Page 13 of Forced Plus-Size Mate

“I might believe that wolves and witches should join their lines,” Amanda answers. “But I will not believe I have to marry Body! I can’t!”

She gathers up the runes again while fear and hope collide inside me. I’m so confused, I don’t even know what I’m hoping for.

All I’ve wanted for so many years is to have her back in my arms… but do I still want that if she isn’t happy?

Chapter 5 - Amanda

Shadows from the flickering fire cast across the runes, obscuring their symbols. There is no other light, and I could easily use the excuse that I don’t understand what they say.

But I do understand. I can’t deny it. My magic might be faulty, but my instincts, my intuition, these are crystal-clear.

This essence is what makes someone a witch. It never fades, even when the ability to craft spells fails.

Nell puts an arm around my shoulders, and I can feel Lucy’s eyes on me. All around the circle, I can hear the others calling out and talking amongst each other. No one else seems to have any issues with the path we have been ordered to take.

I gather up the runes again, bruising my fingertips and tearing my nails in my haste. The ground is cold, scattered with a light dusting of ice that makes my hands numb. I don’t care. I shake the runes in my hands and toss them out, going for a wider throw. They come up exactly the same again.

“No,” I moan. “It can’t be.”

“Amanda,” Nell whispers. “Stop. It isn’t going to change. If you are getting a consistent result, even without access to your higher magic, then you know it must be real.”

Hot tears have started to run down my cheeks. I stare at the runes, begging them to change. I know Body is looking at me. In fact, I know that he hasn’t taken his eyes off me the whole time he’s been standing there.

What brought him here, at exactly this time? How did he know?

I look up, very slowly. My eyes flick over his body, the hard lines of him traced out by the light and shadow from thefire. My gaze lingers, and I hate myself for it, but I can’t deny how handsome he is, or how much he turns me on.

Isn’t that the whole problem? I want him, even when I don’t want him.

“Amanda,” he says softly.

I shake my head as tears pour down my cheeks. He reaches out with one hand but doesn’t come any closer.

“We know what needs to be done, Amanda,” Lucy says. “We came out here to solve the problem, and now we have a solution. Are you up to the task?”

I can’t take my eyes off Body. It was such a short time ago that I said I’d do anything to help my coven. I didn’t knowanythingwas going to include giving up my dignity.

“Yes,” I answer miserably. “I will do it.”

Around me, there is an excited chatter as the rest of the witches explore the possibilities this will give them. They want their magic back, but I know some of them are looking forward to meeting hot, sexy wolves and potential mates.

“We’ll need to talk to Bae,” Lucy says. “The final word will come down to the alpha.”

“I’ll go right now,” Body answers eagerly.

I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t this. He seems… happy?

“Okay, message me or Peter when you have an answer,” Lucy replies. “And we’ll get organized.”

Body turns and shifts, running into the trees. The others all get up and start heading through the woods. Nell keeps an arm around me while Lucy gathers up her things and follows us some distance behind.

The rest of the coven are excited as we take the minibus around town to drop them all at their homes. We found a solution to our problem, and there is a chance of love in the future for every single one of them. It would be a perfect situation… if I didn’t have to sacrifice myself to do it.

Nell squeezes my hand tightly when we drop her off at her sister’s, her eyes full of sorrow. She doesn’t know the whole story, of course, but she knows that I’m upset and wants to comfort me.

I shake my head, and she doesn’t ask me any questions. Even though she’ll be wondering why I never shared this with her before, she still respects my feelings and doesn’t press the issue while I’m upset.

When we get back to Lucy’s, she stays in the driver’s seat after turning off the engine, staring absently into space.

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