Mated to Her Alpha Instructor (Eileen and Regis) novel Chapter 42

Regis

Six a.m. I woke to the pre–dawn silence of my own room, my first conscious thought reaching through the bond to sense Eileen’s state in the room next door. Her breathing came slow and even, deep with genuine rest, and relief washed through me so intensely that Valdor stirred with a pleased rumble. She was actually in a deep sleep.

1 lay still, staring at the ceiling as my wolf pushed at my restraint with a low whine. Go to her. Check on our mate. Make sure she’s comfortable.

“She needs rest, I murmured aloud, as if speaking would make the directive more binding. “We promised to give her space.”

Just to look. Just to be sure.

The internal argument lasted a full ten minutes, Valdor’s insistence wearing against my resolve like water on stone. Finally I forced myself out of bed, channeling the restless energy into something productive. If I couldn’t be near her, I could at least ensure everything was ready when she woke.

The kitchen was cool and quiet, morning light just beginning to filter through the eastern windows. I tied on an apron and set to work. Oatmeal with honey,

the grains simmering slowly to achieve the perfect soft texture. Whole wheat bread toasted to golden brown. Chicken strips stewed until they fell apart at

the touch of a fork. Fresh berries arranged in a small bowl. And the herbal tea, a digestive blend I’d researched specifically for early pregnancy, steeped to

precisely the right strength.

My hands moved with the same precision I applied to combat drills, but my attention kept drifting to the stairs. I glanced up every few minutes, listening for the sound of her door opening, the soft pad of her feet on the steps. Each time I caught myself, I forced my focus back to the task at hand, but Valdor’s anticipation hummed beneath my skin like a low current.

Seven o’clock came and went. Then eight. I checked the bond again–still sleeping, her presence warm and peaceful. Good. She needed this. When had she

last slept past dawn without anxiety jolting her awake?

“It’s not what you’re thinking. I cut him off, jaw tight even though he couldn’t see my expression. She’s sleeping Really sleeping, for the first time since 1 stopped, unwilling to detail her weeks of anxiety even to my closest friend. I don’t want to wake her

The teasing note in Kieran’s presence softened. “Ah. I see. Another pause. Alright, I’ll handle your little wall pups for the morning But you owe me.”

“I know. Thank you.”

The link dimmed as he withdrew, leaving only the faint echo of his presence. I stayed where I was, breakfast long prepared but cooling on the table.

Nine forty–five. Less than an hour before her healing theory class.

I couldn’t wait any longer.

I climbed the stairs, each step measured and deliberate, and stopped outside her door. My hand hovered over the wood for a long moment while I wrestled down Valdor’s insistent demand to simply open the door, to see her, to confirm with my own eyes that she was well. Instead I knocked, three soft raps, and waited.