My Cheating Mate (Emma and Jeremy) novel Chapter 37

Chapter 37

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“You did that,” Emma sai quelly. “Not just her. You made the choice to cheat. You made the choice to plan pain flickering across her face.

She stopped,

“To plan to use you,” I finished, the words like ground glass. “I know. And there’s no excuse for it. No justification. But Emma, I need you to know something.”

“What?”

“When I was fighting those rogues, when I took those bullets, I wasn’t thinking about the pack. I wasn’t thinking about my duty as future Alpha.” I paused, making sure she was really hearing me. “I was thinking about you. About keeping you safe. About making up for every time I failed to protect you from Vanessa, from myself.” $

“Jeremy-”

“I know it doesn’t fix anything. I know one heroic moment doesn’t erase months of betrayal. But Emma, you asked me once if love was enough.” I reached for her hand, relieved when she didn’t pull away. “I don’t know if it is. But I know that I love you. Really love you. Not the fantasy I had with Vanessa, not the obligation of the mate bond. You. Emma Smith. The woman who saved me even after I destroyed her. The woman who sits by my bedside even though she has every right to walk away.”

Tears glistened in her eyes. “This is so hard.”

“I know.”

“I want to forgive you. Part of me already has. But I’m terrified of being hurt again.”

“I can’t promise I’ll never hurt you again,” I said honestly. “I can’t promise I’ll be perfect. But Emma, I can promise I’ll never betray you like that again. Never lie to you. Never let another woman come between us.”

“Words are easy,” she said, but her hand tightened around mine.

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“Then let me show you. When I’m healed. When you’re ready. Let me prove that I’ve changed. That I understand what I almost

lost.”

“And if you can’t? If I can’t learn to trust you again?”

The question felt like a knife to the chest. But I’d asked myself the same thing hundreds of times over the past month.

“Then I’ll accept it,” I said, meaning it. “I’ll accept that I destroyed something irreplaceable. And I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure you’re happy and safe, even if it’s not with me.”

A tear slipped down her cheek. “I don’t want to give up on us. But I don’t know how to trust you again.” [

“We’ll figure it out,” I said, brushing away her tear with my thumb. “Together. One step at a time. Like physical therapy.”

She laughed, watery but genuine. “That’s a terrible metaphor.”

“I’m on a lot of pain medication. Cut me some slack.”

Another small laugh. Then her expression turned serious again. “Jeremy, I meant what I said earlier. When you’re healed, I need space. Real space. Not me avoiding you at pack meetings, but actual distance to figure out who I am without you.”

The thought terrified me. What if she decided she liked that version of herself better? What if distance showed her how much better off she was alone?

But I’d promised not to pressure her. To let her heal in her own time.

“Okay,” I agreed. “When I’m healed, you get your space. However much you need.”

She studied my face, looking for signs of resentment or manipulation. Finding none, she nodded. “Thank you.”

Chapter 37.

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“But Emma?” I squeezed her hand. “While I’m healing, while you’re here can we at least be honest with each other? Really honest? No more games, no more hiding?”

“I think I can do that.”

“Good.” I settled back against the pillows, exhaustion pulling at me again. “Because I’m tired of lying. To you, to myself, to everyone. The truth sucks, but at least it’s real

“The truth does suck,” she agreed. “But you’re right. It’s real. And realis what we need if we’re going to have any chance at all.”

My eyes were already drifting closed, but I fought to stay awake a little longer. “Emma?”

“Yeah?”

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