Mated to Her Alpha Instructor (Eileen and Regis) novel Chapter 112

‘Do I?” The words erupted before I could stop them, twenty years of swallowed truths finally forcing their way out. ‘Do I really live here? Or do I just exist as a convenient tool you can summon when you need something?”

Mother’s face flushed dark. “How dare you-

“No.” I stood, my chair scraping loudly against the floor. My hands trembled but I made them into fists, anchoring myself. “How dare you. Both of you.”

Father rose as well, trying to use his height to intimidate me back down. It had always worked before. But I’d stood before an Alpha–a real one, not a

posturing father–and learned what true strength looked like. It wasn’t this small, petty tyranny.

I’ve financially supported myself since I was sixteen,” I said, my voice shaking but growing stronger with each word. “Every coin for tuition, books, supplies

-I earned it through scholarships and work. You’ve given me nothing except demands.”

“We gave you a home- Mother started.

“You gave me a prison.” I turned to her, years of resentment crystallizing into clarity. “From the time I could walk, you made it clear I was worth less than Gareth. He got new clothes while I wore hand–me–downs from neighbors. He got second helpings while I learned to eat only what was left. When he broke something, it was ‘boys will be boys.‘ When I asked questions, it was ‘don’t make trouble.“”

“We were preparing you for life,” Father said, but he sounded less certain now. “Teaching you proper behavior-

“You were teaching me I didn’t matter!” The shout came from somewhere deep, a place I’d kept locked and silent for two decades. “That my only value was in being quiet and useful and never, ever asking for anything.”

Tears streamed down my face but I didn’t wipe them away. Let them see. Let them see exactly what their “parenting had done.

“Do you know what you said when I got accepted into the advanced academy?” I looked between them, watching them shift uncomfortably. Nothing. You said nothing. No congratulations, no pride. The first words out of your mouth, Mother, were ‘I suppose you’ll expect us to pay for it.”

“We didn’t have money to spare-”

“I didn’t ask for money!” My voice cracked. “I never asked you for anything! I just wanted… I just wanted you to care. To see me as your daughter instead of

an obligation.”

Mother’s expression hardened back into familiar coldness. “This is exactly the kind of dramatic nonsense I’d expect from you. We sacrificed-

“You sacrificed nothing.” The truth of it settled over me like armor. “You had a daughter and decided she wasn’t worth your love because she couldn’t shift. And now you want to control who marks me, who bonds with me, because you’ve convinced yourselves you have any right to my choices.”

As long as you’re part of this family-” Father began.

I’m not. The words came out steady and final. “I haven’t been for a long time. I just didn’t want to admit it.”

I pulled my communicator from my pocket, holding it up. “This? You took it thinking you could isolate me. Control me like you always have. I met Mother’s gaze. “But the bond between me and my mate doesn’t need technology. It’s written into our souls. And he’s already felt my distress. He’s probably already on his way.”

Father scoffed. “This mysterious mate who-”

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Protam

Chapter 112

MM

The sound of wheels on the road outside cut him off. Heavy wheels, well–made–nothing like the cart our neighbors used. We all turned toward the window as the sound stopped directly in front of our house.

Footsteps.

Then a knock–firm and authoritative–on our door.

Through the bond, I felt him. Cedar and mint and moonlight, wrapped in barely leashed fury. My knees nearly buckled with relief.

Regis

Father moved toward the door, but I beat him to it. My hands shook as I grasped the handle. Behind me, I heard Mother’s sharp intake of breath, Father’s

demand that I wait.

I opened the door.

Regis stood on the threshold, backlit by the rising sun. His eyes found mine immediately, ice–blue intensifying as he took in my tears, my obvious distress.

Behind him, Kieran waited by the carriage, alert and ready.

For a moment, no one spoke. Then Regis’s gaze swept past me to my parents, and when he spoke, his voice carried a command that needed no shouting.

“I am Regis Vane,” he said. “Eileen’s mate. And I’m here to bring her home.”

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