Page 1 of Forced Knocked-Up Mate

Chapter 1 - Lucy

The bell above the bakery door jingles cheerfully, bidding good night to my final customer and the long work day. I wipe my hands on my apron and take a deep breath of the warm, sugary scent that always drifts in the air behind the counter.

I go to the front door and lock it. I take a long look over the dark, high line of mountains on the horizon. The sun has just sunk behind them, leaving a bright gleam across the peaks. Above, the sky is already deepening to midnight blue.

Full moon tonight.

I turn back to the counter, and loneliness aches in my chest. Not so long ago, Fiona would have been here with me. We’d close up together, then head home with Caleb to sit on the couch, eat popcorn, and watch silly comedies.

Now, the evening duties of cleaning out the window and putting away the utensils seem like mammoth tasks, not simple jobs.

I used to skip around this place, lighter than air. Now it feels like I can barely move my feet.

Before I even know what I’m doing, my hand fumbles around in my pocket. I find my phone, yanking it out and slapping it against my ear.

I have to talk to someone.

“Hello?” Fiona asks. “Is that you, Lucy?”

“Yes! Hi.” I wait for words to come, but they don’t, leaving me feeling painfully stupid.

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah… sure. I just wondered if you guys were doing anything tonight?”

“Actually, we are. It’s a full moon, and we’re getting together with Silver Meadows and Decker packs for a run to the top of the mountains. Caleb’s finally big enough to come, and he’s so excited!”

“Oh, yeah. Of course.”

“Why, did you need me for something?”

YES!

“No, that’s okay. You guys get out and have fun. I was just checking in for your hours later this week. It’s been a bit stressful not having you here.”

“Yeah, I get that,” Fiona says thoughtfully. “How about that young girl, Sarah? She just got out of high school. You could move her up to full-time if she wants to.”

“That’s a great idea. Thanks, Fiona.”

“No worries! I better get going. My little pup is bouncing out of his skin here! I’ll chat with you soon. Bye.”

“Bye,” I mutter, pushing the red button and putting the phone back in my pocket. The small, icy sliver of loneliness in my chest grows, making it feel like my heart is splitting in two. I never realized how much I counted on Fiona and Caleb as my family.

But they aren’t my family.

I pull myself together and start packing away the leftover pastries and stacking empty containers. At first, I work quickly and efficiently, but then I remember I have no one to go home to, no reason to rush. Before I know it, I’m crying over the cake tins.

“Fuck this!” I mutter, shoving the baking trays away. I wipe tears from my eyes and grab my keys, hurrying out to my car. I have no idea what I’m going to do at home by myself, but I can’t stay here.

Maybe it was a mistake to stay in Silver Meadows. I was always going to be alone and misunderstood here, a witch all alone in a wolf pack.

There had once been an established coven here over many years. My parents and aunts were members of it. When the majority of them left, I decided to stay. Silver Meadows was all I’d ever known. Even now, I don’t want to move away.

The ever-changing energy brought to the region by tourism is what drove the coven away, but it’s also what holds me here. I find it invigorating, where the other witches felt it polluted the natural vibes of the forest.

They moved further into the wilderness. So far that I can barely even contact them.

Sighing, I start the car and drive through town. Briefly, I consider going to Shelley’s, but now that I know there’s a wolf run going on, it will probably be empty. There are a couple of other witches in town, but I don’t know them well enough to start randomly knocking on their doors.

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