Mated to Her Alpha Instructor Chapter 28

Regis

The afternoon sun slanted through my office window as I made final adjustments to the tea setup, ensuring everything was ready for Eileen's arrival. I'd just finished when Kieran let himself in without knocking, as he'd done countless times over the years.

"You're early," I said, not looking up from arranging the cups.

"Wanted to make sure I didn't miss her." He dropped into the chair across from my desk with his usual easy confidence. "It's not every day Regis Vane introduces his mate. Future Luna of the Vane territory, no less."

I shot him a warning look. "Don't call her that. Not yet. She's nervous enough as it is."

"Which is exactly why I'm here—to show her she's got allies, not just you hovering protectively." He grinned. "Besides, I'm excellent at putting people at ease. You know this."

"You're also excellent at saying exactly the wrong thing when you think you're being charming."

"Have a little faith." He settled back, examining me with that assessing look I knew too well. "You're wound tighter than a bowstring. When's the last time you actually relaxed?"

Before I could answer, I felt her presence through the bond—close now, approaching down the hallway. My spine straightened automatically.

"She's here," I said quietly.

Kieran's expression shifted to something more serious, more respectful. "Then let's not scare her off."

The soft knock came a moment later. I took a breath, centering myself, then called out: "Come in."

Eileen slipped through the door, her movements hesitant, eyes widening slightly when she saw Kieran already present. She froze halfway into the room, clearly uncertain whether to proceed or retreat.

"Eileen." I kept my voice gentle, rising from my chair. "Please, come in. This is Kieran Blackwood, my trusted friend." I moved closer to her, lowering my voice slightly. "I wanted to introduce you to my inner circle. You belong here."

She glanced between us, color rising in her cheeks, then gave a small, uncertain nod. I gestured to the chair I'd prepared, and she moved toward it with careful steps. Kieran stood as she entered, a gesture of respect that seemed to ease some of her visible tension.

"Miss Wylde," Kieran said warmly, inclining his head. "It's good to finally meet you properly. Regis has spoken highly of you."

"I... thank you. That's kind of you to say." Her voice was barely above a whisper, hands already twisting together in her lap as she sat.

"Kieran is a senior combat instructor," I explained, resuming my seat and keeping my tone matter-of-fact. "He's also my oldest friend and someone I trust completely. Given our situation, we may need help coordinating certain things."

"Your secret is safe with me," Kieran assured her, his tone sincere without being overbearing. "Whatever you need, whenever you need it."

Eileen's shoulders relaxed fractionally, though her hands remained knotted together. "Thank you. I appreciate that."

There was a brief silence as she seemed to gather herself, and I used the moment to pour tea, the familiar ritual giving us all something neutral to focus on. Her scent filled the air—calming, gentle.

Kieran leaned back slightly in his chair, his posture open and unthreatening. "Actually, I think I've seen you before. At the combat tournaments last term—you were in the audience stands during several of the regional matches."

Eileen's face went scarlet, her gaze dropping immediately to her lap. "I... yes. I just had some interest in combat theory," she managed, the words coming out strained and unconvincing.

I caught the brief flicker of understanding in Kieran's expression—a slight knowing look that passed too quickly for me to fully read, though I sensed he'd drawn his own conclusions. Whatever they were, he kept them to himself.

"Well, you picked some excellent demonstrations to observe," he said easily, his tone warming as if genuinely pleased by her interest. "Those regional tournaments really showcase the breadth of combat styles we teach here. Good eye for quality matches." He accepted the tea I offered him, then smoothly shifted topics. "Speaking of which, Regis, did you finalize the training rotation schedule for next month?"

I recognized the deflection for what it was—giving Eileen space to recover from whatever had left her so uncomfortable—and felt a flash of gratitude for his tact. "Not yet. I'll have it ready by week's end."

"Good. Some of the advanced students have been asking about specialized sessions." Kieran sipped his tea, keeping the conversation neutral and professional.

Eileen had relaxed slightly, though her cheeks still held color. She accepted the cup I offered her with both hands, inhaling the steam as if drawing comfort from it.

"There's something else you should know," I said carefully, setting down the teapot and meeting Kieran's gaze. "Eileen is carrying my child. The pregnancy is approximately two weeks along."

Kieran's cup paused halfway to his lips. His eyes widened with genuine shock, the easy confidence dropping away for a moment. "That's—" He stopped, visibly recalibrating his understanding. "Forgive me, but I thought wolfless individuals couldn't conceive with pure-blood Alphas. I've never heard of an actual documented case."

"The medical texts mention it as theoretically possible but extremely rare," I said, keeping my tone clinical even as my wolf stirred protectively at the reminder of how unprecedented this was. "Which means we're navigating largely unknown territory. The pregnancy will likely place unusual strain on her body."

Understanding dawned across Kieran's features, concern replacing shock. "Which is why you want her somewhere you can properly monitor her condition." He turned to Eileen, his expression softening. "How are you managing? Any complications so far?"