Mated to Her Alpha Instructor (Eileen and Regis) novel Chapter 177

Chapter 177

He looked older than I remembered. More distinguished. The cruelty I’d seen in torchlight was now hidden beneath layers of respectability and cultured manners. But the eyes–those cold, calculating eyes–were exactly the same.

“This must be your colleague,‘ he said smoothly, giving me a polite nod. ‘Miss Grey, I presume? The third trainee?”

My name in his mouth. My current name, the one I’d chosen when I fled, the identity I’d built from nothing. Hearing it spoken by him made my skin crawl.

1- The word caught in my throat. Had to force it out. “Yes.”

Eileen stepped closer, worry creasing her forehead. She’d seen my distress, bless her observant heart. “Nina, you look terrible. Did something happen? You’re covered in dirt-

I was aware, distantly, that I probably looked like I’d been through hell. Leaves in my hair from pushing through underbrush. Mud on my boots and cloak

hem. Face undoubtedly pale as death.

But I couldn’t explain. Couldn’t say anything with him standing right there, watching me with that false concern painted across his features.

I needed to leave. Now. Before I said something that would give me away.

I turned to go, moving too quickly in my panic. An orderly rushed past in the opposite direction, arms full of supplies, moving just as fast in the narrow corridor.

We collided hard.

The impact sent me stumbling backward. I tried to catch myself, but my boot caught on the uneven floor. I went down, landing hard on my side, my hair

spilling loose from its tie as my head hit the ground.

For a moment I just lay there, dazed, the world tilting around me.

Hands reached for me–the orderly apologizing profusely, someone kneeling beside me. I pushed myself up on one elbow, my hair falling forward and then

Something flickered in his gaze–surprise, perhaps, or maybe satisfaction–before his expression smoothed back into practiced neutrality. But I’d seen if

That flash of recognition. That split second where the mask slipped.

He knew exactly who I was.

My body responded before my mind could catch up. I stumbled backward, nearly tripping over my own feet, some garbled excuse trying to form on my lips-

‘Excuse me I need to–I’m sorry-

Then I was moving, not walking but nearly running down the corridor, Eileen calling something after me that I couldn’t process through the roaring in my ears. My hands found the doorframe of the dormitory wing, used it to propel myself forward, boots skidding on the wooden floors in my haste.

The door to my room. Key fumbling from my pocket. Lock engaging with a solid click that still didn’t feel like enough protection.

I pressed my back against the door and slid down to sit on the floor, arms wrapped around my knees, and finally–finally–let myself fall completely apart.