A Mate To Three Alpha Heirs-Chapter 72: Distracted From the Discovery

{Elira}

~**^**~

Heat rushed to my cheeks as I dropped into my seat.

"Now," he continued, scanning the room, "can anyone help your classmate out?"

Several hands shot up. He pointed at one near the front.

The student answered clearly, "The clause that reallocated control of the Moonvale Springs to the Eastern Alphas without consent from the other two territories."

"Correct," the professor said, then turned back to me. "Understand now, Ms. Shaw?"

"Yes," I murmured.

He nodded and resumed his lecture.

This time, I forced myself to stay tuned in, even if I was still slightly breathless.

The professor explained that Moonvale Springs were considered one of the most potent sources of supernatural energy in the eastern ranges, and their control had tipped the balance of power heavily in favour of the East.

And over time, that imbalance fractured the Council’s stability.

Words like power shifts, unethical land divisions, and Council corruption filtered into my notes.

The Silver Crescent Council—formed to unify and govern the four major Alpha territories—had ultimately crumbled under its own weight. This wasn’t just politics. It was betrayal disguised as alliance.

I jotted that thought down, circling the word "betrayal."

It felt too close to home.

At least this time, I caught most of the lecture. When the professor began walking down the rows, passing out today’s handout, I managed to thank him as he dropped mine on the desk.

"The assignment’s on the last page," he added, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Due Monday."

I flipped to the back. There it was:

"In 500 words, evaluate whether the Treaty of Moonvale ultimately preserved peace or accelerated conflict among werewolf territories. Support your argument with three examples from the lecture or the handout."

I stared at the question, my mind a little distracted between coming up with how to carry out the assignment and digging deep into today’s shocking discovery.

Maybe my entire understanding of my mother had just been shattered.

I really hope my worry will be all for nothing, that there wouldn’t be a big secret behind my mother’s ordinary life after attending a prestigious school like ESA.

---

The hallways had grown quieter as the late-afternoon sun filtered through the windows, casting golden rectangles on the floor.

I walked slowly toward my locker, the ache in my shoulders heavier than it should have been from the unanswered questions pressing against my chest.

I reached my locker and put in the code. As it clicked open, I exhaled and pulled out my backpack.

I began stacking the notes and textbooks I would need for the weekend—one by one, flipping through pages, making sure I grabbed everything.

Then my eyes fell on the red envelope.

Right. I had nearly forgotten about it.

It was just there, sitting in the corner where I had tucked it earlier—innocent-looking, silent, and somehow heavy with mystery.

I stared at it for a few seconds, then sighed and picked it up, knowing I couldn’t keep avoiding it.

Without giving myself a chance to overthink it, I slid the envelope into the front pocket of my backpack, zipped it up, and slammed the locker shut with a metallic clack.

I slung the bag over my shoulder and grabbed the small white macaron box from where I had placed it atop my locker earlier.

I also reached for my phone and began the short walk back to the dorms.

The walk felt longer than usual.

When I entered the first-year dorm building, the sound of quiet footsteps and distant laughter trickled through the halls.

I adjusted my grip on the lunchbox and turned toward the elevator, only to find Tamryn already there, waiting, her expression unreadable as usual.

Despite the heaviness weighing me down, I offered a small, "Hi."

She turned slightly, her dark hair shifting over her shoulder. "Hi," she replied, her voice neutral but not cold.

I guess that was a good change.

Then she faced forward again, back to watching the elevator doors.

I didn’t mind the silence. After the day I’d had, silence felt like the only thing that wouldn’t demand something from me.

The elevator dinged, the doors sliding open with a soft whoosh. We stepped in along with a few other students who crowded behind us.

The air inside was a mix of citrus perfume, fabric softener, and a faint whiff of fries someone had probably smuggled in from the cafeteria.

Each of us pressed our floor numbers.

Three girls stood near the front, and I caught the flicker of glances cast over their shoulders. Then came the unmistakable sound of hushed giggles.

"She’s the one who—"

"Mm-hmm, in Power Channelling. Didn’t spark a thing."

The soft laughter that followed barely lasted two seconds, but it was enough. My stomach twisted.

I didn’t turn to look at them. I kept my eyes locked on the elevator screen, watching the glowing numbers rise.

Beside me, Tamryn said nothing. Maybe she hadn’t heard. Perhaps she had, and chose silence over awkward comfort.

Either way, I was glad she didn’t comment.

Soon, we reached the third floor, and the elevator made a ’ding’ sound to signal the arrival.

The doors opened. Tamryn and I stepped out at the same time. The hallway ahead was busy with students in their uniforms, chatting, laughing, even running.

When we reached the dorm room door, Tamryn quietly opened it.

As soon as we stepped into the dorm room, I could feel the shift in atmosphere—lighter, more casual than this morning, like the weight of the day had melted off everyone else’s shoulders.

Nari was sitting cross-legged on her bed, scrolling through her phone. Juniper was lounging sideways on her bunk, tossing a small stress ball into the air and catching it lazily.

While Cambria was at her desk, organizing her notes with a kind of calm efficiency.

I shut the door gently behind me and tried to ease into the room as inconspicuously as possible.

I wasn’t ready to talk about what I’d discovered earlier in the archive room. About the yearbook. About my mom. That secret... still sat too heavily in my chest.

"Where were you during lunch?" Juniper asked. Her tone was casual, but I knew the question wasn’t going to be the last.