Page 44 of Amaris Rejected

At this point, the room erupts, shock evident on everyone's faces. Enforcer Orson takes command of the room. "Please! Please! Quiet so we can continue.”

“What’s the story behind Luna Quinn’s arrest?” Alpha Jon asks in disbelief.

“There are accusations that she murdered her true mate after drugging Alpha Quinn’s true mate, Minette, claiming she was mentally incapable of being Luna. She’s kept Minette drugged and in a facility since the birth of her daughter, Amaris Richland.”

“Isn’t that your true mate, Alpha Devon?” Alpha Jon gasps, his stunned expression mirrored by everyone else in the room. “She’s Alpha Quinn’s daughter?”

“Let me be clear,” I say, raising my hands to quiet everyone. “Yes, Amaris is Alpha Quinn’s daughter. She was kidnapped at birth by Luna Garnet Quinn, who was the midwife at the time. To make a long story short, Luna Garnet had ordered her sister’s mate to kill the infant, but instead, he secretly left her to be found by old Alpha Black’s pack, where she was raised as an orphan.

“Amaris and her mother have been reunited. Since Amaris is a healer, she is working to restore her mother’s health and is hopeful that Minette will fully recover. That’s it in a nutshell,” I explain.

“Thanks, Alpha Devon,” replies Enforcer Orson. “Let's continue.”

"Okay," Enforcer Hill says. "After a preliminary search of Jeni Quinn's room at Still Waters Pack, we found a tea mixture that’s been sent off for testing. Enforcer Orson, we can compare notes on that later."

Enforcer Hill continues, “Luna Quinn will be transported to Stone Mountain within the next couple of days. I can also confirm that the other two criminals taken to Stone Mountain with Ms. Vincent were Jeni Quinn, daughter of Alpha and Luna Garnet Quinn, and Jeni’s best friend, Sheila Morris. Both are charged with tampering with the mate bond between Alpha Devon and his mate, Amaris. Testing shows that in her tampering, Jeni used magic, wolfsbane, and possibly silver."

"I might have some information to share about that," Alpha Reems appears reluctant to admit. "I recognize that grimoire. If you check the front page, you’ll find it belonged to my grandmother, Nelda Baird Reems. Garnet Quinn and Tracy Vincent are my cousins. A flurry of whispers erupts. "Our grandfather, Alpha Remington Reems, married Nelda Baird, a witch. Among their children are my father, Cedric Reems, Garnet's father, Niro Reems, and Tracy's mother, Narcissa Reems, who married Ramos Vincent. There is a family connection between them. I wasn’t aware of their criminal activities or the pending charges against them. I’m innocent in their schemes. Their grandmother would be ashamed. I know I am."

The following two hours are spent discussing all the information and evidence. Enforcer Orson compiles a record on Tracy Vincent, documenting the connection to Garnet and Jeni Quinn, while Enforcer Hill focuses on the Quinns, emphasizing their ties to Tracy Vincent.

As the call ends, I mentally shake myself, vibrating with anger. The faster this is wrapped up, the quicker I can talk to Amaris. The gloves are off. No more holding back or being the patient, trampled-on good guy. Yes, manipulation was used against me, and mistakes were made. It's time to listen to Rue and reclaim my family.

Chapter 31 - Baby Steps

Devon

I’m scheduled to attend the Mate Bond Tampering Task Force conference in Stone Mountain on Monday, accompanied by Hill and Fillion. After some things came up during the recent information-gathering session, we need to ask Sheila a few more questions.

We are driving from the pack house to Sunshine Shimmer Pack, where I want to stop and visit my family for the weekend. I backed away and gave Amaris some space, only Face Timing Zoe. I believe it helped, as Amaris, Zoe, and Minette moved into the house I purchased there while we’ve been apart. "Baby steps," I sigh. Actually, that's a giant leap forward!

The property features a stunning lake, where I'm taking Amaris for a picnic tomorrow. After that, I’ve got a family outing planned for Sunday before heading to Stone Mountain later that night.

We’ll be at headquarters in the sub-level basements, where the prisoner cells are located, early Monday morning to question Sheila. To kill two birds with one stone, I’ll confront Jeni then and cut ties with her. Everything I’m doing is to prove to Amaris that she and Zoe are my top priorities.

Pulling up to the house, Zoe runs out onto the porch with Amaris right behind her. Her face lights up as she screams, "Daddy!"Goddess, that makes me feel good.That little girl right there is my heart and soul. Amaris is too. I hope I can show them how much I mean that.

"Zoe!" I sigh as she leaps into my arms, tossing her into the air. "How's daddy's little pup?"

She giggles as I tickle her. When I stop, she presses her sweet little hands to my cheeks, looks into my eyes with her matching chocolate brown ones, and says, "I wuv you, Daddy."

Tears sting as I cuddle her tiny frame and reply, "Daddy loves you too, Zoe. So much." Meeting Amaris's gaze, I feel a glimmer of hope for once. Her face softens, and her hands are clutched to her heart.

Enforcer Hill brings my bag and sets it on the porch. "We’re going to go get settled at the pack house. You're staying here, right?"

I grunt in acknowledgment.

Amaris says, "You’re all welcome to stay here. We have plenty of room."

"Thanks for the offer, but Alpha Blake wants us nearby so we can review some cases," Hill explains.

I enter the house with Zoe still in my arms and smell the wonderful aroma of Italian food. "I have dinner ready if you’re hungry," Amaris says.

"I can eat," I grin. "Nothing would make me happier than having a meal with my family."

She looks away and blushes. "Well, if you want to put Zoe in her booster chair, I'll bring out the dishes." I follow her request while Amaris brings a variety of bowls and platters to the table, filled with lasagna, spaghetti in chunky vegetable sauce, bruschetta, and buttered bread sticks. Zoe is especially fond of pasta, so Amaris adds vegetables wherever possible.

"Mom," she calls down the hallway. "Dinner’s ready." She sits with Zoe between us and starts fixing Zoe's plate.

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