Page 45 of Forced Plus-Size Mate

“On my way,” Kyle says, coming over to scoop Dana into his arms.

I approach cautiously, waiting to be attacked.

“Hey, Uncle Body,” Natalia says. “Did you come to babysit, too?”

“Well, I thought I was coming to the fight of my life, actually,” I answer. “Now I don’t know what I’m doing.”

“Iamfighting for my life. Good God, man,” Bae mutters. Natalia giggles, bouncing on his chest once more before jumping off him.

Even though the kids have grown up around me, I’m not exactly sure of their ages. Natalia is at least five now, and Gray around four. Dana and Isla are the youngest, I know that much.

And Caleb’s a teenager now. On his way to becoming a man.

On the other side of the house, I hear a fearsome scuffle of growling and barking. There’s a high, sharp yelp that makes me jump out of my skin.

“What the fuck is going on back there!” I yell.

Bae shrugs. “Caleb has started really throwing down with his dad… and beating him.”

“Like, seriously? Or is Rider letting him win?”

“Hard to tell.”

Three wolves come around the side of the house, Caleb in front with Rider and Jack on his heels. Jack shifts back to human and scoops up Gray from Bae’s chest, breathing hard after his run.

“That’s the last time I help out with your son, Rider,” he pants. “I’ll stick to my own, thanks.”

“Coward,” Rider grumbles after shifting back to human.

“Excuse me!” a loud voice bellows from the back steps. “What in the hell is going on out here?”

All of us look up guiltily to see Carla standing by the door, glaring at us with her hands on her hips.

“It’s not fair,” Peter protests. “The girls left us alone, and—”

“Enough!” Carla rolls her eyes. “Caleb! Get over here, young man!”

Caleb shifts back to human. “Yes, Aunt Carla,” he says obediently, returning from the edge of the forest. “I’m sorry.”

“I want you to get inside and get cleaned up. You’re making dinner with me. Natalia, you’re going to help with getting the babies settled.”

“Yes, Grandma,” she says, taking Gray’s hand and going inside.

“How the hell did you do that?” Kyle demands of the older woman.

“Years of practice, son,” she says. “Get inside and put Isla and Dana in their cots. I’ll take it from here.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Bae says, picking himself up off the ground. “I really appreciate it.”

Carla chuckles, coming over to ruffle his hair. “No problem. Get out of here, alpha pup, and have yourself a good time. We’ll talk about your parenting skills later.”

“I’ll put that off until the next millennium,” Bae jokes. “Come on, guys. Let’s get out of here before she changes her mind.”

I blocked the driveway with my truck when I came in, so I back out first, and the others follow me to Shelley’s. The parking lot is full, and the back area and parklands are already flooded with people.

As I head out the back with the boys, I take a deep breath of the smoky, delicious meat cooking on the grill. I grab a cold beer out of a cooler and follow Bae to a set of chairs in the park.

“Great turnout,” Bae remarks. “I wanted a good mix of people from all three packs. This is to bring us together, just mingle, and remember why we need each other. I’m really happy so many people came.”

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