<h4>Chapter 20: Elite Supernatural Academy</h4>
<strong><i>{Elira}</i></strong>
~**^**~
Immediately, I tried to reach out to her.
<i>Are you there?</i>
But all I met was silence, empty, cold silence.
Just then, Alpha Cyprus’s calm, steady voice cut into my thoughts, anchoring me back to the dining hall.
"I want you to attend the best, Elira," he said, his gaze warm yet firm. "Elite Supernatural Academy isn’t just any school. It will prepare you for your future as the Luna of the Ashfang Pack."
The words sank into my chest, stirring both awe and fear.
<i>Luna? Me?</i>
I had, for a fleeting moment, forgotten I was mated to the triplet Alpha brothers.
Alpha Cyprus went on, his voice almost fatherly. "ESA has been the pride of our kind for generations. It has shaped Alphas, Betas, schrs, strategists... and it will shape you too."
I swallowed hard, lowering my gaze as his words wrapped around me, gentle but heavy with expectation.
Then, in a tone tinged with quiet pride, he added, "Zenon is the Dean of Studies there. Lennon teachesbat. Rennon teaches Moon Lore and Advanced History."
The realization made my breath hitch. They weren’t only professors there—they were part of that world.
And for a heartbeat, I wondered if there might be a ce for me, too.
But Luna Gwenith’s voice sliced through the warmth like ice.
"It’s a waste of time," she said, barely ncing my way. "She’s an omega. She would be a liability to her fellow students, and that would make things seem unfair to them."
Every wordnded heavy, like stones in my chest.
I stared at my te, my appetite slowly fading.
Alpha Cyprus didn’t answer her directly; he only turned back to me. "The supplementary admission form is still avable."
But then Zenon spoke, his voice even colder than his mothers’.
"It’s already toote. The exams are in a week. She hasn’t prepared. It is better to wait until next year."
The words struck like a p.
The exams are in a week?
My thoughts spiralled. If Regina hadn’t attacked me, leaving me blind and healing for two weeks, I could have started preparing from the very day Alpha Cyprus first mentioned it.
Now, it felt like the Moon Goddess had handed me hope, only to snatch it away.
At the moment, I prefer Luna Gwenith’s response to Zenons’.
Then, a calm voice cut through my panic.
"I will teach her," Rennon said, quietly resolute.
"And I will too," Lennon added, his tone firmer, protective. "We will prepare her for the exams."
Hope sparked in my chest, fragile and flickering.
Alpha Cyprus nodded once. "Good. Zenon, after breakfast, give Elira the supplementary form so she can fill it out."
The knot in my chest loosened. I lowered my head, whispering silently, ’<strong><i>Please, Moon Goddess... let me pass.’</i></strong>
My mind flickered briefly to Regina. She was already a third-year student at ESA. The thought of walking those same hallways terrified me.
But then I reminded myself: one step at a time. First, pass the exam. The rest... I would faceter.
After breakfast, Zenon’s sharp gaze flickered to me.
"Follow me," he ordered, his voice brooking no hesitation.
My pulse raced. I nced toward Lennon and Rennon, silently begging one of them toe. But Zenon’s stare rooted me in ce.
I rose, smoothing my skirt, and followed him from the dining hall.
Each step up the grand staircase felt like walking toward judgment.
On the third floor, he stopped outside a heavy wooden door that I assumed to be his study. "Wait here," he said curtly.
I folded my hands in front of me, knuckles white. I heard papers shuffling inside, the scrape of a chair.
Then the door opened. Zenon stood there, expression unreadable, holding out a slim file.
"Fill it out and return it," he said.
"I—" My voice caught. I wanted to thank him. But before I could, he shut the door in my face.
I stood frozen for a heartbeat, staring at the closed door.
Then, hugging the file to my chest, I turned and made my way back down the corridor.
This was Zenon. I shouldn’t expect anything warm from him.
---
Back in my room, I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the nk form. My hand trembled as I lifted the pen.
A soft knock broke the silence. Rennon stepped in, carrying a neatly folded paper.
He offered a calm smile. "Lennon and I prepared a lesson n," he exined, naturallying to sit near me.
He smelled like fresh pine fruit.
He handed the paper over, pointing gently. "I will teach you every morning for three hours after breakfast. Lennon will take the evenings before dinner. We will use past entrance exam questions."
Tears pricked at my eyes. "Thank you," I whispered, voice tight.
"You don’t have to thank us," Rennon said, his tone warm.
Then his gaze fell on the folder on myp. "Is that the supplementary form from Zenon?"
I nodded.
"I will assist you," he said, lifting the folder from off my thighs.
Then, he helped me fill in the form, guiding my shaking hand for the parts I was too nervous to write.
When we were done, he folded it carefully.
"I will submit this to Zenon on your behalf," he said as if aware I was too afraid to return to Zenon by myself.
Relief swept through me so strong it almost hurt.
"Thank you," I breathed again.
Before he left, Rennon lifted his phone. "I need to take a photo of you. It will be printed and attached to your form."
I sat straighter, heart hammering as the shutter clicked. He tucked the phone away, offering a faint smile.
"Rest for today," he told me. "Tomorrow, we start."
For the first time in years, it felt like my life was finally moving forward.
But as dusk painted the walls in fading gold, a knock sounded at my door. A servant stepped in, eyes lowered.
"Miss Elira, it’s time for dinner," she said.
Then, just as she turned to go, she hesitated, ncing back at me, her voice dropping to a careful whisper.
"Also... your cousin, Miss Regina, has just arrived."
My blood ran cold.
Regina.
<i>Why now?</i>
How could she confidently show up after what she did to me? And she was even allowed inside.
Dread, anger, and pain curled tightly in my stomach, sinking deeper with every step towards the dining hall.