Page 18 of Mitchell's Untamed Mate

“She is related to you?”

Tracy nodded.“Yeah, my aunt.She kept our grandmother’s maiden name.The Bearclaw and the Kodiak’s lineage is part of the aristocratic, or old-money, families.”

He frowned, trying to picture what she was saying.“This gives your family power and prestige?”

She laughed and looked at him under her eyelashes.“Yes, lots of both.My aunt knows how to use it, too.”She sighed and leaned back a little.“I’ll admit I’m spoiled.The Bearclaw estate consists of our home, which has two-hundred and thirty-one rooms—I know because I’ve counted them.Ty and I were always getting lost.Fortunately, Martha and our parents have an excellent sense of smell.There are 34 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, three kitchens, 65 fireplaces, a library, a bowling alley, a theater, and a large indoor swimming pool.There’s also a winery, stables, and formal gardens that surround the estate.My favorites are the mazes.There are three different ones, and the gardeners are always changing them up so it is impossible to memorize them.”

“You must have a very large family to need that large a home.”

“Nah.It is just my parents, brother, and me—and my grandparents when they aren’t on some adventure around the world, which isn’t often.I haven’t been around much either the last couple of years.Aunt Michaela comes and stays there when she feels like killing members of her cabinet or congress.I can’t blame her for that.She has the patience of a saint, dealing with them.”

His lips twitched with a sympathetic smile.“I understand.It is that way sometimes in the village.Everyone demanding something, and then when I make a decision, they want to argue with me.”

“Sounds about right.The world outside of all this can be big and noisy, but it is also very beautiful.I think the biggest thing I love is the green zones.Each region is required to maintain a seventy-five percent green area.This helps prevent the destruction of our natural resources.Each city must seek approval for expansion.It’s the same for smaller towns.Each state or country owns the green areas,” she explained.

“And your people are happy with this?”he asked.

She released a dry chuckle and shook her head.“Not all of them.There are some who try to push their luck.It doesn’t go well for them—most of the time.Corporations are fined heavily if they are caught, or even shut down in the most egregious situations.They are required to have a scientist and a government advisor on their boards.We learned a long time ago what can happen if...”

Her voice faded and she shot him another look before turning away.He could tell she had been about to say something she didn’t think he would like.He twisted on the rock so he could see her face.

“What happened a long time ago?”

She sat forward and rubbed her hands on the material covering her knees.There was an intense, yet sad and faraway, look in her eyes, as if she were seeing something that he couldn’t.She bit her lip before she turned to face him.

“There is a theory that the reason humans and shifters went to war was because humans were depleting their natural resources and had to encroach on the shifters' lands to keep up with that level of consumption,” she explained.

His eyes narrowed.“Do you have proof of this?”

She swallowed and nodded.“Yeah, I do.My studies were in human anthropology and archaeology.I’ve always had a fascination about humans, ever since I was a little girl and my dad took me with him on my first dig.I’ve traveled all over the world, searching for human artifacts and lost civilizations.In every single one, I’ve found the same thing—villages abandoned after all resources were completely depleted.”

He swallowed and rose.Walking over to the edge, he looked out over the vast forest.Trees covered the valley up to the ridgeline on the mountain where nothing could grow because it was covered in snow year-round.In his mind’s eye, he could imagine what it would look like if every tree were stripped and nothing but barren rock was left to the elements.

Humans were not the same as they had been.The few that remained tried very hard not to disturb the areas where they lived.They used only the deadfall as fuel for their fires.They hunted and gathered over large areas, taking only the bare-minimum so it wouldn’t be evident they had been there.Their homes were made from materials that would return quickly to the earth after they left.

It took almost becoming extinct to learn how to live with the Earth instead of killing it,he thought with dismay and sadness.

He looked down when he felt Tracy’s hand against his arm.Returning his focus to the forests, he tried to harden his heart.He didn’t want her pity or sympathy.Humans were strong, resourceful, and had learned a hard—but valuable—lesson.

“We need to get moving.We have a long way to go before it gets dark,” he stated, moving away from her so he could retrieve her backpack.

Chapter4

The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the path they were following.The air had grown cooler, and the scent of pine and damp earth intensified as a light dew settled on it.He could also sense that rain was imminent.

They hadn’t talked much since their morning break.Each of them had been lost in their own thoughts and focused on navigating the challenging terrain.He had found Tracy’s presence a constant steadying force beside him.There was a sense of comfort in having her company, even as his thoughts churned with worry for his clan.

“We’ll need to set up camp soon,” he said, scanning the area for a suitable spot.

Tracy nodded.“It would be nice to find a place that doesn’t have too many rocks.”

“We’ll need to venture away from the path,” he added.“Animals travel it frequently.It is best not to disturb their routine.”

She looked at the foot-wide trail before she peered ahead of him.He could see the question in her eyes.She may have traveled around the world to many remote locations, but this was his domain.While high shrubs lined each side of this path, he could hear the faint sound of water from a nearby stream.There would be an open area nearby.

Three hundred yards down the path, there was a natural break in the foliage.Anyone unfamiliar with the forest would probably have missed the thinning.He ducked under a branch.Tracy followed him and caught her breath.

“Wow!This is like a hidden oasis!”she exclaimed.

---