My Cheating Mate (Emma and Jeremy) novel Chapter 100

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“Wait – you’re giving me sixty seconds to decide if I want to save ray father’s life?”

“I’m giving you sixty seconds to decide if you want to increase your debt to me in exchange for your father’s health.” He checked an expensive watch. “Fifty seconds now.”

“This isn’t–you can’t just –” Panic and rage warred in my chest. “What if the additional condition is something I can’t do? Something that violates my morals or endangers the pack?”

“Then you’ll face that dilemma when it arrives. But Jeremy, consider this: your father injured himself protecting the pack you now effectively lead. He sacrificed his body for wolves who depend on him. Can you really stand there and refuse to sacrifice a bit more of your future to restore what he lost?” He glanced at his watch again. “Thirty seconds.”

He was right. My father had sacrificed everything for the pack. Had led for thirty years with honor and strength. And now he was lying in a hospital bed, possibly paralyzed, because of a battle I’d planned.

How could I refuse to help him?

But agreeing meant putting myself even deeper in debt to a vampire who’d just demonstrated he was willing to manipulate emotional situations for leverage.

“Twenty seconds.”

I looked at my father. Thought about him never walking again. Never shifting. Never running through pack lands in wolf form. Never fully recovering from injuries sustained protecting our people.

“Ten seconds.”

“Do it,” I said, the words coming out rough. “Heal him. I agree to your terms.”

Lord Castellan smiled. “Wise choice.”

He moved to my father’s bedside with supernatural speed. His hand settled on my father’s chest, and for a moment, nothing happened.

Then my father gasped–a sharp, sudden intake of breath despite the ventilator. His back arched slightly. The monitors went crazy, alarms blaring.

“What’s happening?” I moved forward but Lord Castellan held up a hand, stopping me.

“Healing. It’s not comfortable for the patient, but it’s effective.”

Golden light–actual glowing light–seemed to emanate from where the vampire’s hand touched my father. It spread across his body, pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat.

The door burst open. Nurses rushed in, responding to the alarms. They stopped short at the sight of Lord Castellan, their faces going pale.

“Out,” he said quietly. “And turn off those alarms. They’re irritating.”

The nurses fled. The alarms went silent–whether by their hands or his power, I couldn’t tell.

The healing continued for what felt like hours but was probably only minutes. Finally, Lord Castellan stepped back. The golden light faded.

My father’s eyes opened.

“Richard?” I moved to his side immediately. “Dad, can you hear me?”

“Jeremy?” His voice was rough but clear. Confused. “What happened? Last thing I remember is—” He tried to sit up, then

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stopped, looking down at himself in wonder. I can feel my legs. I cat – “He flexed his fingers, his toes. “Everything works”

“Lord Castellan healed you. ” Lhelped him sit up slowly, supporting his back.

My father’s gaze found the vampire, and understanding dawned on his face. “At what cost?”

“A modification to the debt your son already owes me. Nothing more.” Lord Castellan moved toward the door. “I trust you’l make a full recovery, Alpha Richard. Do try to be more careful in future battles.”

“Wait,” my father said. “I didn’t agree to this. Jeremy had no right to-”

“Jeremy had every right. He is, after all, your son and your heir. Your wellbeing is his responsibility.” The vampire paused at the door. “Besides, the debt is his, not yours. You need not concern yourself with it.”

“Like hell I don’t. Whatever he agreed to-”

“Is between him and me.” Lord Castellan’s voice held finality. “Jeremy Trent has proven himself a capable leader and a dutiful son. When the time comes for him to pay his debt, I’m certain he’ll do so honorably.”

He left before either of us could respond, the door closing softly behind him.

My father and I sat in silence for a long moment. Then he reached out, taking my hand.

“What did you agree to?” he asked quietly.

“An additional condition when he calls in the favor. Beyond whatever he originally wanted.”

“Son-”

“I couldn’t let you suffer permanent damage because of a battle I planned.” The words came out fierce. “Dad, you would have done the same for me. You have done the same for me, more times than I can count.”

“This is different. Vampire debts-”

“I know what they are. I know what I’ve done.” I met his eyes, “But I’d do it again. You’re my father. My Alpha. I’m not going to stand by and watch you suffer when I can prevent it.”

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Chapter im

He was quiet for a fnoment, studying my face. Then, surprisingly, he smiled. “You’re going to make a good Alpha someday.” “I don’t feel like a good Alpha. I feel like I’m barely holding everything together.”

“That’s what good Alphas feel like most of the time.” He squeezed my hand. “Jeremy, what you did turright–leading the assault, making split–second decisions, even making deals with vampires you knew would cost you – that’s leadership. That’s what being Alpha means.”

“Even if those decisions put me in massive debt to a vampire lord?”

“Even then. Leadership means making hard choices with incomplete information and living with the consequences.” He paused. “Though I wish you’d consulted me before agreeing to additional conditions.”

“He gave me sixty seconds to decide.”

“Vampire manipulation tactics. Classic.” My father sighed. “Well, what’s done is done. Now we deal with it.”

“We?”

“You think I’m letting you face a vampire lord’s debt alone?” He shifted, testing his newly healed body. “Jeremy, you’re my son. When Lord Castellan calls in his favor, we face it together. As a pack. As a family.”

Tears stung my eyes–exhaustion and relief and gratitude all mixing together. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet. We don’t know what he’ll ask for.” He pushed himself fully upright, marveling at his restored mobility. But whatever it is, we’ll handle it. Now-” He fixed me with a serious look. “Tell me about the casualties. All of it.”

So I did. Told him about the fifteen dead, the thirty–two injured. Named each wolf we’d lost. Described how the battle had gone, the choices I’d made, the moments where everything could have gone wrong but somehow didn’t.

He listened without interrupting, his expression grave.

“Fifteen dead,” he said when I finished. “That’s–that’s actually better than I feared. Against one hundred and fifty mercenaries, I expected to lose thirty or more.”

“That doesn’t make it okay.”

“No. But it means your tactical planning was sound. Your decisions saved lives, Jeremy. Remember that. Mourn the ones we lost, but remember that without your strategy, we’d have lost many more.”

A knock on the door interrupted us. A nurse poked her head in, her eyes widening at seeing my father sitting up, fully conscious.

“Alpha Richard! You’re–how are you–the doctors said-”

“I’m feeling much better,” he said smoothly. “Please inform my medical team that I’d like to be discharged as soon as possible. There’s work to be done.”

After she left—still looking confused and maybe a bit terrified—my father turned to me.

“Now, about Emma. When are you going to get her?”

“Tomorrow. Today, technically.” I checked the time. Nearly 6 AM. “I was planning to leave in a few hours, once I was sure you

were-”

“Go now.” His voice was firm. “Jeremy, your mate has been alone in that safe house for days, terrified for your life. Don’t make her wait any longer than necessary.”

“But the pack-”

“The pack will be fine for a few hours. Marcus can handle things. You need to go get Emma and bring her home.”

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