Page 8 of Amaris Rejected

"John, these wolves are stalking me and won’t leave me alone," She answers, pointing to me and my team. I realize they must be pack enforcers as the other wolf pulls out a hand-held radio and requests backup. Amaris continues, "I had to leave our meal at the diner, and they followed me all the way here."

She’s obviously leaving out important information here; I’m not a stalker.

"Listen," I start, "John, right? Amaris is my mate..."

"No!" She cuts me off.

"Whoa, man! Amaris doesn't have a mate." John hisses furiously. "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," I explain. "But if I could just..."

"This isn't Alpha's gone wild or spring break, bro." the other enforcer sneers. "You can't just go around harassing our she-wolves. That's not cool, man." He places a hand on my chest to keep me distanced from Amaris. I hold my hands up, indicating I'm no threat.

"Chris, can you let me head home?" Amaris addresses the enforcer between us. "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?" She gestures toward the child, who is obviously distressed and crying.

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

“I know nothing of the sort. I don’t know you.”

I flinch at her words, which carry a deeper meaning that pains me. Of course, she doesn’t know me; we spent one beautiful night together before I destroyed our future.

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

"You don't understand; Amaris is my fated mate," I begin to struggle, prompting the enforcers to wrestle me to the ground. It isn't an easy task for them since I am an Alpha. Soon, a few others join them, and they finally manage to pin me down. When the dust settles, I'm face down in the dirt, cuffed and restrained, while my team is being held in the vehicles. Amaris, along with all my hope, has disappeared again. I lower my forehead to the ground. Breathing heavily, I thrash about in frustration.

"What's going on here?" a familiar voice asks. I look up to see the local pack leader, Alpha Blake, a good friend of mine. "What kind of BS are you trying to pull, Alpha Devon?" He looks at me in anger. "Get him up," he orders his men.

They drag me to my feet. "Alpha Blake. We need to have a private conversation." I seethe, angry that my efforts to talk to Amaris have been thwarted.

"My friend, I don't think you are in a position to demand anything of me." Narrowing his eyes, an edge of danger is laced in his words.

I take a couple of deep breaths and shake my head to clear it. "Blake, Amaris is my fated mate," I say calmly.

Sighing heavily, Alpha Blake concedes, "Devon, I believe you are right. This calls for a private conversation." He pinches his nose and huffs. "Boys, let him go. Devon, you and your team follow me to the pack house. We'll have that private conversation once we reach my office." He looks at his enforcers. "Is Amaris, okay?"

They nod.

"Make sure to check on her."

"Will do, Alpha," John replies.

"Move out!" Alpha Blake roars.

I climb into the SUV with my beta. "Send the other team to track down Amaris and my child." Beta Dale raises his brows in question. "My wolf tells me that the child is mine."

"Okay, boss." Beta Dale nods.

"I know they picked up their scents at the diner." I continue. "Instruct them not to approach her and don't let her see them. Find out where she lives and works. Discreetly, learn everything about her--where she goes, who she sees." I growl at that. "Tell them to report back as soon as possible."

"Will do."

As the second SUV pulls away, we follow Alpha Blake to the pack house.

Later, sitting with Alpha Blake and his Beta Rick, I rehash the entire disaster that was my mating with Amaris.

"I don't know what to tell you, Devon. It looks like you have royally screwed up." Alpha Blake presses his lips together and rakes his hands across his face. I can tell he isn't pleased. "I don't know how well you know Amaris, and from what I'm hearing, you never knew her at all, but she's not only a well-known leader in our community but very well-liked. I can’t believe your father had you reject her or that you agreed.

Honestly, if word gets out that she’s been rejected by her mate, not just waiting for her mate, this could open her up for all kinds of attention from unmated males. I assume you have seen her since she's yourrejectedmate." He says sarcastically. "She'd make an ideal Luna. I often wish she were mine."

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