Mated to Her Alpha Instructor (Eileen and Regis) novel Chapter 181

Mated to Her Alpha Instructor

Chapter 181

The response was immediate and overwhelming. Regis’s presence surged like a tidal wave, all protective fury and barely–leashed violence. Through the bond, a single command: Run to me.

I burst back toward the clearing just as the stallion thundered past the birch trees. There was a shout–Silas’s voice, sharp with surprise–and then the crash of hooves and the splintering of wood as the horse collided with something. Dust and debris erupted into the air, creating a temporary screen.

Nina stood exactly where Silas had left her, frozen and staring. But Silas’s hand had released her throat as he’d jerked away from the charging horse.

I didn’t hesitate. I ran straight for her and grabbed her arm.

“Nina! Run!”

For one terrible heartbeat, she just stared at me with glassy, unfocused eyes. Then something in my voice reached her. Her legs unlocked, and she grabbed my hand with desperate strength.

Together we plunged into the forest.

Behind us, Silas’s roar of rage echoed through the trees. “You’ll regret this! Both of you!”

But we were already gone, crashing through underbrush and leaping over fallen logs. Nina was fast, but I had something she didn’t–I knew these woods.

Regis had shown me the hidden game trails during our walks.

I led us down one of those trails now, praying my memory was accurate. My lungs burned, my legs screamed protest, but Regis was closer now. I could feel

him through the bond, could sense the exact moment he burst from the cottage and started running toward us.

We broke through the treeline just as Regis emerged from the opposite direction. He took in the scene instantly–Nina’s tear–streaked face, my wild eyes, the way we were running–and his expression transformed into something I’d never seen before.

Pure, primal rage. An Alpha whose mate had been threatened.

‘Inside,” he ordered, his voice roughened by Valdor’s presence. “Both of you. Now.”

He was already turning, already positioning himself between us and the forest. I grabbed Nina’s hand and pulled her toward the cottage, practically shoving her inside before following and slamming the door.

Regis. Please don’t. Please stay in control.

He went very still, his head turning slightly toward the cottage. And in that moment, Silas retreated, backing into the forest.

But just before the trees swallowed him, he called back: “You won’t always be there to protect her, Vane.”

Then he was gone. Regis stood trembling with the effort of not pursuing. I could feel every bit of that struggle through our bond.

Finally, slowly, he turned back to the cottage. The gold was fading from his eyes, but his face was still tight with violence. He looked at me through the

window, and I saw the question: Are you hurt?

I nodded, pressing my palm against the glass. His hand rose to meet mine from the other side, and through that touch I felt his rage begin to bank.

He crossed to the door and pushed it open. His eyes swept over me first, checking for injuries. Then they moved to Nina, who had collapsed onto the floor. shaking with delayed shock.