My Cheating Mate (Emma and Jeremy) novel Chapter 273

Chapter 273

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All true. Technically. I was learning about pack governance. I was spending time in the library. I just wasn’t mentioning the crying or the mate bond or the fact that I was slowly breaking apart from rejection.

Another buzz. Grace this time: *Rose, where are you? I brought lunch to your room but you’re not there.*

*Library bathroom. I’m fine.*/

*You’re crying again. Rose, I’m coming to get you.*

*Please don’t. I just need a few minutes alone.*

*Five minutes. Then I’m coming to check on you whether you want me to or not.*

I set down the phone. Tried to pull myself together. Five minutes before Grace arrived. Five minutes to stop crying, fix my face, pretend I was okay.

The bathroom mirror showed the damage. Red eyes. Blotchy cheeks. The kind of appearance that screamed “I’ve been sobbing

in a library bathroom because my mate doesn’t want me.”

I splashed cold water on my face. Tried to reduce the swelling. Tried to look like something other than pathetic.

The mate bond pulled. Nate was close. Very close. Maybe in the library itself?

My heart rate spiked. He’d seen me walk past. Had he followed? Was he actually seeking me out instead of avoiding me?

Hope flared-desperate, foolish hope that maybe he’d changed his mind. Maybe two weeks of distance had made him realize he wanted the bond after all.

A knock on the bathroom door. “Rose? Are you in there?”

Nate’s voice. Uncertain. Almost nervous.

I froze. Stared at the door like it might bite me.

“Rose, I know you’re in there. I can-” He paused. “I can feel the bond. Can feel that you’re upset. Please. Can we talk?”

He could feel my emotions through the bond? I hadn’t known that was possible. Hadn’t realized the connection worked both ways even when he was actively rejecting it.

“I’m fine,” I called out. My voice sounded wrecked. Destroyed. Not even remotely convincing. “I’ll be out in a minute-”

“You’re not fine. Rose, please. Let me in. Or come out. I just-I need to talk to you.”

“About what? About how you need space? About how you’re figuring things out?” The bitterness in my voice surprised me.” Nate, I heard you tell Marcus you needed time before committing to anything serious. Message received. You don’t have to

explain.”

Silence on the other side of the door.

“You heard that.” His voice was quiet. Devastated. “Rose, that’s not-I didn’t mean-”

“You meant exactly what you said. You need space from the mate bond. From me. I understand.” I forced steadiness into my voice. “Nate, you don’t owe me anything. The Moon Goddess chose us as mates but you’re right–that doesn’t obligate you to actually want me. So please. Just-go. Let me have a few minutes of privacy before I have to go back to pretending I’m okay with

all of this.”

“I don’t want you to pretend-”

“What do you want?” The question burst out. Raw. “Nate, what do you actually want? Because for two weeks you’ve avoided me. Flirted with other she-wolves in front of me. Made it abundantly clear you wish the mate bond had never happened. So what are

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you doing here now? What changed?”

More silence.

“My father talked to me,” he said finally. “Called me out for acting like an idiot. For treating you badly. For for letting fear make me cruel.”

“So you’re here out of guilt.” The realization hurt worse than the rejection, “Your Father made you feel bad so now you’re attempting damage control.”

“No. I’m here because” He stopped. “Rose, can you please open the door? I can’t have this conversation through a bathroom

door.”

“Why not? We haven’t had any conversations in two weeks. What’s wrong with a door between us?”

“Rose”

The door handle turned. Locked, obviously. But Nate was a wolf-locks were suggestions more than barriers.

“Don’t.” My voice was sharp. “Nate, if you break this door to force a conversation I don’t want to have, I swear I will tell your father and Grace and Uncle Cas exactly how you’ve been treating me.”

“You haven’t told them?” He sounded surprised.

“I haven’t told anyone except Grace. Because it’s humiliating enough that my mate doesn’t want me without broadcasting it to everyone.” I leaned against the sink. “Nate, please. Just go. Let me compose myself. We can talk later if you actually want to talk instead of performing because your father told you to.”

“I do want to talk. Really talk. Not perform.” His voice was closer now. Like he was sitting against the door. “Rose, I’ve been an asshole. A complete asshole. And I know saying sorry doesn’t fix two weeks of avoiding you and flirting with other she-wolves and making you feel unwanted. But I am sorry. I’m so sorry.” 1

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