A Mate To Three Alpha Heirs novel Chapter 201

{Elira}

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“Elira,” Zenon’s voice cut through the chaos, firm but steady. “Breathe.”

I obeyed him without thinking.

Then the fire flickered, dimmed, and dissolved into faint steam.

My knees buckled, but Zenon caught me by the wrist, pulling me upright. His grip was steady—strong enough to hold me.

When I finally looked up, he was watching me intently, a hint of concern hidden beneath his calm expression.

“That,” he said quietly, “is what happens when you let your emotions lead. On Founder’s Day, if you lose control like that, you will burn yourself before anyone else touches you.”

I swallowed hard, still shaking. “I didn’t mean to—”

“I know,” he said, letting go of my wrist. “That’s why you are learning now.”

He stepped back, giving me space. “You did better than I expected for your first controlled surge. But you’re still thinking like a fighter. You need to start thinking like a weapon.”

His words made my chest tighten. I stared at my hands, faint scorch marks dusting my skin. “A weapon,” I echoed softly.

He gave a single nod. “You are not here to survive the fight, Elira. You are here to win it.”

The forest was silent around us, save for the whisper of wind through the leaves.

I took a breath—slow, shaky—and met his gaze. “Then teach me how.”

Something flickered in Zenon’s eyes—approval, maybe. Or the ghost of a smile.

“Tomorrow,” he said finally. “Same place. Same time. We will test your endurance.”

And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving me alone with the faint smoke curling from the ground and a fire still humming beneath my skin.

When I returned to the dorm, the familiar sound of chatter drifted through the half-open door before I even stepped in.

My friends were already gathered—Cambria sitting cross-legged on her bed with a notebook in hand, Juniper brushing out her hair by the mirror, and Nari lying on her stomach, her feet swaying lazily in the air.

They all looked up as I entered.

“Elira, you’re back!” Cambria said brightly, closing her notebook. “You missed the dorm mistress earlier. She came by to ask how many people each of us wants to invite for Founders Day. She said we have to submit the names by tomorrow morning.”

I hesitated for a moment, setting my backpack down by the desk. “Oh.”

Cambria tilted her head. “So? Who are you inviting?”

A small sigh slipped past my lips. “No one,” I said quietly, tugging at the sleeve of my mofti top. “I don’t have anyone to invite.”

The room went still for a few seconds. Even Nari stopped swinging her feet. I crossed the room and sat on my bed, staring down at my hands.

It wasn’t as if I hadn’t thought about it before. I had no one outside ESA.

My uncle would be coming for Regina, and Alpha Cyprus would probably attend as part of the royal guests, but inviting him? That would have felt… wrong.

Cambria’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I’m sorry, Elira,” she said softly.

I forced a small smile. “It’s fine. I will just cheer for myself.”

A beat of silence followed, heavy but not uncomfortable. Then Juniper, ever the mood-lifter, clapped her hands once and changed the subject.

“Anyway, since Founders Day is just a week away, they have given a new order. We are not allowed to leave ESA tomorrow.”

That made Nari groan dramatically. “You mean we are stuck here for the weekend? Ugh, I was planning to go out to the market. The smell of fresh bread alone would have made my whole week.”

Juniper chuckled. “Apparently, it’s for safety reasons. They don’t want anyone wandering outside with so many guests scheduled to arrive next week.”

Nari flopped onto her back, staring at the ceiling. “Still, I’m going to miss leaving the school walls. And after Founders Day, it’s exams—no more breathing, no more fun, just studying until my brain melts.”

Cambria snorted. “You act like you study now.”

“Hey!” Nari threw a pillow at her, and it hit the floor harmlessly. The tension in the room eased, soft laughter replacing the earlier silence.

I leaned back against my bedframe, letting their banter wash over me. For a moment, I forgot about the ache in my limbs and the heat that still hummed faintly under my skin from training with Zenon.

Founders Day was only a week away. One week until everything I had worked for—the duels, the training, the whispers and rumours—came to a head.

He continued, his tone calm but precise. “Your opponents on Founder’s Day won’t fight with fists alone. They will use everything they’ve got—strength, instinct, and ability. So, you will see how to face that.”

He nodded once toward his brothers. “Lennon. Rennon.”

Lennon rolled his shoulders, that trademark grin curving his lips as he faced Rennon in the open clearing.

“You sure you are ready for this, brother? I wouldn’t want to singe your vision out of you.”

Rennon didn’t even blink. “You will have to land a hit first.”

I stood beside Zenon, my heart thudding. I could already feel the faint pulse of heat gathering around Lennon—that low hum that always seemed to vibrate in his presence when he used his fire ability.

But Rennon? He stood completely still, calm as still water, eyes unfocused for half a second as though he was… elsewhere.

“Watch closely,” Zenon said beside me. “This is what it means to know your opponent before they act.”

Before I could respond, Lennon lunged. Fast. A streak of warmth cut through the air as a trail of flame arced with his swing. I gasped—but Rennon had already moved, effortlessly.

He sidestepped with barely an inch to spare, his body fluid, anticipating the strike before it came.

He didn’t counter right away. He simply flowed, every dodge perfectly timed, his expression composed while Lennon grew more aggressive with each failed hit.

“Come on, Ren!” Lennon barked with a grin, throwing another fiery jab. “At least pretend I’m a challenge.”

“You’re too loud to be a challenge,” Rennon murmured, stepping into the flame’s blind side and tapping Lennon’s wrist.

The motion was so small, so fast, that I almost missed it, but the flame sputtered, breaking focus.

Zenon’s voice carried again. “See it, Elira? He’s not faster. He’s not stronger. He simply knows.”

And it was true. There was something eerie about the way Rennon moved, like he was dancing half a second ahead of time.

Every time Lennon charged, Rennon was already there, blocking, evading and parrying with quiet precision.

Lennon finally stopped, panting lightly, his smirk thinning. “You and that creepy third eye again, huh?”

Rennon smiled faintly, tilting his head. “It’s not creepy if it keeps me alive.”