Page 78 of Plus-Size Mate

He heard Winter gulp and knew she had assessed the gravity of the situation.

“Well, it's a good thing we're basically fighting a human now and not a wolf,” she pointed out.

“Thanks to you,” Eddie said, pecking her on the cheek.

“Alright, everybody, listen up!” Jack called out to the pack as the final members arrived with no further news. “The rain is getting harder, and it looks like there's a storm on the way.”

Glancing up at the sky, the rain pounding against his face, Eddie saw that Jack was right. The smell of rain was layered with a threat, and the sky was so black it was hard to tell if the sun was even coming up.

He thought he heard the rumbling of thunder in the distance. Even werewolves were wary of being out in a storm, especially when there was an enemy loose in their territory. Too many things could go wrong.

“For now, we'll have to end the search and instead go on the defensive,” Jack explained, the rain and wind almost carrying his voice off.

The packmates all around Eddie started to pull their shoulders up towards their ears, turning up their collars and trying to protect themselves from the driving rain. In his arms, Winter shivered harder.

“I want guards posted in town and on the borders. The rest of you are going into lockdown at the manor. Anyone not on guard duty or patrol is limited to the grounds of the manor until we find the threat.”

Eddie sighed with relief. Maybe now he could finally get Winter inside, warm and dry. For a while, at least.

“I'll take the first guard duty,” Jack said, “Along with Bonnie, Hanson, Elena…”

Eddie barely heard the other names that the alpha reeled off, but he was entirely certain his wasn't among the list, and now his only priority was to get Winter inside.

“Come on,” Eddie suggested, but Winter was already pulling away, turned towards Jack with a look of determination on her face.

“Jack, what can I do to help?” she asked, her hands tightening into fists. “I can't just sit idle and wait for news.”

Jack turned to her with a raised brow and said, “You can and you will. You've done enough for this pack already, and by the looks of you, you're dead on your feet.”

“But I—” Winter began to protest even as Eddie reached for her to pull her back against him.

“I want you to go inside and rest. Make sure Eddie does, too, and in the morning, I want you to check on Karena and make sure your plan has worked.”

Eddie gulped at that. He had almost entirely forgotten about Kane's sister during all of the mayhem.

“Is she awake yet?” Eddie asked.

Jack shook his head. “Layla stayed with her. There's no news yet.”

“It could be a while,” Winter said, though her expression was more than a little concerning.

Jack didn't seem to notice as he turned to begin giving orders to the others again.

Seeing his opportunity, Eddie gripped hold of Winter’s wrist and started to drag her back towards the manor. “You heard him. It's time to go inside.”

“I really wish there was more I could do,” Winter protested, shaking her head, though she didn't try to pull away again.

Instead, she walked at a slow and tired pace back towards the manor.

As the rain grew heavier, Eddie grew impatient. Swiftly, he plucked Winter up into his arms.

“Eddie, what are you—”

Before she could finish the question, Eddie moved at full speed to the manor, up the porch steps and inside to drop Winter down on the bench in the mudroom at the back of the house.

In a flash, he had removed her shoes, unable to understand how she had been wandering around for hours in such uncomfortable heels.

Her feet were freezing to the touch, and when Eddie looked at her skin, he saw it was tinged with blue.

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