My Cheating Mate (Emma and Jeremy) novel Chapter 59

Chapter 59

I stared at her, stunned. She’d never yelled at me like this before. Never lost control in quite this way.

“You want to take responsibility for something?” Emma continued, her voice dhuking-

For doing the work in therapy. Før being present instead of drowning in guilt. Because Lon’t do this from what you did to me while also carrying the weight of your guilt. It’s too much. I’m drowning too

The admission broke something in me. I’d been so focused on my own pain, my own guilt, that I had affecting her. How my self–destruction was just another burden for her to carry

“You’re right,” I said quietly. “I’ve been selfish even in my guilt. I’m sorry.” z

“Stop apologizing and start changing,” she said, wiping angry tears from her face. “I need you to actually be here, jeremy. some guilt–ridden ghost. I need a partner who’s working on healing, not punishing himself

“Okay.” I nodded. “Okay. I’ll do better. I’ll actually engage with therapy instead of just going through for motions. 1’1 eat, deep. take care of myself. I’ll be present.” 3

“Good.” She sank back onto the window seat, exhausted. “And I’ll accept the security detail. Because you’re right–I can’t protect myself from coordinated rogue attacks alone. As much as I hate it.”

“Thank you.” I wanted to hug her, to comfort her, but I wasn’t sure if I was welcome. “Emma, I know today was hard Watching Vanessa die, hearing her threats-”

“I feel relieved,” she interrupted. “Is that awful? She’s dead, and all I feel is relief that she can’t hurt anyone else.”

“That’s not awful. That’s human. Wolf. Whatever.” I offered a small smile. “She tried to kill you. Multiple times. You’re allowed to be relieved she’s gone.”

“Even if she set things in motion that might-” Emma’s voice cracked. “That might get me killed anyway?”

“That’s not going to happen.” I was firm now. “We’ll find out if/her threats were real. And if they are, we’ll stop them. Every single contract, every single rogue pack. Whatever it takes.”

“You sound so certain.”

“I am certain. Because I’ve already lost you once through my own stupidity. I’m not losing you to Vanessa’s final act of vengeance.” I paused. “The pack won’t let that happen either. You’re one of us, Emma. You’re the future Luna whether we’re together or not. And we protect our own.”

She was quiet for a long moment. Then: “Thank you. For that. For not making this about us.

“It’s not about us. It’s about keeping you safe.”

#1

“Still.” She stood, moving toward the door. “I should go. Your father wants to debrief with me about security protocols.”

“Emma?”

She turned back.

“I meant what I said. About being present. About actually healing instead of just marinating in guilt.” I met her eyes. “I’m done being selfish, even in my pain. From now on, I’m actually going to do the work.”

A small smile crossed her face. “Good. Because I can’t carry both of us anymore.”

“You shouldn’t have to carry me at all.”

“No,” she agreed. “I shouldn’t. But I was anyway. So thank you. For finally seeing that.”

After she left, I stood in the empty library for a long time.

Vanessa wot dead. That chapter was closed.

+20 Bonus

But her final threats lingered six months of potential attacks. Rogue packs gunning for Emma. Coordinated assaults that would keep us all living in fear.

Unless we stopped them first.

I pulled out my phone and called my father. “I walk to be part of the investigation, Into Vanessa’s rogue contacts.”

“Jeremy”

“I knew her,” I interrupted. “Knew how she thought, who she associated with. I can help find these contracts and neutralize them before they’re carried out.”

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