now, every ache and hunger pang was returning at once.

The cafeteria was already bustling when we stepped inside—rows of gleaming tables, the hum of voices, and the rich smell of roasted meat, seasoned stew, and baked rolls filling the air.

The moment we entered, heads turned.

Not all the looks were friendly—some were wide-eyed, some curious, a few sharp with jealousy. but none of that mattered now.

Because when my friends smiled and walked beside me like a wall of light, I didn’t feel small anymore.

We took our trays, and as we moved down the food line, Nari kept whispering little jokes just to keep me smiling.

By the time we settled into our usual corner table, my nerves had begun to fade. The warm glow of the lamps above us, the smell of food, my friends’ laughter—it felt like safety.

Juniper tore a piece of bread and handed it to me. “You looked incredible out there today, Elira. Like… you’ve really changed.”

“Changed?” I asked softly, raising a brow.

“Yeah,” Cambria said, her gaze thoughtful. “You carry yourself differently now. Stronger. It’s like you finally see what we’ve always seen.”

Their words hit something deep in me, something I had been too afraid to admit.

I smiled faintly. “Maybe I’m just… learning not to doubt myself anymore.”

Tamryn nodded approvingly. “Keep that up. Founders Day will test all of us, but I know you will hold your ground.”

Nari leaned in closer, lowering her voice dramatically. “And if anyone tries to mess with you, they will have to go through your fan club first.”

“Fan club?” I repeated, half-laughing, half-disbelieving.

She pointed across the cafeteria. Sure enough, a small group of students were whispering and stealing glances in our direction. One waved shyly when our eyes met.

I blinked, startled. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Juniper chuckled. “Welcome to fame, Elira Shaw.”