Page 12 of Mitchell's Untamed Mate

“Do you have more?”Jace asked around a mouthful of food.

Mitchell hid his grin when Tracy shot him a saucy wink.

“I have some bread and will make us a dessert—to celebrate our first dinner together,” she replied.

Jace took the bread she held out.“This is good.I’ve never had 'vegan lasagna' before.I thought shifters would be eating other things.”

Tracy lifted an eyebrow at Jace as she set up another pouch to cook so she could also have dinner.Mitchell handed her his own meal, determined to be the last one to eat if there wasn't enough for them all to eat at the same time.She smiled at him.

He wondered if Jace was going to talk himself out of being allowed to eat the crème brûlée.If it was half as good as the vegan lasagna, he wouldn't mind eating Jace's share.

“The worst things we eat are fish eggs, sardines, and anchovies… oh, and snails.Goddess, but I hate the observatory dinner parties.Why anyone would think those things are supposed to be called food is beyond me.Give me a veggie burger or a pizza with broccoli, tomatoes, black olives, and onions.Now, that is fine eating,” she replied, waving her long spoon at Jace.

“You mentioned your father.Your parents are still alive?I know you have a brother,” Mitchell said.

“Has he killed Ella yet?”Jace asked.

Tracy paused and stared at Jace in shock.“Of course not!Why would he do something so terrible?”

Jace shrugged.“I don’t know, maybe because half the village wanted her and her beast dead for good reason… except Mitchell, of course.A guy shouldn’t kill the lady he is supposed to marry, right, Mitchell?”

“A guy—” Tracy’s voice faltered and she studied his face.“You and Ella?—”

“It wasn’t like that,” he interjected, shooting Jace an angry glare.

Tracy lowered her dinner to her lap and studied his face.“Then what was it like?”

Mitchell had never really thought about it.It was just the way things were.

“The elders of our village find matches.There aren’t many of us left.We do what we have to do,” he said in a blunt tone, hoping that would end the conversation.

“Yeah, I could see the need to keep as much genetic diversity as possible.Well, I’m glad it didn’t work out.Ella is perfect for my brother.They're so in love,” she said.

Jace scoffed.“It isn’t natural.”

“Why not?Shifters and humans are compatible,” she countered.

Jace sneered.“If a human doesn’t mind fu?—”

Mitchell rose and took a menacing step toward Jace.“I’d watch your next words carefully, Jace.”

Jace raised his hands.“We’ll just have to agree to disagree.”

Mitchell sank back down on the log.He was surprised when instead of being angry with Jace, Tracy’s expression held compassion.

“I can understand, you know,” she said, looking at both of them.“I would probably feel the same way if the situation was reversed.What happened centuries ago was a tragedy.It should never have happened.Unfortunately, it did.I can’t change the past.Neither can my people, but we have come a long way since then.I think if you’d give me—us—a chance, you’d see that things aren’t as bad as you think.”

“Yeah, well, how is it working out for Ella?”Jace retorted.

Tracy lifted her chin.“Ella is doing very well.She is loved by all my family and is under the protection of the United Species of North America.My brother adores her.”

“So, it is all rainbows and shifters,” Jace mocked.

“Jace, quit being an ass,” Mitchell snapped.

Jace glared at Mitchell.“You still dreaming of shifters and humans living side-by-side in some fairytale world?You know, she could rip your throat out before you even knew what happened if she wanted.”

Tracy blew out a breath in exasperation.“Yes, I could.Just like you could stick a spear into me.Fortunately for you, I’m not a savage and neither is my bear.Wecancontrol ourselves.You might want to try that sometime.”

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