Page 11 of Amaris Rejected (Stone Mountain Shifters #2)

Amaris

"Hello, Mama." A tiny boy with chocolate-brown eyes wakes me.

"Who—who are you?" I ask as I rise from my warm bed. It’s dark outside my window, so it must still be night.

"It's me, Mama," he laughs.

Oh , my goddess, he’s the spitting image of Zoe, down to the gold ringlets on his head. He looks to be the same age as her. Am I losing my mind?

"Zeke?" I whisper.

He giggles joyfully as he nods his head. "Yes, Mama. The goddess has allowed me to visit you. There's a lot you don't know that you need to understand."

He sounds more like an adult than a child. I blink , and right before my eyes, he changes. He’s no longer a child but a big, strong , healthy teenager. Tears blur my vision. Oh, goddess. If only he had lived. My sweet Zeke. I bury my head in my hands and begin to sob.

"Don't cry , Mama." He comforts me in a deeper voice. "I’ve been allowed to come here to guide you. I need to help you find your past." He points behind me, and the scenery changes. We are no longer in my room but in a dark forest. The path behind me is narrow but well-traveled, lined with beautiful trees that stretch overhead to form a protective canopy. "The path you’ve walked was wrought with pain, but it doesn’t define you."

“The questions of your past will be answered soon.

"I’m here to help guide your future," he explains, pointing to the path ahead. I notice that it’s not as clearly defined. Several smaller paths fork off from the one we’re on, and none of them look easy. Each varies in difficulty, cluttered with boulders and fallen trees, while thorny vines and rose bushes choke both sides. "The road ahead has danger but also a great deal of happiness. It must be tread carefully."

I notice that ahead is a steep drop-off. A few feet away, I spot Zoe standing too close to a female I don’t recognize. Her menacing smile sends chills down my spine as she beckons Zoe closer, a malicious glint in her eye. My heart races as I realize the female is a threat to my pup—she’s luring Zoe towards the edge of the cliff.

A now-adult Zeke, the very image of Devon, points to the female, "She’s the reason I never joined you and our family. Her lies caused my father to turn his back on us and abandon you. She’s still a danger, especially to Zoe. Memorize her face. When you see her again—and you will—protect Zoe from her at all costs."

I watch in horror as Zoe is pushed off the cliff. Lunging to save my daughter, I suddenly find myself falling through darkness.

I land with a thump and spring up from my bed, gasping, "Zoe!" My heart races as I look around, slowly becoming aware I’m back in my room. I rush next door to check on Zoe and find her sleeping peacefully.

Sighing, I lean against the wall and notice through the window that dawn is breaking over the sky. Then, I realize I just had a warning dream. I need to stay watchful for this female I’ve been shown. She’s a danger to Zoe and my family.