Feral Northern Shifters 2

misgivings.
“The cat won’t attack Abraham,” Trey assured him.
“If you say so.” Kingley looked directly at Bram, allowing him to voice any doubts.
“I’m ready.” His fear had little to do with Ethan and everything to do with this facility. Bram pushed open the door and slid inside the room, scared he might see Ethan’s broken body, scared he’d arrived too late. The moment he realized Ethan was alive, if not precisely well, Bram’s chest squeezed, full of emotion.
“Ethan?” he whispered.
The cougar, so familiar, lifted his head, his gaze muddy and unfocused. After a moment he lurched to his feet and Bram walked over, not wanting to startle Ethan but wanting to reach for him. He crouched down and Ethan half-jumped, half-fell on him, knocking him to the ground.
The purr started up and Bram couldn’t help but laugh, even as Ethan’s very rough tongue began sandpapering his face.
“Okay, listen.”
Ethan hissed.
“Yes, I know. I know.” Their conversation would be watched, listened to. Ethan nosed around Bram’s injured hand, growling, probably tasting something of Doug on Bram. “Don’t worry about that. It’s under control. I need you to show that you’ll listen to me. Okay?” He added, subvocally, “You’re going to pretend to be my cougar pet. Got that?”
Ethan flopped down on him, rubbing his head against Bram, and relief flooded through Bram at having this contact with his mate, even under the least desirable conditions. He hoped Ethan had registered his words.
“Uh, Ethan, can’t really breathe here.”
Upon hearing that, Ethan crouched over him and Bram realized he was being guarded. He crawled out from under Ethan, gave him a hug and subvocalized again. “Do everything I say, no hesitation, no questions, okay? Whatever you do, do not shift to human.”
Then he stood and waved at the camera.
Fifteen seconds later, Trey walked in with a bag, as planned, and Bram gestured to Ethan with one hand. “Sit.”
Ethan shot a look of disbelief at him. But he sat, even twitched his tail, and Bram had to stifle a laugh. “He’s my cougar.”
Trey approached and shook his head. He put his hands on his hips and glanced backwards. “Kingley. Honest to God. It’s a real cougar. No wonder it wouldn’t ‘shift’. I told you Doug was not reliable. He’s a glory seeker and a bit of a nutcase. Which is why I was keeping him under guard in the first place. He killed someone. You might want to be more careful with him in the future.”
Kingley entered the room, and Ethan snarled but quieted obediently when Bram waved his arm.
Kingley surveyed the room from a safe distance. “Since when are male cougars affectionate? They kill, Trey. The females won’t even let them near their young.”
“I raised this one,” said Bram immediately.
Kingley eyed Trey. “Uh-huh. You owe me, Walters.”
Trey inclined his head in agreement. “Here’s your bag, Abraham, if you would.”
“Lie down, Ethan.” Bram pressed his palm downwards and Ethan with a bit of a put-out sigh settled on the floor. Bram started chattering like he would to a pet dog, which was pretty much how Ethan was acting, and put the collar on him. He winced a little at it and apologized.
“He doesn’t really like this,” Bram explained to no one in particular.
“Sure is tame with you,” Kingley observed. “Amazingly so.”
“Abraham works wonders,” Trey said flatly. Bram turned to Trey expectantly. “Let’s go.”
Down the halls they went, Bram trying to remember to breathe, because the closer they got to freedom, the more tightly wound he felt. And while Ethan walked quietly beside him, there was a stiffness in his prowl which indicated nerves and perhaps sickness. He hadn’t eaten for too long, or drank.
“Hey!”
Bram stiffened.
“There’s a fucking dead wolf in the kitchen.” The guard turned his suspicious gaze on Bram. “What the hell did you do in there?”
Bram couldn’t think of how to respond so he just looked puzzled, as if he knew nothing about it. Impatiently, the guard turned to Kingley, “And Doug Jensen is missing.”
Kingley gazed back. “No one can leave the premises without me knowing. Find him. He may be dangerous.”
“What are you guys doing with all these animals?” Trey demanded. “Since when did you specialize in wildlife?”
Trey and Kingley stared at each other, Kingley’s expression giving nothing away but Bram smelled…relief.
Kingley knew . At least about Doug being a werewolf.