Page 32 of Amaris Rejected

"Luna Wright, I'm not certain he has shared all the details of what has happened between us, but I stand by my decision to reject him."

"I'm sure you're justified, dear. You and Devon didn't stand a chance against my mate's schemes and Jeni's plotting." She sighed wistfully. "I just hope you'll let me spend time with my granddaughter." She looks at Zoe, who is playing contentedly across the room.

"I don't have a family; I was a foundling. I wouldn't deny her the chance to be with good people who care for her," I assure her. "However, I’m somewhat cautious about Alpha Wright because of how he interfered with my mate bond," I admit.

"I assure you that Alpha Wright regrets interfering with your mate bond. When Devon came home, his wolf didn’t want anything to do with Jeni after meeting you." She comforted Amaris. "Oh, and I believe Alpha Quinn wants to speak with you sometime today. He, Devon, and Alpha Wright are in Devon's office now."

"Well, there’s no time like the present." I tap my thigh and stand up from the couch. "There are a few things I want to wrap up, and then I plan to head home. I realize I've only been here a little over a week, but this is a pointless endeavor anyway."

Luna Wright glances at Zoe. "It’s been a week I’ve enjoyed immensely visiting with my granddaughter. If only we could have avoided the schemes of men. For the record, I never wanted Jeni and Devon together. I always encouraged him to find his true mate."

Nodding, I stand and make my way to Devon's office. I get there quickly since it’s on the same floor as the Alpha Suites. After a light tap on the door, it swings open. "Come in, Amaris," Devon says. He releases the door and walks back to his chair behind the desk, looking worse for wear. Former Alpha Wright and Alpha Quinn are seated before him in armchairs, and I sit on the couch. "We were just discussing you and Zoe," Devon admits.

"Amaris," Alpha Quinn quickly speaks up. "I have something important to share with you." I give him my undivided attention. "First, could I see your amulet?"

I nod, lean toward him, and pull the amulet from beneath my blouse. "I never take it off. Our pack shaman told me it’s an amulet of protection and more. I haven’t discovered its full potential yet."

"Yes, it’s a protection amulet." He handles it with reverence, meeting my gaze with a faint smile. "I know where this came from. I know who you are." He sighs, letting the amulet drop, and leans back in his chair.

My instincts flare. "Family," Lyra whispers. "Father." I cringe.Blood recognizes its own, I think angrily.

"This amulet belonged to your mother. She was my true mate." His eyes stare blankly out the window. "This is a long, complicated story."

I freeze and watch him, my eyes wide and brows raised. First, I have a nightmare about my mother, and now this. It's not a coincidence. The goddess has prepared me.

"I met Jeni's mother, Garnet, and took her as my chosen mate," Alpha Quinn continues. "We had Jeni. It was truly a miracle, as chosen mates don't usually have pups. Shortly after Jeni was born, Garnet found her true mate. He was an enforcer who had just moved to our pack. Soon after, I met his sister, your mother, Minette Wolfsong. She was my true mate."

I clench my jaw. "It seems that you’ve never respected a true mate bond if you couldn't even wait for her!" I accuse.

His shoulders droop, but he presses on. "Garnet and I talked it over and agreed that pursuing a relationship with our true mates would be best. I suppose I pushed for it more than she did; the true mate bond was so compelling, even after I had chosen a mate."

"That was a terrible thing to do to Jeni." I chastise.

"You really feel sorry for Jeni after what she did to you?" he gasps incredulously.

"I care about everyone. If you hadn't treated her poorly in her childhood and had taught her the value of a true mate bond, she wouldn’t be in the situation she’s in today. She was four years old when I was born. Her childhood must have been confusing for her." I sneer.

"I can't argue with that," he nods. "You were born after Minette and I mated – another beautiful baby girl." He beams. "We planned to name you Sage Ebony Wolfsong Quinn. But you disappeared just minutes after your birth. You were in the room one second, and the next, you were gone." His eyes widen with recalled panic. "We searched everywhere for you. There was no trace."

"I was found deep in the woods at Little Silver Creek Pack." I volunteer. "That’s where I grew up."

"After your disappearance, your mother lost her grip on reality. Her decline into that state was rapid." He scrunched up his face, his eyes welling with tears. "She never recovered."

"What happened to my mother?" I whisper. His expression is blank, staring off into the distance.

"I’ve never stopped loving her,” he sighs. “After she lost herself, I've always taken care of her, but she’s more like my child than an adult." He blinks rapidly. "I put her away privately, and after Garnet's mate died a few months later, she and I chose to become mates again."

"Where is my mother now?" My lips form a straight line of icy contempt.

His thoughts emerge from the past, and Alpha Quinn blinks rapidly, staring dazedly at me. "My enforcers are on their way here with her now. I knew you’d want to see her as soon as possible, but don't expect much." Dropping his head, he wipes his eyes. "I hope meeting you might bring her back to me."

My breath escapes in a whoosh as I fall back onto the couch, my legs feeling like jelly. It’s a lot to take in. I now know my actual name, who my parents are, and where I come from. But it’s bittersweet.

"Do you see the irony in all of this, Alpha Quinn and Alpha Wright? If you hadn’t interfered with our mate bond, you’d have Devon and me, true fated mates, as Alpha and Luna, uniting the two packs." On the verge of tears, I throw my head back and laugh, but the sound is hollow and filled with grief. "Now all you have to show for your plotting is three broken wolves and a dead grandpup."

You could hear a pin drop; the overpowering stench of shame is rancid.

Chapter 25 - Prisoners & Mates

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