My Cheating Mate (Emma and Jeremy) novel Chapter 222

Chapter 222

And I’d have to live with that Live with my mate dying because I existed in a family that chose integration.

“This is my fault,” I said quietly. If I wasn’t–if our fatnily wasn’t-”

“Stop.” Daddy’s voice was sharp. “Grace, this is not your fault. This is extremists choosing violence. Choosing terrorism. That’s on them. Not on you. Not on our family. On the wolves who think murder is an acceptable response to families being different than they want.”

Uncle Cas returned, moving with that supernatural speed that meant urgency. “Found Courtney. She’s–she’s in bad shape. Claims she was approached by the Preservation Front three days ago. They told her they just wanted to ‘discourage‘ Grace from the mate bond. Make her understand there were consequences to choosing Connor.”

“And she believed them?” I asked.

back that

“She wanted to believe them. Wanted to think there was a way to get Connor back that didn’t involve actual violence.” Uncle Cas’s expression was grim. “Grace, Courtney gave them your class schedule. Your studio hours. Information about when you’re alone. She claims she thought they’d just–show up. Talk to you. Scare you a little.” 1

“Instead they killed someone and left a body at our border.” The reality of it was sinking in. “Uncle Cas, did she know? About the murder?”

“She says no. Says when she heard about the body, she realized what she’d actually helped with. She’s–devastated. Cooperating fully. Wants to help stop them before they actually hurt you.”

“Too little too late,” Connor growled. “She already helped them. Already gave them information they can use to-” He stopped. “Grace, you’re not going to your studio alone anymore. Not going to classes without guards. Not going anywhere these extremists might use Courtney’s information to find you.”

“I can’t live like that-

“You have to live like that.” Daddy’s voice was firm. “Grace, I’m implementing full protection protocols. Guards. Escorts. Restricted movement. I know you hate it. But until we neutralize the Preservation Front threat—”

“Until we neutralize it?” I looked at him. “Daddy, these are extremists. Underground organization. How do we neutralize something we can’t even find?”

“We find them.” Uncle Cas’s voice was cold. “Grace, I’ve been tracking extremist groups for centuries. The Preservation Front thinks they’re being clever. Thinks leaving a body and a dramatic note will intimidate us into compliance. They’re wrong. What they’ve actually done is give me a trail. Evidence. Something to work with.”

“One week,” I said, reading the note again. “They gave us one week to dissolve the alliance or the next body will be ‘closer to home. Possibly mine.“”

“Then we have one week to find them first.” Unele Cas looked at my father. “Jeremy, I’m calling in every favor. Every contact. Every resource the Nightshade Coven has. The Preservation Front just threatened my niece. That was unwise.”

The temperature in the room dropped. Uncle Cas’s eyes had gone completely black–the vampire lord surfacing through the family member we usually saw.

“Cas-” Daddy started.

“No, Jeremy. They threatened Grace. Your daughter. My niece. The child I’ve watched grow up. The artist who sends me pictures of horse parliaments and asks about Impressionism.” His voice was deadly quiet. “The Preservation Front thinks they’re fighting for pack tradition. What they’re actually doing is learning why threatening my family is the last mistake they’ll ever

make ”

I’d never heard Uncle Cas sound like that. Cold. Lethal. Ancient in ways that reminded you he’d been a vampire lord for eleven centuries before he became Uncle Cas.

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+15 Bonus

It should have been terrifying. Instead it was–comforting. Because whatever the Preservation Front was planning, they’d just made an enemy of someone who’d spent eleven centuries learning how to destroy threats to things he loved.

“One week,” Connor said. “We have one week to find them before they escalate.”

“Then we’d better get started.” Uncle Cas was already moving toward the door. “Grace, stay inside. Stay protected. And Grace?” He looked back. “Paint. Create. Be exactly who you are. Don’t let these extremists make you small. That’s what they want. Don’t give it to them.”

After he left, I stood in my family’s living room, holding a note that threatened my life, surrounded by people who’d die protecting me.

The Preservation Front wanted me scared. Wanted integration ended. Wanted my family torn apart.

They were going to be disappointed.

Because I was Grace Trent. Daughter of an Alpha who’d rebuilt from betrayal. Niece to a vampire who chosen family over

centuries of isolation. Mate to a wolf who’d taken a knife for me without hesitation.

And I wasn’t going to hide.

One week until the extremists expected surrender.

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