My Cheating Mate (Emma and Jeremy) novel Chapter 246

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Chapter 246

I wanted to believe that. Wanted to separate my father’s choices from my intelligence. But the guilt was crushing-heavy and inescapable and deserved.

“I miss him,” I whispered. “I know I shouldn’t. I know he was wrong. But Alpha Jeremy, he was my dad. He raised me and taught me and loved me even if it was–even if it was twisted. And now he’s gone and I helped and I don’t —I don’t know how to live

with that.”

“By processing it. Getting help. Understanding that grief and guilt can coexist with knowing you made the right choice.” He stood. “Courtney, the Council hearing is in two weeks. You’ll testify. Answer questions. Face judgment. Lord Castellan and I will provide context about your cooperation. What happens after that “He paused. “That depends on many factors.”

“Will Grace be there? At the hearing?”

“Probably. She’s the primary victim of your knife attack. The Council will want her testimony.”

Fear and shame twisted together. “I’ll have to face her. Tell the Council what I did while she’s sitting there listening.”

“Yes. That’s part of facing consequences. Acknowledging harm to actual victims, not just abstract crimes.” He moved toward the door. “Courtney, eat the rest of that sandwich. Drink something. Take care of yourself for the next two weeks. Whatever the Council decides–you need to be strong enough to handle it.”

“Alpha Jeremy?” I called as he reached the door. “Why are you doing this? Being kind? Speaking for me to the Council? I don’t—

I don’t understand.”

He turned back. “Because someone has to show you that there’s a different way. That justice doesn’t have to be cruel. That consequences can be fair without being vindictive. Your father never taught you that. The Preservation Front never taught you

that. Someone should.”

“You’re showing me by example.”

“I’m showing you what integration actually means, What choosing compassion over ideology looks like in practice. What your father spent his life opposing.” He paused. “Courtney, I don’t forgive you for attacking Grace. I don’t excuse what you did. But I also don’t think destroying your life serves anyone. Including Grace.”

After he left, I sat alone with the half-eaten sandwich and too many thoughts.

Alpha Jeremy Trent-the man who’d killed my father, whose daughter I’d attacked, whose family I’d helped terrorists target- had just shown me more kindness than I’d ever received from the Preservation Front.

Had talked about rehabilitation instead of revenge. Context instead of cruelty. Fair consequences instead of vindictive

punishment.

Had demonstrated exactly what my father had spent his life fighting against.

Integration. Compassion. The possibility thai people could make terrible choices and still deserve paths forward.

I didn’t know if I deserved a path forward. Didn’t know if the Council would give me one.

But Alpha Jeremy thought I did. Or at least thought I deserved the chance to earn one.

That had to count for something.

Even through the grief and guilt and fear that had to count for something.

I picked up the sandwich and ate Forced down food that tasted like ash because Alphia Jeremy was right I needed to be strong enough to face whatever came next.

Two weeks until the Council hearing. Two weeks to process my father’s death and my own crimes aud the possibility that justice might include mercy.

Chapter

Two weeks to figure out how to live with what I’d done.

And somehow impossibly Alpha Jeremy Trent thought I could.

That would have to be enough.

For now.

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