Mated to Her Alpha Instructor (Eileen and Regis) novel Chapter 94

I barely noticed when the last rays of sunlight faded from the high windows, replaced by the soft glow of lamps. My focus had narrowed to a single point. understanding these parasites well enough to kill them without killing their hosts.

“Eileen.”

I looked up to find Derek standing at the end of my table, hands in his pockets, expression carefully neutral. My stomach clenched reflexively–not with the old longing, but with weary annoyance at the interruption.

“What do you want, Derek?” I kept my voice level, not bothering to stand.

He moved closer, and I caught the faint scent of training yard sweat. “I heard you’ve been spending time in the observation ward. Trying to play healer for the border casualties.”

Play. The word stung precisely because it echoed my own insecurities.

“I’m conducting research,” I said, turning back to my notes.

“Right. Research.” He leaned against the bookshelf, studying me with that same expression he’d worn when I used to help him study–half–interested, half- patronizing. “I also heard that you’re having trouble getting the warriors to trust you.”

My jaw tightened. “I’m managing.”

“Are you?” He shifted his weight, and something in his posture made me look up again. His eyes held a calculating gleam I’d never noticed before, or perhaps had been too infatuated to see. “Because from what Blake told me, most of them think you’re wasting their time. Playing at being important.”

The book in front of me blurred slightly. I forced myself to breathe, to not give him the satisfaction of seeing me flinch.

“You don’t have to keep doing this, you know, Derek continued, his voice dropping to something that might have been mistaken for concern. “Trying so hard to prove yourself. To get attention.”

I blinked. ‘Excuse me?”

“Come on, Eileen. He actually smiled, the expression somewhere between sympathetic and smug. We both know what this is really about. You’ve been trying to get my attention for years. And now that I’m with Celeste, you’re throwing yourself into this… project. Making yourself visible. Making yourself seem valuable.”

The warriors will trust my results soon enough,” I said, gathering my materials with steady hands. “I’m not here for your attention, Derek. I stopped wenting that a long time ago. Now please move–I need to leave.”

His expression shifted to annoyance. “Playing hard to get now? That’s a new tactic.”

“I’m not playing.” I stepped toward him, and something in my face made him shift aside. “I have work to do. Real work. Important work. And you’re wasting my time.

I moved past him, books clutched to my chest, my heart pounding but my steps steady.

“You’re making a mistake, he called after me.

I didn’t look back.