Page 17 of Amaris Rejected

Thank the goddess our enforcer is quick. He wraps his arms around me from behind and immobilizes me with a leather-wrapped silver chain. The enforcers carry these to help control shifters whose wolves are combative; think handcuffs on steroids. Despite the restraint, I’m still incredibly strong. As the enforcer desperately tries to hold the chain in place, Dad jerks the vehicle to the side of the road and slams on the brakes.

"Devon, Rue!" he shouts, his full Alpha aura surging over us, temporarily halting Rue’s struggle. "Stop immediately,” he orders. “What’s wrong with you?”

"I don't know,” I gasp, breathing hard. "It's Rue. He’s crazed. He says something isn't right and demands to return to our mate," I add, trying to catch my breath in the lull.

"Regain control, Devon. That isn’t happening," he orders, his Alpha aura enveloping us once again.

His order doesn’t restrict our Alpha nature much, but it’s enough for me to compel Rue to comply.

"You have a responsibility to Jeni and the pack. That’s my final word," he commands, sealing it with his Alpha power.

At his words, I catch a smirk on Jeni’s face, accompanied by a strange glimmer in her eyes as I glance in the rearview mirror. It disappears within seconds, leaving me to wonder if I imagined it.

"You didn’t imagine it, Devon,” Rue spits disgustedly. “Jeni will NEVER be our mate. YOUwill lament this day!"he growls viciously, slinking back to the murky depths of darkness that is now my mind.

He whispers as he goes, “She doesn’t have a pup, or I would know. I’ll kill her for this.”

Poor Rue. In his distress over losing his mate, he’s lost his mind. I hope we can recover from this. Too many shifters are relying on me.

Chapter 14 - Trust Once Lost

Amaris-Present Day

My apartment door opens to reveal Devon, dressed nicely yet casually in jeans and a white henley. A grin spreads across my face as I wonder how long his crisp white shirt will stay clean once Zoe gets a hold of him. Stepping back, I gesture for him to come in.

I assume the small stuffed toy in his hand is for Zoe. Thankfully, he’s neither stupid nor cliché enough to bring me flowers or a gift. That would only anger me if he thought I could be swayed so easily.

"If you want to take a seat," I point to the living room, "I'll get Zoe and join you."

Entering Zoe's room, I scoop her up. "Mama," she coos, patting my cheeks with her tiny hands. She plants a sweet kiss on my chin, giggling.

Walking toward the living room with Zoe, I stop before Devon. "Zoe, this is your daddy," I tell her.

She looks at Devon with suspicion before turning back to me. "I don't have a daddy," she states matter-of-factly. Tears fill my eyes. I’ve never mentioned him to her, so I suppose that’s why she thinks she doesn’t have one.

"Yes, you do, sweetheart," Devon chokes back tears, reaching for her.

Zoe eyes him with confusion. "Daddy?"Glancing back at me for approval, I nod.

"Yes," he replies as she tentatively reaches for him in return. He cradles her gently against his chest; the scent of his pup washes over him with painful intensity. His eyes close, and a tear rolls down his cheek as he holds his daughter for the very first time.

A low growl vibrates from him, more wolf-like than human, as he murmurs, “My pup.” I watch in awe as my baby finally receives what she’s always deserved: her daddy—this male who abandoned us.

"I'll just be over here in the kitchen finishing up dinner," I say, gesturing toward the couch. "Why don't you sit down and get to know her a bit?" He nods, swiping under his eyes as I move to the opposite side of the marble island to plate the meal.

As I bring dishes to the table and chop Zoe's noodles, I hear his low voice rumbling and her high-pitched replies. It’s a bittersweet moment as the pain envelops me. If only he hadn't left us, this could have been our reality—me preparing dinner while he sits and plays with ourchildren.Zeke would likely have been here in that alternate world. I wipe away the moisture from my cheeks, feeling as if I have an endless supply of tears for what could’ve been. Instead, I’m left feeling cold and distant toward Devon.

After taking a moment to collect myself, I call out, "Devon, if you’d like, you can put Zoe in her booster seat." While he fastens her in, I fill her cup with water. Placing it and her plate in front of her, she begins to eat. Pulling up a seat, I motion for Devon to sit across from Zoe.

Dinner is calm, with Devon and Zoe filling most of the conversation. Once we’re finished, we bathe her and get her ready for bed. After brushing her teeth and tucking her in, Zoe picks out a storybook. Devon snuggles in beside her and starts to read.

While Devon reads to our daughter, I tidy up from dinner. Thankfully, I usually clean as I go, so I only need to put away leftovers and load the dishwasher.

By the time I finish, Devon walks into the kitchen. “She’s asleep,” he murmurs.

"Let's talk," I urge as I sit at the dining table, waving for him to take a seat across from me. Reluctantly, he does, glancing at the empty chair beside me. I pull out a file folder containing two extra copies of the divorce agreement and hand him one. "Let's discuss," I repeat.

"Amaris," he pleads. "I don't want a divorce. I just want a chance to talk."

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