My Cheating Mate (Emma and Jeremy) novel Chapter 96

Chapter 96

My Cheating Mate

jeremy pov

The forest was silent as we moved into position A hundred and ten wolves, spread across three strike teams, converging on the mercenary encampment from west, south, and east. The vampire contingent moved with us on the eastern flank – twelve shadows that barely disturbed the undergrowth despite their speed.

Midnight. The witching hour. Perfect for vampires, acceptable for wolves.

I was with the western strike team–thirty–five wolves including my father, moving through the darkness with practiced silence. Every wolf knew their role. Every contingency had been planned for.

But plans rarely survived first contact with the enemy.

Through the mind–link, I felt the other tearns confirming readiness. Marcus leading the south. Elder Morrison coordinating with the vampires on the east.

*“Ali teams, this is Alpha Richard,“* my father’s voice echoed through every wolf’s mind. “Remember–we strike fast, hit hard, and don’t give them time to coordinate. Our goal is to break their formation and eliminate leadership. On my mark.“*

I could see the mercenary camp now–fires, temporary shelters, wolves moving with military precision even in rest. They’d consolidated well. The encampment was organized, defensible, exactly what I’d expect from professional mercenaries.

But they weren’t expecting us. Not tonight. Not forty–eight hours early.

“Three… two… one… STRIKE!”

We hit them like a tsunami.

Thirty–five wolves erupting from the western tree line, snarling and savage. I heard the southern team engage simultaneously- Marcus’s battle howl carrying across the camp. And from the cast, the vampires moved with supernatural speed, tearing into mercenaries before they could fully react

The element of surprise lasted maybe thirty seconds. Then chaos.

Mercenaries shifted and fought back with professional discipline. They were good–better than I’d hoped, actually. Within, minutes they’d formed defensive clusters, covering each other’s backs, coordinating through hand signals and short barks.

I tore into a gray wolf who’d been reaching for a weapon. My jaws found his shoulder, dragging him down. He twisted, trying to rake claws across my face, but I was faster. Angrier. More motivated.

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Emma’s face flashed through my mind. Her smile. Her trust. The way she’d looked at me before I left.

I couldn’t die here. Wouldn’t die here.

The gray wolf went limp. I released him and moved to the next threat—a massive black wolf charging at one of our younger fighters.

*“Defensive formation beta!“* my father commanded through the mind–link. *“Don’t let them surround you!”*

We adjusted, our wolves flowing into practiced formations. But the mercenaries were adapting too. They’d overcome their initial surprise and were fighting back with coordinated ferocity.

This wasn’t going to be the quick strike I’d planned. This was going to be a prolonged battle.

A silver blade flashed in the firelight. One of the mercenaries in human form, wielding weapons designed to kill wolves. I dodged the first slash, felt the second score across my ribs. Pain flared but I pushed through it, my claws finding the mercenary’s throat.

+15 Bonus

“Jetemy, watch your left!

I turned just in titte to see three mercenaries converging on my position. Too many. Too fast.

Then a vampire was there — the female lieutenant from earlier. She moved like liquid shadow, her speed making her almost invisible. All three mercenaries went down before I could fully process what had happened.

She nodded once at me, then disappeared back into the chaos.

The vampires were terrifying. Beautiful and deadly and absolutely worth the debt I’d incurred. They carved through mercenaries with casual efficiency, their supernatural strength and speed overwhelming even trained fighters.

But there were so many mercenaries. One hundred and fifty of them against our forces. Even with vampires, even with surprise, the numbers were taking their toll.

*“Alpha down!“* The panicked mind–link message made my blood run cold. *“Western flank, Alpha Richard is down!”

No. No, no, no.

I fought my way toward where I’d last seen my father, desperation giving me speed. Mercenaries tried to stop me but I tore through them, focused only on reaching him.

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