Page 15 of Amaris Rejected (Stone Mountain Shifters #2)

Amaris-Present Day

My apartment door opens to reveal Devon, dressed nicely yet casually in jeans and a white henley. A grin spreads across my face as I wonder how long his crisp white shirt will stay clean once Zoe gets a hold of him. Stepping back, I gesture for him to come in.

I assume the small stuffed toy in his hand is for Zoe. Thankfully, he’s neither stupid nor cliché enough to bring me flowers or a gift. That would only anger me if he thought I could be swayed so easily.

"If you want to take a seat," I point to the living room, "I'll get Zoe and join you."

Entering Zoe's room, I scoop her up. "Mama," she coos, patting my cheeks with her tiny hands. She plants a sweet kiss on my chin, giggling.

Walking toward the living room with Zoe, I stop before Devon. "Zoe, this is your daddy," I tell her.

She looks at Devon with suspicion before turning back to me. "I don't have a daddy," she states matter-of-factly. Tears fill my eyes. I’ve never mentioned him to her, so I suppose that’s why she thinks she doesn’t have one.

"Yes, you do, sweetheart," Devon chokes back tears, reaching for her.

Zoe eyes him with confusion. "Daddy?"Glancing back at me for approval, I nod.

"Yes," he replies as she tentatively reaches for him in return. He cradles her gently against his chest; the scent of his pup washes over him with painful intensity. His eyes close, and a tear rolls down his cheek as he holds his daughter for the very first time.

A low growl vibrates from him, more wolf-like than human, as he murmurs, “My pup.” I watch in awe as my baby finally receives what she’s always deserved: her daddy—this male who abandoned us.

"I'll just be over here in the kitchen finishing up dinner," I say, gesturing toward the couch. "Why don't you sit down and get to know her a bit?" He nods, swiping under his eyes as I move to the opposite side of the marble island to plate the meal.

As I bring dishes to the table and chop Zoe's noodles, I hear his low voice rumbling and her high-pitched replies. It’s a bittersweet moment as the pain envelops me. If only he hadn't left us, this could have been our reality—me preparing dinner while he sits and plays with ourchildren.Zeke would likely have been here in that alternate world. I wipe away the moisture from my cheeks, feeling as if I have an endless supply of tears for what could’ve been. Instead, I’m left feeling cold and distant toward Devon.

After taking a moment to collect myself, I call out, "Devon, if you’d like, you can put Zoe in her booster seat." While he fastens her in, I fill her cup with water. Placing it and her plate in front of her, she begins to eat. Pulling up a seat, I motion for Devon to sit across from Zoe.

Dinner is calm, with Devon and Zoe filling most of the conversation. Once we’re finished, we bathe her and get her ready for bed. After brushing her teeth and tucking her in, Zoe picks out a storybook. Devon snuggles in beside her and starts to read.

While Devon reads to our daughter, I tidy up from dinner. Thankfully, I usually clean as I go, so I only need to put away leftovers and load the dishwasher.

By the time I finish, Devon walks into the kitchen. “She’s asleep,” he murmurs.

"Let's talk," I urge as I sit at the dining table, waving for him to take a seat across from me. Reluctantly, he does, glancing at the empty chair beside me. I pull out a file folder containing two extra copies of the divorce agreement and hand him one. "Let's discuss," I repeat.

"Amaris," he pleads. "I don't want a divorce. I just want a chance to talk."

"Are you saying you want the chance you never gave me?" I snark; I'm done with that conversation before it even starts.

Sighing, he drops his head. "I did that. It's true. I left and never gaveusa chance, but I had my reasons at the time. So yes, I’m asking for something I never gave you—a chance." He pleads, moving around the table to kneel in front of me. "I’m so, so sorry. I want the opportunity to explain what happened and make this right. What can I do?" Like Zoe's, his chocolate-brown eyes glisten with unshed tears.

I’m shocked that a grown man, an Alpha as big as Devon, would beg me. Even on his knees, we're eye to eye. Flustered, I look away. "Listen, Devon," I say gently, and the anguish in his expression softens. "What can I do to help you understand that you can’t change what happened? You can’t go back in time and undo it. So, can we go over this agreement and sign it?"

"No." he cries as he drops his forehead on my legs. "I’m on my knees." His voice is muffled. "It was the biggest mistake of my life. I looked for you but couldn’t find you. I’m so sorry! Please forgive me!"

"No, Devon," I grit my teeth. "Saying sorry helps when you’ve made a mistake, but when you make a choice, it doesn't. In either case, you betray trust. For future reference, never betray trust. While forgiveness is possible, though not easy, forgetting and trusting again is inconceivable in this instance. Trust once lost is... lost. You didn'tjustmake a mistake; you made achoice that can't be undone and has adversely affected us all."

He grips my chair legs, looking crestfallen. "You’re right, but there has to be hope."

Then, as if struck by an epiphany, he hesitantly smiles. "Yes." Nodding, still on his knees before me, he adds, "Rue and I would like you to do him a favor. He says his human’s an idiot," he laughs through the tears streaming down his face, "but he didn't want to leave you despite the circumstances. So, could you take some time off and join us at the Still Waters Pack? Bring our pup so we can get to know each other better, and she can meet her grandparents. We're only asking for two weeks."

I soften a little towards the poor wolf caught in the mess his human created. "Rue, I know you didn't..."

Devon speaks, but I know it's Rue because his voice is more growly, and his eyes are golden. "The only thing we want right now is to get to know you and our pup," he says woefully.

I lower my head as Devon, now voicing his feelings, implores, "And you can get to know us. No strings attached. Just let me try to win you over. We’ll go out on dates both as a family and as a couple."

"No couple dates," I interject firmly.

"Yes, a couple of dates," he insists, hope shining in his eyes. "Just for two weeks. If you still want the divorce at the end of that period, I’ll agree to sign it. No questions asked."

"And no funny business," I stipulate.

"No funny business," he lies, fingers crossed behind his back as he leans forward and quickly ghosts his lips over mine.

I pull back, irritated by his nerve, but then I catch sight of the little red handprint on the back of his nice white henley, left by Zoe's sauce-covered hand.Seeing it makes me laugh, my anger dissolving as he heads for the door.

“Called it,” I giggle to myself.