Page 6 of Mitchell’s Untamed Mate (More Than Human #2)

T he sound of chirping birds gently roused Mitchell from his slumber. As the night had progressed, he and Tracy had rearranged their positions. His arm was wrapped around her waist and she was snuggled against him. He grimaced when he realized his early morning arousal would be clearly evident if he wasn’t careful.

It would be impossible to move without disturbing her. Wanting to savor the moment, he kept his arm around her and listened. The rain had stopped during the night, and a light but steady breeze had taken its place. Over the course of the next half hour, light began to filter through the trees.

“Can you turn off the damn birds,” she mumbled grouchily.

His warm breath brushed over her tangled hair as he chuckled. “I would if I could, but I’m afraid they won’t listen to me.”

She burrowed closer to him and cupped his hand between her breasts. He grimaced when she pressed against his obvious arousal. She paused, then wiggled again.

“I think you are doing that on purpose,” he muttered.

Silent laughter shook her body. “What makes you think that?” she teased, wiggling against him again.

He would have pulled his arm away, but she tightened her grip and shook her head.

“Not yet. Five more minutes.”

He was about to argue before he relaxed. What would five more minutes matter? When was the last time he had taken time just to enjoy something? With a sigh, he realized it had been far too long.

“It’s cooler than I expected,” she said.

He rested his chin against the top of her hair. “The rain and the wind have combined with the higher altitude.”

“That makes sense. How much longer will it take for us to reach your people?” she asked.

He hesitated before he answered. “It is important to double back frequently to make sure we aren’t being followed. This will add several days to our journey.”

“My bear doesn’t sense any danger,” she said.

He shook his head. “Your bear may miss or misperceive something. This is too important. I can’t take the chance. I hope you understand.”

She partially rolled so he could see her face. “Yes, I understand.”

Her quiet response warmed his heart. He bent forward and pressed his lips to hers. After a moment, he slowly released her and sat up. She rolled onto her back and smiled up at him.

“You’re lucky,” she said, folding her arm behind her head.

He gave her a surprised look. “About what?”

“That I have morning breath or I wouldn’t let you out of this tent that easily.”

He laughed at her teasing. “Maybe you are the one that is lucky.”

“It might be worth taking a chance,” she quipped.

He shook his head. “The birds are awake. There’ll be no more sleeping.”

She groaned and rolled onto her side. “I’m so looking forward to my own bed.”

He pulled the quilt up and folded it. “What is your bed like?”

She sat up and began breaking down her air mattress. “It is huge and soft but not too soft. I have mounds of feather pillows and rich Egyptian cotton sheets that wrap around me like a cloud.”

“It sounds… nice,” he commented.

“And a shower… or maybe a bath. I need one!” she said, sniffing her clothes and wiggling her nose.

“You smell good to me.”

She lowered her arm and gave him a bemused smile. “Wait until I’m clean.”

His smile faltered. “I’m sure it can’t be any better.”

With a quick turn, he unzipped the screen and felt the gentle breeze on his overheated face. Pulling on his boots, he crawled out of the tent and stretched. Tracy’s comments about beds and showers were not helping his overactive imagination. His initial morning arousal had escalated into an insatiable and fiery desire. With her disheveled hair and dreamy smile, she looked absolutely stunning in the morning light.

“I’ll be back,” he said, knowing he needed time to regain control.

Tracy watched with dismay as Mitchell disappeared from view. Her fingers clutched around the quilt he had slept on. Lifting it to her face, she hugged the nylon material to her and breathed in his scent. It was a mixture of forest and a scent exclusive to him. She closed her eyes as an intense emotion swept through her that bordered on pain.

We protect him, her bear solemnly vowed.

Yes, we will protect him.

She knew he wasn’t immune to her. He had felt their connection. When he had asked what was happening, she knew what he was talking about but had been afraid to tell him. Did a human see the threads that bound them when they found their shifter life-mate?

What if they don’t? What if—What if he refuses to accept me?

The aching loneliness of such a rejection could drive some shifters mad—literally! It was too soon. She needed to give him time to accept her and her bear. Hell, she hadn’t even introduced him to her other self yet! What if her bear scared him?

Ella no afraid of Ty bear, her bear insisted.

Human men may not be as accepting.

She slowly packed away the interior of her tent before she exited and packed away the tent. Her mind was bouncing from one argument to the next about whether she should try to explain a shifter’s mating ritual to Mitchell when her bear released a low growl of warning inside her.

Her eyes narrowed when a man stepped through the gap between the bushes and stood staring at her with a smirk on his face. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes at him.

“I thought you had run back to your village,” she stated, placing her hands on her hips and glaring at him to show she wasn’t intimidated by his presence.

Jace frowned when he noticed she was alone. “Where’s Mitchell? You didn’t kill him, did you?”

“No, she didn’t kill me.”

Tracy didn’t bother to hide her grin when Jace started with a curse and whipped around. He would have fallen off the edge of the bank into the stream if Mitchell hadn’t grabbed the back of his jacket. Her bear had caught Mitchell’s presence a split second before she saw him.

“Well, that’s good… I guess,” Jace muttered.

“You guess?” Mitchell asked, loosening his grip.

Jace reached out and gripped Mitchell’s arm with a wry smile. “Okay, it’s a good thing.”

Mitchell yanked Jace onto more solid ground and scowled at him. “What are you doing here?”

“I needed to tell you something,” Jace said.

“Tell me.”

Jace shot Mitchell a pained expression. “I was also hoping that… well, maybe Tracy might have another one of those meals in a pouch. I’m starving.”

Mitchell looked at her and she nodded with a slight grin. Maybe the way to tame a grouchy human was through his stomach. It worked with Ty every time. Mitchell turned his intent focus back to Jace and gave his friend a short nod.

Tracy already had her cookstove out and one pouch cooking. She pulled a second pouch out and placed more water on to boil while the two men crossed over the creek and climbed up onto the small island. She noticed that the crossing today would be a little trickier, as the rain from last night had swollen the creek quite a bit.

“You have a choice of eggs, cheese, and potatoes or biscuits and plant-based sausage gravy,” she said.

“I’m good with either,” Jace replied.

Tracy narrowed her eyes as she studied Jace’s face. He was being too nice. He gave her a cautious smile as he walked over.

“How did you find us?” she asked.

“It wasn’t easy. The only reason I could was because I know how Mitchell thinks,” Jace replied.

“Here.”

She held out the pouch that was ready. Jace eagerly accepted the hot food with a low moan of pleasure. He sat down on the poncho that she had spread out on the log for herself and Mitchell. This time, she couldn’t help but roll her eyes in exasperation. Mitchell snorted a laugh before he gratefully accepted the pouch she held out for him. At the rate they were going through her food supply, she would be out in less than a week.

She pulled an energy bar out of the front pocket of her backpack for her breakfast and picked up her coffee cup. There were many things in life that she would graciously share. Her morning coffee wasn’t one of them.

“What made you so eager to return?” Mitchell asked.

Jace paused and looked up at Mitchell with a serious expression. “I decided to go farther east, to the first shifter road.”

Mitchell frowned. “You know that is forbidden.”

Jace scoffed and waved his spoon at Mitchell. “You’ll thank me in a minute. I overheard a group of shifters. They are searching for us.”

Tracy hissed with dismay and looked at Mitchell. “I was afraid of this. When word got out about Ella?—”

“What did they say?” Mitchell asked.

Jace frowned. “I couldn’t hear everything. They said something about someone hiring them to find a human and hunting. I didn’t stick around. I knew you would be the closest. I ran through the night.”

Mitchell’s frown deepened. “You ran straight here? You didn’t cover your tracks?”

Jace glared back at Mitchell. “Yes, I came straight here. I wanted to find and warn you. Hell, for all I knew she could be a part of the group and you are leading her and them straight to the rest of the clan! Besides, it was dark and raining like hell.”

Tracy shook her head and spoke directly to Mitchell, “I told you, the only group I'm part of is the Anthropology and Archeology department of the State's Animal Sanctuary, Research, and Observation Center. My brother, Ty, is the Curator in charge of the Observatory,” she explained.

Jace lowered his empty meal container to his lap and gave her a nasty look. “A lot of fancy words. Does it mean that you want to watch us like predators in the dark? Do you want us all to be trapped in your fancy 'Observatory'? Do you like showing off what's left of what you destroyed?”

Tracy threw her hands up in the air, spilling some of her now cold coffee over her hand and on the ground. With a growl of frustration, she tossed the rest of the contents in the cup. It was undrinkable.

“No, I want to save your frigging life! You would be respected and safe and cared for! We just want to help you!”

“Like we are supposed to believe a lying shifter,” Jace snapped back, rising from the log.

“Enough,” Mitchell growled in a firm tone.

Jace shrugged, his body language conveying a sense of indifference, before he sat down again. Tracy bit her lip, exercising restraint, while Mitchell stared moodily toward the east.

“I can help with this group of shifters," she offered. "My bear has a terrific sense of smell; and honestly, there aren’t many shifters stupid enough to mess with a grizzly-shifter.”

Mitchell looked at her and Jace over his shoulder. “Ok, good. We split up. You and I will circle back around, locate the men, and lead them away while Jace heads to the village and warns the others.” He turned to address Jace. “Tell Connell and Thomas to move them to the summer camp.”

Jace shook his head. “It’s still too cold. There could still be more snow.”

Mitchell’s expression turned grim but determined. “We have no choice.”

“Damn it, Mitch. If the shifters don’t kill us, then starvation and the weather will!” Jace cursed, rising again.

“What other choice do we have?” Mitchell asked in a quiet voice.

Jace opened and closed his mouth several times. Tracy didn’t miss the hatred in Jace’s eyes when he glared in her direction. For once, she felt sorry for the man. Jace closed his eyes and breathed deeply before he opened his eyes again.

“I would say fight, but I know your answer. It would make more sense for you to warn the others and for me to lead the shifters away,” Jace said.

Mitchell shook his head. “I’ve had more experience in this section of the forest. I’ll also have Tracy with me and she may be able to help.”

“No 'maybe' about it,” she added with a wry smile.

Mitchell stepped closer to Jace and gently gripped the other man’s shoulder. “I need you to protect the clan, Jace. I trust you.”

Jace hesitated before he gave a brief, sharp nod of agreement. Tracy could see the conflicted emotions crossing the other human’s face before he breathed deeply and rolled his shoulders. Sympathy swept through her when she also noticed the fatigue in his eyes and the lines of stress around his mouth. She blinked with surprise when Jace turned to her and spoke.

“Keep him safe.”

She gave Jace a crooked but sincere smile. “I will. I promise.”

Jace grasped Mitchell’s forearms in a tight grip before he picked up his spear and strode away. She stepped closer to Mitchell, watching as Jace crossed the stream and disappeared into the forest on the other side. As Mitchell wound his arm around her waist, she felt a surge of emotion that caused her heart to flutter.

“I’ll clean up the items from our breakfast while you eat. Would you like another cup of coffee before we leave?” he asked.

The flutter turned into a flip-flop because he noticed that she hadn’t eaten… nor drunk her coffee.

“Do we have time?” she asked, worrying her bottom lip.

He nodded. “We’ll make time. I’m sure the shifters weren’t moving as quickly as Jace. They also probably wouldn’t have left until this morning. I know the place he was talking about. We can reach it in about ten hours if we don’t stop.”

“Hopefully, it won't take much to make them give up and go home.”

“Yes.” Mitchell hesitated before continuing, “You said you knew that it would take time to accept what you offer. We can set up a signal for me to contact you when my people are ready. That way you can return home when we get to the road. You do not need to face this group of shifters with me. I can handle it.”

She scowled at him and took a step forward. “Like hell! I am not leaving you to deal with any shifters alone!”

His lips twitched at her vehement response. “Ok. It looks like I’ll have company, then.”

Fifteen minutes later, she had devoured her energy bar and enjoyed her coffee before excusing herself to take care of her personal business. By the time she returned, Mitchell was waiting for her. She released a deep sigh, smiled, and nodded.

“I’m ready.”

“We’ll head due east. It will be the fastest way,” he said.

“I’ll be right behind you.”

Tracy stepped forward when he lifted his hand to brush her cheek. She could see the worry and indecision in his eyes. Her heart tightened at the look and she wanted to wipe it away.

Why does life have to be so complicated sometimes?

She didn’t have time to mull over her silent question because Mitchell had dropped his hand and turned away. He took off at a steady clip, testing her to see how fast he could go without overtaxing her. A dry humor swept through her. Her bear—when it didn’t want a nap—could cover a hundred miles in a day if she needed it to. In her two-legged form, she wasn’t nearly as fast, but her endurance was still above average.

They traversed the uneven ground, moving faster than they had the day before. They didn’t talk. Instead, they listened. There was danger in the forest and they needed to move with stealth.

Even moving at the rapid pace they maintained, it took every second of the ten hours Mitchell had predicted for them to reach the service road. They had come up along the southeastern end of the road. Tracy knew from the map of the area she had studied before she started out that the service road ran for ten miles, starting at Powerline Road and stopping at Burrow Creek.

The sun was settling behind the mountains, casting the treelined gravel road in shadows. They stood in the shadows of several fir trees and studied the road. The only sounds were birds and the faint buzz of insects.

Tracy reached over and lifted her water bottle out of her backpack and handed it to Mitchell. He gave her a grateful smile before he took a deep gulp of the refreshing liquid. He handed the bottle to her and she took a gulp before replacing it in the pocket of her backpack.

“It’s possible whoever Jace saw was only blowing smoke. They may have decided it was too much effort and left,” she said.

“We need to know,” he replied.

She nodded. "The most expedient and safest thing would be for me to check things out alone.”

His eyes flashed. "Because you are a shifter. They will see you as one of them. They'll speak to you."

"Yes. I'll take my pack and head down the road. If I run into the men, I’ll tell them I’ve been out hiking and doing some primitive camping as part of the Park Service. I can ask them some questions and find out what is going on.”

“Do you think they are likely to tell you that they are hunting humans?” he asked.

She chuckled. “They might. If they are good-ol’ boy shifters just trying to do something stupid, they’ll brag like crazy. Besides, this area is restricted. Ty placed the notices to inform people of that himself, and the service roads are off-limits, anyway. I’ll tell them I’ll report them if they don’t move it. Ty will confiscate everything they own, plus Auntie will sic the SBSI on them if he thinks they are trying to hurt Ella or any other human. He’s as passionate about you guys as I am! Once I get rid of them, I’ll come back.”

Mitchell huffed out his displeasure at her idea, but she could tell he saw the sense in it. He reached up and undid the straps holding her backpack on and slid it off his shoulders. She turned around when he motioned and he slid the pack onto her back.

“I'll follow you and come to your aid if they attack,” he stated.

"No!" she exclaimed, alarmed. "Don’t follow me. A lot of shifters have an excellent sense of smell. Which reminds me, there’s a bottle of citronella in the mesh pocket. Can you get it out and spray me?”

His eyes widened. "They will smell me on you otherwise."

“Yes. I slept with you last night. I guarantee if I can smell your scent on me, anyone else would too. This will mask it.”

He nodded and studied the bottle before turning it towards her and motioning for her to turn in a circle while he sprayed. She rotated slowly, making sure he covered her from head to toe. By the time he was done, she couldn’t smell anything but the floral scent of the citronella oil.

Wiggling her nose with distaste, she gave him a rueful smile. “I’m going to need a bath afterwards. Every living thing within a fifty-mile radius will know I’m coming. I feel like I’ve been dipped in a candle factory. I hope this shit isn’t flammable. I should have read the label,” she said.

“You do have a… pungent aroma about you,” he conceded with an amused grin.

She laughed. “If we are lucky, the odor will chase any bad shifters away.”

“What is your plan if something happens?” he asked, lifting his hand to touch her cheek.

A pang of regret swept through her when he stopped a breath away from touching her. She had it bad. Last night had been both exquisite and brutal. The experience of finding her mate was on a whole different level compared to any of her past relationships.

“Here, take my phone. If I don't come back in a few hours, press this button here and this one here, hold the phone up to your face like this, and speak into this part to tell Ty what happened. You'll hear him through this part here, and you end the call by pressing the red button that will be on the screen. If he calls you, you answer it by pressing the green button that will be on the screen."

He nodded and accepted the phone.

"Stay safe,” she said before turning and picking her way through the brush to the fire road.

She looked back over her shoulder. The only reason she could spot him was because she was aware of his presence. With a firm grip on the straps of her backpack, she redirected her attention back to the road and the task ahead.

Killing someone? her bear teased in a half-serious thought.

She snorted. Only if they are too stupid to run… or get too close to me and die from citronella intoxication.