Rebirth (Rogues Shifter Series) Read Online Free Page B

self-inflicted injuries and some of it was mine as I tried to subdue you, but most of it belonged to my other guest in the back bedroom. Come, I’ll introduce you.”
    As I followed him, my head was spinning with ideas. Someone else was here? Was there another prisoner like me? Maybe we could team up and get off this island. Of course I only had his word that we were even on an island. He might be lying. What did he say about my hands changing? I looked down at them and they looked perfectly normal to me, except for the missing scars.
    We walked quickly to the back of the cabin opening a door on the left. I couldn’t believe what I saw.
     
    Chapter Four
    The room was small er than mine, still managing to fit a double bed and an old pine dresser. The walls were freshly painted a pale green and there was a multicolored rug over a portion of the worn wooden floor. Two windows overlooked the woods behind the cabin, giving its occupant a slightly different view than mine.
    I caught the scent of eucalyptus. It was strongest near the bed so I turned in that direction, coming face to face with a beautiful cougar busy lifting his head from his paws to stare back at me. His ears perked up at attention and he stretched like a typical cat then jumped down, opening his mouth in a yawn to give me a good view of his very sharp teeth. His furry coat was a lovely sienna brown across the top of his back turning lighter as it traveled toward his stomach and down his legs.
    I noticed that one of his f ront legs was cuffed, attached to a thick chain leading to a metal plate bolted to the wall. Even though Rob was in front of me, I found myself inching backwards into the hallway, wondering if the restraint was in place because Rob thought he was dangerous.
    Rob nudged me forward. "You're safe."
    The cougar's head tilted as his large golden brown eyes seemed to take me in with typical feline curiosity. He growled softly at Rob, perhaps in greeting, then blinked once and shifted his weight from giant paw to paw, flicking his thick tail and sniffing the air. I backed against the wall, worried that he could smell my fear or hear my much faster heartbeat.
    Rob spoke. “Jackie, meet Ethan. Ethan, why don’t you change back to human form so you can introduce yourself? You may want to turn your back for a minute, Jackie.” Uncertain, but really curious, I turned to face the wall. That same electric type charge made my body tingle in the same cool way that Rob’s change had done earlier. Then I heard a few grunts and the sound of clothing being pulled on. “Okay, you can turn around now.” Rob said.
    When I turned back, I looked in surprise at the young man standing next to the bed. Slightly broader than Rob, he was about 5’10” with shining chocolate brown hair tossed around his head in messy waves. Because he was only wearing sweatpants, I noticed that Ethan’s arms, chest and stomach were sculpted with muscle. His eyes took on a mischievous glint when he saw me looking, and I could feel my face flame up in a blush. I was kind of relieved to see that the cuff around his cat's leg seemed to have adjusted to fit his human wrist, although I couldn't figure how Rob had managed it. His left forearm was etched in ink, a cougar lounging on a tree branch.
    “Ethan is chained because he didn’t believe there would be consequences for trying to take off before he finished his training,” Rob explained. Ethan rolled his eyes, but didn't appear angry. “While he was running off, he ran into you. You made quite a mess of him, unintentionally, I’m sure. Served him right.” Ethan’s eyes were back on me, an amused smile making him look less predatory. Rob smiled as he continued. “I was able to get him back to his room easily after that. I suppose I have you to thank for his capture.” He and Ethan both laughed.
    I looked Ethan over, puzzled by his uninjured chest and arms. “I guess I should apologize, but I don’t remember doing it and you