Page 32 of Forced Plus-Size Mate

“I’m just happy to see all of us getting into the competitive spirit,” I say. “You all displayed a lot of intelligence and courage in that run.”

“So, what next?” Nick asks. “I hear that you make us jump in frozen lakes naked and take down full-grown elk with our bare hands.”

I laugh loudly, shaking my head. “Who told you that?”

“It’s what the older kids told us,” Dawn says nervously. “We don’t have to do that, do we?”

“No,” I answer, chuckling. “Well, at least not on this trip. Let’s head back and see if Amanda has set up camp yet. Can you track her?”

All the kids shift and head back into the woods. They alternate between having their noses high and dropping down low, and I’m impressed by their instincts and how easily they follow them.

Amanda’s scent isn’t difficult for me to track at all. I know exactly how far away she is and which direction to take. I feel like she could be on the other side of the earth, and I'd still know exactly where to find her.

Maybe it’s just my determination to never let her go again, not a magical bond.

I follow the youngsters, letting them get lost and argue with each other for a bit. We track in the wrong direction for a mile or two before Marty realizes it’s a false trail, and everyone groans as they have to try and pick up the scent again.

Finally, we make it to the edge of the clearing where Amanda is setting up camp. She’s got a decent fire going, and is putting up the tents.

All of us watch in silence as she puts one of the tents on the ground and waves her hand. To our astonishment, the tent puts itself up.

“What the…” Marty whispers. “I heard they had powers, but I didn’t know they were this awesome.”

“Yeah,” Grace says wistfully. “I wish I could do that!”

In that moment, I realize that if we want Decker to accept witches, the answer could lie in the younger generation.

If they are raised with witches, then they’ll know that they aren’t evil, and we can all live in peace.

“Let’s go,” I say, urging them forward. “I’ll let you have a rest before I dunk you in a frozen lake.”

The kids giggle as we shift and cross the clearing. Amanda is ready with blankets and cups of hot chocolate. The kids gather around the fire, and I’m surprised when Amanda hurries over to me with a blanket and wraps it around my shoulders.

“Hi,” she whispers.

“Hi,” I answer, chuckling. “You seem to be in a better mood.”

“It’s really nice up here,” she says, holding the edges of the blanket and wrapping it tightly around me. “I just feel… at peace, I guess.”

“I’m not complaining,” I reply, amazed that she’s still standing so close to me.

Amanda grins, ruffling my hair. “You might, once you start to get sick of me.”

“I never will!” I protest, my voice hushed. “Amanda, for fuck’s sake… don’t you know how much I’ve missed you?”

Her eyes darken, and she pulls away.

Dammit, I’ve fucked up again.

“I don’t want to hear it, Body,” she snarls. “You dumped me, remember?”

“Yeah, I do,” I say miserably.

Amanda shakes her head, turning her back on me to go back to the fire.

I watch her chatting with the kids, handing out snacks and laughing and joking with them.

I’d give anything to have her be so comfortable with me.

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