Page 23 of Amaris Rejected

Chapter 18 - Near Miss Kiss

Devon-Present Day

The plans for today include taking my family out for a hike to my special place. I knock on Amaris's door, and she opens it. When she sees me, she gestures for me to come in.

"I thought it would be nice for us to hike around the pack lands today if you want." I begin. "There’s a special place here that I think both you and Zoe would enjoy. Also, bring swimsuits."

"That sounds nice," she says cautiously, looking at me as she continues dressing Zoe. Once she’s finished, she fills a canvas tote with towels and sunscreen, already wearing swimwear beneath their clothes. I bend down to lift Zoe as we head out the door. In the kitchen, Amaris grabs a couple of plates from the bar and starts filling them while I strap Zoe into her chair. Amaris sits down and places Zoe's breakfast in front of her. I think we make a great team.

After making my own plate, I join them. "I asked Karen, our pack cook, to prepare a picnic basket for us to take along," I told Amaris. "It should be ready by the time we finish breakfast."

"Okay," she replies.

Overcome by Amaris's beauty, I discreetly study her features. Regret and guilt pulse through me. She’s stunning inside and out, but sadness now lingers in her eyes, and I know I put it there. When we first met, her eyes sparkled with a smile that lit up her entire face. Now, except when she speaks to Zoe, her expression is typically distant and unsmiling.

Before long, we leave the pack house. As we pass the lake, we follow a well-worn path that steadily rises through the trees. Zoe seems excited to be in the woods. Sparksburg, where they live, is more urban and populated, though there are forests because wolves need space to run.

While Amaris and I climb at a leisurely pace, Zoe darts excitedly from one thing to another. She chases a butterfly at one point, but thankfully, she doesn't wander too far ahead of us.

I know we are getting close to what I want to show them as I start to hear the roar. As we reach a plateau, I spot the small waterfall splashing into a lake. A stream flows from it, rushing down the other side of the trail we’ve been following.

Zoe shrieks, "I want to swim, Daddy!"

My heart leaps as Amaris breaks into a smile that finally reaches her eyes. "Devon, this is beautiful," she sighs.

Zoe rips off her sundress, revealing her swimsuit underneath, as Amaris hurriedly strips to keep up with our little escape artist. I shake off my T-shirt and jeans, standing in my swim trunks just as Zoe squeals, ready to leap into the water. I catch her mid-jump and carry her into the lake, tossing her up with a laugh. Finally, Amaris sheds her clothes and joins us. As I play with Zoe in the water, I can’t help but admire her mama’s curvy figure as she watches us with a gentle smile.

Thankfully, masked by the splashing water, my tears go unnoticed. This is where I’ve always longed to be. An hour passes as we splash and play. I set Zoe on the sand at the lake’s edge with her toys while Amaris floats lazily about ten feet away.

Playfully, I lunge at Amaris, wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her beneath the surface. We both emerge, sputtering and splashing. Amaris laughs, looking up at me. My arms are still around her, our bodies pressed close, our lips just inches apart. I tilt my head toward her as she raises hers to meet mine. Suddenly, Zoe wails.

Amaris

Just as our lips are about to touch, Zoe screams. Startled by her cry, I snap my head toward the shore. To my horror, Jeni stands there, holding Zoe, who is reaching for us, desperately trying to break free of her grip. A sickeningly sweet, manipulative smile slowly spreads across Jeni’s face.

My heart stops, and I screech as I break free from Devon's bewildered embrace. Time seems to slow as I dash over, wrench Zoe from Jeni’s grasp, and shove her to the ground. "Don't ever touch my pup again!" I bellow, panting.Goddess, she’s lucky I didn’t rip her throat out. As I quickly examine Zoe for injuries, I warn once more, "Touch her again, and you... die!"

Jeni collapses to the ground in a sobbing heap. "I just wanted to meet her," she wails.

“Goddess!” Lyra whines, rolling her eyes. “Not the histrionics again.”

"You don't just take someone else's pup!" I roar viciously. "Anddon’t ever think that you can touch what’smineagain! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!" By the time I finish, I’m right in her face, my claw-tipped hand reaching for her throat as Zoe whimpers, her face tucked into my chest. My fury blinds me to all else.

"Amaris!" Devon grabs my arm before I can reach Jeni's neck and angrily yanks me away. "Stop this! You’re holding Zoe. Jeni doesn't deserve this. She just wants to meet our daughter. Why are you acting like this?" He rages, releasing me, and rushes to Jeni. Bending over, he reaches to touch her but is stopped by Rue, who snarls loudly, ready to attack. "Jeni, honey, are you okay?" He soothes.

Rue hates her just as much as I do, and Zoe continues to hide from her, with her tiny face still pressed against my chest. Devon needs to get his head out of the sand and wake up. That female is genuinely evil; I can feel it radiating from her. While he coos and babies the witch with a “B,” I gather our things and trot back down the trail, Zoe still trembling in my arms as I try to comfort her over the phony wails and sobs.

Devon didn't even notice we left.

Jeni

Peeking through my hands, I watch Amaris and her crotch goblin march angrily down the path back to the pack house. Continuing my ruse, I note that I barely made it here in time. If Sheila had waited another minute to tell me Devon and Amaris had left with a picnic basket, I would’ve been too late to stop that kiss. As it was, I had to run here.

I knew where he would go; this is where he always goes. It's his favorite place to picnic. I should know; we’ve done it enough times. It was an act of genius when I snatched up that brat, who immediately started bawling and interrupted them.

"Devon, what’s wrong with her?" I sob.Goddess, I deserve an Emmy for this portrayal."I just want to be friends with them."

Devon opens his mouth to speak, but I realize it’s Rue when his eyes turn golden, and his voice deepens. "You don't want to be friends. You want to interfere. You’d better beware and stay far away from my family, especially my pup. You’ve been warned!"He growls.

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