A Mate To Three Alpha Heirs-Chapter 31: A Welcome Feast

{Elira}

~**^**~

The brothers led me out to the flower garden behind the house — the warm breeze teased my hair, and the petals brushed my dress as we passed.

At the far end, tucked under the shade of a wide shed woven from bamboo and ivy, a wooden table waited. My steps slowed.

It wasn’t just lunch. It was a feast, just as Lennon had emphasized.

A whole turkey, glazed until it gleamed a golden hue. A whole barbecued goat, its skin roasted to perfect crispness. Plates piled high with sides — creamy potatoes, leafy greens, spiced rice.

A basket of fruits, pitchers of fresh juices catching the late sun.

"Just... for the three of us?" I asked softly, halting at the edge of the table.

Lennon’s grin widened. "You’re worth celebrating, Elira."

Heat rose in my cheeks, but I couldn’t help glancing at the empty chair. "Zenon... is he coming to join us?"

"No," Lennon answered, his tone casual, though his gaze flickered.

I nodded, hiding my small disappointment.

Just then, my stomach betrayed me — a loud, desperate growl in the silence. I froze, mortified.

Lennon chuckled low and reached for the pitcher of juice. "At least someone here’s honest."

Rennon’s gentle voice rescued me. "Come, sit. Eat."

We settled down. The food smelled so good, it felt like it wrapped around my heart.

As I picked up my fork, Lennon began to talk about ESA — and slowly, my mind drifted away from nerves and into wonder.

"You’ll have to live in the boarding house," he explained, carving a slice of turkey. "You’ll get roommates. It’s part of the experience."

I swallowed, surprised. "Oh. So I’ll... stay on campus?"

"Yes," Rennon confirmed. "Students can go home twice each semester. And there’s a long break at the end of each one."

Lennon counted on his fingers. "First semester: January to May. Then June is the long break. Second semester: July to November. Then December is the long break again."

I listened, memorizing every word as if it might slip away.

Rennon added softly, "Don’t worry. You will get in."

Lennon nodded, his eyes steady. "We have faith in you, Elira."

My chest tightened at their certainty. "Thank you," I whispered.

Rennon sipped water, then said, "Elira, write a list of what you will need for school—shoes, books, toiletries. ESA will provide the uniforms. When the results come out, we will go shopping."

I let out a shaky breath. "Alright. I will. Thank you... truly," I said, looking between the brothers.

"Eat first," Lennon teased, passing me a plate. "Then think of lists later."

I smiled, my heart full.

We continued eating, talking about everything and nothing. The breeze teased the petals down around us, and for a little while, it almost felt like a family picnic.

After lunch, I returned to my bedroom. The heavy meal and the soft breeze had made me sleepy. frёeωebɳovel.com

I showered, letting the cool water wash away the tension of the past week — the studying, the exams, the fear.

My new trimmed red hair clung damp to my neck as I stepped out, towelling it dry. I wondered when it would grow back.

I changed into a simple cotton dress and climbed onto my bed. The pillow welcomed me like an old friend. My eyelids drooped.

Just a moment...

Sleep took me before I could finish the thought.

---

I woke later in the evening.

The sky outside my window was tinted pink and gold. Stretching slowly, I sat up and remembered Rennon’s words about the list.

Padding over to my dresser, I picked up a notepad and pencil.

Shoes... notebook, pen, dorm blanket, backpack...

The list grew, line by careful line. Hope was a fragile thing, but it felt steadier now, like something real enough to write down.

---

By dinner, I arrived on time. Lennon and Rennon were already seated, talking in low voices.

I slipped into my chair quietly after greeting them.

A moment later, Zenon stepped in, expression unreadable as always. He didn’t look at me, but somehow, the air shifted slightly when he entered.

Then Alpha Cyprus and Luna Gwenith appeared, their presence filling the room.

"Good evening, Alpha. Good evening, Luna," I greeted softly, bowing my head.

Luna Gwenith’s gaze slid past me like I was smoke. But Alpha Cyprus’s eyes crinkled warmly as he sat at the head of the table.

"Elira," he began, "how were the exams?"

I lifted my gaze, speaking carefully. "It went well, Alpha. And... I want to thank your sons for helping me prepare. I couldn’t have done this without them."

I avoided calling names... deliberately.

A low snort cut through the air.

"Don’t get too confident," Luna Gwenith’s voice dripped disdain. "Failures will always find new ways to disappoint."

The words struck, cold and sharp. I lowered my eyes, my fingers trembling slightly under the table.

Before the silence could swallow me, Lennon’s voice cracked like a whip.

"Mother, are you saying," he asked, his tone calm but edged with iron, "that your own sons aren’t capable teachers? That we can’t prepare a candidate for a simple entrance exam?"

Luna Gwenith looked momentarily startled, as though she hadn’t expected him to challenge her so directly.

When she found her voice, she said, "You know that’s not what I meant."

Lennon didn’t back down. "It sounded exactly like that."

Her lips thinned. "You three are excellent teachers," she snapped. "But if the candidate has a dull, rusted brain, what can even the best teacher do?"

My chest constricted. Shame burned hot under my skin. I didn’t know what I had done to her to deserve this jab.

Alpha Cyprus spoke then, his voice quiet but final. "Gwen, are you not hungry? Or did you come here to waste your breath?"

She stiffened. "Cyprus, everyone has freedom of speech. I’m free to share my stance."

"You may," he said, lifting a brow, "after dinner."

The silence that followed felt like the weight of a thousand eyes.

I swallowed hard, forcing the tightness in my throat away.

At last, Alpha Cyprus blessed the food, and we began to eat.

My appetite was shaky.

I kept my eyes on my plate, but inside, I held onto that fragile spark of hope, refusing to let it die.

No matter what anyone else believed, I would prove that I wasn’t the failure they saw.

’So, help me, Moon Goddess.’

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