Page 28 of Forced Plus-Size Mate

A warm blush creeps up my neck, slowly spreading across my cheeks. I’m not about to tell them that some horny thoughts increased my power… well. Not yet, anyway.

Let’s see if that’s actually what it was, and not some crazy fantasy running away with me.

“Well, you know what we should do?” Lucy pipes up, saving me from answering. “How about we head out into the woods and just stretch our legs a bit? I think we should try using our powers and see what happens. It’s the only way to know if they’re getting better or not.”

The others all agree, and we pile into the old minibus. Lucy drives, and the others all chat excitedly at the idea of getting their powers back—and marrying wolves.

This might be getting out of hand. We’ve been single for so long, I never really stopped to think about how it would affect the others.

“Don’t beat yourself up, dear girl,” Nell says to me, gently stroking some hair back from my forehead. “They could have left any time they chose.”

I turn to her with a smile. “I forgot your strongest power was mind-reading. It seems like you’re gaining strength, then?”

“A little. But unlike the others, I won’t have the option to find a wolf mate.”

“Why?”

Nell looks about to speak, but shakes her head. “A story for another time. Suffice to say that I understand why you left Silver Meadows, and how difficult it is for you to return.”

I want to know more, but I don’t push the subject. We’re approaching the main camping ground. As Lucy parks the bus in the lot, the others all leap to their feet, giggling and chatting as they head for the doors.

As we begin to hike into the woods, my sensitivity returns. I can feel all the creatures around us, even the soft vibration of the trees as they speak to each other. The cold wind that blows down from the peaks of the mountain whispers secrets to me, hidden knowledge almost ready to be revealed.

We reach an open clearing, and Lucy lights a small fire. Even though she gathers the twigs by hand, she ignites them with a clap of her hands.

“You’re just showing off now,” I mutter, and Lucy laughs.

“I can’t help it! I’ve never felt so strong. It’s wonderful. Like pure pleasure throbbing in my veins. And it’s always strongest when…”

She breaks off suddenly, blushing.

“When is it strongest?” I ask, already knowing the answer.

“When I’m with Peter, or even thinking about him,” she says. “It’s like his energy is joined to mine, and as it flows backand forth between us, it gets stronger and stronger. I can do things I never even imagined.”

“So, we should use that spell to trap a wolf, is what you’re saying?” Zoe asks. “If it worked for you, it should work for any of us.”

“No,” I say firmly. “That’s not what I did, and the universe still matched me with Body.”

“Yeah, but you’re super powerful, Amanda,” Tara says, with some jealousy in her voice. “If you thought about him too hard, it might have been enough to entangle him.”

I want to protest, but it could be too close to the truth. “It’s possible,” I answer, shrugging. “I won’t deny it. But I really wouldn’t recommend any spells. Let’s mingle with the guys a bit first. You might not even like any of them!”

Everyone laughs at that, and it sparks a conversation about what would be most undesirable in a wolf partner. We sit in a small circle around the fire, preparing to test our powers.

“So, show us, Amanda,” Nell urges. “What can you do now?”

I close my eyes and feel the energy of the forest around me. There is a small flock of birds nearby. If I disturb them, it won’t overly affect them, so, using a telepathic call, I urge them to come to me.

Balance is so important. If any force of nature is out of alignment, it could cause death and disaster.

I hear the others gasp in surprise. When I open my eyes, the birds are flying in a little circle above our heads. I wave my hand at them.

“Off you go, little ones,” I say. “Thank you for answering my call.”

“Okay, Lucy,” Nell says. “What about you?”

“Oh, you’ve seen enough of me,” Lucy says, snapping her fingers to make lines of flickering sparks in the air. “You should see me first thing in the morning at the bakery. It’s like the fairies fromSleeping Beautymaking the birthday cake.”

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