Page 60 of Forced Plus-Size Mate

“Not a problem,” I answer, staring her down.

Father grabs her hand, and they run towards the street. I have no idea if they’ll make it out alive or not, and I don’t really care.

They’re gone. I’m free!

“That was hectic,” Amanda mutters.

“It was overdue,” I say, firmly. “Let’s go.”

As we run towards the other end of the house, I can’t hear any fighting. When I get there, I’m shocked to see Jack and Rider standing on the edge of the field, talking with Decker, who is just ahead of the tree line.

I can smell and sense his wolves scattered through the forest, ready to attack. The air is thick with suspense, the moment like an arrow held in a drawn bow, ready to fly at the slightest twitch.

“You don’t want this,” Rider begs Decker. “Please. I’ve lived in war. I’ve known it my whole life. We have peace here. Let’s preserve it at all costs.”

“The only cost will be to you!” Decker shouts. “Can’t you hear what’s going on at the other end of the house? The wild wolves are crunching Bae into pieces, and you’re next.”

“I’m trying to give you a chance,” Rider says. “I’m trying to give all of us a chance,please. You don’t know what you’re doing.”

“You did it!” Decker yells. “You invited the witches in, married them, and made them part of the pack. You chose this, not us!”

Decker whistles, a sharp, high sound, and raises his fist. I see hundreds of wolves gather at the edge of the forest, ready to attack.

All of us hurry to the edge of the wooden deck, ready to meet Decker’s charge. Rider’s face is a mixture of determination and regret.

At least he tried.

Decker shifts and howls in a great battle cry. The wolves advance.

Then, witches come running through our ranks. Before anyone can move, they rush ahead of us, fanning out in a long line in front of the oncoming hoard. Just like they did on the other side of the cabin, they use their powers to block the wolves or throw them back towards the forest.

The enemy wolves keep pushing, and the witches’ powers soon turn deadly. As bolts of energy are thrown into the approaching line, wolves are frozen into ice sculptures, smothered by the earth, or ignited into burning torches that reduce them to ash in a matter of seconds.

Even though I’m pleased we’re winning, I know this truly is the end. They came here because they believed the witches were dangerous—and we’ve just proven that to be true.

Some of the witches begin to falter, but they don’t stop their slow charge. The girls keep walking forward, hurling magic in front of them until I hear Decker calling for retreat.

On the other side of the house, I hear Kelta return the call.

They lost…

I can’t believe it—we beat them!

As the pack retreats, relief floods through me, so powerful that I can’t hold myself up. Amanda hooks an arm around me, then stumbles under my weight.

“Well, we’re a pair, aren’t we?” she asks with a grin.

“We sure are,” I smile back.

“You lost a lot of blood. We need to get you inside.”

“You’re not doing so great, either.”

“I’m aware.”

“Well, since we can’t carry each other, how about we gracelessly drag ourselves towards the nearest lounge and collapse?”

“I think it’s the best suggestion you’ve ever made.”

---