Page 34 of Mitchell's Untamed Mate

He reluctantly released Tracy and stepped back.He carefully studied her, noting her tousled hair and the loose-fitting gray clothing she was wearing.He pulled his focus from her to look back at Michaela who was watching them with a shrewd, curious expression as she sipped her tea.

“What happens now?”he asked.

Michaela’s expression changed into a thoughtful one.“Mm, negotiations, I imagine, just as it would when any two groups meet.”

He frowned in suspicion.“What do you want?”

"To help you.That is all, really."

He studied her, and she returned his regard with an intensity that made him uneasy.It was as if she were pulling away the layers of his mind and could see the man underneath.While he didn’t consider himself weak or vulnerable, he was in a completely different environment than any he had been in before—and he was surrounded by a species known to be stronger and faster than a human.

Her expression softened as if she could sense his unease.He tried to shield his emotions, aware that shifters could also sense them in a way few humans could.He glanced at Tracy when she threaded her fingers through his.

“You can trust her,” Tracy murmured.

He shook his head.“I don’t trust anyone,” he stated.

Pain flashed through her eyes before she looked away.Mitchell felt bad about hurting her feelings, but… this was about more than what he wanted.This was about the people he had sworn to protect.

Michaela placed her teacup on the serving tray and stepped closer to him.In the natural light filtering through the windows, he could see the touch of silver at her temples and the faint lines at the corners of her eyes and mouth.Her dark brown eyes were filled with compassion, but also determination.He could understand why the other shifters bowed to her presence.She projected power in her every move.

“You can’t put the bear back in the bottle once it has been released.Shifters know that humans exist, and we can't adequately secure a village in a forest when its existence is going to spark this amount of world-wide curiosity.Someone would get in and someone would get hurt… possibly die.From what Ella has told me, there aren’t many of you left.Are you willing to chance that?”

He stiffened and pulled his hand free from Tracy’s.Despite Michaela’s calm voice, he heard and understood the steely warning laced in her softly spoken statement.Humans would be hunted—this time to extinction.

“Tracy has told me what you suggest.”

Michaela glanced back and forth between him and Tracy.He didn’t follow her gaze.Tracy’s distress was almost palpable in the room.

“I would like for you to set up a meeting between the leader of the humans and myself to offer the full protection of the United Species of North America,” she said.

“I've heard what your 'protection' would entail.How do we know that your cage won't last forever?How do we know that your cage won't look exactly like the cell I was just put in?How do we know that we won't die in your cage faster than we would at home?”

“None of that will happen.I swear on my bear, Mitchell.It will be a home, not a cage.You will not be prevented from leaving if you want to, and you will be safe.Give me a chance to present this to your leader.I’m sure he or she would understand,” Michaela insisted.

He clenched his fist, turned, and walked over to the window, staring sightlessly at the glass.

The silence stretched, and Tracy added softly, “You should know better than anyone that there are no guarantees in life.This is achance.Your best chance.”

Through the window, he could see the immaculate driveway and lawn.Brilliant flowerbeds, manicured and tended with care, lined the gravel drive.He closed his eyes and bowed his head.

The shifters have evolved while we’ve regressed to the point of being little more than… nothing.Whether we die in the 'care' of the shifters or we die as we were, what would it matter if humans no longer existed?

The thought sent a shaft of pain through him.As he came to a decision, a calm resolve settled over him.Even though he may not prefer it, he understood what the correct choice was.Opening his eyes, he slowly turned to face Michaela.

“I accept your terms.”

Michaela’s eyes widened with understanding.A wry smile curved her lips and she bowed her head in acknowledgement of his position.He quickly glanced over at Tracy.She was standing closer to her aunt with her arms crossed.Regret washed through him.Their connection was still doomed.He would be sequestered with his people.She would not be.

"I will need to get back to my people soon.It will take time to convince them to do this.I will need to know everything about these new homes and the plan to bring us into shifter society.There will be a lot of questions—a lot of fear and distrust to overcome.”

He couldn’t help flickering his eyes to Tracy as he said the last part.She flinched and looked away from him.He swallowed the curse on his lips at hurting her again.It seemed he was pretty good at hurting those that he cared about.

Michaela nodded.“We have not yet brought to justice the group that kidnapped Ella.We are working on it.In the meantime, however, be aware that the more time you take, the more time the shifters hunting your people have to find you.”

“Auntie.Don’t pressure him,” Tracy chided.

"No, it's necessary information.I will keep it in mind," he replied.

---