A Mate To Three Alpha Heirs Chapter 81: I Still Had People

{Elira}

~**^**~

The car rolled to a smooth stop in front of the Alpha’s estate. And without waiting for anyone to open the door, I simply pushed it open and stepped out, feeling heavy and brittle, like glass stuffed with lead.

I started walking toward the house slowly, the gravel crunching under my shoes. My mind was fogged with too many thoughts—each one jabbing and pressing, like needles beneath the skin.

I didn’t want to talk. I didn’t want to look at anyone. I just wanted to lie down and dissolve into the silence.

"Elira," Zenon’s deep voice cut through the thick air behind .

I froze mid-step and turned slightly.

He stood beside the jeep, his gaze steady. "It’s ti for lunch."

"Oh." The word slipped out before I could even process it.

I waited there, awkwardly still, as if waiting for instructions.

Lennon walked up to and placed a warm hand on my shoulder, a soft smile brushing his lips.

"Co on," he said gently, and without another word, he guided toward the house.

---

A few minutes later, I was seated in the dining hall with the three brothers.

The scent of seasoned ats, spiced vegetables, garlic-butter rolls and roasted potatoes filled the room.

There was a large bowl of creamy chicken stew, fresh fruit, and even a platter of golden-brown pie.

I stared at it but my stomach didn’t stir. I barely even blinked.

I should have been hungry, but my appetite had drowned sowhere in that healer’s living room—sunk beneath the weight of those cruel words: only the witch who did it can undo it.

"Eat," Zenon said suddenly, his voice sharp, almost clinical. "Don’t waste food."

I swallowed. I hadn’t even realized I’d been sitting motionless, just staring.

Rennon, who sat beside , leaned closer. His voice was softer. "Please eat, Elira. We will find the witch who did this. You’re not alone."

I glanced at him. His eyes were calm, steady with a quiet strength that made it hard to look away.

"You will get your powers," he added gently, "and you will use them like every other supernatural."

I nodded, not because I believed it fully in that mont, but because I didn’t want to be the weak one anymore.

I didn’t want them to look at as if I were breakable, so I picked up my fork and began to eat slowly, chanically.

I didn’t taste much of anything, but I ate because I had to.

Because wallowing wouldn’t unlock my channels, and being pathetic didn’t help anyone.

---

Back in my bedroom, I stood still for a mont before moving.

I walked over to the desk, pulled out my notes, and began my assignnts; Word after word, line after line.

I wrote until my fingers cramped and my wrist ached. The pain helped.

It gave sothing else to focus on—sothing real. Sothing I could control.

When I finally set my pen down, I realized the sky outside had turned a dusky blue.

I rolled my neck, feeling it pop and stretch. Work was the best therapy, at least for now.

Just then, I rembered the ssages I hadn’t checked yet. My heart sank.

My roommates.

I picked up my phone and opened the group chat. There were dozens of missed ssages.

Cambria: "Has Elira gotten ho yet?"

Tamryn: "She hasn’t said anything."

Juniper: "Maybe she got kidnapped or sothing."

Nari: "She’s just an ungrateful brat, ignoring us like we don’t exist."

Cambria: "Maybe she just got preoccupied. Let’s wait a bit."

The last ssage was over two hours ago—nothing since.

I pressed my lips together and typed quickly:

[Sorry, guys, I totally forgot to text. I lost track of ti trying to finish up so assignnts. I’m ho now.]

The replies ca almost instantly.

Cambria: "There she is! Glad you’re okay."

Tamryn: "Welco back."

Juniper: "At least she’s not kidnapped"

Nari: "About ti."

I smiled a little. They weren’t actually mad. I don’t know why I expected them to be.

For a second, I hovered over the chat box. I thought about typing sothing, telling them what the healer said that my channels were sealed by black magic.

That I might never be able to unlock my powers unless we find the exact witch responsible.

But... the words refused to co.

Instead, I let it go.

Cambria ssaged again:

[We will save you a seat at the cafeteria tomorrow morning.]

And right after that, Nari added:

[If you’re late, you’re not sitting with us.]

I snorted softly and typed back:

[Thanks, guys, but I don’t think I can make it for breakfast. Let’s have lunch together instead.]

My phone buzzed again with a quick stream of replies—hearts, thumbs-up, and laughing emojis.

I looked at their nas in the chat. My chest ached a little less.

Maybe things weren’t perfect, but... I still had people. And that ant sothing.

A firm but respectful knock ca at the door not long after.

"Yes?" I called out.

"Miss Elira," ca a voice—one of the maids, soft-spoken but efficient. "It’s ti for dinner."

Now, this was the part of the evening I wasn’t looking forward to: dinner and Luna Gwenith.

I let out a deep sigh and stood slowly, stretching my limbs as I moved to the mirror. My hair looked okay.

As I stepped into the hallway and made my way toward the dining hall, I found my thoughts spiralling.

I wondered if Luna Gwenith already knew about the healer’s verdict—about my blocked channels. Sohow, I imagined she did. Nothing escaped her.

And if she did know, I couldn’t begin to guess what sort of comnts would fly out of her mouth tonight.

Part of wanted to skip the al altogether. But I wasn’t a child, and avoiding confrontation wasn’t going to help anything.

I took a breath and told myself I could handle it. ’Just be mature, Elira. Be polite.’

The dining hall doors were already open when I arrived, warm light spilling out across the polished floors.

I stepped in quietly and imdiately spotted Rennon seated at the long dining table.

He looked up and smiled at . A soft, reassuring smile—the kind only he could offer.