Mated to Her Alpha Instructor Chapter 106

Regis

I guided Eileen through the Academy gates as dawn light spilled across the grounds, my hand steady at the small of her back. She no longer concealed the mark at her throat or suppressed my scent clinging to her skin—a declaration that twisted something fierce and protective in my chest.

Students parted before us, heads bowing in respect. "Alpha Vane." The words rippled through the morning crowd, most voices carrying genuine warmth.

When a young Beta addressed her formally, she offered a gentle smile. "Please, just call me Eileen." Eileen's shoulders tensed beneath my palm, but she met his gaze with a composure that made Valdor rumble approval.

The simplicity of it—her refusal to hide behind titles, her instinct toward kindness even after yesterday's cruelty—made my throat tighten.

At the teaching hall entrance, I allowed myself only a brief kiss to her forehead, acutely aware of the watching eyes. Through our bond, I felt her reluctance to part, mirroring my own.

"Be safe," I whispered. "I'll see you this afternoon."

Her fingers tightened on my sleeve for a heartbeat before releasing. "You too."

I watched until she disappeared into the building, pride warring with unease. The Council meeting loomed ahead, and I couldn't shake the sense of approaching storm.

---

The Council chamber felt oppressive, shadows clinging to corners despite the morning light filtering through high windows. I took my place at the head table, Kieran positioned to my right in his official capacity as my second. This wasn't the first full session since Father had formally transferred senior Academy oversight to me—a test, he'd said, of my readiness to lead.

The elders arranged themselves in clear factions: my supporters on the left, Cornelius's bloc to the right, with a handful of undecided voices scattered between. Cornelius himself sat directly across from me, that calculating smile never quite reaching his eyes.

Elder Marcus, who'd presided over these meetings for decades, rapped his staff against the floor. "We convene to address the disciplinary matter of students Derek Ashford and Celeste Frost, whose actions in the quad yesterday constituted assault and harassment of Luna Eileen Vane."

I kept my expression neutral, though Valdor stirred at the memory of Eileen's terror through our bond.

"I move to bar both students from participation in the Eastern Border training program," I stated, my voice carrying clearly through the chamber. "Their behavior demonstrates a fundamental lack of the discipline and respect required for such service."

Elder Thorne, a grizzled warrior who'd served three generations of Alphas, spoke first. "Luna is the extension of Alpha authority within the pack. To insult and threaten her is to challenge the Alpha himself." His scarred hands gripped the table edge. "If we don't punish this severely, what message does that send about order in this Academy?"

"Agreed," Marcus Stone added, his battle-weathered face stern. "Border warriors need discipline above all else. Those pups don't even understand basic respect—they have no business on the front lines."

A flicker of satisfaction warmed my chest, quickly tempered by Cornelius's continued silence. He was waiting, letting others exhaust their arguments before striking.

Sure enough, he raised one hand, and the room fell quiet.

"I understand Alpha Vane's protective instincts toward his mate," Cornelius began, his tone measured and reasonable—which made it more dangerous. "However, we must consider whether barring them from border training is excessively harsh. This penalty delays their graduation by a full year, potentially destroying their future prospects."

Several neutral elders shifted uncomfortably.

"Furthermore," Cornelius continued, warming to his theme, "Derek Ashford's father has been a significant Academy benefactor. His son faces severe consequences for what was essentially a verbal altercation—"

"*Assault*," Kieran interjected coldly. "They cornered a pregnant woman and threatened her."

Cornelius waved a dismissive hand. "Heated words between students. Regrettable, certainly, but is it worth creating a political incident with one of our major donors?"

My claws threatened to extend beneath the table. Through our bond, I felt Eileen absorbed in her morning classes, unaware of how they were minimizing what she'd endured.

Then Cornelius played his true hand.

"More critically, we must consider how this appears." He leaned forward, voice dropping to a confidential tone that somehow carried to every corner. "Miss Wylde is Alpha Vane's mate, yes—but she is wolfless. Until recently, she was simply another student. Some might question whether we're showing favoritism, whether this harsh punishment serves justice or merely protects the Alpha's... unconventional choice."

Gold flooded my vision. Valdor surged forward with a snarl that rumbled through my chest, and I felt my canines beginning to lengthen.

A heavy hand clamped down on my shoulder—Kieran, his grip bruising even through my shirt. "Don't," he murmured, too low for the others to hear. "That's exactly what he wants. He's baiting you to lose control."

I forced myself to breathe, to push Valdor back, though every instinct screamed to cross the room and tear Cornelius's throat out for questioning Eileen's worth.

Cornelius's eyes glittered with satisfaction at my barely-restrained rage. He knew he'd landed his blow.

"I'm not questioning Luna's position," he said smoothly. "Quite the opposite—I believe we should give her an opportunity to *prove* she deserves the respect we've granted her."

The words slithered through the chamber like poison.

"Here is my proposal," Cornelius continued. "We proceed with severe consequences for Ashford and Frost—but only if Luna demonstrates during her Eastern Border service that she merits such protection. A neutral observer, selected by full Council vote, will accompany her to assess her performance fairly."

He spread his hands in a gesture of reasonableness. "If she excels, the punishments stand. If she proves... insufficient to the role, we reconsider. This way, we uphold Luna's dignity while ensuring Alpha Vane's judgment isn't clouded by personal attachment. Surely that's fair to all parties?"

I watched several neutral elders nodding, their expressions clearing as if Cornelius had solved some great moral dilemma. Even Elder Thorne looked uncertain.

My father, observing from the back of the chamber, met my eyes with a warning look. The trap had been elegantly sprung.

---

The internal war lasted only seconds, though it felt like hours.

*They're insulting her. Suggesting she needs to 'prove' herself worthy of being my mate, as if my choice requires their approval.*

But Cornelius wasn't wrong—Luna's position would always face scrutiny, especially given Eileen's bloodline. If I rejected his compromise out of hand, I'd confirm every accusation of bias and preferential treatment.

*If I refuse, he'll block every reform initiative. He might even threaten her student status, claim she's receiving special treatment she hasn't earned.*

The bond pulsed with Eileen's distant contentment—she was laughing at something Mira said, momentarily safe and unaware.

*She should be focusing on her studies and our child, not subjected to observation and judgment and constant assessment of her worth.*

Yet the alternative was worse. Cornelius would ensure she faced obstacles at every turn, make her time at the Academy miserable, potentially endanger the reforms that would protect other vulnerable students.

*But if I accept, at least she still goes to the border. She still gets to prove herself—and she will. She's stronger than any of them imagine.*

Through the bond, I sent a pulse of confidence, of absolute faith in her abilities. Wherever she was, I hoped she felt it.

I straightened in my chair, meeting Cornelius's gaze with cold calculation. "I accept the observer arrangement, with three conditions."

His eyebrows rose fractionally.

"First, the observer will not interfere with Luna's medical decisions or treatments. Second, my second-in-command, Kieran Blackwood, accompanies the expedition to ensure her safety. Third—" I let Alpha power bleed into my voice, "—any threat to Luna's physical safety will be considered an act of war against House Vane."

Silence blanketed the chamber.

Marcus cleared his throat. "All in favor of the observer arrangement with Alpha Vane's conditions?"

Eight hands rose. Four remained down—Father, Thorne, Stone, and one other.

"Motion carries," Marcus announced. "We'll vote on observer candidates at next session."

But I knew before the voting even began who they'd choose. Cornelius had already ensured his candidate's name would dominate the ballot.