Page 7 of Amaris Rejected

"You don't understand..." Devon keeps pleading as I rush to the apartment. His voice fades as I put distance between us.

Once there, I grab a bottle of Scent Away off the shelf. I developed this unique formula to help dissipate scents to prevent tracking. I sell a lot of it to women, along with a wolf-strength pepper spray. I practically soak the inside of the shop and clinic. Next, I step outside and spray around the front and back. Finally, I spray the entire inside of the apartment. Hopefully, that will mask Zoe’s and my scents until the Alpha conference concludes or our Alpha makes them leave.

Zoe stomps her foot. "Sketti!" She pouts.

"Alright, Pumpkin, your dinner was interrupted." I lift her and set her in the high chair. "How about some berries for dessert?"

"Berries!" Her eyes light up as I grab a cup of washed berries from the fridge and add a dollop of whipped cream. She takes her spoon, and before long, her face is covered. I wonder how much actually makes it into her mouth.

Stooping down, I kiss her on her silly, berry-covered face. "Yummy, Zoe! I love you, little one."

"Wuv you, Mama." She grins, revealing her purple teeth.

Chapter 5 - Devon's Dawning Realization

Devon

I can't believe my eyes. We pull into the diner in Sparksburg to grab a burger before heading to the Alpha conference. I feel a tug on the mate bond. It’s the first time I’ve felt it in three years since the day my dad forced me to leave the Meet-and-Greet, the last day I saw the love of my life. I’ve searched for her ever since, but it’s as if she fell off the face of the planet.

I see her through the diner’s window as I step out of the truck. She is even more beautiful than before. Like a zombie, my entire being is focused on her. I don't even know how I got here, but now I'm just feet away from her.

"Amaris?"

"Mmhmm?" She barely acknowledges me, and I don't think she remembers me. But when she looks up at me with those striking moss-green eyes, I know I’m still a goner for her.

"I want a bite!" demands a toddler in a high chair beside Amaris. I suddenly notice her scent.She looks back at me with her chocolate-brown eyes...my eyes.“Oh, Goddess!”My wolf confirms.“That's our pup.”She has a head full of golden curls, just like my hair when I was a youngling. She's beautiful.

"Amaris? Can I... can I join you?" I hesitate.

"I don't see why you would want to." Amaris sniffs.

"That's fair. I would probably feel that way, too."

"Look, Devon." She speaks coolly, her voice a sharp whisper. "I don't think there’s anything left we really need to discussright now. The conversation ended years ago when youranout of our honeymoon suite and never looked back." She continues eating and giving our pup bites of spaghetti. "Slow down, little one." She coos softly, making my gut churn with remorse. "You are going to choke."

Our little one has some sass as she takes a drink from her sippy cup and throws it to the floor.

"Oopsie." She giggles. I grab it and give it back to her, smiling. "Tank you!" she replies. My heart wrenches; Goddess, she’s adorable. She may have my coloring, but she is a beauty like Amaris.

"Amaris," I plead.

"Why are you still here?" She hisses, her voice filled with contempt.

"I think we need to talk..." I gesture toward our daughter.

"Devon. You’re about three years too late for that conversation!" she snarls with quiet fury. “It’s one that should’ve taken place before you walked out on me—on us.”

Flinching, I turn away under the pretense of speaking to my enforcers. Amaris’ words hit like a punch to the gut. “Three years too late, you walked out on me… on us.”I can barely breathe, knowing what I know. But she’s absolutely right. I abandoned her, my fated mate, and our pup in the cruelest way while she was vulnerable. I knew it then, and I know it now. She owes me nothing, but I owe her everything, including an explanation. I need a moment to regroup.

Amaris takes advantage of my lapse and shoots out the door with our pup in her arms before I can stop her. I can't let her get away. I’ve spent three years looking for her. Not to mention, we have a child together! Not even my guilt can make me leave her now. I chase after her and order the team to follow.

Suddenly. Amaris whips around to face me. "I’m not sure what this sudden fascination with me is,” she hisses, low and tense, her palm covering one of the child’s ears while the other is pressed against her mother’s chest. “But this stalking behavior needs to stop. I don't want you around me, I don't want to talk to you, and I don't want to see you. What part of this are you having trouble understanding?"

"Amaris, please, let me talk to you for a moment..."

"Leave me alone!" her voice rises hysterically. I look up to see bystanders watching and a couple of wolves running toward us.

"What's going on here, Amaris?" One of the wolves asks, eyeing me suspiciously.

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