Page 71 of Mitchell's Untamed Mate

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.

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