My Cheating Mate (Emma and Jeremy) novel Chapter 55

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Chapter 55

My Cheating Mate

Jeremy pov

The council chamber was packed–all fifteen equncil members seated around the ancient oak table, with my father presiding at the head. Pack law required council presence for capital punishment votes, and everyone knew what today’s meeting would

decide.

Vanessa’s execution. The when, not the if.

I sat in the chair reserved for the future Alpha, trying to focus on the proceedings while my mind kept drifting back to Emma. To the way she’d looked at me this morning across that coffee shop table–concerned, honest, still willing to try.

“The evidence is clear,” Elder Morrison was saying, his weathered face stern. “Vanessa Quinn hired rogues to attack pack members. She led an assault on pack lands that resulted in seven deaths and thirty–two injuries. Pack raw prescribes only one punishment for such crimes.”

“Agreed,” Elder Yasmin added. “The vote should be a formality. Execution, carried out within the week.”

Several council members nodded. But then Councilman Drake-

-spoke up.

a wolf in his forties who’d always been close to Vanessa’s family

“Before we vote, I think we need to address the root cause of Vanessa’s actions.” His eyes turned to me. “She was driven to madness by the future Alpha’s treatment of her. He carried on an affair with her for months, made promises he didn’t keep, led her on while mated to another woman.”

My father’s expression darkened. “Councilman Drake, Vanessa’s crimes are not on trial here. Her motivations are irrelevant to the punishment pack law prescribes.”

“Are they?” Drake leaned forward. “Because it seems to me that Jeremy Trent bears significant responsibility for what happened. He betrayed his mate, yes. But he also betrayed Vanessa. Made her believe they had a future together, then discarded her when it became inconvenient.”

“That doesn’t justify murder,” Elder Morrison interjected.

“No, but it provides context.” Drake’s voice grew harder. “If we’re executing Vanessa for her crimes, shouldn’t we also punish the man whose actions drove her to commit them?”

The room erupted. Several council members started talking at once, some agreeing with Drake, others shouting him down. My father stood, his Alpha dominance rolling through the room like a wave. “Enough!”

Silence fell immediately.

“Jeremy’s affair was despicable,” my father continued, his voice hard. “He betrayed his mate, violated the sacred bond, acted with dishonor. But there is no pack law that prescribes death for adultery.”

“Maybe there should be,” Drake said quietly. “Especially when that adultery leads to the deaths of seven pack members.”

“Vanessa led the attack,” Elder Yasmin argued. “Vanessa hired the rogues. Vanessa made those choices. Jeremy’s guilt in the affair doesn’t make him responsible for murder.”

“Doesn’t it?” Drake turned to me directly. “Tell us, Jeremy. Don’t you feel responsible? Don’t you lie awake at night thinking about how your selfishness led to those deaths?”

I did. Every night. Every day. The weight of those seven deaths sat on my chest like a boulder, crushing me under the knowledge that my choices had set everything in motion.

“I do feel responsible,” I heard myself say. My voice sounded distant, disconnected. “Councilman Drake is right. If I hadn’t had

the affair, if I hadn’t led Vanessa on, those wolves would still be alive.”

“Jeremy

my father started, but I continued>

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