My Cheating Mate (Emma and Jeremy) novel Chapter 158

Chapter 158

“We make thein defend the defensible,” Jeremy finished. “They’d have to publicly argue that five year old Grace is a threat. That families like ours are dangerotis. That species integration is wrong. ”

“Most supernatural communities won’t support that openly. The Council’s held power became they’ve never had to defend their position publicly. They just existed. Operated Cas was typing rapidly now, seeding messages to contacts I didn’t even know he had. “But if we force them to articulate why they’re attacking us, why Crace needs to be taken from her family, why I deserve execution for being Uncle Cas-”

“The moderate supernaturals will turn against them,” I said. “Not everyone agrees with infegration, but most won’t support kidnapping children or executing vampires for being part of wolf families.”

“That’s the theory. But Emma, this strategy requires time. Requires us holding out against their attacks winde we build public pressure.” He looked at me seriously. “People will die. Our allies are already under attack. More will come. Can you live with that?”

I thought about Grace upstairs. About the world we wanted her to grow up in. About five years of watching vampires and wolves build something real together.

About the alternative–handing her over to the Council’s “educational facility” where they’d undo everything we’d taught her about cooperation and family and choice.

“I can live with it,” I said. “Because the alternative is worse. Because surrendering now doesn’t save lives–it just gives the Council permission to threaten anyone who tries to integrate in the future.”

“Agreed.” Jeremy moved to my side. “Cas, you have forty–eight hours before the Council escalates. Use them. Build the coalition. Coordinate our defense. Make them fight for every inch.”

“And after forty–eight hours?”

“After forty–eight hours, we show them what happens when you threaten family.” Jeremy’s voice was cold. “They want war? We’ll give them war. But not the kind they’re expecting.”

Cas nodded once, then turned fully to the tactical display. His fingers flew across the interface, sending messages, coordinating forces, building the kind of complex multi–layered strategy that only someone who’d lived for centuries could manage.

I watched him work for a moment, then pulled out my phone. Started my own calls. To Grace’s school, arranging indefinite leave. To my father, coordinating Ironwood’s defense. To pack members, ensuring everyone understood the threat and the

stakes.

Jeremy did the same. Calls to allied Alphas. To warriors. To suppliers and logistics coordinators.

We worked through the night. Building the coalition. Coordinating defense. Preparing for war.

r

At 3 AM, I went upstairs to check on Grace. She was sleeping peacefully, completely unaware that armies were mobilizing because the Council wanted to take her. That vampires and wolves across North America were choosing sides. That in forty- eight hours, everything might change.

I stood in her doorway, watching her sleep, and made a silent promise.

The Council wouldn’t take her. Wouldn’t undo what we’d built. Wouldn’t tear apart our family.

Whatever it cost. However many battles we had to fight.

Grace would grow up in a world where Uncle Cas was normal. Where cooperation between species was just how things worked. Where families like ours weren’t revolutionary–just families.

I’d make sure of it.

We all would.

The war was coming. Let it come.

We were ready.

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Chapter 158

My Cheating Mate

Jeremy pov

Wh

The pack house had transformed overnight into something resembling a military command center.

Maps covered every available surface. Tactical displays ran continuously in the war room. Vampires and wolves moved through the same spaces with the easy cooperation that would have been unthinkable six years ago comparing intelligence reports, coordinating defensive positions, sharing resources without hesitation.

This was exactly what the Council claimed was unnatural. Exactly what they wanted to destroy,

Looking at it, I couldn’t understand how anyone called this wrong.

I stood at the main tactical display with Cas and Marcus, running through defensive protocols for what felt like the hundredth time since dawn. We had forty–two hours left on the Council’s deadline. Forty–two hours to position our forces, shore up vulnerable points, build the kind of layered defense that could actually hold against a sustained assault.

“Northern perimeter needs reinforcement,” Cas said, tapping the display. “If the Council hits from there, they cut off our fastest evacuation route to the safe houses.”

“I’m pulling the Riverside unit to cover it.” Marcus moved markers on the map. “That leaves the eastern frank thinner than I’d like.”

“I have twelve vampires who can cover the east. They’ll be more effective there anyway–faster response time, night vision, don’t need backup for most threats.” Cas made the adjustment. “The hybrid positioning is actually our greatest tactical advantage. Council forces will be expecting traditional wolf defensive formations. Mixing vampire and wolf units creates unpredictable response patterns.”

“They’ll have vampires of their own,” I pointed out. “The Council isn’t exclusively wolf. They have aligned covens.”

“Smaller ones. Older, more conservative. Most major covens have already pledged to our coalition or declared neutrality.” Cas’s expression was grim satisfaction. “The Council’s power base is narrowing. Publicly supporting execution of a vampire lord for being family with wolves isn’t popular, even among vampires who don’t believe in integration.”

“How narrow?”

“Narrow enough that they can’t afford a long war. They need a quick victory. Take Grace, execute me, demonstrate overwhelming force–all before the coalition fully consolidates.” He looked at me. “Which means their attack will come before the forty–eight hours expire. They’ll want to hit while we’re still preparing.”

I processed that. “How much before?”

“My best estimate? Twenty–four hours. Maybe less.” He met my eyes. “Jeremy, we need to be ready now. Not tomorrow.” “Then we accelerate.” I pulled up the communications channel. “Marcus, push up the timeline for all defensive positioning. Twelve hours, not twenty–four.”

“On it.” Marcus moved away, already calling coordinates through the mind–link.

“And Cas-“I hesitated. “Emma and Grace. I want them in the secondary safe house. Not here.”

He looked at me carefully. “Emma will resist that.”

“I know. But the pack house is the obvious target. If the Council’s primary objective is taking Grace and eliminating you, they’ll hit here first.” I kept my voice level despite the fear clawing at my chest. “I need Emma and Grace somewhere secure. Away from the primary conflict zone.”

“Where will you be?”

+15 Bonus

“Here. Leading the defense. The words felt like glass in my throat 6s, I can’t command an effective defense while watching my wife and daughter from the corner of my eye. I need to know they’re safe so I can focus ”

He nodded slowly. “I’ll arrange it. The secondary safe house is completely off Coune intelligence we established it specifically for this scenario, confpletely restricted information. Even most of our warriers don’t know the location”

“Who does?”

“You. Me. Your father. Victoria from my coven.” He paused. “And Emma, obviously. She’ll need to know where she’s going

“I’ll talk to her.” I looked around the war room at wolves and vampires working together, preparing to defend a world that shouldn’t be possible according to eight hundred years of tradition. “Cas, how confident are you? Really. Not the tactical briefing version. How confident are you that we can win this?”