Feral Northern Shifters 2

past three months. A little embarrassing and I don’t know that I’d tell you if I really thought you could hear. Sometimes I think I’m like one of those ducklings who imprint on the first creature they see and follow them around, not interested in anyone else in the world.”
Ethan bit his lip. It wasn’t his imagination. Bram’s skin, his long limbs and his dark head were becoming more substantial, less shadowy. “Why am I talking about imprinting, you ask? Well, I think I’ve imprinted on you after my years in the wild. I think about you all the time, and I’ve missed you. I mean I’ve talked more to Trey, but despite how helpful he’s been, he’s a pretty cold guy. The others are nice, but they’re with me out of duty. They have families they’re eager to get back to.
“Maybe you’re here out of duty too, but in my head, you’re not. You’re here because…” Ethan faltered. Not only because telling Bram he hoped the wolf liked him back was a bit embarrassing, but also because Bram was fully human now.
He’d turned onto his side, facing Ethan, legs up against his chest as if protecting himself. He had long, dark limbs. Beautifully muscled of course—what shifter wasn’t?—but the way Bram pulled in on himself tugged at Ethan’s emotions.
He wanted to reach over and caress Bram’s shoulder but he didn’t have permission for that act of affection. If they’d been lovers, Ethan would have done it. They weren’t, even if Bram had been there one time when Ethan jerked off.
His face heated remembering that and wondering what Bram had made of it.
Bram frowned, eyes still closed, but he was stirring, getting close to waking. His shifting time had been unusually long, but his recovery time fast. His breathing changed, less deep, then he took in a sudden breath.
His eyes opened, dazed.
“Hey, Bram.” Ethan tried to sound casual, laid-back, though he felt neither of those things.
Bram blinked twice, gaze not quite focused.
“You’re just in one of the bedrooms. The one with a computer I don’t know how to use…” He was babbling. So what. “Do you know anything about computers?”
Something in Bram’s expression sharpened, as he became more aware. He pulled in a long, loud breath and pushed up, almost losing his balance. Fear played across his face.
“Bram.” Ethan wanted to reach for him, but the wolf had backed away. “It’s fine. Everything’s fine.”
Bram’s expression turned haunted. His dark eyes seemed bruised. A shudder ran through him. “Where…?”
“My temporary home.”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
Ethan shook his head sharply. “There is nothing to be sorry for.”
“I…I.” Confusion now, though the anxiety was not dispelled. “You’re not a wolf? You shouldn’t be here with me.”
“Do you not remember me, Bram?”
Bram’s gaze slid away. He looked down at his hands and, making a decision, pushed off the bed. “I have to go. Now .”
“It’s Ethan, Bram. Ethan.” He rose from his crouch and walked around the bed to Bram. As he approached, Bram retreated, so Ethan stopped. What the fuck was going on?
“Stay back. I might hurt you,” Bram warned.
“What?” Ethan took another step. It seemed imperative that he reach Bram. Yes, sometimes shifting scrambled the brain and the memories, making it difficult to process for the first few minutes. But Ethan hadn’t known of this kind of panic before. “You’re not going to hurt me. You saved me, remember, Bram?”
Bram breathed in. “You’re not human.” This reassured him. “But…” his expression turned incredulous, “… cat shifter? ”
Ethan nodded and Bram’s face cleared. He took another step forward and Bram appeared to wonder what was going on, as if it were bizarre for Ethan to approach him. But he couldn’t help himself. He walked right up to Bram, who was now plastering himself against the wall.
Ethan reached for him, slowly, letting Bram register what Ethan was going to do. He picked up a strong hand, darker and slightly larger than his own. More significantly, the hand was shaking. Ethan hadn’t meant to say anything of the sort but as he took the hand and placed it between his two protectively, the words came out. “I missed you.”
Somewhere between the touch and the words, recognition lit in Bram’s eyes.
“Ethan?” Bram asked, his eyes shimmering with emotion, and Ethan smiled.
    This had to be the worst shift he’d ever experienced, and Bram didn’t know why. He