The Power I Didn’t Know I Had

Chapter Three: Power I Didn’t Know I Had

Elara’s POV

I didn’t mean to do anything.

One moment, I was just sitting in class, trying to keep my head down like Mira always said I should. Then something snapped. I don’t know what triggered it. Maybe it was Raven’s creepy words still echoing in my mind, or maybe it was the way Cassian kept glancing at me like he was watching something dangerous.

But suddenly, the lights above us flickered.

A strong wind—impossible wind—rushed through the classroom.

Everyone turned to look.

And it was me.

I could feel it in my bones, in my veins. My hands were glowing. The air around me felt heavy. My heart raced, but my body was frozen.

Mira whispered, “Elara… what’s happening?”

“I—I don’t know,” I whispered back.

Chairs began to slide. Papers flew around like they were caught in a storm. Some students screamed. Others just stared at me, their eyes wide with fear.

“Make it stop,” Mira begged, tugging at my sleeve. “Please, Elara, make it stop. They’ll report you. They’ll… they’ll lock you up or worse!”

I shut my eyes tight, trying to calm the storm I didn’t understand. I thought of my mother’s smile, of home, of quiet mornings. I begged myself to stop whatever this was.

And then, it was over.

Just like that, everything dropped. Silence took over the room. The air settled.

Everyone stared at me.

Then, slowly, the professor cleared his throat and dismissed the class—without a word about what just happened.

Mira helped me gather my books with shaky hands.

Most of the students left quickly, whispering among themselves, stealing glances back at me.

But then, someone stayed behind.

Footsteps.

I looked up, and standing there was him—the third Alpha. The quiet one. The one Mira described as calm… and sweet.

He had soft brown eyes, long lashes, and a warmth in his expression that didn’t match the deadly power we all knew he held.

He didn’t say anything.

He just took off his jacket—dark blue, soft—and walked toward me slowly. Then he knelt beside me and gently wrapped it around my shoulders.

“You’re shaking,” he said softly.

I looked up at him. “I didn’t mean to… I don’t know what I did.”

“I know,” he said, giving me a kind smile. “But you’re safe now.”

From the corner of my eye, I caught Cassian watching.

He didn’t move. He didn’t say anything. But the look in his eyes—cold, sharp, dark—tightened for a second when he saw the other Alpha’s jacket on my shoulders.

He turned away a moment later, fists clenched.

But I saw it.

Jealousy.

That’s when I knew… something was happening between us. Something he didn’t want to admit.

After class, I didn’t feel like going anywhere.

I was still shaking. Still scared of myself.

So I stayed back.

Mira stayed with me, of course.

“You were glowing, Elara,” she said, almost laughing. “I mean… glowing. Like literal glowing. What are you?”

“I don’t know,” I said, my voice soft. “I’ve never… I’ve never done anything like that before.”

She nudged my shoulder. “Maybe you’re royalty. Or a lost goddess. Or a secret hybrid!”

I smiled a little. But it faded fast.

“What if they’re watching me now?” I asked. “What if I get kicked out?”

“You won’t,” she said quickly. “Not while I’m here. And not while three Alphas are noticing you.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

She smirked. “Raven spoke to you. Cassian keeps looking at you. And now, sweet Ilyas gave you his jacket. Girl, you’ve caused a storm.”

“I didn’t mean to,” I whispered.

Just then, the door creaked open.

Mira turned pale immediately.

“Oh no,” she said, under her breath. “It’s her.”

I turned to look.

And there she was.

Lilith.

The professor's daughter.

Tall, beautiful, and lethal. Black hair drawn back in a slender ponytail. Red lips. Heeled shoes that clicked on the floor like a warning bell.

Two girls followed her like specters.

Mira instinctively edged closer to me.

"Don't talk," she growled. "Just… shut up."

Lilith swaggered in as if the room was hers. Her eyes were centered on me like a hawk eyeing its quarry.

"Ah, well," she said, her smile dawning. "So you're the little whirlwind everyone's been talking about."

I stood up from the chair slowly. "I don't want trouble."

"Oh, you already made it," she said. "The minute you ran into Cassian. The minute you started catching his eye."

"What? I didn't—"

She stepped in close. "Let me make one thing clear, newbie. Cassian doesn't talk to people. He doesn't look at people. He doesn't stand up for people."

I said nothing.

She leaned in closer, her voice cold. "He is mine. Everyone knows it."

"He isn't," Mira whispered, trying to be brave. "You just keep saying that."

Lilith turned her glare on her. "Do you want detention, Mira? Or should I just tell your mother that you're failing?"

Mira shut her mouth.

Lilith turned back to me. "You don't belong here. You don't know the rules. You don't even know what you are."

"I did not ask for any of this," I said, my voice trembling. "I just need to get through this school."

Lilith shot me a glare.

Then she smiled with honeyed sweetness.

"That's what I'm warning you about," she said. "If you need to get through, stay away from the Alphas."

She walked back in the direction that she was going, followed by her girls, their guffaws echoing in the hallway.

I leaned back in my seat, heart pounding.

Mira gently wrapped my hand.

Mira did not speak for a couple of seconds. Her eyes did not move from the door where Lilith had just left, and I could see how her hands trembled slightly as she clutched her skirt.

"She's dangerous, Elara," Mira whispered softly, her voice small, as if she did not want anyone to hear her. "You don't know what you're dealing with.".

I gulped. "Why… why did she say all that to me? I didn't do anything…"

Mira looked at me then. Her eyes were gentle, but beneath them was something else—something more like concern. Or terror.

"Always been obsessed with Cassian," she whispered.

"Everyone knows it, though he never says anything about her “But you… you bumped into him. He stared at you. And that's all it takes to make her hate you."

I felt a knife in my chest.

"But… I didn't mean to—"

"Don't," she cut me off harshly. "But Lilith doesn't care what you meant. She's the kind of person who swings first. And…" Mira moved forward, then edged closer to me. "She's not alone watching you."

"What do you mean?" I asked, my heart pounding suddenly.

Mira looked away.

"I don't know yet," she breathed. "But Elara… if you're smart, you'll keep your head down. For now."