Mated to Her Alpha Instructor (Eileen and Regis) novel Chapter 18

“Trying to build him a life, we wished to be together. We almost completed the bond, but couldn’t finish it—the mark started to fade within two weeks. The Beta felt the incompleteness, the rejection, then shame and frustration and pain. Eventually, he told her… Kieran’s jaw tightened. He told her that if she couldn’t hold his mark, he didn’t need her either. He left the pack after that. My mother said she probably died alone in some border town, too broken to ever try again.”

The words embedded like stones in my gut. I turned away, gripping the windowsill hard enough that my knuckles went white.

Valdor snarled in my mind. Never abandon her. Never.

“I know what you’re thinking,” I said quietly. “And you’re right. I won’t be like that Beta. I won’t.”

“Then what’s this about?” Kieran pushed off the door, came to stand beside me. “Regis, talk to me. What’s going on?”

So I told him. About the forest, about the girl who’d saved me, about finding her here—a student, wolfless, terrified. About the mark I’d left on her throat and the way she’d tried to hide it with herbs and scarves. About the conversation that had just ended with her running from my office in tears.

Kieran listened without interrupting, his expression growing more serious with every word. When I finished, he was quiet for a long time.

“She’s your true mate,” he said finally. It wasn’t a question.

“And she thinks you want to reject her.”

Kieran exhaled slowly, shook his head. “Then maybe the mark fading is a blessing, Regis. If it disappears completely, you can start over. Approach her as just another instructor, earn her trust, let her see who you really are without the weight of an accidental bond hanging over both of you.”

I wanted to argue, wanted to insist that the bond was sacred and shouldn’t be erased. But Valdor, surprisingly, was silent—listening, considering.

Too formal, Valdor muttered. She’ll think you’re just being polite.

When you came to my office, I’m sure you felt the bond between us, and I’m sorry for ever having made you feel responsible for what happened that night in the forest. The responsibility is mine. Please know that whatever happens, I’ll wait for you to reply when you’re ready. When you’re ready, you can find me.

I stared at the words on the screen, hovering over the send button. Then, before I could second-guess myself again, I pressed it.

The message vanished into the ether. I set the communicator down on my desk, stared at it as if I could will a response into existence.

Back to Valdor, I said, but he sounded uncertain. Won’t she?

“I’m afraid,” I admitted quietly. “But I have to give her the choice. Even if it kills me.”