My Cheating Mate (Emma and Jeremy) novel Chapter 20

I threw my bag in the trunk, considering. He had a point. Vanessa was clearly unhinged, and if she’d hired rogues once, she could do it again.

“Fine,” I said finally. “But you keep your distance. At least two car lengths behind me at all times. And when we get to pack lands, you go to your house and go to my father’s. We’re not arriving together.”

“Agreed.” Relief flooded his face.

“And Jeremy?” I turned to face him fully. “This doesn’t change anything between us. You’re not my mate anymore. Not in any way that matters. You’re just…. a bodyguard. Protection detail. Nothing more.”

The words clearly hurt him. Good. He deserved to hurt the way I’d been hurting.

“I understand,” he said quietly.

The drive back was long and tense. I watched Jeremy’s car in my rearview mirror, maintaining exactly two car lengths like I’d demanded. Every time we stopped for gas or food, he kept his distance, just watching to make sure I was safe.

It should have felt creepy, stalkerish. Instead, it felt… conflicting.

My wolf was pleased to have our mate nearby, protecting us. My human side was furious at how good it felt to have him there.

I hated it. Hated how the mate bond made me want to forgive him, want to believe that the regret in his eyes was real, want to think that maybe we could work through this.

But every time those thoughts surfaced, I remembered Vanessa’s laugh. Jeremy’s words. *“I never said I loved her.“*

No. There was no working through that.

I called my father when I was an hour from pack borders.

“Emma?” He answered immediately. “Where are you? Are you okay?”

“I’m coming home, Dad. I’ll be there in an hour. Can you meet me at your house?”

“Of course. Emma, what’s going on? Is everything-

“I’ll explain when I get there. All of it. Just… be ready for some bad news.”

Silence. Then: “Does this have to do with Jeremy?”

“Yes.”

“That little bastard.” My father’s voice went cold. “What did he do?”

“I’ll tell you everything in person. I have proof, Dad. Video evidence. But I need you to promise me something.”

“Anything.”

“Promise me you won’t kill him before I have a chance to destroy him properly.”

The silence on the other end was heavy with barely restrained violence.

“Dad?”

“I promise,” he finally said, though his voice suggested it was taking every ounce of his control. “But Emma? When you’re ready to destroy him? I want to help.”

Despite everything, I smiled. “Deal.”

1

Chapter 20

+25 BONUS

As pack lands came into view, I felt the familiar tingle of crossing the border. Home. I was home.

Jeremy’s car followed me through the checkpoint, the guards clearly surprised to see us arriving separately. Word would spread fast — the future Alpha and his mate returning from an unexplained week–long absence, not together.

Let them talk. Soon they’d know everything anyway.

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