Feral Northern Shifters 2

cat killer.”
Not exactly what Ethan had expected to hear. “ Cat killer? ”
Bram nodded, darting an apologetic glance at Ethan. “Sorry.”
Ethan waved off the apology and chose his words carefully. “I don’t think that’s right. Trey hasn’t killed this cat.” Ethan placed a hand against his own chest. “And believe me, he’s had plenty of opportunity.”
Bram’s dark gaze looked doubtful.
“I can’t believe Trey wants to hurt me.”
Looking away, Bram moved the knife and fork again, lined them up. “Trey is Doug’s cousin.”
That information gave Ethan pause. In three months, Trey had never mentioned that Doug was family, only that Doug was an asshole. “So, you’re saying they’re close?”
“No, actually. But Doug researched cat shifters before he decided to find you and bring you in. Trey was a big source of information. Very helpful, said Doug.”
“Cousins, huh?” Ethan didn’t like it.
“For whatever it’s worth, you may have noticed they share the same eye color.”
Ethan had noticed that, had thought it was likely a common werewolf color. “Oh.”
He felt a bit of a fool, like maybe Trey had been sneaking something past him. Pack dynamics were not easy for him to read. Cougar dynamics, which consisted of just being alone, were much easier.
He heard Bram breathing, even the faint thump of heart. Ethan could imagine the heat of Bram’s body if they touched, and he couldn’t help himself, he leaned against Bram, half-expecting the wolf to push him away or rise.
Instead Bram stayed there, not inhaling for a moment, his lungs seizing in surprise. What Ethan really wanted was for Bram to put his arm around him, but he didn’t think it was likely.
The idea that Trey was untrustworthy, after Ethan had spent three months trusting him… Well, it made Ethan feel a little unsteady. And Bram here was Doug’s sometime lover.
He forced himself to push away from Bram.
“Don’t be scared.” Bram spoke in a low voice.
“Huh?”
“I can smell your fear,” Bram said apologetically.
Ethan decided to ignore that detail, that Bram could smell all his emotions. He might as well wear his heart on his sleeve.
“I’m not handling this very well. I’m sorry.”
Ethan slashed a hand through the air. “Don’t apologize.” He found Bram’s constant apologies unnerving.
“Doug and Trey weren’t close, but I don’t trust him.” Bram paused. “Trey is also Gabriel’s brother.”
“Jesus Christ.” Ethan stood up. This wasn’t exactly how he’d hoped the evening would go, with unsettling revelations from Bram about Trey.
The anxiety was back in Bram’s eyes, but it all focused on Ethan. “I think you should get away from here.”
Ethan rounded on him. “And go where? I have nowhere to go unless I want to return to being cougar. Which I do not . I probably cannot describe how much I don’t want that.”
Bram’s face went blank.
“What? That surprises you?” Bram opened his mouth to say something but Ethan overrode him. “Yes, I was furious that you and Doug drugged and imprisoned me when I didn’t ask to be. I would have been okay staying cougar if you’d left me alone. But after three months as human, with some…” he’d have called them friends until this conversation, “…acquaintances, I can’t give up my humanity. I can’t give up this side of me. I lost close to a decade, Bram. I’m almost thirty.”
They stared at each other and Ethan felt like his voice was echoing in the silence. He hadn’t meant to yell, so he added softly, “I want to be human.”
Bram looked down and Ethan couldn’t stop talking. “Okay, I am sorry now. I think you deserved a quiet evening, not my outburst.”
Bram rose, pushing away from the table. “I told you Trey was a cat killer. Of course you’re mad at me.”
Ethan frowned. “I’m not angry at you. You’re giving me information you think I should have, and I’m a little rattled.”
“But you trust this Trey?”
Ethan hesitated, taking a moment to think it through. “I think so. It doesn’t make sense that he’d want to harm me. He, well, he wants to help and protect all shapeshifters, you included.”
Bram didn’t look terribly convinced.
“You don’t think Trey would help you? I mean he’s been searching for you.”
Bram lifted a hand in a “who knows?” gesture. “Most alphas claim they want to help and protect me.” His voice sounded a little dead. “I find it hard to attach much meaning to it.”
Ethan