Feral Northern Shifters 2

was never necessary to imprison me.” It came out more bitter than Bram had expected.
Ethan stepped into Bram’s space, carefully, watchfully, and Bram went still. He wasn’t sure what to do next. Ethan’s arms came around Bram’s shoulders and he kissed Bram’s neck. “I’m glad you set me free,” Ethan murmured. “I wish it hadn’t cost you so much.”
He knew he was awkward, but Bram put his arms around Ethan too.
“Hey,” said Ethan, nuzzling.
“Ethan.”
“Mm-hmm?”
“I’m glad I got you free. So glad.” Their loose embrace became closer as Ethan just kind of melted into him. It was the nicest feeling, this. “It was wrong of me to help catch you.”
“Well, sure, but you were hardly the only one. There were at least six of you in the hunt. Besides, I think this Doug guy is manipulative and controlling.”
“Doug.”
The thought of his alpha caused Bram to stiffen and Ethan said, “Shhh. He’s not here.” Then he ran a hand over Bram’s hair, kissed his cheek and stepped back. Much to Bram’s befuddlement. He’d felt Ethan’s erection, smelled his arousal. Ethan wanted to fuck.
Instead Ethan simply took his hand, led him down the hall. In the doorway of his bedroom, Ethan gave him a soft good-night kiss on the mouth, and told him to sleep well.
    It continued like that over the next few days. Bram began to realize that while Ethan was very affectionate, he was not going to make a move. He didn’t know how he felt about that. There was some relief, actually, that this relationship was utterly different from anything Bram had been in before. However, there was a yearning he couldn’t ignore and it was growing.
    He managed to stop jumping at Ethan’s touch though. One time Bram even grabbed his hand as Ethan was walking by, stopped him and pulled him into Bram’s lap. Ethan laughed, which kind of filled Bram with light, before they stared at each other with a tension that left Bram feeling like he desperately wanted to do something if he could only make himself move.
Ethan’s laugh went quiet, and he slipped off Bram’s lap while sighing regretfully. “I have to go to work.” And he disappeared for the night, because he worked shifts.
    Sometimes Bram still slept for half the day. At other times he read a book or went on the computer. Said computer was set up, but it could use more security, even if Bram was careful about what he did on the internet. When Ethan returned, he asked about setting up additional passwords.
    “Sure.” Ethan shrugged.
“Any preferences?”
“For what?”
“Passwords.”
“No,” he said rather terse. “You choose. I don’t even use the computer.”
“No? I like it for the news. Though today I found this ridiculous site about werewolves. Let me show
    you.” He pulled it up. “I actually find it a bit worrying, because they believe in them, which is not totally unusual, but they also believe we can convert by biting and I hate that bullshit.” When he looked up, Ethan was staring at him stonily, an expression Bram hadn’t seen before, and he couldn’t figure out why.
    His heart rate sped up. “I just found it a bit worrying,” he said and realized he was repeating himself. “Doesn’t mean it’s something you want to read, of course. And don’t worry, I’m set for private browsing and it’s just one of many sites I’ve visited. I don’t think this will set off anyone’s alarm bells so…” Bram’s voice trailed off because he was babbling and his explanations weren’t making it better.
    Ethan placed his hands on his hips and stared down.
“Ethan?”
“I can’t read.”
Bram stared as Ethan’s reaction snapped into place. His stiff body, his embarrassment that Bram had
mistaken for anger, though if he’d been using his nose at all he’d have known that.
    He cocked his head and Ethan gave a crooked smile. “I’m quite useless, really. But I’m glad you’re making use of the computer. Someone might as well do so. Trey thought I would and I haven’t managed to tell him I’m too ignorant to do any such thing.”
    Bram blinked as he realized Ethan meant that, the “useless” and “ignorant” part. It had been a flat statement, self-deprecating and very real to Ethan. Bram reached out and took one of Ethan’s hands. “You’re not useless to me.”
    Ethan gave a small laugh. “Well, thank you.”
“I can teach you.”
His face reddened and Bram read shame in Ethan’s expression. “I’m quite stupid about it, I’m