Page 18 of The Alpha’s Forced Plus-Size Mate (Silverfang Creek Wolves #3)

Shockingly, I slept well. The exhaustion of constantly worrying, mixed with the balm of Danny’s talk about the future, had lulled me into a deep sleep, and the following morning, I felt like a new woman.

Which was good, considering that Danny planned to work us all to the bone today.

At 7 am, an unexpected visitor arrived. The warning wards pinged, but Saul didn’t look concerned.

“It’s a wolf,” he explained, not even looking up from his coffee, “A Silverfang by the feel of it.”

Faye had perked up, and ran outside to see who had arrived. I was hot on her heels, but by the time I made it to the front porch, Faye was already squealing in excitement as she hugged our visitor.

Whitney, who I hadn’t seen since the match ceremony, untangled herself from Faye’s arms and gave me a wave. “Hello, Mrs. Red Canine, how nice to see you!”

“Whitney,” I hustled down the steps to hug her too, taking solace in the fact that the Silverfangs were sending help in whatever way they could. “We had no idea you were coming.”

When she pulled away, she dusted off her jacket and adjusted the enormous backpack on her shoulder. “It wasn’t in my original itinerary, but Hector all but commanded me to come by. I can’t stay—this demon problem is more widespread than you can imagine, and I’ve been called elsewhere—but I’ve got some fun toys that might help you out.”

We invited her in for coffee, which Whitney accepted happily. While drinking her sugar-heavy caffeinated beverage, Whitney emptied her bag to show us what goodies she had brought. A demon slaying specialist, Whitney would have been a huge help in the battle to come. Unfortunately, she couldn’t fight beside us, but she could offer us some tools to hopefully turn the tide in our favor.

Whitney spread ten blades out on the dining room table. They were longer than a dagger, but not quite a sword, and the steel blades glowed a curious blue. Saul picked one up and examined it as Whitney spoke. “These are specially spelled to be one hit kills against demons, but the downside is the spell is finite. Once the magic is used up, it becomes nothing more than a mundane knife. Use your strikes wisely.”

“This is good work,” Saul commented, begrudgingly impressed. “Did you spell them?”

Whitney grinned, waggling a finger in his direction. “Ah-ah, I never share my trade secrets.”

True to her word, Whitney wasn’t able to hang around long. Too soon for my liking, Faye and I were hugging her goodbye and sending her on her way. Whitney crossed the wards, calling back that she’d see us soon, when all of the demon nonsense calmed down.

I wished I had her optimism. From where I was standing, it felt like it would never calm down.

By 9 am, I was in the backyard with all of the other women in the pack, plus Faye, training for the battle to come. We were practicing with the blades Whitney had given us after they had been approved by Saul. If used correctly, the spells would activate and hopefully eliminate whatever demon we were fighting. Danny was slightly frustrated when it turned out I had never fought with a blade, but Faye turned out to be a very experienced fighter and was happy to train me and the other women. Penny and Rhonda had a fair amount of experience, but Natalia was just as clueless as me.

It was fun, sweaty work.

My muscles burned pleasantly from the effort. The morning sun was warm on my skin, its rays filtering through the leafy canopy of trees surrounding the backyard. It was one of those perfect days where the air smelled like fresh grass, and the world felt almost peaceful.

I stood barefoot in the soft dirt, the spelled knife in my hand feeling heavier than its weight should’ve allowed. Faye stood opposite me, her stance loose but her focus razor-sharp. Beside us, Rhonda, Penny, and Natalia stretched or practiced quick strikes, the thuds of their movements breaking the stillness.

“Focus, Naomi,” Faye said, her tone firm but not unkind. She flipped her knife from hand to hand effortlessly. “The spells only activate if your aim is true. The rest is up to you.”

I nodded, tightening my grip on the hilt. I was breathing hard, and my cheeks were flushed, but Faye looked like she was barely exerting herself.

“You’ll have to strike faster,” Faye continued, moving in a quick feint. “Demons won’t wait for you to decide when you’re ready.”

She darted toward me, and I barely dodged, my heart racing as I countered with an awkward swipe. Faye sidestepped easily, her movements fluid, almost lazy. “Better,” she said, smirking. “But not good enough.”

Behind us, the men were making their own racket. Danny’s laugh carried across the yard, deep and unmistakable. I glanced over my shoulder to see him standing shirtless with a group of his packmates, holding a thick wooden staff and demonstrating some kind of move.

“Eyes on the prize,” Faye teased, and my cheeks burned.

“I wasn’t—” I started, but the giggles from Rhonda and Penny cut me off.

“Oh, you were,” Natalia said, raising an eyebrow, her smirk conspiratorial. “Not that any of us blame you.”

Jealousy surged, but I tried to tamp it down before any of the other girls saw. I must have failed because they laughed again. “Don’t worry, Hun,” Rhonda assured me. “None of us want the responsibility of being an Alpha’s lady. He’s all yours. You and Faye are crazy.”

I looked back, trying to refocus, but Danny caught my gaze. He grinned, that cocky, knowing smirk that always seemed to light a fire in my chest. He made a show of looking me up and down, taking in the tight yoga outfit that he had bought me just for training. I had been unsure about how tight it was, but he reassured me all of the other women would be dressed the same, and he was right.

Plus, his face when he first saw me wearing it made everything worthwhile. The yoga outfit was why both of us were late for the training session that WE scheduled. The memory made my mouth pull up at the corner.

As if on cue, he flexed, twirling the staff before slamming it into the ground dramatically. His friends roared with laughter, slapping him on the back and jabbing at each other like they didn’t have a care in the world.

“He’s showing off,” Penny said in a sing-song voice.

I rolled my eyes, pretending it didn’t affect me, but the flutter in my stomach said otherwise. He was fine with a capital F.

“Should we give them a show?” Rhonda asked, a mischievous glint in her eye.

Faye shrugged, a smile tugging at her lips. “Why not? Might as well remind them we’re not just here to look pretty.”

Before I could protest, Faye lunged at me again, faster this time, forcing me to react. I blocked her strike, managing a decent counter, and the knife’s magic sparked faintly where it made contact with hers.

“Not bad,” she said, stepping back. “Keep going.”

We fell into a rhythm, the knives clanging together as we moved. The sound drew the attention of the men, and I could feel Danny watching. I didn’t look, though. Not yet. When we finally paused, breathless but grinning, Faye pointed her knife toward the men. “Think they’re up for a little friendly competition?”

Danny didn’t miss a beat. “What kind of competition did you have in mind, Silverfang?” he called, strolling over with his packmates in tow.

“A sparring match,” Faye said, her tone challenging. “Men against women. First to disarm wins.”

Danny raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. “Oh, so we should take it easy on you, then?”

The women behind me bristled, and I couldn’t help but smirk. “You’ve got a lot of confidence for someone who spends more time flexing than fighting,” I shot back.

His packmates laughed, egging him on, and Danny’s eyes gleamed with amusement. “Alright, Sweetheart,” he said, spinning the staff again. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

The match was chaos, but the good kind. Laughter and teasing flew back and forth as the yard became a blur of movement. Danny squared off against Faye, their strikes quick and calculated, while I found myself sparring with one of his packmates, a wiry guy named Jack.

For all the tension of the last few days, this felt—normal. Almost fun. The women were faster, the men stronger, and the sparring turned into a contest of wit as much as skill. At one point, Danny caught my eye again for just a moment. He looked proud—like he wasn’t just showing off but truly impressed by what he saw.

He also looked turned on by seeing me fight, but that was a conversation for a later time. When we were alone.

When the match ended, the women emerged victorious, earning the men’s exaggerated groans and complaints. Faye had struck Penny’s opponent with a disarming spell, taking him off guard and sending the spelled knife flying across the yard. It might not have been exactly fair having a witch on our side, but I wasn’t about to complain.

Danny shook his head, laughing as he wiped the sweat from his brow. “Alright, you win this round,” he said, his voice full of warmth. “But next time, no holding back.”

“Bring it on,” Faye replied, grinning as she high-fived the rest of us.

As we cleaned up and gathered our things, I felt a strange sense of belonging settle over me. These women—they were my friends. Real friends, not just acquaintances or people I worked with. I didn’t feel like an outsider. I was part of something, part of them.

And when Danny passed by, brushing his hand lightly against mine as he went, I knew he felt it, too.

***

Our peace and our enjoyable time as a pack didn’t last long at all. It was a little past 9 pm when the property alarms began sounding. Seconds later, Saul came running into the living room where Danny and I were going over battle plans, exclaiming, “Something is at the wards.”

We rushed outside, Faye and Saul hot on our heels. There, just on the edge of the wards, two dark figures stood unmoving. Waiting on us.

Danny had his shotgun in hand, and the faint hum of magic vibrated through the ground beneath my bare feet from the wards. Slowly, we approached the barrier, but still, the demons didn’t try to advance. Something about the way these two stood—eerily still and patient—made me shudder. They looked human, but everything about their movements, or lack thereof, was utterly disturbing.

Danny was the first to reach the ward, his shotgun gleaming under the moonlight, his muscles tense with the promise of violence. He radiated authority, his every step commanding the attention of those of us who followed. I was beside him, and Faye trailed behind us, her eyes narrowed and her hands glowing faintly with her magic, ready to cast if necessary. Saul brought up the rear.

The demons stood unnaturally stiff, heads cocked at identical angles. Their eyes, black and glassy, reflected none of the humanity that had once lived within. It was the kind of sight that made me nauseous, but I forced myself to stand tall.

“You want to come here and fight?” Danny growled, his voice low and menacing as he brandished his weapon. “Then come on. I’m sick as hell of waiting.”

The demons smiled, slow and unsettling. “Not yet,” one said, his voice echoing unnaturally, as though layered with another beneath it.

“We’re just here to deliver a message,” the other added, her tone almost mocking.

Danny bristled, his grip tightening on his weapon. “I’m not interested in your messages. If you want a fight, you’ve got one. Otherwise, get the hell out of here.”

The male demon chuckled, the sound grating against my nerves. “So impatient, Alpha. But very well.” He straightened, clasping his hands behind his back as though this were a polite negotiation instead of an enemy encounter. “We’re here for the witch Faye or her daughter Sierra.” Behind me, I heard Faye suck in a terrified breath—not at the mention of her own name, but the name of her daughter. “Hand one over, and we’ll leave your precious pack alone. Deny us, and we’ll take your mate instead.”

“Not fucking happening,” Danny snapped, his voice like a whip.

The female demon stepped forward, pressing her hand against the invisible barrier that separated us. The wards shimmered faintly at the contact, but she didn’t flinch. The spell was mostly for show, meant to activate if something crossed it, but not strong enough to keep the demons out. They seemed to know it and were mocking us. Her gaze turned to me, and a cold smile spread across her borrowed face.

“Are you sure?” she said, tilting her head. “Isn’t she your precious Naomi? We figured you’d give up anything for her, Alpha.”

My blood ran cold, and a spike of fear twisted in my gut. Danny’s posture stiffened further, his presence like a wall between me and them. “You’re not going to have the chance to get near her, asshole, so give it up.”

The demon shrugged. “Maybe we haven’t succeeded yet, but we’ll keep trying. Your precious queen is well-guarded, but even the strongest guards eventually fall.” Her lip curled in disdain. “But the offer still stands. Give us Faye, and we’ll leave. No more games, no more blood.”

“Faye isn’t going anywhere,” I said, stepping up beside Danny before I could think better of it. My voice shook, but I held my ground. “She’s under my protection and the protection of the Red Canine pack.”

The demons’ expressions flickered, something almost amused crossing their faces. “Bold,” the male one said. “But foolish. Very well, suit yourself.”

He turned to leave, the female following, but not before she threw one last glance over her shoulder. “You’ve got until morning. We’ll see if your bravado holds then.”

And then they were gone, their stolen bodies vanishing into the darkness as though they’d never been there.

I stood frozen, my fists clenched as we all processed what had just happened. They’d targeted me. Me. Not because of anything I’d done but because they’d known Danny would do anything to keep me safe. And now they wanted Faye.

Faye placed a hand on my shoulder. “We’ll be ready by morning,” she said, though her voice carried a hint of weariness. “And, for the record, I’m sorry for the trouble I’ve caused by being here.”

I met her gaze, the beginnings of a vow forming in my mind. Faye had become more than an ally. She was a friend, a confidante, someone who’d stood by me when I’d felt so out of place in this new life. I wouldn’t let her be taken—not by demons, not by anyone.

“You have nothing to be sorry for. Don’t worry, we won’t let them take you,” I said, my voice quiet but firm. “Not while I’m here. You’ll be back with your husband and daughter before you know it.”

Faye smiled faintly, but her eyes held a sadness I didn’t fully understand. “I hope you’re right, Naomi. I really do.”

Danny lingered beside me in a silent gesture of reassurance. “We’ll fight them off,” he said. “No one’s taking you or Faye. Not now, not ever.”

I nodded, though the knot in my stomach remained. Morning would come too soon, and with it, a battle I wasn’t sure any of us were ready for. But I’d fight. For Danny. For Faye. For the pack that had become my home.