My Cheating Mate (Emma and Jeremy) novel Chapter 212

Chapter 212

My Cheating Mate

Connor pov

After Thomas Vex left, the house was quiet for about thirty seconds.

Then Alpha Jeremy started pacing.

Not casual pacing. Aggressive, predatory pacing. The kind that said his wolf was right at the surface, demanding action, barely contained by human rational thought.

Grace tensed beside me. “Daddy-”

“I’m fine.” His voice was tight. Controlled. Absolutely not fine. “I’m–processing.”

Luna Emma appeared from the hallway where she’d been standing. “Jeremy, you need to shift. Go run. Before you put a hole in the living room floor.”

“I can’t shift. I need to-” He stopped pacing, ran both hands through his hair. “He wanted Connor to reject Grace. Did you hear that? Thomas Vex stood in my office and suggested that Connor should reject his fated mate–MY DAUGHTER–in favor of his daughter who just committed attempted murder.”

“I heard it,” Luna Emma said quietly. “The whole pack probably heard it given how loud Thomas was yelling.”

“He said-” Alpha Jeremy’s voice rose. “He said Grace was ‘inappropriate mate material‘ because of our family’s integration model. That Connor would be ‘better served‘ choosing Courtney. That the mate bond was ‘clearly a mistake‘ because the Moon Goddess wouldn’t pair someone ‘normal‘ like Connor with someone ‘wrong‘ like Grace.”

Grace made a small sound beside me. I pulled her closer, my own anger building at hearing the words repeated.

“He called my daughter WRONG.” Alpha Jeremy’s eyes were flickering between human and wolf now. “Called her inappropriate. Suggested that her mate should reject her for a she–wolf who literally tried to kill her with a silver knife. And I had to sit there and be DIPLOMATIC about it because he’s a Council sympathizer and making enemies right now would be politically complicated-‘

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“Jeremy.” Luna Emma moved f

to him. “Breathe. He’s gone. Grace is safe. Connor chose her. Thomas’s opinions don’t matter.”

“They matter to Grace.” He looked at his daughter. “Baby girl, I’m so sorry Sorry you had to hear Thomas say those things. Sorry that wolves like him still exist who think you’re —”

“Wrong. I know, Daddy. I’ve heard it before.” Grace’s voice was quiet. “Not that directly. But I’ve heard the whispers. The comments about our family. About Uncle Cas. About how I don’t fit pack norms.”

“You shouldn’t have to hear it.” Alpha Jeremy’s voice cracked. “You’re perfect. Our family is perfect. The integration model is working. And small–minded wolves like Thomas Vex-” He stopped. Started pacing again. “I should have banned him from pack territory. Should have told him that any wolf who calls my daughter inappropriate mate material isn’t welcome here.”

“But you didn’t because politics,” Grace said.

“But I didn’t because politics,” he confirmed bitterly. “Because Thomas has Council connections. Because making an enemy of him right now, with the integration model still being observed, could cause problems we don’t need.”

Lord Castellan had been standing silently in the corner. Now he spoke: “Jeremy, for what it’s worth, I think you handled Thornas exactly right. You were firm about Courtney’s actions. Clear about the consequences. But you didn’t escalate unnecessarily.”

“I wanted to.” Alpha Jeremy’s voice was rough. “Cas, I wanted to throw him out. Wanted to shift and make him submit for calling Grace wrong. Wanted to-” He stopped. “Wanted to protect my daughter the way I couldn’t protect her from hearing that poison.”

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“You did protect her,” I said. Everyone turned to look at me. “Sir, you made it very clear that Thomas’s opinions weren’t welcome. That Courtney’s actions had consequences. That Grace is ” I looked at my mate. “That Grace is valued and protected and absolutely not wrong.”

“Connor’s right,” Luna Emma sald. “Jeremy, Grace heard you defend her. Heard you nearly shake the house growling when Thomas disrespected her. She knows you have her back.”

“But I also made her watch me be political. Watch me prioritize pack stabúity over my instinct to protect her from wolves who think she’s “He couldn’t finish the sentence.

Grace stood carefully, moving to her father. “Daddy, I’m okay. Thomas said mean things. He’s been saying mean things in various ways my whole life. But you know what I learned tonight?”

“What?”

“That Connor chose me anyway. Despite wolves like Thomas. Despite Courtney Despite the easy path being rejecting me and staying with someone ‘appropriate.“” She looked back at me. “Connor chose me knowing there would be Thomas Vexes. Knowing some wolves would think he made the wrong choice. And he chose me anyway.”

Alpha Jeremy pulled her into a hug. Fierce. Protective. “You’re not wrong, Grace. Never wrong. Our family isn’t wrong. Thomas is just scared. Scared of change. Scared of losing the world he understands.”

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“I know.”

“But that doesn’t make his words hurt less.”

“No. It doesn’t.” She pulled back. “But Daddy, I have you and Mama and Uncle Cas and Nate. And now I have Connor. I have people who know I’m not wrong. That’s–that’s enough.”

He held her for another moment before releasing her. Then he looked at me. “Connor, I need you to understand something.”

“Yes, sir?”

“What Thomas said tonight–about Grace being inappropriate mate material, about you being better served choosing Courtney –that’s going to be said again. By other wolves. Maybe not as directly. But the sentiment will be there. Especially from wolves who oppose integration.”

“I understand, sir.”

“Do you? Do you really understand that choosing Grace means being associated with the ‘vampire–loving‘ family? That some wolves will question your judgment? That your future in the pack might be complicated by being mated to the Alpha’s daughter

r who represents everything the traditionalists oppose?”

“Jeremy–” Luna Emma started.

“No, he needs to hear this. Needs to understand what he’s actually choosing.” Alpha Jeremy looked at me seriously. “Connor, I love my daughter more than anything. I want her to have a mate who deserves her. Who’s strong enough to stand beside her. But I also need to know you understand what you’re signing up for. Because Grace-” His voice softened. “Grace deserves a mate who chooses her with full knowledge of what that choice means.”

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