Chapter 59: Chapter 59

"Emma, wait-"

But she was gone, practically running from the observation room.

My father put a hand on my shoulder. "Give her space. This was hard for her. Hearing Vanessa's threats, watching her die— Emma needs time."

"What if Vanessa was telling the truth?" I asked. "About the rogues? About having six months of attacks planned?"

"Then we deal with it." His expression was grim. "I'm having our intelligence wolves investigate immediately. If there are contracts out on Emma, we'll find them and neutralize them."

"And if we can't? If Vanessa really did set something in motion that we can't stop?"

"Then we protect Emma with everything we have." He squeezed my shoulder. "Son, Vanessa was trying to terrorize her. To make sure her final act was causing maximum pain. Don't let her win by falling for it."

But I couldn't shake the certainty in Vanessa's eyes. The satisfaction when she'd talked about the attacks continuing. She'd wanted Emma dead even more than she'd wanted me.

The observation room was clearing out now. The guards were removing Vanessa's body. By tomorrow, she'd be burned and her ashes scattered outside pack territory. No burial, no memorial. That was the punishment for traitors.

I should feel relieved. Vanessa was dead. The woman who'd manipulated me, who'd tried to kill Emma, who'd led an assault on our pack-she was gone.

But all I felt was dread.

Because Vanessa had been right about one thing: Emma would never feel completely safe again. Would always be looking over her shoulder, waiting for the next attack.

And it was my fault. All of it was my fault.

"Jeremy." Beta Marcus approached, his expression serious. "We need to talk. About Emma's security."

"What about it?"

"She's refusing a detail. Says she won't live her life surrounded by guards." He paused. "But if Vanessa was telling the truth about those rogue contracts-"

"Emma needs protection whether she wants it or not," I finished.

"Exactly. But she won't listen to me. Won't listen to the Alpha. Maybe she'll listen to you."

"She doesn't want to listen to me about anything lately," I said honestly. "But I'll try."

I found Emma in the pack house library, curled up in a window seat, staring out at nothing.

"Hey," I said softly, not wanting to startle her.

"Hey." She didn't look at me. "Did they send you to convince me to accept a security detail?"

"Your father asked me to talk to you about it, yes."

"And what do you think?" Now she did turn, her eyes challenging. "Do you think I need bodyguards following me everywhere? Think I can't protect myself?"

"I think you're one of the strongest people I know," I said carefully. "I watched you fight off rogues at that motel. Watched you train young wolves. I know you can protect yourself."

"But?"

"But if Vanessa was telling the truth, if she really did set up months of coordinated attacks targeting you specifically-one person can't defend against that alone. No matter how strong they are."

Emma's jaw clenched. "So I'm supposed to live in fear? Surrounded by guards? Looking over my shoulder constantly?" "You're supposed to live. Period." I moved closer but kept my distance. "Emma, I know you hate feeling helpless. Hate the idea of needing protection. But please please accept the detail. At least until we can verify whether Vanessa's threats were real."

"And if they're real? If there really are rogue packs gunning for me for the next six months? Do I just live with guards forever?" "If that's what it takes to keep you safe, then yes."

She laughed bitterly. "This is what my life has become. Living in fear because your ex-mistress hated me enough to hire my murder multiple times over."

The words hit like a physical blow. Because she was right. This was what her life had become because of my choices.

"I'm sorry," I said, knowing how inadequate the words were. "I'm so sorry that my actions led to this. That you can't feel safe in your own pack because of me."

"Don't." Her voice was sharp. "Don't apologize again. Don't take responsibility for Vanessa's choices. I'm tired of you martyring yourself."

"But Emma-"

"No. You had an affair. You hurt me. Those are your crimes." She stood, facing me fully now. "But Vanessa hiring assassins? Vanessa orchestrating pack attacks? Vanessa spending six months and God knows how much money trying to have me killed? Those are her crimes. Not yours."

"If I hadn't-"

"Jeremy!" She was shouting now. "Stop! Just stop! I can't heal if you keep trying to take responsibility for every bad thing that's ever happened! Yes, you fucked up! Yes, you hurt me! But you didn't make Vanessa a murderer! You didn't force her to hire rogues! She made those choices all on her own!"