Page 8 of Forced Plus-Size Mate
“I just… can,” Lucy says, shrugging.
Again, an idea—a potentially important one—buzzes around in my head. I refuse to entertain it and put all my attention into finding a suitable spot for the ritual.
“I can’t wait to get my magic back,” one of the girls moans. “I’ve never felt so helpless!”
I couldn’t agree more.
Thankfully, we come into an open clearing where there’s a perfect view of the starry sky above our heads. All thirteen of ussit in a circle around Lucy as she lights a small fire and sprinkles dried herbs on it to make thick, fragrant smoke.
I watch the heavy curls floating upwards, painting the air around us with decorative patterns that look like writing in the sky. I should be aware of Lucy’s magic. I should be able to feel it in my bones, and on my skin.
But I can’t feel anything!
Lucy moans, a low, painful sound.
“What is it?” I ask, leaning forward.
“So much darkness,” she murmurs. “It’s in the past, and stretching towards us right now. Our paths are hidden, broken, covered in shadows.”
Around me, frightened whispers erupt as everyone reacts to Lucy’s words. No one moves from the circle, but the girls reach out to each other, their voices rising in the still, cold air.
“Lucy, tell us what you see!” I demand, desperate to run to her but knowing if I move, the spell will be broken.
Lucy moans a little, rocking back and forth. She looks up, and the line of smoke curls around her body, wreathing her in tendrils that spiral up into the sky.
“I see… a break between you and the forest,” she finally says. “None of you are connected to the mountains, or to nature. Your magic has become dormant because your link with the earth has become weak.”
“That’s ridiculous!” one of the girls cries. “We spent years living in the wilderness, away from civilization! How can we be disconnected from nature?”
Lucy shakes her head, blinking slowly. Her eyes look pale and sightless. “All that time, your magic was dying, and youdidn’t even know it. Magic slowly drew away from you, until there was nothing left.”
The other girls keep calling out questions, their voices a combination of disbelief, anger, and fear. Everyone is taking this news differently, but the one thing we all have in common is shock.
“Lucy, what can we do?” I yell to make my voice heard over the others. “Tell us how to fix it!”
The figure in the center of the circle doesn’t even look human now. Lucy’s head is thrown back, staring at the sky with her arms trailing by her sides. Through the darkness and shifting clouds of smoke, she looks like a spirit, something half-formed between the real world and the ethereal.
“I see the past,” she mutters. “I can see it all. The line of our blood reaching back through the years… to where witches are strong.”
“Why are they strong?” I croak, my voice so low that she should not be able to hear.
“They are strong because of love,” she answers clearly. “Our blood is woven with that of the wild wolves. Together, we are complete.”
I hear the other girls calling out to Lucy, demanding that she explain. I just stare at the ground, feeling empty and numb.
“No,” I whisper.
“Yes,” Lucy says, her voice dull but deep. “We are meant to be together. If the wolves did not agree, if they could not see the truth… then we enspelled them and bound them to us… just like I did to Peter!”
Her voice clears, and she sounds like herself again. I see her shake her head, and the smoke disperses a little.
“Don’t break the spell yet!” I yell. “Lucy, tell us what to do!”
She chuckles, shaking her head. “You have to marry wolves and allow love into your heart, like I did. That’s why I’m stronger than ever and all of you have lost your powers.”
The circle falls into complete silence as the other girls take this in. Years ago, before we left, we only had a casual relationship with the pack. I don’t think any of the women here have issues with the wolves.
But I do. Is this my fault? Did I do this? If so, can I undo it?
