Feral Northern Shifters 2

mother figure, of many things, including taking the risk of breeding some kind of hybrid.
“Where are you calling from, Ethan?”
“A pay phone.” Pause. “I thought the number wouldn’t work, this many years later.”
“I’ve been careful to keep this number available and safe. Not too many people know of it though.”
There was an awkward silence. Ethan wasn’t sure how to broach the subject of Bram.
“So I take it you’re not phoning to report Lila’s murder.”
“I’m happy to report it. It’s been my first opportunity.”
“First opportunity in eight years?”
Ethan gritted his teeth, but he felt that the more truth he shared with this wolf, the more likely Trey would help Bram. “I stayed cougar after Lila died.”
Trey whistled and Ethan expected some kind of lecture. Wolves didn’t approve of their own kind going feral, let alone a cougar. “I’m surprised you came back, Ethan, if that’s the case.”
“It is the case,” Ethan responded sharply. “Lila’s dead, you couldn’t help her. But I’m worried about another member of the Winter pack. Since Lila told me you would protect her, I thought you might protect or be able to help someone else. Even if he’s a male. Even if he’s an omega.”
“Oh, especially an omega,” drawled Trey and for the first time Ethan heard anger in the voice over the phone. “What’s going on?”
He pulled in a breath and tried to tell his story with an even tone. “They captured me. This Doug guy wanted me, what the hell for, I still don’t know. But Bram defied Doug—”
“The alpha.”
“Yes, and helped me escape. I’m scared they’ll kill him for that defiance. This was at their compound.” Ethan closed his eyes. “Can you do something for Bram?”
“How long ago did you escape, Ethan?”
He winced. It was too late, he’d known that already, but he’d had to try. “More than two days ago.” He could hear the defeat in his own words.
“Doug likes to serve his revenge cold, Ethan, so I may be able to help Bram.”
“You think?”
“That wasn’t a promise. I’m in no position to make any.”
“No, I know.”
“Where can I reach you, Ethan?”
“You can’t. I’ve been feral. I have no place. I barely managed to find a pay phone. I don’t know how long I can last in the city.” The sun was beginning to rise and while he’d enjoyed slipping into the nighttime city and prowling dark corners, he didn’t know how he was going to handle daylight and crowds. He was no longer comfortable in his human skin. Eight years as a cat did that to a shifter.
“All right. Phone me tomorrow at four p.m. EST. Can you do that?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll update you then. If you miss the time, I’ll be gone.”
“Where are you?”
“Don’t ask.”
“But can you get there quickly?”
“Yes.” Trey paused. “Phone me, Ethan. I’d like to talk to you again.”
“I can do that.” He could stay here for another day. He’d make himself last that long. “I will.”
“Good.” Trey clicked off the phone without saying goodbye and Ethan was left to stare at the receiver before he slowly hung it up.
Four quarters came back to him, and he picked them up and returned them to his pocket.
He stood inside the glass box and looked through the windows. Snow continued to melt, the sky was lightening from black to gray, and a man walked by on the sidewalk. Ethan had blocked the outside noises while talking to Trey but it all came back to him. The noise would only increase as everyone in the city woke up.
He’d been used to this at one point, though whether that could happen again, after his time in the wilderness, he didn’t know. Nevertheless, he needed to feed himself in this city, and tomorrow he needed to hear what Trey found out about Bram, so he was here for the next thirty hours.
Trey had seemed sincere. Ethan wasn’t even going to consider the possibility that Trey was not on Bram’s side.
~ * ~
    He used the money for one meal, but had to save the rest of the quarters for the second phone call. He didn’t know what to do with himself and by late afternoon, he found himself headed to a suburb, a townhouse, where long ago he’d been welcome, even loved a little. Robert would be forty, and Ethan wondered how the years had treated him. He hoped Robert was healthy, happy.
    It was a three-hour walk but he had time to kill. Dark was falling by the time he reached Robert’s street and his mouth dried up as he thought about rapping on that front