My Cheating Mate (Emma and Jeremy) novel Chapter 221

Chapter 221

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“Daddy- My voice came outsmaller than I wanted. “Is this because of Connor? Because I’m mated to him and Courtney–

“This is because extremists are using Courtney’s hurt as an excuse to attack our family.” He pulled me into a hug. Fierce. Protective. “Grace, whatever Courtney’s involvement, the Preservation Front made their own choice to escalate to violence. That’s not on you. That’s on them.”

“But the note says they tried political means. Council intervention. That implies

“That implies Thomas Vex has been more connected to extremists than we realized.” Mama’s voice from the doorway. She looked pale. Shaken. “Jeremy, if Thomas has been coordinating with the Preservation Front–Courtney gave them information with his knowledge-”

“Then we’re not dealing with a grieving father defending his daughter. We’re dealing with an extremist using his daughter’s pain to justify violence against ours.” Daddy’s arms tightened around me. “Emma, call the Council. All of them. This just became bigger than pack politics. This is supernatural terrorism.”

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“They want you to dissolve the alliance with Uncle Cas,” I said quietly. “That’s the demand. End the vampire integration or they keep killing.”

“Not happening.” Daddy’s voice was absolute. “Grace, we don’t negotiate with terrorists. Ever. They think they can intimidate us into abandoning family–they’re wrong.”

“But they killed someone-

“They killed a rogue. Someone with no pack affiliation who probably took money to deliver their message.” He pulled back to look at my face. “Grace, this is psychological warfare. They want you scared. Want us to make emotional decisions. Want the alliance fractured because we’re too afraid to maintain it.”

“I am scared.” The admission felt important. “Daddy, they want me dead. Left a body at our border to prove they’re serious. How am I supposed to not be scared?”

“You’re allowed to be scared. But you’re not allowed to let that fear make you small. Make you hide. Make you question whether you deserve to exist in this family.” He cupped my face gently. “Grace, you are not wrong. You are not an abomination. You are my daughter, and you represent everything good about integration. These extremists–they’re terrified of that. Of you. Of what you prove just by existing.”

“That’s a lot of pressure for one eighteen–year–old.”

“I know. I’m sorry.” His voice cracked. “Grace, I’m so sorry that you’ve grown up in the middle of this. That choosing to include

Γ Cas in our family made you a target. That-”

“Don’t.” I put my hand over his mouth. “Daddy, don’t apologize for our family. For Uncle Cas. For integration. I love our family exactly as it is. Even if it makes some wolves want to leave bodies at our border.”

He pulled me close again. “We’re going to find whoever did this. We’re going to stop the Preservation Front. And we’re going to make sure you’re safe.”

“And Courtney?” I asked quietly. “What happens to her if she really gave them information?”

make “That depends on whether she did it knowingly or if she was manipulated.” Mama had moved into the room. “Grace, Courtney is eighteen and heartbroken. It’s possible the Preservation Front used her grief. Told her they just wanted to scare you, you understand consequences, without mentioning the murder part.”

“Or she knew exactly what she was doing,” Daddy said grimly. “Either way, we’ll find out. Cas will get the truth.”

The front door opened. Connor rushed in, his expression panicked. “Grace—I just heard–border patrol said —” He saw me and crossed the room in three strides. “Are you okay? They said there was a threat

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Chapter 247

+15 Bonus

“I’m okay Scared but okay.” I let him hold me, drawing comfort froth my mate’s presence. “Connor, there’s a note. From extremists. They want me dead unless Daddy dissolves the alliance with Uncle Cas.”

He went very still. “Let me see it.”

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