My Cheating Mate (Emma and Jeremy) novel Chapter 46

Chapter 46

My Cheating Mate

Jeremy pov

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I wasn’t fully asleep. The pain medication made everything hazy, distant, like I was underwater. But I could hear voices Emma and Aria talking quietly, thinking I was unconscious.

I should have let them know I was awake. Should have said something

But I couldn’t. Because what they were saying was too important, too raw, too honest for me to interrupt.

“I’m terrified of loving him again. Of trusting him. Of being that vulnerable with someone who’s already destroyed me once.

Emma’s words hit like a physical blow, even though I’d heard variations of them before. Hearing the fear in her voice, the pain, knowing I’d put it there-it made me want to tear myself apart all over again.

“But I think I’m more terrified of not giving him another chance.”

Hope flared in my chest, painful and desperate. She was considering it. Actually considering giving me another chance. Then Aria’s voice: “You need a therapist, someone trained in trauma and relationship repair.”

Therapy. The word echoed in my drug-fogged mind.

I’d never considered therapy. Alphas didn’t do therapy. We were supposed to be strong, unbreakable, able to handle anything through sheer force of will.

But that thinking-that toxic, prideful thinking-was part of what got me here. Part of what made me think I could have an affair without consequences, could use my mate without it destroying me too.

“Mate bond trauma is a specialty?”

I hadn’t known that either. Hadn’t realized that what I’d done to Emma was serious enough to require professional intervention. I’d thought-what? That time would heal it? That love would be enough?

I was such an idiot.

“Send me Dr. Chen’s contact info. For both of us.”

Both of us. Emma wanted me to go to therapy with her.

The realization made my chest tight with emotions I couldn’t name. She wasn’t just thinking about herself, about her own healing. She was thinking about us. About fixing what I’d broken.

If it could be fixed.

I wanted to open my eyes then, wanted to tell her I’d do it. Would do therapy, would do whatever it took. But my body was too heavy, the medication pulling me back under despite my desire to stay conscious.

“Tomorrow we’d talk about therapy. About healing. About what came next.”

Tomorrow. I could wait until tomorrow.

I let myself drift, Emma’s hand still in mine, her presence beside me the only thing keeping the darkness at bay.

When I woke again, real waking this time, sunlight was streaming through the hospital window. My head felt clearer, the medication wearing off enough for coherent thought.

alt

Chapter as

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Emtua was asleep in the chair beside my bed, her hand still holding fráve. She looked exhausted-dark circles under her eyes, her clothes still stained with my blood, her hair a tangled mesa

She’d stayed all night. Again

How many nights had she spent in uncomfortable hospital chairs because of me? First during my coma, then during my recovery, now this.

I should tell her to go home. To get real rest in a real bed. To take care of herself instead of me.

But I was too selfish. Too grateful for her presence. Too terrified that if she left, she might not come back.

Her eyes opened slowly, immediately finding mine. “You’re awake. How do you feel?”

“Like I’m going to live, unfortunately for you.” I tried for humor but it fell flat.

“Don’t joke about that.” Her voice was sharp. “You almost died yesterday, Jererfiy, Again. Do you have any idea what that’s like? Watching you collapse? Having your blood all over my hands?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean-

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“Stop apologizing and start listening.” She sat up straighter, her expression fierce. “We need to talk. Really talk. About everything.”

My stomach dropped. This was it. The moment where she told me she couldn’t do this, couldn’t keep watching me self-destruct, couldn’t give me another chance.

“Okay,” I said, bracing myself. “I’m listening.”

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