Free Ella and the Beast (More Than Human Book 1) by S.E. Smith Page A

off the bird.
    “The elders have been reminding me of my duty as clan leader,” Mitchell muttered in a somber tone.
    “We’re a dying species, Mitchell. There is no way we can compete against the Others. It is only a matter of time before they find us,” Ella replied, thinking about the images that Ty had shown her.
    “They already did,” he reminded her, reaching for the plate she held out to him. “We are just lucky that the beast who saw you hasn’t come looking for you.”
    “Yeah, lucky,” Ella muttered as she sat down across from him and picked at her food. “It still doesn’t change anything. Unless there are other humans out in the world, we can’t continue. The winter… The winter five years ago wiped out almost half of the clan.”
    “We can’t give up, Ella,” Mitchell insisted, staring at her. “I lost my family, too, but we have to try.”
    Ella placed her plate down on the log and stood up. She glared at him for a moment before her gaze swept around the village. Those watching them turned their gazes away when she glared at them. Her lips tightened in rebellion and resolve. Returning her gaze to Mitchell, she shook her head.
    “I won’t do it,” she stated in a firm voice. “If you or the elders want to cast me from the village, then do it. I won’t mate with you or any other male simply to keep our race alive. I won’t do that to myself nor to any child that I might have,” she finished in a whisper.
    Mitchell stood up and stared down at her. His lips pursed together before he relaxed and waved his hand toward the log with a deep sigh. He sat back down and picked up his plate.
    “Sit down and eat. I won’t press you anymore, and this is too good to waste. I agree with you, Ella. Maybe it is time we faced our future, but not tonight. I want to eat, spend some quiet time with someone who isn’t demanding something from me, and enjoy Anna’s awesome dessert,” he declared with a twinkle in his dark eyes.
    A reluctant grin pulled at Ella’s lips and she slowly sat down again. Picking up her plate, she stared at Mitchell for several long minutes before she shook her head and refocused on her food. She could feel his gaze on her.
    “What are you thinking?” He finally asked in exasperation.
    “That if I didn’t think of you more as a brother than as a husband and lover, I might have taken you up on your reluctant offer,” Ella admitted with a slight chuckle.
    He pointed his finger at her and shook his head. “It was more of a suggestion than an offer,” he retorted, popping a piece of meat into his mouth. “So, do you need help with your lodging? Winter is coming and you haven’t finished it.”
    “I’m good,” Ella replied.
    They spent the next hour eating and talking quietly. Several times, Ella felt like she was being watched, but she shrugged it off. Her gaze moved to the shadows of the forest, searching.
    Finally, Mitchell rose to his feet and stretched. Ella stood up, as well. She started when she felt Mitchell’s arms wrap around her waist and turn her gently toward him. Her breath caught when he lowered his head and brushed his lips across her slightly parted ones.
    “What did you do that for?” She asked in confusion.
    “To say thank you for being you, and for a nice evening. I’ll be over tomorrow afternoon to help you with your lodging,” Mitchell said, releasing her and stepping back. “Have a good night.”
    “You, too, Mitchell,” Ella whispered, lifting a hand to touch her lips.
    She watched as Mitchell walked across the narrow clearing. He quickly climbed the tree he had chosen and disappeared. Shaking her head, she banked the fire to preserve the coals for in the morning. The sound of a branch snapping to her left had her twisting and reaching for the lance she always kept close. In the darkness, she swore she could see a pair of familiar eyes glaring back at her.
    A soft curse escaped her. Glancing over her shoulder, she silently moved behind the