My Cheating Mate (Emma and Jeremy) novel Chapter 143

Chapter 143

Chapter 143

“In exchange for what?”

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“In exchange for reconsidering your alliance with Lord Castellan’s coven.” Thomas leaned forward. “Mr. Trent, we understand the alliance was formed under duress. During a war with mercenaries. But that threat has been neutralized. You don’t need vampire protection anymore.”

“Don’t we?” Lord Castellan’s voice cut through the room. “Interesting perspective, considering your organization just spent months planning an operation against this pack.”

“The rogue faction-”

“Was still your organization. Your resources. Your ideology.” He moved closer to the table, his presence oppressive. “Madeline, Thomas, Christopher-let’s dispense with the political theater. You’re here because you’re afraid. Afraid that Grace Trent represents a future you can’t control. A future where species cooperation is normalized and your eight-hundred-year-old segregation policies become irrelevant.”

Madeline’s smile tightened. “We’re here because we want peace.”

“No. You’re here because I killed three of your operatives tonight and you’re wondering if I’m going to come for the rest of you.” Lord Castellan’s eyes had darkened again. “You should be wondering that. Because if anything— and I mean anything-happens to Grace, I will dismantle the Council piece by piece. And I’ll enjoy every moment of it.”

The temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees.

Christopher cleared his throat. “Lord Castellan, we’re not here to threaten anyone. We’re here to find common ground.”

“There is no common ground. You want the alliance dissolved. I want Grace protected. Those positions are mutually exclusive.”

“Are they?” Madeline pulled out a tablet, sliding it across the table toward me. “Mr. Trent, we’re prepared to offer substantial resources for your pack. Territory expansion. Political support for your Alpha transition. Guaranteed protection for Grace from all Council operations-rogue or otherwise. All we ask is that you formally distance yourself from vampire alliances.”

I looked at the tablet. The offer was detailed. Generous, even. Everything the pack could need to establish ourselves as a major power in the region.

All for the small price of abandoning the allies who’d kept us alive.

I slid the tablet back without opening it.

“No.”

“Mr. Trent-”

“My answer is no. The alliance stands. Grace will be raised knowing that wolves and vampires can work together. And if your Council has a problem with that, you’re welcome to try doing something about it.” I leaned forward. ” But know this–if you do, you won’t just be fighting Crescent Moon Pack. You’ll be fighting Lord Castellan. And based on how terrified you looked when you saw him standing there, I don’t think that’s a fight you want.”

Madeline’s mask slipped. Just for a second. Just long enough for me to see the calculation behind it.

“We’re trying to prevent bloodshed,” she said quietly. “Ours and yours.”

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Chapter 143

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“Then I suggest you stop threatening my daughter.”

The three Council members stood as one, the meeting clearly over.

“We’ll be in touch,” Thomas said. “This doesn’t have to end in violence.”

“It already did,” Lord Castellan said. “The moment your organization targeted Grace. Now it’s just a question of how much more violence you’re willing to endure before you accept that this alliance isn’t going anywhere.”

After they left, I stood in the dining room, processing what had just happened.

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