Page 64 of Mitchell's Untamed Mate

Bert waved his pipe at a woven basket.“Good thing you like to travel light.That climb is almost too much for an old man like me anymore.”

Mitchell paused before opening the lid of the basket.“Did…?”

Bert clucked his tongue.“We all made it.You’ve only been gone a few days.Wecanmanage a few on our own, you know.”

Mitchell swallowed past the lump that had formed in his throat.Relief mixed with his fatigue.The combination of mental and physical exhaustion made him feel off-balanced.He turned when he heard the sound of feminine tsking.

“Bert, let the poor boy get out of those wet clothes before he gets sick.We can’t afford to use up our supply of medicine before the summer flowers bloom,” Anna chided.

“Thanks, Anna.I’ll be right back,” Mitchell said.

He stepped behind the makeshift wall that gave Bert and Anna privacy and stripped out of his wet clothes.Goosebumps coated his chilled skin as he dried himself with the coarse scrap of material he had taken out of his belongings.He dressed in a pair of thin thermals, followed by soft leather trousers and a long tunic.

As he bent down, he noticed a delicate necklace lying on the ground, having fallen out of the basket when he pulled the tunic out.He had found the triangular piece of metal in this very cave when he was eleven.It had been buried in the sand along the wall near where he was standing now.

He scanned the fascinating array of petroglyphs that adorned the wall.No matter how diligently he had searched through the images, he couldn't find a single one that bore any resemblance to the triangle.The presence of a loop at the end made him consider the possibility that it was meant to be worn as a necklace.He had given the piece to his father as a gift, and his father had worn it up to the day he had died.

Mitchell's fingers gently explored the slender leather and intricate bead chain that it hung from.The necklace carried the weight of memories and held immense sentimental value.The metal surface was adorned with small, intricate inscriptions.The passage of time had rendered some barely visible, their presence only hinted at by faint outlines.He sighed, feeling the smooth texture of the thin leather against his fingertips as he slid it over his head and tucked it safely inside his shirt.

I need all the help I can get, Dad.You believed that one day humans and shifters would live together.I hope that day has come.

He closed his eyes and pulled up the memories of his father’s stories.Stories that had enchanted him with tales of a great king, a mythical world, and the key that could open a door to a world where humans and shifters lived side-by-side.He absently fingered the intricately carved piece under his shirt.With another sigh, he realized that he was procrastinating.

He lifted the padded vest and slid it over his tunic before pulling on a jacket.By the time he was finished, he almost felt thawed.Some hot food and drink followed by rest would help.His body flushed at the thought of holding Tracy in his arms.

“That works, too,” he mused.

“What works?”

He scowled at Jace.“Me beating the shit out of you,” he retorted.

“I’d like to see you try,” Jace scoffed."Food's ready and so is everyone else.”

“Don’t tempt me,” he muttered, following Jace into the main area of the cave.

Chapter16

The low chatter faded as he entered the ring gathered around the fire and walked over to stand next to Tracy.He sealed her place among the group by sliding his hand in hers and entwining their fingers.He could feel the eyes of every member of the clan, young and old, focused on their clasped hands.

“We’ll eat first, then talk,” Connell announced.

The murmurs exploded when Margo, Hope, LaTrisha, and Mallory began handing out bowls of stew.Mitchell glanced around for Jayden.She was standing near the makeshift table, her eyes locked on him and Tracy.She looked away when he stared back at her and continued filling the bowls.

He and Tracy sat down on one of the half-dozen logs that had been placed around the central firepit decades ago.Tracy took the bowl Hope held out to her with a smile.It wasn’t until the girl passed that she leaned into him.

“This has meat in it,” she murmured.

“I’ll get you something else,” he replied.

She shook her head.“Not now.I’ll grab one of my meals later.”

He frowned and shook his head.“You need to eat.”

“I will… later,” she murmured.

“Is there a problem, Tracy?”Jace asked.

Mitchell shot Jace a murderous glare when the other man grinned at him.Jace knew that Tracy was a vegetarian.The other man was being a jerk.

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