My Cheating Mate (Emma and Jeremy) novel Chapter 75

Chapter 75

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Gunshots rang out. Silver bullets that made wolves scream when they hit. Some of the mercenaries were in human form with rifles, providing covering fire for their shifted pack members.

“Protect the pack house!” My father’s command echoed through the mind–link. “Don’t let them reach the safe rooms!”

Our enforcers were fighting with desperate courage, but Black River was better trained. Better equipped. They moved like a military unit because that’s what they were.

A massive brown wolf broke through our lines, heading straight for my house. For Emma.

No.

I intercepted him mid–leap, both of us crashing into the ground. He was huge, scarred from countless fights, his teeth snapping inches from my throat.

We rolled, clawed, bit. He was skilled but I was fighting for everything I had. Emma was in that basement. I would die before I let

him reach her.

My jaws closed around his throat. He struggled, powerful and desperate. But I held on, biting down harder, feeling tissue tear.

He went limp.

I released him and turned, looking for the next threat.

That’s when I saw him.

A wolf even larger than the one I’d just killed stood at the edge of the battlefield. He was in human form–tall, battle–scarred, radiating authority. The other mercenaries deferred to him, adjusting their positions based on his hand signals.

The leader. Had to be.

He caught me looking and smiled. Cold. Professional. A man who killed for money and felt nothing about it.

He shifted a massive black wolf with gray markings and scars across his muzzle. Then he howled. Long, commanding. A

signal.

The other mercenaries pulled back slightly, creating a clearing in the center of the battlefield. Like they were making space for something.

The leader stalked forward into that clearing. His eyes fixed on me, and I understood.

Challenge. He was challenging me directly.

My father moved to intercept. “Jeremy, no! This is what he wants! Don’t-”

But the leader spoke, his voice carrying across the battlefield even in wolf form. Pack leader gift–the ability to speak while shifted.

“We came to kill,” he said, his voice like gravel. “The she–wolf marked for death. Emma Smith. Turn her over, and we leave. Refuse, and everyone dies.”

Rage flooded through me. “Never.”

I shifted to human form so I could respond properly. “You want her? You go through me. Through all of us. And I promise –you won’t leave here alive.”

He laughed. “Brave words, future Alpha. But we’re professionals. You’re just children playing at war

“Then let’s see who’s playing.” I shifted back, my wolf eager for blood.

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The leader charged.

He was fast–faster than expected. His shoulder hit me like a battering ram, driving me backward. I barely got my claws up in time to rake across his face.

He didn’t even flinch. Just kept coming, his jaws snapping at my throat.

This wasn’t like fighting rogues. This was fighting someone with training, experience, no fear. Someone who’d done this hundreds of times.

I dodged, twisted, tried to use my smaller size for speed advantage. But he anticipated every move. Cut off every escape. Drove me backward toward-

Toward the house. Toward Emma.

That’s what this was. He was using me to find her location. Following my protective instincts straight to his target.

I changed tactics, pushing forward instead of retreating. If he wanted a fight, I’d give him one. Just away from Emma.

We collided in the center of the clearing. Teeth and claws and savage fury. Around us, the battle continued -pack wolves and mercenaries tearing into each other. But this fight, this specific fight, seemed separate. Important.

The leader’s jaws closed around my shoulder. I felt teeth scrape bone. Pain exploded through me but I used it, twisting in his grip to slash at his exposed belly.

He released me, blood pouring from the gashes I’d opened.

But he was still standing. Still fighting. Still between me and —

Emma.

She’d emerged from the basement. Was standing on what remained of my porch, her wolf form silver–white and beautiful and completely exposed.

“NO!” I tried to shout through the mind–link, but she wasn’t in my pack. Couldn’t hear me. “EMMA, GET BACK INSIDE!”

But she wasn’t running. She was watching the fight. Watching me.

And the leader saw her.

His eyes lit with recognition and savage triumph. There. His target. Finally

He broke away from me and charged toward the house.

I ran. Faster than I’d ever moved. Desperation giving me speed I didn’t know I had.

But I wouldn’t make it. He was closer. Faster. Would reach her before-