Page 59 of Forced Plus-Size Mate

“Okay,” I reply. “You’re joining the fray again?”

“Yes. Going to the front line with Bae.”

I want to say something, but her crystal-blue eyes soften a little, and she shakes her head. In a battle like this, there’s nothing to be said.

I watch her run down the hill, and the line of wolves approaching from the trees looks solid and steady. Kelta is rallying them, urging them forward with promises of Bae falling under their attack soon because Silver Meadows is weak and practically defeated.

She’s not wrong.

“Come on,” Amanda prods, dragging me back towards the house. “If I sit down for a minute and have something to eat or drink, I can fight again.”

“Did it hurt you to use your powers like that?” I ask.

“A little. If I deplete myself too much, I could really injure myself.”

“Then don’t!”

She turns and looks into my eyes. I can see the turmoil there, as well as deep determination.

She’s thinking of going back to the fight!

“Don’t you dare—” I begin.

“I have to.”

Just as she turns to go, three of her witches run past us. I can’t tell who any of them are, but all of them are glowing withmagic, an incandescent light that shimmers across their skin in flickers of green, purple, and blue.

They spread out across Bae’s line and start to defend. Mostly, they use telekinesis like Amanda did, but they also call upon the earth and the elements to attack our foes.

“Come on,” Amanda urges. “Let’s check on the other end of the house, like Bae said.”

“You should sit down and rest,” I counter.

“Not going to happen, so forget about it.”

We run along the front deck, heading for the opposite end of the cabin. As we bolt past the main double doors, I almost plow straight into my mother.

“What the hell are you doing?” I yell. Father appears on her other side, his face tight with utter terror.

“I’m getting the fuck out of here!” mother screams. “This is insane!”

“You should be fighting!” I yell at them. “Every able bodied wolf is out there on the line, defending the pack—you should be too!”

“Not going to happen,” father gasps, choking on his own fear. “We’re going to lay low until this is over, then beat it out of here.”

“You wanted elevated status in the pack,” I growl. “This is it. This is how you get it. By standing up and fighting for us. If you run now, then expect to be banished, or worse.”

“I don’t care!” mother screams, completely losing her decorum. “I have to get out of here!”

I don’t blame her for being scared, but I’m also shocked to see her so unhinged.

Even if fear is understandable, cowardice is unforgiveable.

“The line is being held at both ends,” I say. “If you want to run, then do it now, and don’t come back.”

Mother looks over at Amanda, her face twisting in disgust. I watch her inner struggle, and I have absolutely no sympathy for her pain.

“Fine!” she yells. “I disowned you the day you married that witch, anyway. Consider yourself cut off from the family forever!”

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