Mated to Her Alpha Instructor (Eileen and Regis) novel Chapter 89

Mated to Her Alpha Instructor

Chapter 89

As my father passed, he rested a firm hand on my arm–a silent promise in his eyes that he would stand beside me, no matter how ugly this became.

Once the last Elder disappeared, Kieran materialized at my elbow. “That went about as well as expected,” he muttered. “Which is to say, absolutely terribly.”

I forced my hands to unclench, flexing fingers that ached from the strain of keeping claws sheathed. “Cornelius won’t stop at blocking reform. He’ll come after Eileen directly if he thinks it will undermine me.”

“Then we make sure she’s protected.” Kieran’s usual levity had vanished, replaced by the hard–eyed strategist I’d served alongside in border campaigns. “Are you going to tell her? About what they said?”

The question lodged in my throat like a shard of ice. I thought of Eileen this morning, the way she’d touched her stomach with something approaching hope rather than fear. She was finally beginning to believe she had value beyond what others demanded of her, that she could contribute something meaningful to the world.

How could I tell her that men with power and ancient prejudice had just spent an hour using her as a weapon against me, reducing her existence to a political liability?

“No,” said finally. “Not yet.”

Kieran’s brow furrowed. “You’re sure? Cornelius isn’t the type to let this go quietly.”

“I know exactly what type he is.” My jaw tightened. “Which is why I won’t give him the satisfaction of watching Eileen crumble under his malice. She’s just starting to believe in herself–I won’t hand him that victory.”

“Just keep me informed of anything unusual, I said as we reached the training grounds. The moment any of them make a move toward her

“You’ll be the first to know.” Kieran clapped my shoulder. “Now go home to your mate. She’s probably wondering why you’re loadcasting barely contained homicidal rage through your bond.”

I hadn’t realized how much tension I was projecting until he said it. Deliberately, I smoothed out the jagged edges of my emotions, letting only calm determination filter through the connection. Eileen didn’t need to feel the aftermath of the Council’s poison.

Not while she still had that light in her.

Not while I could still shield her from it.