Page 26 of Mitchell's Untamed Mate

Killing someone?her bear teased in a half-serious thought.

She snorted.Only if they are too stupid to run… or get too close to me and die from citronella intoxication.

Chapter6

Mitchell clenched his fist as he watched Tracy walk down the road.It went against his nature to let her walk into danger.It suddenly dawned on him that if she could pick up his scent, he must have picked up hers.They had slept wrapped in each other’s arms, after all.He had slept on her quilt.

He turned, his mind racing as he frantically looked for an alternative means to mask his true identity.As he looked around, his gaze lingered on each potential choice, considering the possibilities.With the lingering touch of winter, the options were scarce and he needed to be careful.While some plants emitted a pleasant aroma, others were highly toxic or could trigger an allergic reaction.

He decided to utilize the sharp needles of a nearby evergreen.With a firm grip, he crushed the needles and rubbed them on his clothing, infusing it with the sharp pine scent.Sniffing his hands, he rubbed his hair as well.The crushed needles would be good to stuff in his jacket.By the time he was done, he could sympathize with Tracy.He was going to need a bath.He smelled like a tree.

Satisfied that he shouldn’t smell human any longer, he peered along the road in both directions before crossing it.He would stay in the shadows of the woods on the other side of the road.This way he would be coming up the opposite way—and upwind.Speaking to Ty on the 'phone' in case of trouble did not seem as helpful as being close enough to offer Tracy aid himself.Perhaps he could do both if the situation called for it.

He crossed the shallow ditch and strode across the road.Climbing the slight dip, he disappeared into the woods on the other side.Tracy had close to a half-hour start on him.He glanced up at the sky.It would be dark in less than an hour.That would both help and hinder them.

As he moved along the edge of the road, he thought about Tracy.It was hard to believe they had met only two days ago.She was strong and determined, yet passionate and empathetic.She had taken all of his preconceived ideas about shifters and blown them apart.

It doesn't hurt that she is also smart, resourceful, and beautiful.

It was the last part that scared the hell out of him.His reaction to her shook him.Their kiss had left him longing for something he knew he could never have.She would never be happy living in the forest, and his clan would never accept her.That was proven with Ella and Ty.

What kind of life could he possibly offer her?A life of danger?Hunger?Uncertainty?

She lived in a mansion.He found it hard to understand or imagine what such a place might look like.Hell, even her shelter and the items in her backpack were more advanced than he could offer her.A cooking fire that fit in the palm of his hand and a delicious meal made by pouring water into a pouch?He still had a hard time accepting how such things were possible.

I must seem simple and ignorant to her.

The idea made him wince.It didn’t help that deep inside, he knew he was.Tracy deserved someone who could support and protect her—in her world.

These were the same thoughts that had plagued him during their hike today.They were playing on a broken loop through his mind.Stopping in his tracks, he stared at the road in indecision.

Deep down, he knew the wisest answer to his quandary.If he was smart, he would have followed through with his original intention: guide her back here and leave her.He could easily lead whoever came into the forest away from his clan.They may be shifters, but unlike the humans, they had spent centuries living in cities.The forest was his home, and he knew it like the back of his hand.

Yet, the idea of leaving her defenseless against some unknown adversaries didn’t sit well with him.It was possible that Jace had been mistaken or that whoever he saw had given up and left, but he would make sure she was alright—and then he would disappear.

He started forward, only to fall back a step when a sharp sting struck his leg.Looking down, he reached for the metal cylinder that was embedded in his upper thigh.He wrapped his hand around it, frowning when the image blurred.

The crackle of dried leaves caused him to look up.He blinked rapidly, trying to clear his vision when the world around him danced before his eyes.There was someone coming toward him.

He sank slowly to his knees into the thick layer of soft leaves.He tilted and fell onto his side.A fuzzy darkness was taking over his mind.His limbs felt heavy.He tried to fight the effects of whatever had been in the cylinder, but it was impossible.

The blurred figure stepped forward and bent.Warm fingers pressed against the side of his throat, feeling the steady beat of his pulse.Fear and rage gripped him as the helplessness inside him grew.

“We’ve got one,” the man’s deep voice stated.

Mitchell’s head rolled to the side as the drug took effect.His last thoughts were of the woman he would probably never see again—and the knowledge that once again, he had failed to protect his people.He could only hope that Jace would do a better job than he had.

Tracy’s lips tightened when she saw the swarm of vehicles along the road.A shifter in uniform saw her and called out.A lion shifter wearing a military vest graced with USNASBSI emblazoned on it walked forward to greet her.

Her gaze flickered over the woman’s tawny mane of hair and piercing gold eyes.The woman kept her hand resting on the butt of her service revolver.An antelope shifter ran up behind the woman and spoke in a low, urgent voice.Whatever the young woman said, it was enough to cause the field agent in charge to stiffen.The agent nodded and relaxed her grip on the gun.

Tracy stopped several feet from the group.Her glance flickered over two vehicles that looked out of place among the dozen black vans and SUVs—an older model red truck and a sporty gray SUV.

“What’s all the excitement about?”she asked.

The lion-shifter gave her a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.“Ms.Bearclaw?”

Tracy nodded.“Yes, I’m Tracy Bearclaw.Please tell me my aunt didn’t call out the United States of North America Species Bureau of Special Investigation because I went on a camping trip,” she quipped.

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