Mated to Her Alpha Instructor (Eileen and Regis) novel Chapter 230

Chapter 230

Eileen

The pre–dawn air bit at my skin as I stumbled into the medical station’s courtyard, Regis’s hand steady at my elbow. Torches blazed in a rough circle, illuminating the grim faces of thirty warriors already assembled in formation.

My heart hammered against my ribs. Nina. We’re coming for you. Hold on.

“Listen up.” Regis’s voice cut through the murmurs, cold and controlled in a way that made my wolf–less instincts scream danger. He held up Nina’s note, the paper trembling slightly in the torch light. “Our healer, Nina Grey, has been taken by the fugitive Elder Cornelius. Her last known location–Wild Mint Creek in the western woods.”

Kieran stepped forward, his expression dark. “It’s a trap.”

“Of course it’s a trap.” Regis’s eyes flashed gold for a heartbeat. “But she’s in his hands. We don’t have the luxury of caution.”

He began assigning positions with ruthless efficiency. Kieran would lead ten scouts as vanguard. Regis himself commanded the main force -fifteen warriors at center. Owen took the rear guard with five soldiers.

“And the medical team stays behind the main line,” Regis said, his gaze finding mine. “Eileen, Mira, two assistants. You don’t leave Owen’s sight.”

“I’m going. The words came out steadier than I felt. “Nina will need immediate treatment when we find her. I have to be there.”

Through our bond, I felt his wolf’s snarl of refusal. But Regis only stepped closer, his hand cupping my face with a gentleness that didn’t match the violence brewing in his eyes.

“You stay in formation. You stay with Owen. If fighting breaks out, you find cover.” His thumb brushed my cheekbone. “Promise me.”

I promise, I sent through the bond, even as unease coiled in my gut.

He kissed my forehead once, hard, then turned and shifted.

The western woods swallowed us whole.

I’d never noticed how alive the forest usually was until now, when every natural sound had been snuffed out. No birdsong. No rustling of small creatures in the underbrush. Just our boots crunching on dead leaves and the occasional clink of weapons.

Beside me, Mira’s breathing came too fast. “This feels wrong,” she whispered.

It did. The air tasted bitter on my tongue–not quite sulfur, not quite rot. Something that made my sinuses burn and my pup kick

Easy, little one, I thought, rubbing the swell beneath my cloak. We’ll get Nina and go home. I promise.

She tried to treat herself. My throat closed. She was conscious when they took her.

“Eileen.” Regis’s hand on my shoulder, firm. “Back in formation.”

I nodded numbly, letting him guide me back to Mira. But as we started moving again, slower now, my mind wouldn’t stop circling.

Nina had been hurt. Bleeding. Dragged through the forest while she was still aware enough to reach for her medical supplies.

And I’d been asleep.

Half a mile from Wild Mint Creek, Regis called another halt,

This time, he sent two scouts to circle wide, approaching from the flanks. The rest of us formed a tighter cluster, warriors on the outside, medical team tucked in the center like the fragile core we were.

I checked my treatment bag for the dozenth time. Silver powder–check. Hemostatic herbs–check. Antidotes, sedatives, bandages-

My hand found my belly again. Our baby pressed against my palm, a tiny foot or fist. The bond between us hummed with their trust, their absolute certainty that Mama would keep them safe.