Mated to Her Alpha Instructor (Eileen and Regis) novel Chapter 54

“Look at me.”

The quiet command in his voice made me raise my eyes to his. What I saw there wasn’t anger, but something that looked almost like fear, quickly masked by

determination.

“Your health–and our child’s health–is not something you hide from me to avoid ‘worrying‘ me. His thumb traced a gentle arc across my temple, the gesture at odds with the intensity of his words. “If something is wrong, if you’re in pain, if you’re struggling, I need to know. That’s not negotiable.”

I nodded mutely. Through the bond, I felt his immediate softening, the way my distress affected him physically.

I’m sorry,” he said more gently, using his free hand to wipe the tears from my cheeks. I’m not angry with you. I’m worried. There’s a difference.” He took a deep breath, and when he spoke again, his voice was calmer. “You’re going to rest here for now. And I want you to tell me what sounds good to eat.

The question caught me off guard. In my family, meals had always been about what was cheapest, what was easiest, what my mother felt like making. The idea that someone would actually ask what I wanted, would be willing to adjust their plans to accommodate my preferences…

I bit my lip, thinking. The truth was, for the past few days I’d been having strange cravings–intense, specific desires for foods I’d never particularly cared about before. And right now, what my body seemed to be screaming for was…

“Honey–glazed roast with root vegetables,” I whispered, then immediately felt my face heat with embarrassment. It was a complex dish, requiring hours of preparation–the meat had to be marinated and slow rousted to achieve the right tenderness, the honey glaze applied at presise intervals, the root vegetables seasoned and timed perfectly. At the Wylde household, any time I’d asked for something even remotely complicated, my mother would map about how demanding I was, ‘But really, it doesnt have to be that. Anything else is perfectly fine. I know it’s complicated and takes a long time, so maybe just

some bread and-”

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Mated to Her Alpha Instructor

Chapter 54

Eileen

‘Honey–glazed roast it is. His eyes softened, and he leaned forward to press a brief, gentle kiss to my forehead–a gesture so natural and affectionate it stole my breath. “Your cravings aren’t demands, Eileen. They’re your body telling you what it needs. Never apologize for that. Now rest. I’ll wake you when it’s

ready.”

He started to rise, but I caught his sleeve without thinking. “That dish takes hours to make. You don’t have to go to so much trouble just because I-

“I want to.” The simple certainty in his voice left no room for argument. He covered my hand with his, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Your body needs extra nutrition right now. I realize I’ve been preparing meals based on what I thought was good for you, but I should have been paying attention to what you were actually craving.” He stood, looking down at me with an expression I couldn’t quite read–something warm and protective and achingly tender. “Rest now. Read if you’d like, but try to actually relax. And Eileen?” He waited until I met his eyes. “Next time you feel dizzy, you tell me immediately. Understood?”

“Understood,” I whispered.

Then he was gone, closing the door quietly behind him, and I was left alone with the racing of my heart and the warmth of where his lips had touched my

forehead.

I reached for the herbal medicine book on my nightstand, trying to focus on the words, but my mind kept wandering. I could hear him moving around downstairs–the sound of the cold storage opening, the clink of pots and pans, the rhythmic thud of a knife against a cutting board. Each sound was a reminder that he was down there, preparing an elaborate meal just because I’d mentioned wanting it.

Time passed in a strange blur. I must have dozed at some point, because I woke to the smell of honey and roasting meat wafting up from the kitchen, rich and savory and exactly what my body had been craving. I glanced at the small clock on the nightstand and felt my stomach drop. Only forty minutes had

passed.

That was impossible. The dish I’d requested should have taken at least ninety minutes, probably closer to two hours. Had he made something else instead? But no, that smell was unmistakable–the sweet char of honey caramelizing, the earthy scent of root vegetables roasted with herbs.

A soft knock at the door made me sit up quickly, smoothing down my hair. “Come in.”

Regis entered carrying a tray, and the sight of it made my eyes widen. There, arranged with careful precision, was exactly what I’d asked for–roast meat glistening with honey glaze, the surface caramelized to perfection. Root vegetables surrounded it, their edges golden–brown, and beside the plate sat a small bowl of clear herbal broth that smelled faintly of ginger and mint.

“You… you actually made it. My voice came out barely above a whisper. “How did you–it should have taken-‘

‘I may have implied that I’m not much of a cook,” he said, setting the tray carefully across my lap after helping me arrange the pillows behind my back. There was something almost sheepish in his expression, a hint of color along his high cheekbones. “The truth is, I’ve had a lot of practice. There was a period in my life when everything was training, patrols, combat drills–the same routine day after day. I felt more like a weapon than a person. He sat on the edge of the bed, his weight making the mattress dip slightly toward him ‘An elder suggested I find something else to focus on, something that had nothing to do with fighting. So I learned to cook.”

I stared at the food, then at him, then back at the food. The honey glaze caught the lamplight, and I could see the care that had gone into every element of the dish. My eyes burned with sudden tears, and I had to blink rapidly to keep them from falling.

“Hey.” His hand found mine, warm and steady. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong. I managed a watery laugh. “It’s just… no one’s ever…” I couldn’t finish the sentence, couldn’t articulate the tangle of emotions in my

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Chapter 54

chest. In my family, asking for anything had always been met with resentment. The idea that someone would not only fulfill my request but do it with such

care, such attention to detail…

*Eat,” he said softly, squeezing my hand before releasing it. “Before it gets cold.”

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thanks for your work

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