Mated to Her Alpha Instructor Chapter 38

Eileen

Celeste grabbed Derek's arm possessively, her face twisted with anger. "This is ridiculous. Come on, Derek. We don't need to listen to this."

But Derek didn't move immediately. He stared at me, and for a moment I saw something flicker across his face—realization, perhaps, that I'd stopped looking at him the way I used to. That I'd moved on.

That I was no longer waiting for him.

"We should go," I said softly, touching Mira's arm. My voice was steadier than I expected.

She whirled to face me, still bristling. "But—"

"Please." I met her eyes, trying to communicate that I was okay, that this wasn't worth our energy. "Let's just go."

For a moment I thought she'd refuse. Then she huffed out a breath and linked her arm through mine again, though her glare at Derek and Celeste could have melted stone.

"Fine. But only because you asked." She raised her voice pointedly. "Enjoy your shallow, miserable little lives together. You deserve each other."

As we walked away, I could hear Celeste's outraged sputtering behind us, Derek's attempts to calm her. But I didn't look back.

"I cannot *believe* you wasted a year on that ass," Mira muttered once we were out of earshot.

"Neither can I," I admitted quietly. And I meant it.

The main gate came into view, and with it, the familiar black carriage. And standing beside it, tall and powerful and somehow radiating both patience and barely-contained anxiety, was Regis.

Even from this distance I could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his ice-blue eyes scanned the grounds with focused intensity. Then he spotted me, and I watched his whole posture change—shoulders dropping, expression softening, something like relief flooding across his features.

My heart did a strange little flip in my chest, and my steps quickened of their own accord.

"Go on," Mira said, giving me a gentle push. "Your mate's waiting. And he looks like he's been standing there awhile."

I hurried toward him, suddenly aware of how long he must have been waiting, how worried he might have been when I was delayed. A small part of me wondered if I should mention what had just happened—Derek's mocking words, Celeste's sneering face, the way they'd both tried to make me feel small again.

But the thought of telling Regis made something twist uncomfortably in my stomach. He'd want to know who they were, what they'd said. And then what? Would he confront them? Make a scene? The thought of him involving himself in something so petty, so beneath his notice, made me feel embarrassed and small all over again.

No. Derek had taken up enough of my life already. I wasn't going to let him intrude on this too.

"I'm sorry," I said as soon as I was close enough. "We ran into some people on the way. I didn't mean to keep you waiting."

His eyes swept over me from head to toe, a quick but thorough assessment. "Are you alright?" His voice was low, controlled, but I could hear the edge beneath it. "What happened?"

"Nothing important." I tried to keep my voice light, deliberately vague. "Just... ran into some classmates. It's fine."

His eyes narrowed fractionally, and I knew through the bond that he could sense there was more to it than I was saying. But he didn't push, and I was grateful for it.

Instead, he simply said, "Ready to go home?" as he reached for my bag with one hand and offered his other to help me into the carriage.

The gesture was so natural, so practiced, as if he'd been doing it for years instead of days. His hand was warm and steady as it closed around mine, and I felt the bond hum with contentment at the contact.

Behind us, I heard Mira make a small, approving sound. When I glanced back, she was grinning and giving me enthusiastic thumbs up.

I couldn't help but smile as Regis helped me settle into the carriage, his movements careful and attentive. He climbed in after me, and as the carriage began to move, he turned to face me.

"Are you sure you're alright?" he asked again, his voice gentler now. "If someone made you uncomfortable, you can tell me."

The offer was there, clear and steady. But I found myself shaking my head, pushing down the memory of Derek's shocked face, Celeste's anger.

"I'm fine," I assured him. "Really. Mira took care of it."

He studied my face for a long moment, and I could feel through the bond that he knew I was holding something back. But he nodded slowly, accepting my choice not to elaborate.

"If that changes," he said quietly, "you'll tell me."

It wasn't a question, but it wasn't quite a command either. More like a promise—that he'd be there if I needed him.

"I will," I said, and meant it. If it ever became something I couldn't handle, something that threatened me or the baby, I would tell him. But this? This was just old hurt, old shame, and I didn't want to give it any more power than it had already taken.

We rode in comfortable silence for a while, the familiar rhythm of the carriage lulling me into a sense of peace. Through the window I could see the Academy grounds giving way to quieter streets, and I let myself relax against the cushioned seat.

"Eileen," Regis said after a while, his voice careful. "Those people you ran into. They upset you?"

I considered my answer, then decided on honesty—at least partial honesty. "A little. But not the way they used to."

His eyebrows rose slightly. "Used to?"

"They're just..." I struggled to find the right words that wouldn't reveal too much. "People who used to matter to me. But now..." I met Regis's eyes. "Now I know better."

Something warm flickered in his gaze, something that made my breath catch. "Good," he said softly. "You deserve better than whatever they could offer."

The sincerity in his voice made my throat tight. I looked down at my hands, suddenly unable to hold his gaze.

"Thank you," I whispered. "For... for everything."

"You don't need to thank me all the time." His voice was low, intense. "I'm just doing what I want to do."

Through the bond I felt the truth of it, the depth of his conviction. And underneath that, something else—a warmth, a tenderness that made my heart race.

The carriage pulled up to the house, and Regis helped me down with the same careful attention he always showed. As we walked to the door, I found myself thinking about Derek's shocked face, Celeste's angry denials. They hadn't believed I could have a mate. Hadn't believed anyone would choose me.

But Regis had. And every day, in a hundred small ways, he kept choosing me.