Page 24 of Mitchell's Untamed Mate

“No, I want to save your frigging life!You would be respected and safe and cared for!We just want tohelpyou!”

“Like we are supposed to believe a lying shifter,” Jace snapped back, rising from the log.

“Enough,” Mitchell growled in a firm tone.

Jace shrugged, his body language conveying a sense of indifference, before he sat down again.Tracy bit her lip, exercising restraint, while Mitchell stared moodily toward the east.

“I canhelp with this group of shifters," she offered."My bear has a terrific sense of smell; and honestly, there aren’t many shifters stupid enough to mess with a grizzly-shifter.”

Mitchell looked at her and Jace over his shoulder.“Ok, good.We split up.You and I will circle back around, locate the men, and lead them away while Jace heads to the village and warns the others.”He turned to address Jace.“Tell Connell and Thomas to move them to the summer camp.”

Jace shook his head.“It’s still too cold.There could still be more snow.”

Mitchell’s expression turned grim but determined.“We have no choice.”

“Damn it, Mitch.If the shifters don’t kill us, then starvation and the weather will!”Jace cursed, rising again.

“What other choice do we have?”Mitchell asked in a quiet voice.

Jace opened and closed his mouth several times.Tracy didn’t miss the hatred in Jace’s eyes when he glared in her direction.For once, she felt sorry for the man.Jace closed his eyes and breathed deeply before he opened his eyes again.

“I would say fight, but I know your answer.It would make more sense for you to warn the others and for me to lead the shifters away,” Jace said.

Mitchell shook his head.“I’ve had more experience in this section of the forest.I’ll also have Tracy with me and she may be able to help.”

“No 'maybe' about it,” she added with a wry smile.

Mitchell stepped closer to Jace and gently gripped the other man’s shoulder.“I need you to protect the clan, Jace.I trust you.”

Jace hesitated before he gave a brief, sharp nod of agreement.Tracy could see the conflicted emotions crossing the other human’s face before he breathed deeply and rolled his shoulders.Sympathy swept through her when she also noticed the fatigue in his eyes and the lines of stress around his mouth.She blinked with surprise when Jace turned to her and spoke.

“Keep him safe.”

She gave Jace a crooked but sincere smile.“I will.I promise.”

Jace grasped Mitchell’s forearms in a tight grip before he picked up his spear and strode away.She stepped closer to Mitchell, watching as Jace crossed the stream and disappeared into the forest on the other side.As Mitchell wound his arm around her waist, she felt a surge of emotion that caused her heart to flutter.

“I’ll clean up the items from our breakfast while you eat.Would you like another cup of coffee before we leave?”he asked.

The flutter turned into a flip-flop because he noticed that she hadn’t eaten… nor drunk her coffee.

“Do we have time?”she asked, worrying her bottom lip.

He nodded.“We’ll make time.I’m sure the shifters weren’t moving as quickly as Jace.They also probably wouldn’t have left until this morning.I know the place he was talking about.We can reach it in about ten hours if we don’t stop.”

“Hopefully, it won't take much to make them give up and go home.”

“Yes.”Mitchell hesitated before continuing, “You said you knew that it would take time to accept what you offer.We can set up a signal for me to contact you when my people are ready.That way you can return home when we get to the road.You do not need to face this group of shifters with me.I can handle it.”

She scowled at him and took a step forward.“Like hell!I am not leaving you to deal with any shifters alone!”

His lips twitched at her vehement response.“Ok.It looks like I’ll have company, then.”

Fifteen minutes later, she had devoured her energy bar and enjoyed her coffee before excusing herself to take care of her personal business.By the time she returned, Mitchell was waiting for her.She released a deep sigh, smiled, and nodded.

“I’m ready.”

“We’ll head due east.It will be the fastest way,” he said.

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