My Cheating Mate (Emma and Jeremy) novel Chapter 95

Chapter 95

“Emma” Everything okay?

“My dad told me. About the vampires.”

Silence. Then. “I can explain—”

“I don’t want explanations. I want to know if you’ve lost your mind.” The words came out sharper than I intended, fear manifesting as anger. “Jeremy, you owe a vampire lord a personal favor? Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?”

“I know exactly how dangerous it is. I also know that without vampire support, we’d be facing forty percent numerical disadvantage with projected casualties in the dozens.” His voice was steady, rational. “Emma, I did the math. This was the best option.”

“The best option was putting yourself in debt to a creature who’s lived for centuries and probably has plans you can’t even imagine?”

“The best option was making sure as many of our wolves as possible survive tonight.” He paused. “Emma, I’m not doing this for redemption. I’m not punishing myself. I’m making a tactical decision based on available resources and acceptable costs.”

“Acoeptable costs? Jeremy, you’re the cost!”

“I know. And I accept that.” His voice softened. “Emma, if this works–if we survive and Black River is neutralized–then whatever Lord Castellan asks of me will be worth it.”

“What if he asks for something terrible? What if he wants access to pack lands or political influence or-“My imagination spiraled. “What if he wants you to turn on your own pack?”

“That won’t happen. Vampire debts have rules. He can’t ask for something that would violate my fundamental nature or force me to betray core loyalties. The favor has to be possible and within my moral bounds to complete.”

“You sound very certain of that.”

“I researched before making the call. My father briefed me Emma, I didn’t go into this blind.”

I wanted to be reassured. Wanted to believe he’d made a smart, calculated decision rather than another self–destructive sacrifice.,

But I couldn’t shake the fear.

“What if you die tonight?” I asked quietly. “What happens to the vampire debt then?”

“Then it dies with me. Lord Castellan collects nothing.” He paused. “Emma, I’m not planning to die, I’m planning to destroy Black River, come home to you, and yes–eventually pay whatever debt I’ve incurred. But I’m coming home.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

We’d made so many promises lately. Promises to heal, to try, to not give up on each other. Now he was promising to survive a battle against one hundred and fifty mercenaries with vampire allies who owned a piece of his future.

“I hate this,” I whispered. “Hate that you’re in danger. Hate that I can’t be there. Hate that some vampire lord has a claim on you.”

“I know. I hate it too. But Emma, this ends tonight. One way or another, the Black River threat ends. And then maybe–finally – we can have peace.”

“If you survive.”

“When I survive,” he corrected firmly. “Emma, I have too much to live for. Too much I need to come back to. You think I’m

Metti e Tercenary wolves take that away

Despite everything, I smiled you better not. Because if you die, I’m going to be really pissed at you

“Noted I’ll make sure to stay alive just to avoid your wrath.”

“Good “I paused. “Jeremy? About the vampire debt. When Lord Castellan calls it in–whenever that is -1 want to be there. Want to know what he asks for. Want to help you deal with it if I can.”

“Okay. When he calls it in–and that could be years from now–you’ll be the first person. I tell.”

“Thank you.”

“Emma?” His voice dropped. “I love you. Whatever happens tonight, I need you to know that. I love you Really, truly love you. Not guilt. Not obligation. Just love.

“I love you too.” Tears were streaming down my face now. “So much. Please be safe. Please come back to me.”

“I will. I promise.”

After we hung up, I sat in the quiet cabin and tried to process my emotions. Fear for Jeremy’s safety. Worry about the vampire debt. Frustration at being stuck here useless while everyone I loved risked their lives.

But also pride. Because Jeremy had made a hard choice. Had weighed costs and benefits and done what needed to be done to save lives.

Even if the cost was himself.

That was what Alphas did. What leaders did. Sacrificed themselves for their people.

I just wished the sacrifice didn’t terrify me so much.

My phone buzzed. A text from Jeremy: “Vampire strike team just arrived Twelve of them. They’re… impressive. And scary. But definitely on our side.”

I typed back: “Stay safe tonight. All of you. And Jeremy? That vampire debt? We’ll figure it out. Together. When you come back.”

“When I come back,” he confirmed. “Not if. When.”

“When,” I agreed.

I spent the rest of the day trying to stay busy. Cleaned the already–clean cabin. Made food I didn’t eat. Checked and rechecked the locks. Anything to avoid thinking about the battle that would start in–I checked the time–fourteen hours.

Fourteen hours until Jeremy led an assault against one hundred and fifty mercenary wolves with vampire allies.

Fourteen hours until everything either ended or got catastrophically worse.

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