Feral Northern Shifters 2

more freedom and you don’t have to do anything.”
Bram walked over to the bed and crouched down on his haunches so that Ethan was above him. A submissive gesture that came naturally, though whether Ethan would recognize it as such, Bram didn’t know. It didn’t matter.
He rested his elbows on his knees. Hands dangled between his legs and he looked at them, not Ethan. Okay, Ethan wasn’t wolf and he certainly wasn’t alpha wolf, but Bram still chose to speak without eye contact. “What do you want?”
No answer. After quite a while, Bram lifted his face to gaze at this tawny, ethereal creature. Probably not always ethereal, but the malnourishment gave a certain effect.
As did the glowing eyes. Bram’s heart clenched.
Slowly leaning forward, Ethan brushed a knuckle across Bram’s cheek. He spoke softly. “What are you doing down there, Bram?”
Unable to come up with any kind of answer—Bram wasn’t used to his face being touched—he just smiled.
A small answering smile—it appeared genuine—crossed Ethan’s features. “Are you one of those people who think too hard?”
“No.” I try not to think .
Ethan pressed his thumb lightly against Bram’s forehead, making upward strokes. “Don’t frown so.”
Bram once again moved his eyes in the direction of the camera, trying to warn Ethan. Doug would be watching them, and he couldn’t stand that. Bad enough… Well, bad enough.
Doug slammed into the room and while Ethan jerked in reaction, his gaze didn’t leave Bram’s face. Bram felt like Ethan was silently asking for his help and Bram realized in that moment that he wanted to give it. Had to give it.
Figuring out how to help Ethan, though, would be his challenge. One Bram wasn’t sure he’d be able to meet.
    “Come here.” Doug was talking to Bram and to Ethan’s dismay the dark werewolf actually cringed before he rose and walked over to his alpha. Ethan stared at where Bram had been. The wolf had wanted those touches. His eyes had dilated and there’d been a kind of yearning in his expression.
    But he was scared, of his alpha perhaps. Was Doug the jealous kind?
Doug dragged Bram out and suddenly Ethan was alone again. Well, Ethan and the camera. This time he observed it for a few minutes. It didn’t look easy to break, and breaking it might lead to a worse kind of surveillance. Better to know about its existence and not let on to Doug he knew.
Ten minutes later the door opened again and it was, as Ethan had feared, the alpha. Ready to lay down the law though Ethan wasn’t entirely sure which rule Doug thought Ethan had broken.
Warily, Ethan spread his hands without looking Doug in the eye. “No shifting. I promise. I’ve decided to be good.”
“Is that what you’ve decided?”
“Yes.” Ethan smiled.
“You want to fuck.”
Ethan’s smile felt strained, but he refused to let it drop. Ass. Hole.
“That’s normal. Wolves and cats are similar that way. We like to fuck when we return to human form. And you. You’re a shifter who’s been human for the first time in eight years.”
Eight years. Gawd. Ethan’s smile evaporated and his body sagged. He hadn’t thought he’d been out that long. It took a moment to sink in, that length of time. He was twenty-nine, and the loss of human years made him feel a little sick. He’d lost his twenties. He’d lost his youth.
Doug appeared amused by Ethan’s reaction to that piece of news. “Oh, we hadn’t mentioned the eight years before?”
“No,” Ethan said shortly.
“If you want to fuck, I’ll bring in a wolf who likes fucking men.”
Ethan shook his head while he clamped down on his fear, refusing to let Doug smell his emotions. It sounded like a threat and Doug knew it.
“No?” said Doug softly. “Then back off from Bram. You approach him again and I’ll send in someone else to take care of you.”
“Fuck you.”
Doug’s lip curled. “It would only ever be the other way ’round. But I’m not inclined.”
“I don’t actually want to be raped.”
A short shake of his head. “I don’t do rape, don’t allow it in my pack. So don’t worry.”
“Oh,” said Ethan with a careless wave of his hand, “I’m not worried. What the hell would I have to be worried about here?”
“Clever, Ethan.”
Not really. He was seething and it entertained this werewolf.
Doug stepped closer, looming over Ethan. “I meant what I said about Bram.”
“I’m sure you did.”
Doug waited, so Ethan added, because he wanted the alpha out of