Mated to Her Alpha Instructor (Eileen and Regis) novel Chapter 19

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ying the hack of my palms against my eyes. What the hell was wrong with me? I should have stayed. Should have faced him, given Kim we ved at an eat at hotring like a seared rabbit. But the thought of seeing disappointment in his eyes when he realized what a mistake he’d

Ives the twice in one week. The thought hit me like a punch to the gut. First Derek, now potentially Regis. I wasn’t strong enough to have my heart les sain an vom Better to rub now than wait for the inevitable rejection.

My hand drifted unconsciously to my neck, fingers pressing against the scarf. Something felt… off. Different.

Femening. I stood and moved to the small mirror hanging on the wall, unwinding the scarf with careful fingers.

The hits mark was still there, the crescent shape of his teeth still etched into my skin, but something had changed. The edges were blurred now, less

1. ed. The silver–moon glow that had pulsed beneath my skin for the past four days was dimmer, like a lamp slowly running out of oil.

And his scent–cedar and mint, the smell that had wrapped around me every night since the forest–was barely there anymore. Just a faint echo, a memory ather than a prevence.

What was happening?

me the mark would be permanent, that I’d carry it forever as a reminder of that night in the forest. But if it was disappearing…

hele tar first, sharp and sudden. If the mark faded, I wouldn’t have to hide it anymore. Wouldn’t have to explain to Mira or my family or anyone else why wolfless girt like me had an Alpha’s bite on her throat.

tight befund the relief came something else. Something that felt horribly like loss.

tantly, the device i brought back buzzed against my nightstand.

1 smartype seat of guy skin, staring at the glowing notification. My hands shook as I picked it up.

Sessage frum Regis Vane

My finger bored over the acreen iconsidnt make myself open it. Couldn’t read whatever anger or pity or formal dissolution request he’d written.

Finally, taking a shaky breath, i topped the screen

I read it three times, the words blurring together He was apologizing? Saying he’d take responsibility, not demanding I disappear?

It didn’t make sense. I was just a wolfless nobody. He’s on Alpha, a combat instructor, from an ancient bloodline. He could have anyone. Why would he want to take responsibility for My thoughts spiraled, crashing into each other like broken glass. I couldn’t think straight, couldn’t form a coherent response even though I knew I should refuse his offer.

I checked the time and cursed under my breath–afternoon classes in twenty minutes. Maybe I should just… deal with this later.

1/3

Chants 10

Timer art begin mary of the m

The dedit here I went to my classes but absorbed nothing, my mind caught in an endless loop of fading, fading, it’s finding My

washed the like white ne

to the come evening rate. Tit made a decision.

We took why the mark was fading Needed to understand what it meant.

to the librar

The section on mate bonds was tucked away in a corner of the archives, dusty and rarely visited. I had to show my student identification to the librarian and

plan that I needed the texts for a ‘research project on healing bond–related injuries before she grudgingly gave me temporary access.

Il men every book I could find, stacking them on a small table in the back where no one would see me. Most of them were dry academic treatises, le with diagrams and terminology I didn’t fully understand. But then I found it—a slim, leather–bound volume titled Marginal Bloodlines: Case Studies.

I had through the pages, my heart pounding, until I found the section I was looking for:

Walfiess individuals, or those with severely diminished lupine essence, lack the energetic pathways necessary to complete a reciprocal bond. When marked by an Alper Beta, the imprint will begin to fade within 5-10 days, as the mark cannot be anchored without a returning bite. During this period, the Alpha will Experience increasing discomfort–a sense of incompleteness, heightened irritability, insomnia, and loss of appetite. Once the mark fully disappears, the bond will rexiace to minimal levels, retaining only faint scent recognition insufficient to sustain a mating relationship…

I read the passage three times, each word sinking deeper into my chest like a stone.

Frw to ten days. It had been four.

The mark was fading because I couldn’t complete the bond. Because I was broken.

had Begis–he was probably already feeling the effects. The incompleteness. The pain.

cised the book slowly, my hands shaking.

Thesis tiny for him, I told myself firmly. When the mark is gone, he’ll be free. He can find someone else. Someone whole. Someone who could bite him back and

mplete the bond properly. Not me

But the Shought didst bring the comfort Id hoped for. Instead, it just made the hollow ache in my chest grow wider.

I gained the books, returned them to their shelves, and left the library with my head down and my heart heavy.

The walk to the cafeteria was automatic by now. I’d been making this trip every day after classes for three years–ever since my parents made it clear that paying for my existence of the Academy wasn’t part of their plan. The scholarship covered tuition and books, but living expenses? That was on me.

So I worked in the kitchens. Scrubbing pots, prepping vegetables, earning just enough to cover meals and toiletries. It wasn’t much, but it was mine. No strings attached. No debts to repay.

2/3

the what that

th

bts surridas me the sentralertar–sall, male, punctured by laughter. I recognized one of them immediately

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