Page 75 of Plus-Size Mate

As they did, Winter couldn't help but notice how quiet the manor was. It was almost deathly silent.

Usually, when she was here, there was a hum of activity coming from the other members of the pack. Layla in and out, tending her gardens, Jack working hard at the desk in his study, someone always doing some kind of repair work on the old building, Hanson or one of the others training the younger werewolves in the purpose-built gymnasium. Even the kitchen was usually bustling with people making meals. Werewolves ate so much thanks to their fast metabolism.

Yet, it was silent now, and it almost felt like a ghost town.

“Has anyone actually checked the manor?” Winter asked as they reached the library door.

Both Will and Eddie stopped to look at her with quizzical expressions on their faces.

Blushing a little, Winter shrugged and said, “What?”

“What do you mean?” Will asked, but a light started to dawn on Eddie's face.

“An escape would draw everyone out of the manor,” Eddie pointed out, and Winter knew he had gleaned exactly what she meant. “The safest place to be would be at the heart of the pack, right here in the manor.”

A shiver ran down Winter’s spine. It was exactly what she had been thinking, and yet hearing it said out loud seemed far worse than just hearing it in her own head.

“I'm sure someone must have checked the place,” Winter said hopefully, wishing she hadn't said anything at all.

Just imagining Christopher hiding out in one of these rooms, ready to pounce on them, made her feel nauseous.

“You guys find a map, I'll check the place to be sure,” Will offered.

“Jack said nobody should be alone right now,” Winter pointed out. It felt odd to be following the rules of a werewolf alpha, but he had a point.

“Well, either I go alone or the two of you come with me and we waste even more time when you could be doing your little trick,” Will said, pointing at the grimoire clasped to Winter’s chest.

“My little trick?” Winter bit back, scowling at him.

Will shrugged nonchalantly.

“What else would you call it?”

“What it is, a spell,” Winter responded, grumbling at his stupidity.

Will cocked his head and laughed. “Call it what you want. Just get it done so we can catch this bastard.”

And before Winter could say another word, he turned and started off down the hall in the direction of the staircase.

“Is he always so…?” Winter asked, unable to quite put her finger on the word.

“Yes, yes, he is,” Eddie responded, his voice filled with amusement. “You'll get used to him.”

With that, he placed a hand on the small of Winter’s back and guided her into the library. “Let's get this over with.”

Winter cringed. Spells couldn't be rushed, even ones as simple as locator spells.

She bit back the urge to say anything and instead asked, “Where will the maps be?”

But Eddie had already crossed the room to a large cabinet, and within seconds, he had produced several maps that were wrapped up like scrolls. They were really more blueprints than maps, but Winter was certain they'd work just as well.

“One of these should be of the town,” Eddie said, dropping them onto the rug in the center of the floor. He sat down on a couch and hurried to check through them.

Winter joined him, finding exactly what she needed quickly.

“This one looks as if it's the most up-to-date,” she said, laying the piece of thick paper out in front of her.

“Winter?” Eddie said as she began to undo the clasp on her necklace.

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