My Cheating Mate (Emma and Jeremy) novel Chapter 102

Chapter 102

My Cheating Mate

Emma pov

I’d been pacing the safe house for six hours since Jeremy’s call, unable to sit still, unable to sleep, just waiting. When my phone finally rang with an update from my father–Jeremy was on his way to get me, Alpha Richard was awake and healing–I’d thrown clothes in a bag and headed out immediately.

I couldn’t wait for Jeremy to come get me. I needed to see him, needed to know he was really okay, needed to see the pack and my father and confirm with my own eyes that we’d survived. 1

The drive back to pack lands was a blur. I barely remembered the route, just focused on getting there, getting home, seeing Jeremy. 1

The pack house was chaos when I arrived–wolves everywhere, some injured, all exhausted. The scent of blood and antiseptic hung heavy in the air. I pushed through the crowd, heading for the hospital wing where my father had said Jeremy would be.

That’s when I saw him.

A vampire. Standing in the middle of the hallway like he belonged there, watching the organized chaos with detached interest.

I stopped short, my wolf immediately on high alert. He was beautiful in the way vampires always were–inhumanly perfect features, pale skin, dark eyes that seemed to see too much. He wore expensive clothes that somehow remained pristine despite the blood and chaos surrounding us.

He turned, those dark eyes fixing on me with unnerving focus. Then he smiled.

I froze. Every instinct screamed at me to run, to shift, to do something. But I couldn’t move, pinned by his gaze like a butterfly on display.

“Emma Smith,” he said, his voice smooth as silk. “Or should I say, Emma Trent? I confess, I’m unclear on whether you’ve reclaimed your mate’s name after all the drama.”

“Who are you?” I managed to get the words out despite my dry throat.

“Lord Castellan. Of the Nightshade Coven.” He moved closer, each step deliberate. “Your mate invited me to participate in last night’s festivities. I must say, it was quite entertaining.”

This was the vampire lord. The one Jeremy had made a deal with. The one who now owned a piece of my mate’s future.

“You helped us,” I said, forcing my voice to stay steady. “Thank you.”

୮

“Don’t thank me. I helped because young Jeremy incurred a debt to do so.” He circled me slowly, studying me like I was an interesting specimen. “I wanted to see what was worth all this trouble. The female that started a war. The mate that inspired such–desperate measures.”

“I didn’t start anything. Vanessa-”

“Hired mercenaries because your mate couldn’t keep his commitment to either of you. Yes, yes, I know the sordid details.” He stopped in front of me, close enough that I could see flecks of gold in those dark eyes. “But Emma, you must understand–you inspired great sacrifice. Jeremy traded personal debt to save your life. Made tactical decisions that risked his own future. Led an assault against superior numbers. All for you.”

“I didn’t ask him to.”

“No. But you accepted it. Accepted his protection, his sacrifice, his willingness to put himself in danger for you.” His smile grew. “That makes you either very brave or very selfish. I’m curious which.”

“I’m not –I didn’t want any of this.” Anger was replacing fear now. “I wanted to be left alone to heal. Instead, mercenaries kept

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coming and Jeremy kept–kept throwing himself at them.”

“Kept trying to redeem himself, you mean. Kept trying to prove he was worthy of the mate he’d betrayed.” Lord Castellan tilted his head. “Tell me, Emma has he succeeded? Do you forgive him for his infidelity? For the lies? For the plans to use you?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“Oh, but it is. Because Jeremy’s debt to me is tied to you. To his guilt over you. To his desperate need to protect you.” He moved even closer, his voice dropping. “If you reject him, if you walk away–what happens to his motivation? His drive? His willingness to pay whatever price I eventually demand?”

“You“re worried I’ll leave him and he’ll be less useful to you.” The realization made me sick. “That’s why you’re here. Not to check on him, but to make sure I’m committed enough to keep him functional.”

“Perceptive.” His smile was approval and threat all at once. “I invested twelve warriors in your pack’s survival. Invested time and power in healing your mate’s father. I have a vested interest in ensuring Jeremy Trent remains a strong, capable Alpha who can pay his debts.”

“He will pay them. With or without me.”

“Will he? Or will he be so broken by your rejection that he becomes useless?” Lord Castellan circled me again. “You see, Emma, I could have let Alpha Richard remain paralyzed. Could have simply waited for Jeremy to take over leadership of a grieving, wounded pack. But I chose to heal his father, to give him back something he thought he’d lost. Do you know why?”

“To increase his debt to you.”

“Partially. But also to show him that I can give back what’s lost. That I have power over life and health and family.” He stopped directly in front of me. “A lesson I want him—and you to remember. When I call in my debt, when I make my demands, remember that I have the power to restore or destroy. To heal or harm.”

“Is that a threat?”

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