Page 7 of Forced Plus-Size Mate

“Almost seven,” Lucy says. “Should we call the others?”

“Yes,” I answer. “By the time we get out on the mountain, it will be pretty late.”

“Yeah. It doesn’t have to be exactly midnight, just near to it. The spell should still work.”

“I’ll get some supplies,” Lucy says. “Are you sure you want me to do it?”

“You’re the only one who can,” I say with a sigh. “We tried so many different spells before we decided to come back, and none of us have enough magic to make it work.”

“I wonder what’s so special about Lucy,” Peter muses. “Well, what might be special about her that I don’t already know.”

“Yeah, I wonder,” I mutter, an idea beginning to form in my mind.

No! Not that. Anything but that!

Lucy goes to collect her things, and Peter and I clean up. He talks about the bakery and his work with the young wolves.I try to pay attention, but I’m too preoccupied to really listen. Little Isla gurgles in her high chair, and Peter picks her up and snuggles her against his chest.

“Would you like to hold?” he asks, extending his arms towards me. Isla gurgles, waving her sticky fingers.

“I’m okay, thanks,” I say. “I’m not really good with babies.”

“No one is, until they have one,” he answers, hoisting her back to his hip. “Don’t worry. She does bite, but she doesn’t have any teeth yet.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I say, laughing in spite of myself. “Does that mean she’s a wolf?”

“No clue,” he replies. “Might be a witch, a wolf, neither or both. It’s not really important.”

My smile grows, especially as I remember the kind of man he used to be.

If he could change this much, then, maybe…

Stop it!

“Okay, I’ve got my bag,” Lucy says. “Every single witchy item I could possibly need. The others are ready. Some of them have met in town, so we won’t have to make too many stops.”

“Sounds good,” I reply, putting away the last of the dishes.

Peter and Lucy exchange a few words and a cute little hug, with Isla sandwiched between them before we leave. I have to harden my heart again, reminding myself why I’m alone and can’t ever take a partner.

I’m happy for them… but love betrayed me. I can’t risk my heart again. I wouldn’t survive.

We take the coven’s minibus and pick up the other girls before driving to the main camping ground. From there, we hike out into the wilderness. The trip starts with lots of enthusiastic chatter and good spirits, but it quickly shifts into muttered curses and grumpy comments.

“I stubbed my toe!”

“Don’t tell me about it, I nearly broke my ankle on a tree root.”

“Yeah, well, at least you didn’t almost get decapitated by a tree.”

Just as I’m about to tell the girls to calm down, I slip into a hollow and almost fall flat onto my face. Lucy cries out and hurries over to me.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” I grumble. “Just grazed a bit. What the hell is happening? It’s like the forest is attacking us.”

“I’m doing fine,” Lucy says, puzzled. “Nothing’s getting in my way, and I can see pretty well.”

“It’s a moonless night!” one of the girls exclaims. “What do you mean, you can see?”

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