Page 39 of Forced Plus-Size Mate

“I know,” I say solemnly. “And I deserve it. Just know this, Amanda. I will never give up.”

“That sounds good to me,” she says, grinning. I lean in, just a little, and she gives me a quick kiss on the lips.

Before it can develop into anything more, I hear a twig snap nearby. I immediately drop Amanda’s hands and put myself between her and the noise.

“What is it?” she asks.

“It can’t be a predator. The noise was deliberate.”

“Yes, it was,” Kelta’s voice floats out of the darkness. Her tall, pale form slowly appears as she approaches the light of the fire and leaves the shadows behind. I offer her a blanket, but she ignores me.

Typical wild wolves. Too high and mighty to act human for even a few seconds.

“What’s happening?” I ask with some annoyance.

“I don’t know if I should say,” Kelta answers, looking over my shoulder at Amanda with a steady gaze.

Amanda steps forward to stand beside me, reaching for my hand and linking her fingers through mine. “Anything you can say to Body, you can say to me.”

Kelta stares at her with a blank expression, and I can’t tell if she’s being hostile or just being herself.

“Very well,” she finally says. “You’re being watched. We’re having trouble tracking them, but we’ve found paw prints throughout the ridge where you were training today. Whoever they are, they’re good—good enough to avoid detection from us for the last few hours.”

The news shocks me. The wild wolves are all instinct. Anyone who can hide from them would have to be a master of both shapes. An elder, or an alpha…

Or both.

Kelta is still staring at Amanda, the steel in her gaze starting to make it look very close to a glare.

“Is there a problem?” I ask, my voice hard.

“No, none,” Kelta answers, though her tone implies the opposite. “We are using the relay to inform Bae of the situation. What would you like to do?”

I have a feeling that Kelta just doesn’t want a witch on the mountain and would do anything to get rid of her.

Did they feel her magic? Is that what this is about?

“If there’s any chance of harm to the youngsters, we have to end the mission,” I state. “We were pretty much done, anyway. The team and I will leave at first light.”

“We will relay your message to Alpha Bailey,” Kelta says courteously. She turns to walk into the woods, her steps slow and sure.

“She’s weird,” Amanda mutters.

I nod. “She’s probably saying the same thing about you.”

“Yeah, probably,” Amanda agrees, laughing. “So, what are we doing? Do you think we’re in danger?”

“No, most likely not,” I answer with more conviction than I feel. “It could be totally benign. The chance of a dangerous wolf getting through the ranks is extremely slim. Cutting the trip short is just a precaution.”

“Okay,” she says. “She really doesn’t like me, does she?”

I don’t know if I’m ready to talk to Amanda about what went down at the last council meeting. And even if I was, now isn’t the time.

“Witches are just new to her, I guess,” I say. “We should get some rest so we’re ready to leave at dawn.”

“Okay,” she says, getting up on her tiptoes to kiss me lightly on the lips. “See you in the morning.”

Amanda wraps her blanket tighter around her shoulders and heads to her tent.

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