Mated to Her Alpha Instructor Chapter 66

Regis

Today marked the official launch of the reforms—every sitting Elder was required to undergo a new qualification review. My father had warned me yesterday about what we might face. He knew there were plenty who resented Eileen's presence in my life.

I’d made Thomas swear to keep the truth about Eileen being my mate strictly confidential, and so far, there hadn’t been a whisper of it among the student body. But the Council was another matter entirely—they would dig, and they would find out.

I'd faced hostile packs with less tension coiling through my spine than what I felt now, standing beside him as Elder Cornelius regarded us with the air of a man convinced we were already wasting his time.

"Your proposal to reform Elder appointment processes," Elder Cornelius began, his tone carrying just enough condescension to set my teeth on edge, "is certainly... ambitious. One might wonder what prompted such sudden concern for institutional oversight, Regis."

My father's presence beside me was a steadying weight. "The recent incident involving Elder Blackwell demonstrated clear gaps in our accountability structures," Alfred said evenly. "This reform benefits the entire community, not just individual families."

"Does it?" Another Elder—Grayson, I thought, though these men blurred together in their shared disdain—leaned forward with a smile that held no warmth. "Or does it simply protect certain... personal interests?" His gaze flickered to me meaningfully. "I understand congratulations are in order, by the way. A mate bond. Despite such unusual circumstances."

Inside me, Valdor surged against the mental barriers I'd spent years perfecting, fangs bared at the insinuation buried in those words. But I'd learned long ago to wear civility like armor, even when every instinct screamed to tear out throats.

"My mate has no bearing on this discussion," I said, keeping my voice level despite the fury simmering beneath. "If the Council wishes to debate policy, let's debate policy. Personal commentary serves no one."

Cornelius's smile turned venomous. "But everything is connected, isn't it, Regis? You assault a student in defense of a girl, strong-arm a fellow Elder into resignation, and now propose sweeping reforms that would conveniently prevent similar scrutiny of your own... choices." He leaned back, fingers steepled in mock contemplation. "Tell me—does your mate even possess a wolf? How can one without that most basic qualification ever hope to represent our people as Luna?"

The chamber seemed to contract around me. My vision narrowed to Cornelius's smug face, and I felt claws threatening to burst through my fingertips. Every instinct howled to leap across that space and demonstrate exactly what an Alpha did to those who dared insult his mate. The wolf inside me was already calculating angles of attack, imagining the satisfying resistance of flesh giving way beneath fangs.

But I'd made Eileen a promise—had sworn to be the strength she could lean on, not the rage that consumed everything in its path. She needed me controlled, capable, *present*. Not dragged before a tribunal for butchering an Elder in his own Council chamber.

"My mate," I said, and each word came out edged in frost, "is under my protection and that of my family. Any insult to her is an insult to House Vane. I suggest you consider that carefully, Elder Cornelius, before you speak again."

"Is that a threat?"

"It's a statement of fact."

My father's hand settled on my shoulder—brief, grounding, a reminder to breathe. "Gentlemen," Alfred interjected with practiced diplomacy, "personal attacks serve no purpose here. The proposal stands on its own merits. Let's return to discussing those merits."

But Cornelius wasn't finished twisting the knife. "You've made enemies with this crusade of yours, Regis. Those of us who value tradition and proper bloodlines won't simply roll over because you've decided your mate's questionable honor requires dismantling centuries of carefully maintained order." He gestured dismissively at the reform documents. "We'll take this under advisement. For now, I believe we're done here."

The meeting dissolved into bitter murmurs as Council members filed out, most refusing to meet my eyes. I stood motionless in the center of the chamber, my fists clenched so tightly my knuckles had gone white, feeling Valdor's frustrated snarl reverberate through my bones.

As my father passed, he rested a firm hand on my arm—a silent promise in his eyes that he would stand beside me, no matter how ugly this became.

Once the last Elder disappeared, Kieran materialized at my elbow. "That went about as well as expected," he muttered. "Which is to say, absolutely terribly."

I forced my hands to unclench, flexing fingers that ached from the strain of keeping claws sheathed. "Cornelius won't stop at blocking reform. He'll come after Eileen directly if he thinks it will undermine me."

"Then we make sure she's protected." Kieran's usual levity had vanished, replaced by the hard-eyed strategist I'd served alongside in border campaigns. "Are you going to tell her? About what they said?"

The question lodged in my throat like a shard of ice. I thought of Eileen this morning, the way she'd touched her stomach with something approaching hope rather than fear. She was finally beginning to believe she had value beyond what others demanded of her, that she could contribute something meaningful to the world.

How could I tell her that men with power and ancient prejudice had just spent an hour using her as a weapon against me, reducing her existence to a political liability?

"No," I said finally. "Not yet."

Kieran's brow furrowed. "You're sure? Cornelius isn't the type to let this go quietly."

"I know exactly what type he is." My jaw tightened. "Which is why I won't give him the satisfaction of watching Eileen crumble under his malice. She's just starting to believe in herself—I won't hand him that victory."

"Fair enough." Kieran's expression shifted from concern to calculation. "Then we need to stay ahead of them. Cornelius and his faction—they're not going to just accept the reform failure and move on. They'll see your mate as your weak point."

The wolf inside me snarled at the suggestion, but I forced myself to consider it rationally. "You think they'll target her directly?"

"I think when cornered animals feel their territory threatened, they bite whatever's closest." He met my gaze steadily. "And right now, with their positions under scrutiny and their authority challenged, they're very cornered. Do you want me to have some of my people keep an eye on Council movements?"

Relief loosened some of the tension in my shoulders. This was exactly why Kieran had been invaluable during our campaigns—he thought three moves ahead, anticipated threats before they materialized. "Yes. Especially Cornelius and anyone in his inner circle. If they so much as breathe in Eileen's direction, I want to know about it."

"Consider it done." He paused, then added more quietly, "For what it's worth, I think you're handling this the right way. Let her build her strength in peace. We'll handle the wolves circling outside."

We walked in silence through the academy corridors, my mind already cataloging potential threats and countermeasures. The bond hummed faintly at the edge of my consciousness—Eileen's presence warm and focused, absorbed in whatever work had captured her attention. That brightness, untainted by the ugliness I'd just endured, steadied something in me that had been wavering.

"Just keep me informed of anything unusual," I said as we reached the training grounds. "The moment any of them make a move toward her—"

"You'll be the first to know." Kieran clapped my shoulder. "Now go home to your mate. She's probably wondering why you're broadcasting 'barely contained homicidal rage' through your bond."

I hadn't realized how much tension I was projecting until he said it. Deliberately, I smoothed out the jagged edges of my emotions, letting only calm determination filter through the connection. Eileen didn't need to feel the aftermath of the Council's poison.

Not while she still had that light in her.

Not while I could still shield her from it.