Page 17 of Amaris Rejected (Stone Mountain Shifters #2)

Amaris-Present Day

The road trip to Devon's pack is relatively uneventful. The northeastern part of the region is generally more mountainous, with beautiful scenery unfolding before us, featuring long stretches of flat grasslands set against a stunning backdrop of mountain ranges.

To begin with, Zoe is quite the chatterbox. I believe the child loves hearing herself talk. She and Devon keep up a steady stream of conversation until she starts yawning and eventually falls asleep. Before long, we find ourselves driving up to an elaborate log cabin-style pack house with river rock accent walls. The front features floor-to-ceiling windows on each level.

Devon lifts Zoe from her car seat and holds her close. Still sleep-dazed, she snuggles into his chest. Zoe burrows deeper as the pack members begin to pile out.

"Hey, Zoe," Devon cajoles, "Don’t you want to meet everyone? Here's your grandma." He holds her up in front of his mother, Luna Wright.

"Oh, Zoe!" Luna Wright coos. "You can call me GiGi! I’m so happy to meet you. If it's all right with your mother," she gives me a questioning look, "I have some cookies cooling in the kitchen." I nod my consent. "Come on in," she says, holding out her hands as if to take Zoe. Although Zoe has shown interest at the mention of cookies, she immediately shrinks back into Devon’s chest. "It's okay," GiGi lowers her hands, "let's take Zoe to get some cookies, Daddy." She smiles at Devon.

Turning toward the pack house, everyone follows behind us as we make our way to the kitchen. Zoe is the star of the hour, and I’m slowly swallowed up by the press of wolves trailing her. When we reach the kitchen, Zoe sits at the bar with a cup of milk and a chocolate chip cookie. The gooey goodness already paints her mouth and drips down her hand. Smiling, I wonder if Devon will soon sport a Zoe-sized chocolate handprint.

Standing beside Zoe as she enjoys her cookie, I grab one for myself and munch on it. Devon’s mother turns to me, her smile as warm as ever. "Luna, I’m so happy to see you again."

Nearly choking on the cookie, I open my mouth slightly while scanning the room. The expectant looks of those around me are unnerving. Taking a deep breath and swallowing, I turn back to Luna Wright and speak gently, though loud enough for everyone to hear.

"This is likely a good time to clear the air and avoid any misconceptions. I’m not the Luna of any pack, especially not this one." I continue as kindly as possible, addressing the room. "I’m sure there are many wonderful wolves here, but the truth is my mate, the Alpha, abandoned me three years ago. I think that pretty much removes me from the position."

Gasps echo around the room as I scan the faces of those gathered. Perhaps they were unaware of what happened among their leaders three years ago. My gaze shifts back to Luna Wright. "I am here so Zoe can get to know her father and his pack. But mostly, I’m here to ensure that Zoe will be safe if she visits in the future without me."

"Are you insinuating that my grandpup wouldn’t be safe here?" Former Alpha Wright sputters.

"Make no mistake about my intentions. I’m not insinuating anything," I state firmly. “But your family betrayed me three years ago. I don’t know who is to blame, but I know that no one, not even you, Alpha, stepped forward to insist that the fated mate bond and the marriage between Devon and me should be preserved. I. Don’t. Trust. You!” I pause to enunciate each word.

"Furthermore, since our last meeting, I’ve been blessed with the goddess-given gift of precognition or warning dreams. In one such vision, I’ve been cautioned about a she-wolf who has already harmed our family, Alpha. The death of my son, your grandpup, was a direct consequence of this she-wolf's deceit, and she still poses a threat to Zoe's safety."

A deadly silence descends upon the room. Zoe suddenly starts chattering, "Daddy? Can I have another cookie?" She smears chocolate across his cheek as she gently touches it. Laughter erupts around us. As all attention returns to her, Zoe preens, and the atmosphere lightens.

"Drink your milk, my darling," Devon coos, smiling as he wipes the chocolate from his face. "It’s time for little pups to go to bed."

"Amaris, may I care for her the rest of the night?" Luna Wright pleads. "I’ll watch her carefully, and no one else will be around her."

“I appreciate the offer, but I brought a nanny with us,” I reply, pointing to Trish, one of the warrior she-wolves I hired to care for Zoe during her visits to see Devon, both now and in the future. “Trish is skilled and trained not only in childcare but also in protection and warfare. You’re welcome to visit Zoe anytime, but Trish will be a constant companion.”

"Why don’t I show you and Zoe to your suite?” Devon suggests. “While Mom and Trish handle Zoe’s bedtime routine, I can give you a tour. Afterward, I'd like to head to my office for a quiet conversation. Does that sound okay?"

"Lead the way," I gesture.

After dropping off Zoe and her entourage in our suite, the next forty-five minutes are spent touring all three levels of the impressive pack house. The main floor features an open space with couches and a TV at the front, transitioning into rows of dining tables and seating. Behind that is a large breakfast bar, where Zoe ate her cookies earlier, followed by the kitchen. At the back, a spacious patio and party area lead to a lake with a man-made beach in the distance.

The second floor features studio apartments with ensuite bathrooms, where many singles reside. The third floor contains the Alpha and Beta apartments, as well as the Alpha's parents’ suite and a few guest rooms. Zoe and I are close to Devon in one of those guest apartments.

Our temporary lodging has two bedrooms, a sitting room, and an ensuite bathroom. The entire back wall consists of glass doors that open onto a balcony with a view of the lake in the distance. The scenery is magnificent, but Trish and I thoroughly inspect the room to ensure the door locks are childproof and that everything is toddler-safe.

“Devon, have you shown Amaris the medical clinic yet?” Mom asks. It’s located in the basement, where the security offices and prisoner cells are, along with our emergency shelter and food storage. Having all these resources in one place helps us be better prepared for emergencies and more resilient against attacks.

“Not yet,” he replies. “I intend to take her there after we put Zoe to bed.”

"We’ll give Zoe a bath and tuck her in while you finish the tour,” Luna Wright suggests.

“Thank you, Luna Wright,” I smile. "Good night, Zoe." I lean down to kiss her sweet face.

"Goodnight, Mama." She kisses me back. "Goodnight, Daddy," she whispers as Devon leans down to hug her.

"Night, night, baby," Devon whispers.

“If you don’t mind, I thought we could sit and talk for a few minutes before I show you the basement level.” Devon leads us to his office, which is also on the third floor. It’s empty since it’s getting late. I sit in an armchair while Devon takes the companion chair beside the door. He reaches over to take my hand when the door swings open abruptly.

"Devon, you're back," the she-wolf from my dream says as she stands at the door. I’d recognize her anywhere. She’s the one I was warned to keep Zoe away from. As I stare at her, a vague memory surfaces of her clinging to Devon’s arm the day he left us at the meet-and-greet.

She glares at me with anger and shock warring in her expression. "Devon," she accuses, "who is this she-wolf?"

He jerks his hand from mine and turns to her, his voice placating. "Jeni, what are you doing here?"

She looks up at him with her big, baby-blue eyes glistening and whimpers, "I came to welcome you home." I almost laugh aloud. This female knows how to play him like a piano. "I'm sorry, am I interrupting?" She blinks, and a tear rolls down her cheek.

“Oh, forgoddess’s sake,” Lyra huffs. “Drama, much?”

"Aw, Jeni, honey, don't cry," he groans, rubbing his eyes as she flashes me a sly grin.

He reaches for her, but an angry growl escapes his chest, causing him to jump back. "I-I... you really shouldn’t be here." He steps outside with her and closes the door behind him. As his office is soundproof, I can't hear what's being said, and honestly, it doesn't matter. This is his problem. My only concern is how it all affects Zoe. Otherwise, I couldn’t care less.

I still feel the pull of the mate bond, but Amra, the herbal medication I developed, numbs the pain, and eases the suffering. It allows Lyra and me to see Devon for who he really is, not through any rose-colored glasses or lingering traces of the bond. Sure, the goddess paired as soulmates and perfect for each other, but he obviously has deep feelings for this other female, and she can have him. I just hope the goddess has something better in store for me.

After a few minutes, Devon walks back into the room. "Sorry,” he says guiltily. "Are you ready for that conversation?"

“Probably a little more ready than I had been after watching that little show,” I state.

He looks at me quizzically. “What are you talking about, ‘show’?” He air quotes.

“If it’s not apparent to you, it’s not my place to interfere.”

“Please enlighten me,” his voice becomes defensive.

“Hmmm,” Lyra observes. “Very protective of the little rat.”

“Please, Devon, she played you like last night’s lottery numbers,” I spit. “Are you really saying you bought her act?”

“That’s not an act,” his brows bunch as his anger spikes. “Jeni and I are the best of friends, and we are honest with each other to a fault. I don’t appreciate your implying that she’s deceitful.”

“If she’s so honest and pure, why does your wolf have a problem with her?”

“I don’t want to hear anything more about your attempts to disparage Jeni,” Devon orders, his Alpha aura washing over me. Pain shoots through my body at the betrayal, and I stagger as dizziness overwhelms me. I bend over, clutching my stomach, which twists in agony, stealing my breath.

The three most painful experiences for a wolf-shifter are Cheating Mate Syndrome, Rejected Mate Syndrome, and an unjust Alpha Order, especially one issued by their mate. These are particularly damaging because they don’t merely wound the human self; they hurt the guileless wolf's heart, exposing it to the brutality of the betrayal. These represent the cruelest forms of treachery that fracture both sides of the shifter and break the very foundation of their soul.

While Devon’s actions devastate me, I’m used to his dismissiveness. He’s shown his true colors before. But I don’t manipulate or control to get what I want like Devon and Jeni do. Being a doormat is out of the question. I’m a strong, independent she-wolf who doesn’t need Alpha Devon Wright. He’s bitten off more than he can chew, and it’s a lesson he’ll quickly learn. Does he really think he can win me back by metaphorically slapping me like this?

I straighten my spine and rise to my full height from the chair, seething as I look up at him.

“Fine!” I grit out. “But you need to know, you’ve just made the biggest mistake of your life.” Tears choke my throat, but I push through them. I’ll never let this clueless idiot know the depth of pain he’s caused me.

I pull on the mask of indifference I’ve worn for three years and keep my voice steady. “The female you just—just spoke to privately in the foyer, in front of your mate, the one you—you just issued an unjust Alpha order protecting, ensuring that I can’t tell you anything about the interaction that secretly passed between us… is also the one the goddess warned me about,” I snarl.

“What are you talking about?” he yells.

“Keep her away from Zoe,” I snarl. “If she does anything to my pup, I’ll—d—destroy her, and you won’t be able to stop—stop me!” I force the words out as memories of the vision flash through my mind of how Jeni tried to hurt my baby. I struggle to tell Devon, but the words won’t come, no matter how hard I try.

"Jeni? You’ve completely lost it,” Devon snaps. “She's harmless and wouldn't harm Zoe!” He scoffs, anger clear in his voice. “She’s been my best friend since we were pups." He waves dismissively, brushing off my concerns as he rolls his eyes.

"I mean it, Devon. I’m ready to go home with Zoe now unless you promise thatJeniwon't be allowed near her—EVER!" I demand as if his promises actually have any real value.

He raises his hands placatingly, just as he did with Jeni earlier, while I tremble angrily. "Fine! Fine! I promise," he sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose.

I turn to leave his office, but he stops me.

"Amaris, please wait. I’m truly sorry for losing my temper,” he says, shaking his head and sighing remorsefully as he takes a deep breath. 'You deserve to know what caused me to leave the meet-and-greet that morning."

"You think?!" I huff, sinking back into the chair beside Devon. I don’t feel very accommodating right now and couldn’t care less if I’m being rude.

At this point, he recounts what happened that fateful morning three years ago when he ran out of our room and ghosted me.

When he takes a moment to catch his breath, I say, "So let me get this straight.Beforeyou came to the meet-and-greet, your dad tried to force you to mate and marry Jeni?"

He nods.

"And that you might have crossed a line and become physical with Jeni before we met, but you’re not completely sure?"

He nods again, a bit hesitant. "So, I apparently had an allergic reaction to a tea blend?”

“Is that a question?”

“I’m just not sure what happened,” he explains. “One minute, I’m drinking a cup of tea that Jeni made for me, and the next, I wake up to find her claiming that we’d been intimate.”

“And you’re the one who’s lost it?” Lyra sneers in my head. “He’s the delusional one if he can’t see what she’s doing.”

"Your dad mind-linked you while you were still with me and told you that Jeni was pregnant with your pup?”

“Probably all made up by that deceitful she-wolf,” Lyra concludes, but I can’t voice anything because of the Alpha order.

"And all of this happened the morning after we got married and mated. So, instead of discussing it with me, you just turned your back on me for Jeni and left?"

He groans, rubs his face, and nods."I suppose."

I give him an indignant stare. "You suppose? Don't! Just... don't!" I snarl.

“And, finally, you find her waiting outside our room door like s—some sick s—stalker!Disgusting!" I continue breathlessly, my voice shaking and hoarse from the strain.

"When she did that—her crying a—act on you, the same one—she—she just—just pulled a few minutes ago!” I strain to force out the words. “But at that moment, three years ago, you chose her over yoursoulmate!Your wife!" I shout. "You decided to leave me and go what? Marry Jeni? We were already married! We’re still married! What was the plan?"

"I don't know where my head was. Dad had been yelling at me all night! I was in shock and just panicked," he exclaims loudly. “By the time everything settled down, it was too late. I couldn’t find you.”

"I don't know what good, if any, you telling me all this will do," I snap. "It changes nothing. What do you want from me? A free pass? If Rue hadn't intervened, my goddess, Devon, you'd be married to her right now, and I would be your ex-mate. What is the difference now? Do you want me to ask Rue if he will permit you to marry her?" I snarl. "Rue, my darling, please let Devon have the relationship he so desperately wants with Jeni, so he’ll leave me alone!" I sincerely plead.

I begin hitting Devon with all my might, punctuating each word with a punch. "I. Am. So. Done! This. Cost. Me. My. Son!"I wail as m y claws trigger, and I slice his shoulder. By now, I’m hysterical, truly losing it. Sobs wrack my body as I continue swiping at Devon.

Devon pulls me into his chest and spins me around to face him. Wrapping his arms tightly around me, he stops me from causing more damage. My hands are bloodied and bruised, throbbing with pain, but it pales in comparison to the ache in my heart. We sink to the floor, both sobbing uncontrollably as his shoulder continues to bleed heavily.

"I don't even know how to recover from all this, Devon," I whisper hoarsely, the words barely audible as if speaking to myself. "There’s no way back. No way."

He releases me and slides away, covering his face with his hands. "Trust is gone, Devon. You didn'tjustmake a mistake; you made achoice. You keep choosing her over me."

With all the fight drained from me, I curl up on my side and rock back and forth, my words soft and strained as I repeat, "Trust is lost. Trust is lost."

He must have mind-linked with someone as the door flies open again. This time, it’s the beta and a couple of she-wolves. One starts assessing his shoulder wound while the other helps me to my feet.

"Come along," she soothes. "I'll help you to your room. We'll bandage your hands."

Her gentle tone calms me as she leads me to my room, but I can’t respond. I feel empty, too drained to speak, too defeated to even look up. I just follow her silently.