Read Online Feral Northern Shifters 2 by Joely Skye - Free Book Online

through him and went on to the next question.
Why would Bram reveal that fact to him? It had been surreptitious, as if Bram could get into trouble for pointing it out. So why bother? Perhaps to prevent further seduction attempts.
Ethan clenched his jaw. His privacy was already shot. He would not allow a camera to get in his way, distasteful as it was, because his situation had gone well beyond distaste.
    “He ate,” Bram told Doug, throwing the empty tray in the bin for dirty dishes. He’d be washing them later.
“I gathered that.” Doug gazed intently at the screen, which showed Ethan lying on his back staring at the ceiling, unmoving. “What happened? I thought he wanted to talk to you, but he kind of gave up and went back to bed.”
Bram shrugged. “Maybe he got pissed off that I didn’t want to talk about you.”
Doug leveled a stare at Bram, who was careful not to squirm. “Then talk about me. Conversation is vital. We’re going to have to show he’s functional.”
“Functional,” Bram repeated slowly, not liking the sound of it.
“Yes. We’re trying to bring him back to civilization, remember?”
And God knows we’re civilized . But Bram shut up, because he didn’t want to argue with Doug and lose. Instead he asked, “When?”
“When what?”
“When do we have to show he’s functional?” Bram wanted to know the bigger picture, but Doug was not generous about information.
Doug shrugged. “A few days, maybe less. My contact is being a little vague. Depends when he can get away.”
“Then what’ll happen?” Doug was watching him thoughtfully, so Bram strived to sound casual, even if the alpha would scent his anxiety. “I don’t want him to come to any harm.”
Doug clapped a hand on Bram’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, they’ll take care of him.”
“Who?”
Doug actually laughed. “Did you think we were going to keep him forever? This is extremely draining. We’re just the first step.”
“But who will take care of him?” Bram was alarmed by the phrase. “I thought Trey was a cat killer.”
“Jesus, Bram, don’t get hysterical on me.” Losing his pretense at patience, Doug glowered. “What is the matter with you? Of course it’s not Trey. He’s gone to ground. No one even knows where he is these days.”
Bram blinked. Why Doug thought Bram should know this fact about Trey, he couldn’t fathom, given that Doug played his cards close to his chest and rarely told him anything. In fact the amount of information thus far in the conversation seemed excessive. Perhaps a side benefit of yesterday’s sex with Doug. The alpha tended to feel guilty afterwards and offer Bram compensation. Usually not information, but Bram would sure take this.
“Gone to ground?” Bram ventured. “What does that mean?”
“He disappeared.” The alpha’s lips thinned, as if thinking he’d said enough. “That’s all you need to know.”
“It would be helpful if I understood the endgame, Doug, so I knew what I’m preparing Ethan for. Don’t you think?” Bram added, because Doug liked questions that implied he was being asked for guidance.
“We’re handing him over to people who know how to look after Ethan’s kind. They have no interest in killing him, believe me. A cat is very valuable in their eyes. They are incredibly keen to understand a cougar shifter.”
This was news to Bram. To date, Doug had talked like just he and Bram were going to be involved in rehabilitating a feral cougar. Bram swallowed. “Government?”
“Not exactly.” At Bram’s doubtful expression, Doug said, “What? You think it’s a good idea to keep him here , among the wolves who tormented him before he went feral? Or, you think we should have left him alone, to stay feral and go insane so he had to be euthanized by someone like Trey? I understand you find some of this unpalatable, Bram, but there are worse fates. Your stupid reproachful glances piss me off.”
“Sorry.” Doug wanted to be appeased, so Bram added,