Page 11 of Amaris Rejected

"I can’t disagree with you, Amaris. There’s no valid reason to jilt a female like you." He suddenly becomes deadly serious. "I've known Devon a long time. I was really surprised and disappointed to hear what he had to say. I’d give anything to find my Luna." He stares out the window sadly.

I wonder about his story. He’s a very nice-looking male, easily 6'5", early thirties, with chestnut hair and sea-green eyes.Why couldn't he have been my mate?I inwardly sigh.

Then it occurs to me, while I am sitting here across from this gorgeous specimen, that I’ll never find a second-chance mate unless I reject Devon.

I lean forward quickly and smile. “I do need to meet with Devon. Can you arrange it?”

Chapter 8 - Meet-and-Greet - Devon

Devon-Day of Meet-and-Greet

"All right, guys," Alpha Wright begins. "We need to get everyone sorted for the weekend." He holds up a stack of papers. "We have fifteen attending this year from our pack. Luna and I will be going as chaperones, and we also have a contingent of six warriors."

"Our neighboring sister pack, the Moonbeam Pack, will be carpooling with us. They have seven attendees, four warriors, and Alpha and Luna Quinn."

"If there are no questions," he continues, "please come forward to get your information packets. They have everything you need, including details of who you’ll ride with."

We all collect our packets and make our way to the SUVs. I am driving one, with Jeni riding shotgun. There are three other attendees from my pack and a warrior with us, while everyone else is spread out among the other SUVs.

Jeni has been my best friend since childhood. She’s Alpha Quinn's daughter. Her father and mine have been trying to push us into a mating, but I don't feel that way about her. Things have been getting more tense between us lately.

About halfway through the trip, I glance in the rearview mirror and notice that everyone, except Jeni and me, is asleep. Jeni looks around the cab, then gives me the side-eye.

"Devon," she hesitates, clearing her throat. "I know we’re going to this Meet-and-Greet," she says, making air quotes with her fingers, "to find our mates. But our parents want us to get together for the good of our packs. Dad says your mom is pushing us to find our fated mates. That’s why we’re on our way to this thing."

I look over at her, fully aware that most of our parents want us to mate and merge our packs. Jeni has also been trying to get closer to me. She's a beautiful female, and I genuinely love her as a friend. I tried to have a relationship with her, but it just felt too awkward. A few weeks ago, somehow, I got intoxicated, and Jeni says we had sex. She makes these fantastic tea blends that I love, but I had an allergic reaction. One minute, I’m drinking tea, and the next, I wake up in a compromising position with Jeni, sans clothes. I don’t remember anything. I’ve been haunted by guilt ever since, and it makes me uneasy when she gets too touchy-feely.

I wanted to please Dad by making Jeni my Luna because he says I have a responsibility to the pack, but I don’t want that. I really hope I find my mate this weekend.

"Yeah, I know..." I begin, but she interrupts me.

"So, I think we just need to avoid running into our potential mates at all costs. Hopefully, we’ll get through this weekend, mate-less," she says, rushing on. "If we meet our mates, we reject them immediately. Okay?

"Jeni, I don't know. Let's give this an honest chance because it makes me uncomfortable to think of you as anything but a friend."

She looks at me, frustration in her eyes. "Devon, we’ve already been together, and it was beautiful. I was never as happy as when we... when we made love."

I blush furiously. "Jeni, I’m sorry. I don’t even remember that. All I feel is guilt and embarrassment when I think about what happened. I can’t go there with you. If you find your mate, you should claim him. I will be."

She drops her head. I can tell she’s hurt, but I’ve been trying to let her down gently since it happened. I don’t remember it at all, and it doesn’t feel consensual because I wasn’t aware. I won’t blame her for that, though. I know she wouldn’t have taken advantage if she’d known. But she still isn't picking up on the hints, so blunt it is.

"Jeni, I care about you," I reassure her, smiling. "You’ll always be my best friend."

She nods but grows silent, crossing her arms and turning to stare out the window petulantly.

“Whatever,” I think to myself, sighing inwardly. “She’ll get over it, I hope.”

We arrive at the Meet-and-Greet at around 9:00 a.m. There are hundreds of wolves here, all excitedly talking and laughing. Event organizers, wearing matching yellow t-shirts, direct us to a table to get our name badges, schedules, activity lists, room cards, and meal tickets. Throughout the day, we repeatedly hear the shout of "mate."

Our group from the two packs stays close, eating meals and doing various activities together. Jeni stays annoyingly close to my side. Finally, the females gather and head to the bathrooms. A few of the males and I approach one of the many bonfires. There,sitting and staring into the flames, is the most beautiful she-wolf I’ve ever seen. Her gorgeous, straight black hair hangs down her back, and she’s curvy in all the right places. Looking up at me with her moss-green eyes, I’m mesmerized.

"Mate," I mouth as I walk up to her. "Can I sit next to you?"

"Yes," she whispers, smiling.

"I’m Devon," I tell her. "I'm the future Alpha of the Still Waters Pack."

I reach for her hand, and her touch feels like electricity coursing through my veins. My blood sings. "My name is Amaris, from the Silver Creek Pack." She replies.

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