Mated to Her Alpha Instructor (Eileen and Regis) novel Chapter 232

Chapter 232

Eileen

The clash of fangs and claws filled the clearing as I crouched behind Owen’s protective stance, Mira’s fingers digging into my arm. Regis’s massive silver–black wolf tore into Silas, their snarls shaking the ground, while Kieran’s warriors formed a defensive ring against the drugged rogues whose red eyes gleamed with unnatural fury.

“They’re not breaking through, Mira whispered, her voice tight with fear. “But neither are we.”

She was right. The battle had reached a brutal stalemate–our warriors skilled but outnumbered, the rogues mindless but relentless. And Silas kept dodging Regis’s killing strikes with that infuriating, drug–enhanced speed, his laughter cutting through the chaos.

“Worried about your little wolf–less mate, Vane?” Silas jeered, dancing away from Regis’s fangs. “Don’t be. She’ll be my plaything soon

enough.”

Through our bond, I felt Regis’s rage spike–a white–hot fury that made my own pulse hammer. But beneath it lurked something worse: the gnawing certainty that this was all wrong.

A gust of wind blew from the southeast, carrying with it the faint, unmistakable scent of rosemary and myrrh.

My breath caught.

Nina.

But we were heading northwest toward the creek. The blood trail had stopped at that oak tree half a mile back, where Kieran said Nina had been carried. Except-

My mind raced back to those claw marks on the trunk. Fresh gouges pointing southeast. The trail hadn’t stopped because she’d been lifted. It had stopped because whoever took her had wanted us to think that.

“Mira.” I grabbed her wrist, pulling her attention from the battle. “Nina’s not at the creek.”

“What?”

“The scent–it’s coming from the southeast. This whole camp is a decoy.” My voice cracked. “We need to tell-

A rogue wolf broke through the line, lunging straight for us with a feral snarl.

Owen shifted mid–leap, slamming into it with bone–crushing force. They tumbled past us in a blur of fur and blood, close enough that I felt the displaced air whip my hair.

Something whistled through the space Owen had just vacated.

Thunk.

A dagger buried itself in the tree trunk beside my head, vibrating from the impact. A scrap of parchment was wrapped around its hilt, tied with what looked like dried sinew.

Mira screamed. I lurched backward, my shoulder hitting the rough bark as I stared at the weapon–its blade crusted with old blood, runes carved into the steel that seemed to shimmer with purple light.

My hands were already moving, fingers shaking as I tore the parchment free. The message was scrawled in brownish ink that made my stomach turn.

He wants me. He’s always wanted me–the ‘moon–blessed‘ wolf–less girl.

Nina and her mother were bait.

And if I told Regis right now, if I sent that spike of terror through our bond while he was fighting for his life, he’d lose focus. Silas would go for his throat. And even if Regis survived, he’d charge after me in a blind rage, straight into whatever trap Cornelius had waiting.

But if I did nothing-

My hand moved to my belly, where our baby pressed against my palm as I sensing my fear.

I’m sorry, little one. I’m so sorry.

“You can’t seriously be considering this.” Mira’s face had gone white, her grip crushing the parchment. “Eileen, this is insane-*

“I know.” My voice came out steadier than I felt. “But Nina doesn’t have thirty minutes. And if I wait for the battle to end…” I met her eyes. “Cornelius will kill them both and disappear. You know he will.”

“Then we tell Owen! We send scouts-”

“And tip Cornelius off the second they get close.” I pulled out the small vial of silverleaf oil from my bag–pungent enough to track even through dense forest. “I’m not going in blind, Mira. I’m going to leave a trail.”