Feral Northern Shifters 2

years ago.” Doug lifted a warning eyebrow at Bram’s challenge and Bram let his gaze slide away. “Look, obviously that’s not what I want. I sure as hell didn’t spend the last three weeks making our pack find this guy so we could kill him. What a waste of resources that would be.”
Why exactly did we find him? Bram wanted to ask. It was a question that had not been answered to his satisfaction. But at the moment he didn’t have the energy to voice it again. Not when Doug was already pissed off by his insubordination.
Doug slanted his gaze Ethan’s way, triumph in that expression, as if the cougar was his prize. “Problem is, the last time Ethan was human, he had sociopathic werewolves playing kill-the-cat with him. It fucks a guy up.” Doug turned back to Bram. “But I’m alpha now, not Gabriel, and I don’t allow the pack to be crazy, murderous assholes.”
Bram pulled in a breath of relief. Despite his misgivings about this venture, and on occasion about Doug, there was absolutely no doubt in his mind that the current alpha had made the pack a better place these last four years. Doug had probably saved his life by marking an invisible ring of protection around Bram that said “hands off”. Whereas Gabriel had allowed omegas to be trashed. Repeatedly. At the memories, a furious shiver ran through him.
“I hated Gabriel,” Bram said in a low voice.
“He’s dead. You’re not. In fact, you’re here fixing an old wrong, which is how you should regard your dealings with the cat.” Doug’s blue eyes were cold and assessing, and no doubt found Bram wanting. “If you plan to do this properly, you are going to have to calm down, not just Ethan.”
“I’m calm,” Bram gritted out, but the old rage flowed through him, brought to the surface by seeing Ethan vulnerable like this. Bram was ready to slam his fist in the wall and his vision threatened to turn red. Abruptly Doug grabbed Bram and bent him double, pushing his head between his knees. Bram tried not to resent this undignified hold, but it was hard. To make matters even more confusing, Bram needed physical contact more than he got it, typical werewolf that he was, so a part of him welcomed Doug’s actions, no matter how domineering. Warm fingers pressed into Bram’s skull.
“Breathe,” Doug instructed, his voice dry. “And while you’re at it, don’t lie to me. You’re not calm.”
“Okay,” he admitted to the floor, “I’m a little upset. I’m sorry. I thought…” But he couldn’t say that he thought if he cared about Ethan and his fate, it would make a difference, that Ethan would feel Bram’s concern, be soothed by it and wouldn’t recoil from Bram’s hold.
“I told you this would be a challenge.” Doug gripped Bram’s hair and pulled him up, allowing him to sit again. He gazed into Bram’s face while Bram dutifully looked away. “I’m serious, I will pull you off this case if you can’t keep your shit together. I’ll do without you if I have to.”
“I will keep it together, Doug.” This job was too important to him, he needed it. He needed to contribute to the pack somehow. That and impressing Doug were both critical to Bram. Because if Doug lost total interest in him, well, Bram had no one else to turn to.
Besides, there was Ethan… Bram wanted to make some atonement, even if he’d only stood in the background while Gabriel had tormented the cat. Being there gave him some culpability.
Doug let go of Bram’s hair. “Get some sleep before he comes to again. I’ll watch him.”
Bram picked up the large bottle of water and guzzled it.
Doug jerked his head towards an exhausted Ethan. “This guy is no cub, he’s a full-grown cat. If he shifts on you and you’re not prepared, you will resemble hamburger meat. At best.”
“I know.”
“You cannot let your guard down unless Ethan stabilizes.”
“He will.”
Doug eyed him, blue gaze unreadable. Was that doubt? Contempt? Annoyance? “He may not, Bram. Don’t let hope ruin your judgment. Ethan ripped one wolf apart and after what he’s been through, he’ll do it again. He feels threatened here and that may not change, despite our best efforts.”
“He’s confused, but we’ll reach him. He’ll learn he’s safe.”
“He may stay confused. Not everyone can return from the feral state. However, for what it’s worth”— Doug’s expression hadn’t changed, but there was a quality in his voice that suggested he knew how much this meant to