A Mate To Three Alpha Heirs novel Chapter 199

{Elira}

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Every muscle in my body protested as I walked into the first-year cafeteria with my friends.

The dull ache from today’s duel pulsed under my skin, but it was manageable—almost satisfying in a strange way. Proof that I had survived. Proof that I had won.

But what I wasn’t prepared for was the noise.

The moment we stepped in, the cafeteria erupted.

Hands slammed against tables in rhythm, voices rose, and before I could even process what was happening, they were chanting—my name.

“Elira! Elira! Elira!”

I froze mid-step, my tray still empty in my hands. My heart leapt to my throat. They were smiling—students I barely knew, faces that had once looked at me with pity or dismissal now shining with something I was still trying to accept. Admiration.

Juniper nudged me, grinning. “You’re basically famous now, Elira.”

Nari laughed, joining in with a small cheer of her own. “Enjoy your moment, champ!”

I groaned softly, feeling my cheeks burn. “Can we please just get breakfast before they make a statue of me?”

But even as I said it, I couldn’t help smiling. It felt… unreal. The noise, the laughter, the warmth. It filled the air like sunlight.

I picked up my tray, trying not to look too overwhelmed as we moved along the food line. My hands shook a little when I reached for a plate of scrambled eggs and roasted vegetables.

By the time we reached our usual table, the chants were still echoing, and Nari kept waving at people like we were celebrities.

I couldn’t decide if I wanted to laugh or hide under the table.

But then—just as suddenly as it had started—the noise began to fade.

The laughter dimmed, voices dropped, and an uneasy quiet rippled across the cafeteria.

My fork hovered halfway to my mouth. “What… just happened?”

Cambria followed everyone’s gaze, then stiffened. “Oh, moon’s grace,” she muttered under her breath.

I turned—and my heart dropped.

Standing at the entrance, her posture regal and her expression sharp enough to cut glass, was Regina. Her eyes swept through the room like a storm cloud passing over sunlight.

Every student she looked at lowered their head or suddenly found their food fascinating.

Her gaze landed on me last—and lingered. Cold. Calculating.

The tension in the air thickened. I could practically hear the echo of my heartbeat in the silence she dragged behind her.

Nari leaned close and whispered, “Looks like someone didn’t like your fan club.”

I forced a small breath, forcing myself to look away from Regina’s stare. “Let her watch all she wants. I’m done being afraid of her.”

But even as I said it, a chill crept down my spine. Because no matter how much I tried to sound brave, I knew one thing—Regina never showed up anywhere without a reason.

And that look in her eyes?

It definitely didn’t look like anger.

For a long moment, no one breathed. The cafeteria was so quiet I could hear the faint hum of the air vents.

Then Regina stepped forward. Her heels clicked against the floor, sharp and deliberate—the kind of sound that made everyone’s shoulders stiffen.

“Do you all not understand what discipline means?” Her voice carried effortlessly, calm but heavy with warning.

“This isn’t a marketplace. You are in the Academy, not a tavern. The next time I hear such a ruckus, every one of you will face disciplinary action.”

Then her eyes swept the room again, every table, every face, and no one dared to speak.

Finally, her gaze found me.

For a heartbeat, it was just the two of us. Her lips curved into the faintest smirk—not warmth or mockery, but a challenge.

I didn’t blink. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction.

Then she turned sharply on her heel, her long hair sweeping behind her as she left the cafeteria.

The doors swung closed with a soft hiss. Finally, there was a beat of silence.

And then the whispering began again, low and quick—the kind of noise people made when fear and fascination tangled together.

Juniper exhaled slowly. “Was it just me, or did the temperature drop by ten degrees?”

“Definitely not just you,” Cambria muttered, stabbing at her food with unnecessary force. “Who does she think she is? You would think she owned ESA.”

“She is just jealous.” Nari didn’t even bother to lower her voice. Her tone was bright, mischievous and maybe a little too honest. “Our fearless council secretary just can’t handle the fact that her cousin is more loved than she will ever be.”

My fork froze midair. “Nari…” I whispered, a warning.

She shrugged innocently, but the grin on her lips didn’t fade. “What? Everyone’s thinking it.”

Tamryn leaned back in her chair, arms folded, her calm voice cutting through the chatter. “Let her have her warnings. Jealous people only grow louder when they feel threatened.”

I didn’t answer. I just stared at my plate, my appetite long gone.

Because Tamryn was right — and I knew it too. Regina wasn’t angry about the noise.

She was angry that people were finally cheering for me. And somehow, that thought was more terrifying than her threats.

—

By the time we got back to our dorm, every muscle in my body was screaming the more.

But the moment I saw the name flashing on the screen, my breath hitched.

Zenon.

The others immediately noticed my pause. Nari raised a brow, her grin already forming, about to say something.

“Shh,” I hissed, heat rising to my cheeks as I quickly swiped to answer. “Good evening, Professor.” I greeted him formally, a signal to let him know I wasn’t alone.

And true to it, he didn’t disappoint.

His voice came through calm and steady, the kind of tone that made everything else in the room fade to the background.

“Good evening, Meredith.”

The sound of my given name on his lips made my heart skip, though I tried to keep my voice neutral. “Yes, sir?”

There was a brief pause — long enough that I thought maybe the call had cut off, and then he said, “Congratulations on making it to the top ten.”

I blinked, sitting a little straighter. “Oh—thank you, Professor.”

My friends had stopped pretending not to listen.

Before I could say anything else, Zenon continued, his tone firm but not cold. “Tomorrow, Saturday, I will be holding a special class on channelling supernatural power and strength. Attendance is not optional.”

My stomach flipped. “For all the finalists?”

“For you,” he corrected, voice leaving no room for confusion. “Don’t be late.”

“Wait—Professor—”

But the line went dead.

I stared at my screen for a moment, still hearing the faint echo of his voice in my head.

Cambria, towelling her hands dry, gave me a curious look. “What did he say?”

I swallowed, locking my phone slowly. “He… congratulated me. And said he is teaching a special class tomorrow.”

Tamryn whistled. “That sounds serious.”

Nari grinned, leaning forward with mischief in her eyes. “Or maybe he just wants to spend one-on-one time with his favourite student.”

I threw her a look. “It’s not like that.”

“Sure, sure,” she teased, giggling as she rolled onto her bed.

But even as I denied it, my thoughts wouldn’t stop spinning. A special class on channelling power…

Was this about what happened during the last duel, the faint warmth that had surged through my fingertips before I pulled it back?

But I thought teaching me more skills was taboo now, given the watchful eyes?