Mated to Her Alpha Instructor Chapter 95

Eileen

I woke to the gentle weight of Regis's arm across my waist, his hand resting protectively over my belly. The morning light filtered through the curtains in soft golden streams, and for a moment, I simply lay there, letting myself exist in this quiet cocoon of warmth and safety.

My body ached in ways that were becoming familiar—the pleasant soreness of muscles well-used, the tender reminder of last night's intimacy still humming beneath my skin. But beneath that, deeper, there was something else. Something that made me hold my breath and turn my focus inward.

I placed my hand over Regis's, pressing gently against the slight swell of my abdomen. The exhaustion that had been my constant companion for weeks felt different now—less like a battery draining and more like energy being shared, redistributed between two beings learning to coexist. And there, in that subtle shift of sensation, I felt it again. That tiny golden flutter I'd discovered last night. Not a movement, but a presence. A consciousness reaching out to mine with tentative trust.

*Hello,* I thought, my throat tightening with emotion. *I'm here. I'm your mama, and I'm here.*

The response was immediate—that soft, warm pulse of recognition that felt like a small hand curling around my finger. My vision blurred with tears as I experienced what I'd been too afraid to hope for: my child wasn't just surviving inside me. It was connecting with me. Choosing to trust me. It's not a dream!

"Eileen?"

Regis's voice was rough with sleep, concern bleeding through our bond before he'd even opened his eyes. His arm tightened reflexively, drawing me back against his chest.

"I'm okay," I whispered, though my voice trembled. "I'm more than okay."

He propped himself up on one elbow, those ice-blue eyes searching my face with that devastating intensity that still made my breath catch. His hand hadn't moved from my stomach, and I could feel him trying to understand through our bond what had shifted in my emotions—the joy mixed with wonder.

"Could you feel it now?" he said softly, his thumb stroking small circles over the fabric of my nightgown.

"Yes, I can feel it," I said, covering his hand with both of mine.

Through our bond, I felt his wolf stir, Valdor's consciousness rising to investigate this new development with cautious wonder.

Regis leaned down to kiss my temple, lingering there as his hand splayed wider across my belly. "Tell me more about it. I want to be part of that little world you and our baby share—always."

"You always will be." I turned in his arms, needing to see his face. "Before, it was like... like I was just a vessel. Something it was taking from because it had no choice. But now..." I said, trying to put the feeling into words. "Now it feels like we're in this together. Like it's telling me, 'I'm here, Mama. You're not alone.'"

The smile that broke across his face was breathtaking—unguarded joy mixed with that fierce protectiveness that defined him. "You're not alone," he agreed, his voice dropping to that low rumble that always made me feel safe. "Neither of you will ever be alone again."

We stayed like that for a long moment, wrapped in each other and the new presence that bound us together. The world outside could wait. Right now, there was only this: my Alpha, our child, and the growing certainty that I was exactly where I was meant to be.

Eventually, Regis stirred, pressing a lingering kiss to my forehead. "There's something I wanted to mention," he said, his tone shifting to something practical but still warm. "Aldric—the Healing Department head—wants to have dinner with us. Tonight, if you feel up to it."

I stiffened a little, old insecurities creeping in. "Dinner? With the department head? Does he really want to see me, or is this just… courtesy?"

"Of course he wants to see you," Regis said gently, his hand tracing slow, soothing circles along my back. "After we talked about the border assignment yesterday, he specifically asked to meet you properly. He wants me to introduce you—personally."

Surprise flickered through me, followed by a shy warmth.

"What do you think?" Regis asked, watching my face closely. "Nothing formal—just the three of us, somewhere quiet where we can talk."

I hesitated, thinking of Professor Thorne's quiet authority, the way even senior students spoke of him with respect. I knew I should thank him for approving my border assignment, for giving me an opportunity I'd never imagined. Still, the thought of sitting across from someone so accomplished made my stomach flutter.

Regis seemed to sense my unease through our bond. "It's also a good chance for us," he added softly. "We could ask for his guidance too—about what you're experiencing with the baby, this bond that's forming. I know some things instinctively, but Aldric has decades of experience with all kinds of physiological bonds, especially the complicated ones. He might help us understand it better."

My hand drift unconsciously to my belly, where that delicate hum of connection still lingered. The nerves eased, replaced by something steadier. Regis wasn't just thinking about a polite dinner—he was thinking about me, about the baby, about making sure we had the best help possible. That quiet, deliberate care touched me more than I could say.

"Alright," I said at last, a small smile tugging at my lips. "Tonight. Dinner with Professor Thorne, to thank him and learn more about the bond."

---

Regis went to make breakfast while I showered and dressed, and by the time I came downstairs, the kitchen was filled with the warm, comforting scent of food.

"Eat," he said, sliding a plate of warm bread and soft cheese toward me, along with a steaming cup of his special pregnancy tea.

I was indeed hungry,espeicaly after last night. I tore into the bread, savoring the buttery warmth, and chased it with a sip of tea.

When I finally looked up from my plate, I found Regis watching me. His brows lifted, amusement flickering in his eyes, and I realized I might have been eating a little… enthusiastically.

"The baby likes this," I said quickly, one hand over my stomach, as if that explained my voracious appetite.

He gave me a knowing smile, leaning back in his chair. "Mm. The baby, sure." His gaze softened, but there was a teasing edge to his voice. "Or maybe it’s because someone burned through far too much energy last night."

Heat crept up my neck. "Regis—"

His smile gentled. "Well, just eat however you like."

I ducked my head, overwhelmed by the intensity of his gaze and the warm pulse of love through our bond. This man who could command battalions and face down Elder Councils watched me eat breakfast like I was performing a miracle. And maybe, in a way, I was. Growing our child. Nurturing this fragile life despite all the odds stacked against us.

When I'd finished, Regis pulled me to my feet and into his arms, careful as always not to press too hard against my sensitive belly. "Ready for classes?" he murmured into my hair.

"Do I have a choice?"

"Always." He pulled back to look at me seriously. "If you need rest, you can stay home. I'll make sure your professors understand."

"No, I can manage. Besides," I added with a small smile, "Mira will murder me if I leave her alone with Professor Ward's lecture on wound debridement techniques."

Regis's laugh rumbled through his chest. "Fair enough. But you come straight to my office if you feel unwell. No pushing through discomfort to prove a point."

"Yes, Alpha," I said, only half-teasing.

His eyes flashed that molten gold that meant Valdor was close to the surface. "Careful, little one. Keep calling me that in that tone, and we'll be late for very different reasons."

I flushed hot all over, memories of last night flooding back in vivid detail. The way he'd held me against the wall, the words he'd growled in my ear, the feeling of being completely claimed and cherished in the same breath...

He pressed a kiss to my lips, lingering long enough that I felt his restraint trembling through the contact. "But if we don't leave now, neither of us will make it to campus on time."