Page 70 of Plus-Size Mate

Will’s voice almost made Eddie jump right out of his skin.

Clutching his chest, he gasped for breath. “Jeez. Don't startle me like that.”

“Startle? You?” Will exclaimed, looking quite stunned. “I remember a time when nobody could sneak up on you from more than two hundred meters. What's the matter?”

Eddie shook his head and again returned to looking for Winter. She had moved well in the few seconds he had interacted with Will, and he found her on the far side of the room,practically right on top of Karena and Kane. He watched her make eye contact with Kane and the two passed a discreet nod in a way that told him their plan was about to be underway.

He gulped hard.

“Damn, man. She really does have you wound up, doesn't she?” Will asked, clapping Eddie on the shoulder as he followed his gaze through the room. “You know, she might not be a werewolf, but she's not a fragile little human, either.”

Eddie shrugged off his comrade's hand, shaking his head. “I know. I just worry about her.”

“I might not know our new sister very well, but something tells me she wouldn't appreciate you being so damn protective. Witches like their freedom. They like the grass between their toes and the wind in their hair. Remember that.”

Will jabbed Eddie playfully in the ribs with his elbow.

Eddie grumbled low in his throat. “I will remember that. Still, I'm going to do whatever I've got to do to protect her. You'll understand when you find your mate.”

Will laughed then, throwing back his head. “I'd have to actually be looking for her to find her. Don't you think?”

Eddie was stunned then. He looked around at Will, distracted for a moment by his words. “It's an innate instinct in us all, isn't it? To be without your fated mate is a curse.”

Will shrugged. “We live a long life. I'd like to have some fun first.”

Eddie scowled. “Don't you think you've had plenty over the years? I'm pretty sure your conquest count was larger than the rest of ours combined.”

“Sowing those wild oats and all that,” Will shrugged. “And besides, one of us has got to keep up the fun for everyone else now you're all tied down.”

“Just don't blame the rest of us when it comes back to bite you in the ass one day,” Eddie said, shoving his friend back playfully. “Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to see if Winter needs any help.”

“Sure thing. Just don't go letting her turn you into some lovesick puppy like the rest of them,” Will insisted, inclining his head to the left where Zander and Layla were standing close together, whispering in each other's ears as if there weren't anyone else in the room. At their feet sat their young son, playing with a wooden wolf that Zander had hand-crafted for him.

That'll be us one day,Eddie thought happily as he assured Will again, “You'll understand when you find her.”

Will scoffed again and shoved Eddie forward. “Go and check on your girl before you make me sick.”

Eddie crossed the room, still laughing a little at Will's comment, accepting congratulations as he went.

And by the time he got over to Winter, he couldn't help but wonder whether she had already managed to accomplish her mission.

The answer came in the form of her slipping the vial from her pocket the second Kane drew his sister's attention away, pointing out several people in the crowd as if trying to help her get to know the people of the pack.

“That’s Hanson and Elena,” Kane said, and Eddie watched with quiet fascination as Winter swiftly removed the cork from the vial and upended it into the glass of champagne Karena was holding.

The poor human was utterly oblivious, nodding at everything her brother was saying.

“I had no idea you had so many friends, Kane,” Karena said, and Eddie watched as she raised her glass to her lips.

His stomach twisted with anxiety. Was she going to smell that something was off?

Of course not. If she had been a werewolf, she would have, but then again, if she had been there would have been no need to dose her.

Eddie moved in close and placed a hand on Winter's back. Whispering in her ear, he said, “You made that look effortless.”

There seemed to be no end to his mate's talents.

“I told you I could be sneaky when I needed to be,” Winter whispered back, wrapping her arms around Eddie's back. Louder, she added, “How are you doing?”

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