Chapter 13

My Cheating Mate

Emma pov

I'd heard every word of Jeremy's phone conversation. The motel walls were paper-thin, and my wolf hearing picked up everything—Vanessa's shrill voice through the speaker, Jeremy's angry responses, the threats she'd made.

She'd tried to have me killed. Actually hired rogues to attack me.

The knowledge sat in my stomach like a stone, cold and heavy. I'd known Vanessa was cruel, manipulative, had always wanted Jeremy for herself. But attempted murder? That was a level of psychotic I hadn't anticipated.

And Jeremy had ended it. Really ended it, from the sound of things. Told her they were done, called her out on the rogues, defended me.

A small, traitorous part of my heart had warmed at that. At hearing him call me strong, at the fury in his voice when Vanessa called me weak. My wolf had practically purred with satisfaction.

But I'd shoved those feelings down hard. One phone call didn't erase months of betrayal. Didn't undo the affair or the cruel plans I'd overheard.

Now Jeremy stood in front of me, the rising sun casting golden light across his battered face. He looked exhausted, hurt, and genuinely conflicted.

"I know I promised to leave," he said carefully. "But Emma, after what Vanessa said—I can't leave you unprotected. Let me at least escort you somewhere safe."

"I'll be fine on my own. I have been for the past week."

"You were attacked last night by four rogues. That she probably sent. And she just threatened you again."

I crossed my arms. "I handled the rogues just fine. Better than you did, actually."

A flash of something—pride? surprise?—crossed his face. "You did. Where did you learn to fight like that?"

"Self-defense classes. Started them about four months ago." When I'd started feeling increasingly uncomfortable with Vanessa's presence in our lives, when my wolf kept insisting something was wrong. "Figured it couldn't hurt to be prepared."

"You never told me."

"You never asked." I picked up my duffel bag, the one I'd already packed while listening to his phone call. "You never asked about a lot of things, Jeremy. Too busy with other... activities."

He flinched. Good. He should flinch.

"Emma, please. At least let me—"

"I'm going home." The words came out before I'd fully processed the decision. "Back to Crescent Moon territory. Back to pack lands."

His eyes widened. "You are?"

"I can't keep running. And with Vanessa apparently willing to hire killers, I'm safer on pack lands with my father's protection than I am out here alone." I met his gaze steadily. "But I'm not coming back to you. I'm staying with my dad. And we're going to have a very public conversation about your affair and your plans for me."

Jeremy went pale. "Emma, if you go public with that evidence—"

"What? You'll lose your precious reputation? Your position as future Alpha?" I shouldered my bag. "Good. You should lose those things. You betrayed your mate, Jeremy. You violated one of our most sacred bonds. There should be consequences."

"I know. You're right." He ran a hand through his hair. "But Emma, it's not just me who'll suffer. The pack's stability, your father's position as Beta—"

"Don't you dare." Anger flared hot in my chest. "Don't you dare try to guilt me into protecting you by bringing my father into this. He would want the truth. He deserves the truth."

"You're right. I'm sorry. I just—" Jeremy looked lost, more uncertain than I'd ever seen him. "I'm trying to figure out how to fix this, and I don't know how."

"You can't fix it." I moved past him toward my car. "Some things, once broken, stay broken."

He followed me across the parking lot. "At least let me drive behind you. Make sure you get to pack lands safely."

"So you can know where I am at all times? No thanks."

"So I can make sure Vanessa doesn't send more rogues after you!" His voice rose with frustration. "Emma, she's unstable. Dangerous. She admitted to hiring those rogues, and she threatened you again on that call. I'm not letting you drive three states alone when there's a target on your back."

I threw my bag in the trunk, considering. He had a point. Vanessa was clearly unhinged, and if she'd hired rogues once, she could do it again.

"Fine," I said finally. "But you keep your distance. At least two car lengths behind me at all times. And when we get to pack lands, you go to your house and I go to my father's. We're not arriving together."

"Agreed." Relief flooded his face.

"And Jeremy?" I turned to face him fully. "This doesn't change anything between us. You're not my mate anymore. Not in any way that matters. You're just... a bodyguard. Protection detail. Nothing more."

The words clearly hurt him. Good. He deserved to hurt the way I'd been hurting.

"I understand," he said quietly.

The drive back was long and tense. I watched Jeremy's car in my rearview mirror, maintaining exactly two car lengths like I'd demanded. Every time we stopped for gas or food, he kept his distance, just watching to make sure I was safe.

It should have felt creepy, stalkerish. Instead, it felt... conflicting.

My wolf was pleased to have our mate nearby, protecting us. My human side was furious at how good it felt to have him there.

I hated it. Hated how the mate bond made me want to forgive him, want to believe that the regret in his eyes was real, want to think that maybe we could work through this.

But every time those thoughts surfaced, I remembered Vanessa's laugh. Jeremy's words. *"I never said I loved her."*

No. There was no working through that.

I called my father when I was an hour from pack borders.

"Emma?" He answered immediately. "Where are you? Are you okay?"

"I'm coming home, Dad. I'll be there in an hour. Can you meet me at your house?"

"Of course. Emma, what's going on? Is everything—"

"I'll explain when I get there. All of it. Just... be ready for some bad news."

Silence. Then: "Does this have to do with Jeremy?"

"Yes."

"That little bastard." My father's voice went cold. "What did he do?"

"I'll tell you everything in person. I have proof, Dad. Video evidence. But I need you to promise me something."

"Anything."

"Promise me you won't kill him before I have a chance to destroy him properly."

The silence on the other end was heavy with barely restrained violence.

"Dad?"

"I promise," he finally said, though his voice suggested it was taking every ounce of his control. "But Emma? When you're ready to destroy him? I want to help."

Despite everything, I smiled. "Deal."

As pack lands came into view, I felt the familiar tingle of crossing the border. Home. I was home.

Jeremy's car followed me through the checkpoint, the guards clearly surprised to see us arriving separately. Word would spread fast—the future Alpha and his mate returning from an unexplained week-long absence, not together.

Let them talk. Soon they'd know everything anyway.

I pulled into my father's driveway. He was already standing on the porch, his face a mask of controlled fury as he watched Jeremy's car park down the street.

I got out, grabbed my bag, and walked straight into my father's arms.

"Welcome home, baby girl," he murmured, hugging me tight. "Now tell me everything."

"Inside," I said. "And Dad? You're going to want to sit down for this."

As we walked into the house, I glanced back once. Jeremy was still sitting in his car, watching with an expression of such profound loss that my wolf whimpered.

I closed the door on the sight.

He'd made his choices. Now he got to live with the consequences.

And so did I.