Mated to Her Alpha Instructor (Eileen and Regis) novel Chapter 68

Chapter 68

“You didn’t, I interrupted, burying my face in the crook of his neck, breathing in his scent–still storm–dark but slowly easing back to cedar and mint. “You were protecting me.”

He carried me back into his office and kicked the door shut behind us, muffling the sounds of Thomas helping his son to his feet, their hurried, stumbling retreat down the corridor. Inside, the sudden quiet felt like a blessing.

Regis set me carefully on the sofa and knelt before me, his hands cupping my face, his eyes searching mine with desperate intensity. “You shouldn’t have run out there. If I had hurt you-

“You wouldn’t have.” I covered his hands with mine, holding his gaze. “I knew you wouldn’t.”

Something broke in his expression. Relief, gratitude, and a deeper emotion I wasn’t ready to name flooded through the bond, making my chest tight. His thumb brushed my cheek, and I realized my face was wet with tears I hadn’t noticed falling.

He frowned slightly, his voice low but urgent. ‘You’re crying.”

I gave a shaky laugh, swiping at my cheeks. Guess I am. But they’re not from fear.”

His brows drew together. “Then why?”

“Because… I hesitated, searching for the right words. “Because no one’s ever fought for me like that before. Not like you just did.”

For a moment, he just stared at me, as if committing every word to memory. Then his shoulders eased, and the tension in his jaw softened.

I always will.” He leaned forward, resting his forehead against mine, our breaths mingling in the small space between us. “Always, Eileen. You’re not alone

anymore.”

Through the bond, I felt the absolute certainty of his words, the bedrock truth of them. And for the first time since this nightmare began, I absolutely believed it.

I believed him.

My hands slid from his face to his shoulders, then up to tangle in his hair. His eyes widened slightly, surprise flickering through the bond.

“Eileen?”

I didn’t answer with words. Instead, I closed the distance between us and kissed him.

He froze, every muscle in his body going rigid with shock. For a heartbeat, I thought I’d made a terrible mistake–but then the bond exploded with emotion so intense it stole my breath. Joy. Longing. Reverence.

And then he was kissing me back, his hands sliding to my waist to pull me closer, his lips moving against mine with a gentleness that made my heart ache It was nothing like that first night in the woods–this was deliberate, conscious, a choice we were both making.

I poured everything I couldn’t say into that kiss. Thank you. I trust you. I choose you.

When we finally broke apart, both of us breathing hard, he kept his forehead pressed to mine. “Do you know what this means?” he asked hoarsely

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2:41 pm P P P

Chapter 68

I nodded, my fingers still buried in his hair. “It means I choose you. Not because of the baby. Not because of duty. Because of you, Regis.”

His arms tightened around me, and through the bond I felt his wolf settle, content for the first time since the mark had faded. “I will spend my life protecting you,” he promised. Both of you.”

I know, I whispered back. And I did.

For the first time in my life, I had someone who would stand between me and the world. Someone who believed I deserved to have fangs of my own–and

would help me grow them.

Outside the window, the sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of amber and rose. Inside, wrapped in my mate’s arms, I finally felt safe enough to rest.

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