My Cheating Mate (Emma and Jeremy) novel Chapter 24

He looked away from me then addressing the pack as a whole. “But I want everyone to understand something. This wasn’t Emma’s fault. None of it. She was a perfect mate kind, supportive, patient. Everything I did wrong, I did of my own free will. And she deserves better than what I gave her.”

The room was silent except for the sound of my own heartbeat thundering in my ears.

Show them, part of me screamed. Show them the video. Make him hurt the way you’ve been hurting.

But another part–the part that sounded suspiciously like my wolf–whispered: He’s already hurting. He’s already confessing. Is public humiliation really what you want? 2

“Emma has evidence of my affair,” Jeremy continued. “Video evidence that she has every right to share with this pack if she chooses. I won’t fight it. Won’t defend myself. Whatever she decides, I’ll accept.”

Alpha Richard looked at me then. “Emma? Would you like to speak?”

This was my moment. My chance for revenge, for justice, for everyone to see exactly what Jeremy had done to me.

I stood slowly, my laptop in my hands. Every eye in the room turned to me.

I looked at Jeremy. Really looked at him. Saw the split lip where my father had hit him. The barely healed gashes from the rogue attack–wounds he’d gotten defending me. The genuine remorse in his eyes.

Then I looked at the pack. At faces I’d known my whole life. At the teenagers in the back who looked up to Jeremy, who saw him as their future Alpha.

If I showed this video, I wouldn’t just be destroying Jeremy. I’d be destroying their faith in leadership, their belief in the mate bond, their trust in pack hierarchy. 1

And Vanessa would win. She’d succeed in tearing apart everything Crescent Moon stood for, even from exile.

My wolf pushed forward, lending me strength. *We’re stronger than this. Stronger than revenge.*

I closed my laptop.

“I do have evidence,” I said, my voice carrying through the silent room. “Video and audio of Jeremy’s affair with Vanessa. But I’m not going to show it.” 1

Surprise rippled through the crowd. Jeremy’s head snapped up, shock clear on his face.

“Not because I forgive him,” I continued firmly. “I don’t. What Jeremy did was inexcusable, and I will never forget it. But showing that video won’t heal me. It won’t fix what’s broken. It’ll just spread the pain around, hurt more people, damage this pack that I still love despite everything.” 1

I turned to face Jeremy fully. “You betrayed me in the worst way possible. You made me doubt myself, doubt the mate bond, doubt everything I thought I knew. And there’s no coming back from that. We’re done, Jeremy. Truly done.”

His face crumpled, but he nodded. “I understand.”

“However,” I looked at Alpha Richard now, “I don’t think Jeremy should lose his position as future Alpha. He’s a good leader when he’s not being an idiot about his personal life. The pack needs strong leadership, especially now with Vanessa’s crimes and the rogue threat.” 1

“Emma” my father started, but I squeezed his hand.

“I’m not doing this for him, Dad. I’m doing it for the pack. For everyone here who depends on stable leadership.” I met Jeremy’s eyes again. “But I want a formal dissolution of our mate bond. I want pack law changed to allow separation in cases of proven infidelity. And I want Jeremy to publicly acknowledge that he has no claim on me, that I’m free to live my life as I choose.”

Chapter 24:

+25 BONUS

Alpha Richard studied me for a long moment. “Those are reasonable requests. Jeremy?”

“Agreed,” Jeremy said immediately. “All of it. Emma’s tree. Completely free. And I’ll support whatever laws she wants changed to protect other wolves from what I’did to her.”

“Then it’s settled.” The Alpha’s voice rang with finality. “Jeremy Trent remains future Alpha, but his mate bond with Emma Smith is formally dissolved, pending the proper ceremonies. Emma will be granted full autonomy and pack protection. And we will convene a council to discuss amending our mate bond laws.”

I sat down, suddenly exhausted. My father pulled me into a hug, and Aria squeezed my shoulder.

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