Page 66 of Plus-Size Mate

“Why couldn’t you have just rejected Jack's idea for the protection spell?” Carly demanded, baring her teeth at Winter.

Ignoring her question, Winter hissed back, “Take your hands off me or I will not be held responsible for my actions.”

“Ha!” Carly exclaimed, throwing back her head with near insane laughter. “Don't make me laugh.”

“I'm not trying to,” Winter responded, overly calm. Whatever Carly was trying to do, whether it be intimidation or violence, Winter was not going to put up with it.

What the she-wolf thought it might achieve was ridiculous.

“There are few enough decent werewolves around here without you witches swooping in and stealing them,” Carly growled, as if she had failed to hear Winter's words. “You should have just stayed with your own kind.”

Growing pissed, Winter sucked in a breath. Feeling strength course through her muscles, she shoved Carly hard in the chest and was surprised when the wolf actually stumbled backwards.

“You're stronger than you look, I'll give you that,” Carly scoffed. “But you're not match for a werewolf.”

“Hasn't anyone told you?” Winter asked, leveling her gaze with Carly’s. “My father is a werewolf, so I guess that does make Eddie mykind.”

The anger seemed to descend upon Carly all over again and she snapped, “Eddie deserves better. He deserves a full-blooded mate.”

At that, Winter held up her hands and shook her head. “Maybe you should take that up with fate.”

Carly cocked her head. Her suspicious expression turned to one of sheer shock and disbelief. “You can't honestly believe thatyouare Eddie’s fated mate. A half-witch, an abomination, a mongrel.”

Winter's hands tightened into fists at her sides. She was sure that this wasn't the last time she would hear such insults if her parentage got out.

Anger flared in Winter like she had never felt before.

Just remembering the way this woman had been brushing up against Eddie, the way she had spoken to him with that flirtatious lilt in her voice, made Winter want to rip her head off.

Feeling more like a werewolf than ever before, Winter lashed out, grabbing hold of Carly's throat.

In an instant, she flipped their positions, shoving Carly up against the wall.

Leaning in close, she snarled, “Now, you listen to me, and you listen good,” she glowered at Carly, seeing surprise bulging in her brown eyes. “Stay away from Eddie. You made him your plaything for long enough. That time is over now. He has what he really needs.”

Remembering all that had just happened in the garden, Winter was fueled by the knowledge that Eddie truly loved her. And she wasn't about to let this bitch of a werewolf get in the way of that.

“Eddie is my fated mate, and if you don't like that, well, I guess then you'll have to lump it, because you can't mess with fate.”

She shoved Carly once more, hard, before finally letting go.

Stepping back, she didn't take her eyes off the werewolf.

“Look elsewhere for your next plaything, or better yet, learn a little class,” Winter snapped, baring her teeth. “Maybe then you might actually find something to last.”

Rubbing her throat as if Winter had actually managed to hurt her, Carly straightened up. “Eddie was mine. We had a good thing going.”

“Wasyours,” Winter pointed out. “Maybe if you hadn't played with him so much, things might have turned out differently, but you were a greedy little bitch, and it bit you in the ass. Let him go.”

When Carly said nothing, Winter turned and started towards the door.

“Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a mating to celebrate.”

Winter was almost at the door, hoping Carly would finally let it go when she felt hands wrap around her shoulders.

Carly yanked her backwards so viciously that her heels slipped on the tiled floor, and she barely managed to stay on her feet as she fought to escape Carly's grip.

“What the hell are you doing?” Winter demanded, turning on the werewolf. “Are you a complete psycho?”

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