Page 41 of Amaris Rejected

"No, Alpha. We weren’t aware of that possibility and didn't think to ask about it at that time."

"She needs to be questioned further. Either take a trip down there to do so or speak to the lead at the Kingdom."

We all put on rubber gloves, opening drawers and cabinets, unsure of what to look for. Hill heads into one of the bedrooms, and I follow. Checking the closet, I point to the jacket inside. “This might be where Jeni stays; that’s her jacket."

Hill rifles through the dresser, then suddenly stills. "Alpha, I think I’ve found what we’re looking for." Inside a drawer is a plastic bag that looks like it contains herbs. He carefully pulls it out, revealing a book underneath, which he also takes. Holding the bag, he opens it and sniffs. "Ouch!" He recoils. "Black magic." He extends the bag toward me, and I catch the sulfuric odor without getting too close. I nod, and he reseals the bag.

I take the book from his hand and open it. "It looks like Jeni’s journal." I flip through the pages, appalled at what I learn just from skimming. "She outlines exactly how she’s manipulating me and experimenting with blends and spells to subdue Rue and destroy my mate bond with Amaris.” I pause, rubbing my hand over my face as I stumble to sit in the chair by her dresser. “Wow, she really fooled me. Amaris is right on all accounts. Jeni should’ve never been trusted.” I turn back to the journal. “There are even entries in here of concoctions and spells that her mother used on Alpha Quinn, detailing the successes and failures. "Oh, my goddess!” I exclaim, turning the page. I recognize the poem, or should I say spell, written there—the one she sang the last time she brought me tea.

Flashback

"What are you humming?" I ask.

"Just a cute little ditty about tea." She giggles.

"Sing it," I prod.

?”Just think how it would be, oh, so sweet,”??

?“A spell, then a drink, and love’s complete,??

?“Sip the tea, it’s magic, you see,”??

?“A pinch of love, and a new family,”??

?“A dash of binding with every pour,”??

?“Drink up and you’re mine forevermore.”??

End of flashback.

"Hill, here is the spell she used on me when she brought me tea. She may have been humming it under her breath before, but she sang it the last time."

"You think she's a witch?" Enforcer Hill asks.

"I think she might have witch ancestry because I’ve seen her wolf," I reply. "Let's pause this and start anew in the morning. First, call Alpha Jenson's lead enforcer, Enforcer Orson, and inform him of what's happening here. I believe he could offer some insight into the situation. Alpha Blake was headed there next when he picked up Jeni and Sheila. He mentioned needing to collect another prisoner accused of tampering with mate bonds. Let's compare notes.”

“Next, once you finish searching this room, send a sample of the tea to Amaris for analysis. After that, meet up with me. I’m hoping for answers. I might have been under a spell all along. Now, go get some rest."

He nods. "Will do, Alpha. Come on, Fillion, we’re officially off the clock."

"Yes!" Fillion grins.

We leave the apartment, locking it behind us. I tuck the journal under my arm. I think I’m in for an eye-opening night of reading. I yearn for answers.Goddess! Can you help me understand? I desperately want my family.

Chapter 30 - Witch Descendancy

Devon

I sit at my desk reading Jeni’s journal, which we found while searching Sheila’s room. I turn to the pages where the Meet-and-Greet begins.

Dear Diary,

Today we arrived at the singles Meet-and-Greet. I’ve never hated Luna Wright more than I do now, this was her idea, and she wants Devon to have the chance to meet his “true mate”. I wish she would mind her own business. When I become Devon's Luna, I'll send her to the facility where Mom keeps her other victims. Since I turned 18 and realized I wasn't his mate, Mom and I have worked hard to get him to bond with me, just as she did with my dad. She's taught me everything I know about controlling a male. We've been using a tea and spell combination for years, and at first, we thought it might work on both Rue and Devon, just as it works on my dad. But we didn't inherit much of the witch gene from Grandma Nelda, so I've never been able to perfect it.

Love, Jeni

The following entry is just as dark and turns my stomach when I think of the danger Jeni posed to Amaris and Zoe—something I was too blind to see.

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