Page 38 of Amaris Rejected

"In the meantime, I’m hungry, and so is my mother. No offense, but I can't be too cautious with your pack and Jeni’s so close. I don’t know who to trust. Could you arrange for someone loyal to prepare our meals and bring them to the clinic? I'm not leaving those machines or my mother unattended until I get the results."

"I will do anything I can to help, even if that means preparing the meals myself. Manipulation and control have gone on for far too long."

"Thank you," I say with a smile. It's likely my first genuine smile for him in years. "Also, can you please check on Zoe?"

He nods and turns to leave but hangs back. He turns and opens his mouth to speak.

"This changes nothing, Devon," I interrupt him. "I just need what you owe me—your support."

He gives a brief nod in acknowledgment and walks away.

Chapter 28 - Compromise

Amaris

"Mom?"Goddess, it feels strange to say mom."I have everything packed and ready to go. I just need to talk to Devon before we leave."She continues staring out the vast floor-to-ceiling windows at the vista beyond."Luna Wright, are you sure you’re okay staying with Mom and Zoe for a little longer?"

"Take all the time you need, Amaris. We will be just fine," she waves me off.

I leave the suite and take a few short steps to Devon's office. The door opens immediately as I knock, and Devon's beta steps out. "Lu-Amaris," he nods as he walks away.

I glance inside to see Devon sitting at his desk. He doesn't look well. "Are you taking the medication I prescribed for you?"

He takes the bottle from his top drawer and shakes it unhappily. "Yes. I wish things were different, so I didn't need these."

"It gets better over time. Just think of them as a supplement to your diet," I shrug. "They keep you healthy. Besides, there’ll come a time when you no longer need them, like when you find another mate. Maybe you'll be ready again when Jeni gets out of prison."

He runs a hand down his face and blows out a deep breath. "Nope," he says, popping the "p” and ignoring the jab.

"Anyway, I want to go over a few things before I leave," I continue quickly.

“Okay,” Devon nods.

"I know you spent most of this morning with Zoe. I hope you had a good time."

"We had a great time. I wish you would’ve joined us, Amaris," he says, his eyes pleading.

"Devon," I shake my head. "We've had this conversation. I don't know why you think things have changed. It’s clear I’m not your choice when the only reason Jeni isn’t coming out on top is that she finally showed her hand and ended up in prison."

"I don't know why you feel this way." His hand grips the desk so tightly that a piece breaks off. "She’s never been anything more than my best friend, or at least that’s what I thought."

"And there's the problem,Jeni, Jeni, Jeni,”I mock.“My best friend!”

“Devon, your head and your heart are connected so deeply with Jeni, there’s no room for me. And, I love myself too much to ever be an afterthought to you. I won’t knowingly put myself in that position again.”

“Until you acknowledge that you sided with her over me and figure out why your bond with her is so strong that it keeps you from prioritizing your true mate, we have nothing to discuss."

“I didn’t…” he shakes his head and slumps back in his chair, confusion written all over his face.

"Anyway, I didn't come here to dwell on my trivial wounds,” I say dismissively. "I came to talk to you because we finally made a small connection. I feel like, for once, you actually had my back."

He flinches at my truth. My wounds mean nothing to him; in my opinion, it’s always been about Jeni and her feelings.

“And I’d like for you to remove the Alpha Gag Order so I can speak freely about Jeni when I need to, without popping a vein in my forehead from the effort.”

A look of horror crosses his handsome face. “What are you talking about?"

Now it’s my turn to be confused. “The one you issued, ordering me not to talk negatively about Jeni,” I say, pinning him with a deadly stare.

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