Page 6 of Amaris Rejected

"I don't see why you’d want to," I reply, frankly.

"That's fair. I’d probably feel that way too,"he admits.

"Look, Devon," I state firmly. "I don't think there’s anything left we really need to discuss right now. The conversation ended years ago when youranout of our honeymoon suite and never looked back." I continue feeding Zoe and I bites of spaghetti. Breaking off a piece of garlic bread, I hand it to Zoe. She grabs it like she’s starving and shoves it in her mouth.

"Slow down, little one," I coo. "You’re going to choke."

I hand her the sippy cup, which she takes a drink before throwing it down on the floor.

"Oops!" she laughs, playing a game. As I reach for the cup, Devon picks it up and hands it to her with a smile.

"Tank you!" she giggles, preparing to throw it again when I catch it and move it out of her reach. She folds her arms and pouts at me. I can't quite understand Zoe's unusual behavior. Her little wolf seems to sense the tension in the room.

"Amaris." He’s still eyeing Zoe with wonder.

"Why are you still here?" I snap. I take a wipe out of my bag and clean Zoe's face and hands.

"I think we need to talk..." He shoots a look at Zoe.

"Devon. You’re about three years too late for that conversation!" I snarl as quietly as I can, still trying to keep Zoe’s involvement to a minimum. “It’s one that should’ve taken place before you walked out on me—on us.”

He recoils and turns to talk to his enforcers. I use his distraction to unstrap Zoe and lift her from the highchair. Grabbing my bag, I maneuver around Devon and toss $20 at Misty as I do another runner out the door.

Zoe screams, "Sketti!" I feel terrible, but I need to get out of here, and I’m sure I have some healthy snacks at the apartment to give her. As I sprint down the sidewalk, holding Zoe close, I realize it’s no use. Not only is Devon effortlessly following me, but both SUVs are trailing us down the highway.

Frustrated, I stop and turn to face him. Holding my hand up between us, he halts.

"I’m not sure what this sudden fascination with me is, 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, just let me talk to you for a moment..."

"Leave me alone!" I grit out as I look up to see a couple of pack enforcers I recognize running toward us.

I guess we’re making quite the spectacle: a lone female carrying a toddler while being chased by an Alpha and two SUVs full of male wolves.

"What's going on here, Amaris?" John, one of the enforcers who came to my aid, asks as he eyes Devon suspiciously. John is an admirer who frequently visits the shop to ask me out. Most shifters here don’t know my story; I’m private and like to keep it that way. But John has always been protective of me despite my refusals.

"John, these wolves are stalking me and won’t leave me alone," I say, pointing to Devon and the two SUVs following me. Chris, the other enforcer, instantly grabs his radio for backup. "I had to leave our meal at the diner, and they followed me all the way here."

"Listen," Devon starts, "John, right? Amaris is my mate..."

"No!" I snap, interrupting him. Zoe, her face pressed against my chest, starts to cry softly. I can tell this argument is upsetting for her. I just need to postpone this conversation until Zoe isn’t with me.

"Whoa, man! Amaris doesn't have a mate." John instantly becomes furious but lowers his voice to a whisper. "I've known her for three years. What’s your business here? Are you attending the Alpha conference or just passing through?"

"We're here for the Alpha Conference," Devon replies, lowering his voice as well. "But if I could just..."

"This isn't Alpha's gone wild or spring break, bro." Chris puts his hand on Devon's chest, easing him further away from me and Zoe. "You can't just go around harassing our she-wolves. That's not cool, man." Devon raises his arms to show he will comply.

"Chris, can you let me head home?” I gesture toward a crying Zoe. "I need to comfort her, and I don’t want him to discover where we live. Will you keep them here until I get home safely?"

“Amaris,” Devon interrupts softly. “You know I’m not a threat to your safety.”

I shoot him a baleful look. “I know nothing of the sort. I don’t know you.”

Devon flinches as the truth bomb lands.

"Sure, Amaris. Go ahead," Chris replies, grabbing Devon by the arm as he tries to follow me. "Hold on, man. The Alpha is on his way and wants to have a conversation with you. And you need to leave Amaris alone."

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