Page 18 of Mitchell’s Untamed Mate (More Than Human #2)

S eattle:

Hyder slammed the burner cellphone he was using against the wall. Pieces of the device flew in different directions. Apparently, if he wanted to get a job done, he needed to do it himself.

He breathed deeply, trying to control his anger and frustration. The tracking device Lorne Timberwolf had planted in his brother’s backpack was either defective or had been discovered. From the way the signal remained motionless, he suspected the latter.

His attempts to contact Lucien had gone unanswered. That meant either Lucien was dead, captured, or had shifted. Continuing to breathe deeply, he walked over to the window of his townhouse and stared out. It was time to call in more favors. This one would cost him big time.

He pulled his cellphone from his back pocket and dialed the number. Sweat beaded on his brow and moistened his hand. His glance flicked to the digital thermostat hanging on the living room wall. It wasn’t the temperature causing it. He breathed through the first ring, wondering if maybe this was a mistake.

“Good evening. How can I direct your call?” the Operator greeted.

“I have a mission request,” he said.

“Token number, please,” the Operator requested.

Hyder gritted his teeth. “5833 Alpha Bravo Tango 62.”

There was a pause before the Operator responded. “Please hold. Token number confirmed. How can we assist you?”

“I need a team—six-to-eight men, equipment, by tomorrow morning,” he stated.

“I’m sorry, sir. You do not have enough credits for such an operation. Would you like to request a different one?”

“No. I need a Goddess-damn team,” he snapped.

“Additional tokens are required,” the Operator responded.

“Give me a supervisor,” he demanded.

“Please hold,” the Operator responded.

Hyder paced back and forth as irritating elevator music played in his ear. He was on his third turn when a deep voice came online.

“Supervisor,” the male voice greeted.

Hyder stopped and looked out the window. “I need a team, six-to-eight men, and a helicopter extract to a foreign country,” he gritted out.

“You don’t have enough tokens for such a mission, sir. One asset can be assigned. No equipment or evac,” the Supervisor responded.

“I need more than one fucking asset! I need a half-dozen or more, plus the equipment and the evac!” he snapped.

“That would require a minimum of a dozen tokens, sir,” the Supervisor replied.

“How much? How much money to buy the tokens I need,” he demanded.

“I’m sorry, sir. Tokens must be earned, not purchased. If you have no other requests?—"

“Wait! Tell the General that Hyder is calling in his debt. He’ll understand,” he said.

The Supervisor infinitesimally paused before responding, “Please hold.”

Hyder waited, staring out the window. The overcast sky matched his mood. A light drizzle began and the distant rumbling of thunder echoed beyond the double-paned glass. A second later, the Supervisor came back on the phone.

“The General will speak with you, Mr. Hyder. I’ll transfer you now,” the Supervisor said.

“Hyder,” the General greeted.

“General. I need a favor,” he said.

“We’re not in the business of doing favors,” the General replied.

Hyder gritted his teeth in frustration. “Eric, I’m calling in the personal favor you owe me.”

A brief silence followed his announcement. “What do you need?”

“I need a team. At least eight men. Highly skilled for mountainous terrain and an evac out of the country,” he said.

“What’s the mission?”

“Extraction. I need the targets alive. I’ll debrief the team once they are assembled,” he replied.

“When do you need them?” Eric asked.

“Tomorrow morning. I’ll send you a list of requirements and equipment.”

“This is going to be expensive. Our debt is settled once this mission is completed and you have no more tokens,” Eric replied.

“Understood. If this mission is successful, all debts are cleared,” he agreed.

“The team will assemble at the wharf complex at 0500 tomorrow morning. Provide your list to the Operator. She will ensure that all equipment is secured,” Eric instructed.

Hyder breathed out a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Eric.”

“Hyder?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Lose this number. If you call it again, there will be a price,” Eric directed before he severed the connection.

A shiver ran down his body. He knew what the price would be—a bounty on his head. He would wipe the phone’s memory and toss it into the sound tomorrow morning.

“This had better work,” he muttered, knowing he had burned his last bridge. Looking down at the phone, he pressed another contact number. “Isabella. I need to know where you want your cargo brought. ...Yes, I know where that is. ...No, I don’t have any yet, but I will. I have everything under control. ...Yes, I can take care of it. Consider it a bonus.”

He ended the call, rolled his shoulders, and stared out of the window. He focused on the missions ahead. With that in mind, he sent his request for equipment to the Operator.

While he would have liked to take care of Isabella’s added request personally, he decided it was more important to focus on the capture and delivery of the humans. That was his primary mission. The other was merely a routine cleanup. He would assign one of the men Eric sent to take care of Lorne Timberwolf.

“I’m going to meet with the elders. They would like to speak with me—in private,” Mitchell said.

Tracy nodded, understanding that the elders would feel more comfortable talking to Mitchell alone. After the tense dinner and meeting, she could use a little space herself. While she was exhausted physically, her mind was still too worked up to sleep.

“I think I’ll sit here for a little bit, then head back to the spot Mallory showed me earlier.”

“I’ll be there as soon as I can,” he promised.

“Take your time. This is important. I’m sure they have loads of questions. I know I would if the situation were reversed.”

He bent to kiss her. She slid her hand around his neck and tilted her head, meeting his lips. Her lips parted under the pressure of his, and a feeling of contentment filled her when he deepened the kiss instead of pulling away. She was breathing fast by the time they pulled apart.

“I love you, Mitchell,” she murmured, caressing his cheek. “Everything will be alright.”

He touched her lips, caressing her lower one with his thumb before he straightened and dropped his hand to his side.

“I’ll see you later.”

She swallowed and followed him with her eyes as he walked across to an area that was curtained off. He pulled the curtain back and turned to look at her over his shoulder before he disappeared behind it. She sighed deeply and turned back to face the fire.

He love us.

I hope so.

He does.

She didn’t argue with her bear. Twisting her hands together, she wished she could be as sure. Even though she kept her eyes on the fire, she could feel the stares from the others.

He wouldn’t have kissed me in front of everyone here if he didn’t care about me.

Earlier, Mallory had taken her to the spot she said was reserved for Mitchell. They were a couple, everyone knew it, and he loved her. He did. He just wasn't ready to say it. There was a lot going on.

She rose, stepped over the log, and walked toward the area where she had left her backpack. Rummaging inside it, she pulled out her hairbrush and a hairband. She walked over to a short log and sat down. She was lost in thought when she felt a slight tug on her hair. The sound of giggles and hushed whispers followed.

“What did it feel like?” a childish voice whispered.

“She didn’t growl,” another mumbled. “I thought you said shifters growl.”

“I can if you’d like,” she said, twisting on the log.

The children behind her squealed and stepped back. She laughed and waited for them to make the next move. The little boy, Timmy, from earlier stepped forward.

“A real growl?” he asked.

She laughed. “Well, as best as I can in this form. If I was in my grizzly form, I can really growl. My brother and I used to have contests to see who could growl the best.”

“Who won?” Hallie asked.

“It was pretty much a tie. Ty, my brother, has a deeper, more rumbling growl than I do, but I can growl longer than he can,” she said.

“That is so cool,” another boy said.

She studied the oldest girl’s hair. “I love how you have your hair braided. Do you think you could braid mine like that?” she asked, holding up her hairbrush.

“Yeah,” the girl nodded. “Momma showed me how, and I do the younger girls’ hair.”

“I’m Tracy, by the way,” she introduced herself.

The girl looked at her with a shy smile. “I’m Maria. That’s Kelsey, Charles, Dawson, Hallie, Timmy, and Macon,” Maria said.

Tracy followed as she introduced each child. There were so few that it broke her heart. Macon struggled free from Kelsey’s grip and threw himself at her. Tracy laughed with delight and lifted the little boy into her arms so he could sit on her lap.

“Bear. Bear. Teddy Bear,” Macon said, grabbing her hair and growling.

“Macon!” Kelsey hissed in horror.

Tracy wiggled her nose and rubbed it against Macon’s. “Yes, bear, grrrr,” she replied, tickling his belly.

Macon giggled and rubbed his nose against hers. Kelsey stepped forward to take the little boy, but he threw his arms around Tracy’s neck and growled. Tracy hugged the boy to her.

“It’s alright. He can keep me company while Maria does my hair,” she said.

Maria took the hairbrush and band from her and Tracy turned. She leaned her head back a little as Maria brushed her hair. The strokes were soothing, releasing her tension.

If the kids accept me, that is a good thing.

Good thing. Grrr!

She grinned at her bear’s response. Several of the kids scooted around her and sat down on the ground in front of her. She wasn’t sure what to do at first. She wasn’t used to being the captive of an audience.

“Tell us a shifter story,” Charles requested.

She studied the thin boy sitting cross-legged in front of her, trying to decipher the story etched on his face. His clothes were far too thin for the weather and he wasn’t wearing any shoes. Horror filled her that he might not have any.

“What kind of story do you want to hear?” she asked.

“Why did the shifters want to kill us?” Dawson asked.

She shook her head. “It was a war. A war that went on too long and went too far. Not all shifters wanted humans dead,” she replied.

“Which shifter didn’t want us dead? Why didn’t he help us?” Kelsey asked.

“He did. His name was King Or’Ang. He was a powerful orangutan shifter. He cared very much about humans. He and the people in his kingdom fought against the shifters who tried to hurt the humans,” she said.

“Did he live in a castle?” Hallie asked.

Tracy smiled and nodded. “Yes, he lived in a very big castle far, far away.”

“If he was far, far away, how do you know about him?”

She smiled down at Charles. “Because we have some stories from his followers that were passed down in songs and writings. There were also artifacts from where he once lived that tell us his story.”

“Can you tell us what they said?” Hallie asked.

“Yes. There’s a children’s song I’ll teach you that my father taught me when I was Macon’s age called Guiding Light of Or’Ang,” she said.

“Sing. Teddy bear sing,” Macon demanded, cupping her cheeks.

She laughed. “Okay, the song goes like this.”

In a lilting voice, she began to sing the childhood folk song. The words wrapped around her, pulling her into the story. She didn’t know if the story was true or not. She only knew she loved the song and felt it to the center of her soul.

I once lived in a happy kingdom.

Food and drink, they were aplenty.

Humans danced with their shifter brothers

all night long to the full moon’s wonder.

Oh, King Or’Ang was a mighty king.

He saw the good in all living beings.

He asked the Goddess, what should I do?

And the Goddess said, love the humans like a good king should.

War came to the kingdom’s gates.

Many good humans died that day.

Good King Or’Ang lifted his sword

and knocked those shifters right out his door.

Oh, King Or’Ang was a mighty king.

He saw the good in all living beings.

He asked the Goddess, what should I do?

And the Goddess said, protect the humans like a good king should.

The war raged on until the kingdom fell,

but the shifters found no humans, just an empty shell.

Good King Or’Ang took his people to the ships,

and humans and shifters set sail at a clip.

Oh, King Or’Ang was a mighty king.

He saw the good in all living beings.

He asked the Goddess, what should I do?

And the Goddess said, look to the stars like a good king should.

They sailed the world until they finally found

a river with a great big wide forked mouth,

up the river and then to the right,

they sailed all day and into the night.

Oh, King Or’Ang was a mighty king.

He saw the good in all living beings.

He asked the Goddess, what should I do?

And the Goddess said, love the humans like a good king should.

Her voice faded on the last note. She caressed Macon’s hair and cheek. He was staring at her with wonder in his eyes.

“King Or’Ang took the shifters and the humans in his kingdom and sailed away to a place where no humans or shifters lived. There, they built a place where humans and shifters could live together in harmony,” she explained.

“Did they fall in love with each other like you and Mitchell?” Maria asked.

“I like to think so,” she said.

“What happened to King Or’Ang?” Charles asked.

“We don’t know for sure. What we do know is that his old kingdom was abandoned early in the Great War. In the ruins of the castle, a tunnel was found that led to the harbor. It was an incredible engineering feat,” she said.

“Have you ever been to King Or… King Orange’s castle?”

Tracy laughed as Hallie struggled to say King Or’Ang’s name. “Yes, I’ve been to King Or’Ang’s old castle many, many times. My job is to study human culture. I’ve traveled all over the world, trying to learn as much about you as I can.”

“I like roasted pine nuts,” Dawson said.

“I’m good at climbing trees,” Charles piped in.

Macon pulled her face down. “I like teddy bears.”

Tracy hugged the little boy to her body. “I’m glad. I like little boys who like teddy bears.” She leaned forward and whispered in his ear. “So does my bear.”

“Alright now, it’s getting late and I know Miss Tracy has to be tired. Off to bed with you all now,” Mallory announced, clapping her hands.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Tracy watched as her audience scattered in different directions around the cavern. There was something about the hushed voices, the crackling of the fire, and the normalcy as the families settled down for the night that soothed her. She rose and smiled when she noticed Mitchell walking towards her. Studying his face, he looked tired, but not as tense as he was before.

“Did everything go well?” she asked.

He nodded. “I showed them the drawings your father gave me, and we talked. They understand the gravity of the situation… and the risks. I explained everything from what Jace overheard to our capture. They are afraid, which is to be expected.”

She touched his arm. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Keep doing what you’re doing. The kids accepting you and the way you are with them helps a lot,” he murmured against her hair.

“That will be easy.”

He sighed and pulled her into his arms. She melted against him, wrapping her arms around his waist. She rested her head against his chest for a few extra seconds before she pulled back, kissed him lightly, and caressed his cheek.

“You need to get some rest,” she stated.

He nodded in agreement. “I’m too tired to erect a screen. How do you feel about sleeping in the tent?”

“As long as I get to hold you, I’ll sleep anywhere you ask me to,” she replied.