Page 80 of Mitchell's Untamed Mate

Jayden rolled her eyes at him and made a face at Tracy.“He’s always trying to take the fun out of things.You’d better get used to it.”

Tracy released a chuckle at Jayden’s wry sense of humor.“Thanks for the warning.Let me shift.Do you think—could you carry my clothes in your pack?”

Jayden’s eyes widened with confusion before she nodded.“Yeah, sure.”

Mitchell shielded Tracy as she quickly stripped.He handed each piece to Jayden as she did.Jayden kept casting wary glances their way as Tracy removed her clothes.He grinned when Jayden scrambled back as Tracy transformed into her grizzly.

“Holy shit!I saw—I—That’s pretty unreal,” Jayden muttered, straightening.“So, what now?”

“Now, we hunt,” Tracy replied, her voice deeper and slightly rumbling.

"Wait, hold on," she said, her eyes widening in astonishment."You can talk...in that form?”

“Yes.”

“Okay.I guess I’ll lead the way.”

Mitchell placed his hand on Tracy’s thick, dark brown coat and caressed her ear.She turned her head to look at him.He leaned forward and rested his forehead against hers.

“I love you, Tracy Bearclaw.Come back to me,” he murmured.

I told you!

“You bet your ass I will,” she said before giving him a huge lick across his cheek.

“Ew!”

Mitchell snorted at Jayden’s response.The amusement on her face told him Jayden was more curious than offended by Tracy’s bear’s show of affection.Tracy released a rumbling growl and followed Jayden out of the cave.

He watched them go with a sense of apprehension and guilt.Once again, he felt the weight of his responsibilities pressing down on him and the choice he had to make.Send the woman he loved into danger or protect his clan.It hit him hard when he realized he had chosen his clan.

Jayden paused and pointed to an area ahead of them.Tracy’s dinner plate sized paws helped keep her from sinking into the deep snow as she approached the area.Dark red stains marred the pristine snow with droplets leaving a vivid trail toward the section that dropped off.

She sniffed the blood.Her head jerked back and she shook it frantically back and forth with distaste in an effort to dispel the nasty scent.Jayden crouched down beside her.

“What is it?”

“Bear,” she replied as nausea roiled in her stomach.“Where’s the other?”

“Over there,” Jayden said, scanning the surrounding area before she rose.

Images of Ty lying dead at the bottom of the ravine almost made her throw up.She pushed the thought away.It wasn’t her brother.She knew his smell.Hell, they had both skinned their knees enough over the years to know the scent of each other's blood pretty well.

A duplication of the first area was visible behind a rock outcropping.She bent and sniffed the area.The hair on the back of her neck rose and she sneezed.

“Coyote,” she shared.“We need to follow their tracks.I haven’t heard any more gunfire.”

“They could have come from anywhere.Sounds echo in the mountains.It’s hard to tell where they originate or how far away they are sometimes,” Jayden said.

“There’s only one way to find out,” Tracy muttered.

Together they moved down the trail.Tracy didn't bother to step in the tracks of the men.Her paw prints would be easy to identify.Forty minutes later, they reached another area marked with blood.The scent had been carried on the wind, helping Tracy to pinpoint the location.

Once again, there was blood, but no bodies.A shiver of apprehension ran through her.This time, she was able to identify another bear, a hyena, and a lynx.She jumped when Jayden reached out and touched her side.

“What’s wrong?What do you smell?”Jayden asked, her voice hushed as she warily scanned around the forest.

“These were all apex predators.From the amount of blood, I would be shocked if any of them survived.I don’t know anything that could kill this many… and take the bodies with them,” Tracy said unable to keep the tremble out of her voice.

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