Mated to Her Alpha Instructor Chapter 27

Eileen

Mira froze for a heartbeat, then burst out laughing. "Pregnant? You don’t even have a boyfriend! Did you hit your head? Or maybe you’ve got a fever?"

She leaned forward, hand reaching for my forehead.

I pulled back slightly. "I found my mate."

Her brows lifted in mock surprise. "Oh really? And who’s this mysterious mate?"

My cheeks warmed. "Vane… Instructor Vane."

She snorted. "Right. Just like half the girls here ‘found their mate’ in the gorgeous instructor. You’re just fangirling, admit it."

I sighed, got up, and walked over to the small sink in the corner. "Okay. You want proof?"

I turned on the tap and splashed cool water over my neck and wrists, washing away the faint layer of scent-masking balm I’d applied that morning.

Within seconds, the air shifted—subtle but unmistakable. A warm, sweet note threaded through the room, carrying a pulse of life that only a wolf could sense.

Mira’s smile faltered. She blinked once, twice, and then her eyes went wide. For a few seconds she just stared at me, completely still—until the realization hit.

"Oh gods! it’s real…" Her sharp gasp turned into a full-on squeal.

I lunged forward, clapping a hand over her mouth. "Shh! Do you want the whole floor to hear?"

She made a muffled sound against my palm, her gaze flicking between my face and the lingering scent in the air, disbelief and excitement warring in her eyes.

"*What?!*" The word came out muffled and several octaves too high. She dropped her hands, eyes huge. "You're—how is that even—Eileen, you can't shift! Wolfless individuals don't—I mean, the healers always said—" She seemed to run out of words, just staring at me like I'd announced I could fly.

"I know it shouldn't be possible," I managed. "But it happened. About two weeks ago, in the forest."

"The forest." Mira's breathing quickened as she processed. "Wait. That's why you were acting so strange when I came back from the Moon ball—" Her eyes widened further. "Oh goddess. It was the night before that, wasn't it?"

I nodded, throat tight.

"Wait... the viewing platform." I watched realization dawn across her face. "The girls in class were talking about it this morning, that someone was with Vane... Oh goddess. It was you!"

My silence was answer enough. Mira made that strangled sound again, louder this time, and shot to her feet. She paced three steps, spun back to stare at me, paced again. "Instructor Regis Vane. The most powerful Alpha in the territory, the one every wolf in the academy has a crush on—" She cut herself off, returning to grip my shoulders. "He knows, right? And he has started to date you?!"

"It's not... not a date. I just told him about the pregnancy last night."

"And?" Mira's fingers tightened, her expression fierce. "What did he say? Because if he thinks he can just walk away from this, if he dares suggest you handle it alone—"

"He wants to keep the baby," I interrupted, and watched her fury transform instantly to shock. "He said... he wants me too. He's offered to help with everything—housing, school, all of it."

Mira's hands slowly released my shoulders as she sank back down beside me. "He wants—" She seemed to be having trouble processing. "Eileen, do you understand what this means? You're going to be Vane's mate. His actual, bonded mate. You're going to have his child." Her voice held something between awe and disbelief. "This is like something out of those healing romance stories Mom reads. The powerful Alpha and the overlooked healer, brought together by the moon's design."

"It's not a story, Mira. It's terrifying."

"I know." Her expression softened and she pulled me into a gentler hug. "But you're not alone in it. That's what matters, right? He's stepping up. He's taking responsibility." She pulled back to study my face. "Does this mean you're moving in with him? What about your classes?"

"We're going to talk about it tonight. He has a house, somewhere quiet."

A sly grin started spreading across Mira's face despite the gravity of the situation. "So you're going to be waking up next to that face every morning? Eileen Wylde, do you realize half the academy would commit murder for this opportunity?"

"Mira!" Heat flooded my cheeks.

"I'm just saying!" But her teasing faded quickly back to concern. "Seriously though, the dormitory really isn't good for you right now, is it? All the competing smells, people coming and going at all hours, the stress of hiding this." She gestured around our small shared space. "You need somewhere you can actually rest. Somewhere safe."

As if summoned by her words, my communicator vibrated against my palm. I pulled it out to find Regis's message glowing: [Everything okay? There was this nagging sense that something had happened to you.]

Mira read over my shoulder and let out a small squeak. "He can feel when you're unwell? That's so incredible!" She stopped. "I thought wolfless individuals couldn't sense their mates."

"It's... complicated," I said, which seemed to be my answer for everything lately. "The pregnancy might be allowing it somehow. I don't fully understand it myself."

"Well, answer him!" Mira pushed my hand. "Tell him what happened!"

Under her watchful gaze, I typed with trembling fingers: [Some pregnancy sickness. I'm okay now. Mira is taking care of me.]

His response came almost immediately: [The dormitory environment isn't suitable for you. I meant what I said about the house. It's quiet there, private, and I can ensure you get proper nutrition and rest. Can we discuss moving arrangements tonight?]

Mira read the message and nodded emphatically. "He's absolutely right. You can barely keep food down, you're exhausted constantly, and you're trying to hide morning sickness from an entire dormitory full of wolves with keen noses." She poked my arm for emphasis. "Accept his help, Eileen. That's what mates are supposed to do—take care of each other."

I stared at the crystal, at Regis's careful, practical message that somehow still conveyed deep concern. The idea of leaving this room—my only space, my safe space—felt enormous and frightening. But Mira was right. I couldn't keep this up much longer.

My fingers moved across the device: [Okay. Tonight. We'll talk about it.]

The response was immediate: [Good. See you then.]

Mira read it and made an approving sound. "See? He's being respectful, giving you choices, not just ordering you around." Her grin returned. "Also devastatingly handsome and powerful and apparently completely devoted to you. Really terrible situation you've found yourself in."

Despite everything, I found myself smiling. "You're ridiculous."

"I'm supportive," she corrected. "There's a difference." Then her expression grew serious again. "But I mean it, Eileen. Whatever you need, I'm here. Even if you move out to live with your gorgeous instructor-mate, I'm still your best friend. You're not facing this alone."

The words brought sudden tears to my eyes. Not alone. For so long that had been my default state—alone in my family, alone at school, alone with every problem. But now I had Regis promising to help, Mira standing beside me, and this tiny life inside me.

"Thank you," I whispered.

After Mira left to get me plain bread and mild tea, I lay back on my bed with one hand on my stomach. Through the window, afternoon sunlight painted golden squares on the floor, and somewhere in the distance I could hear the normal sounds of academy life continuing while mine transformed into something entirely new.

Tonight I would see Regis again. We would talk about the house, about moving, about building a life together. The thought should have terrified me. But right now, with Mira's support fresh in my mind and Regis's message still glowing on my crystal, what I felt most strongly was something I'd almost forgotten existed.

Hope.