Grey Lake Phoenix (Grey Lake Shifters #6)

Chapter 1

Jamie had to get out. He couldn’t remember how long he’d been in here. In this cage. Cold, scared, hungry, thirsty. There were others in the room, too, in their own cages. Some were shifters like him, but some… some smelled different. Not quite human and not quite shifter. It didn’t matter much because he couldn’t speak to them. He had tried when he was in his human form and was punished.

Electricity. That was what they used on him for speaking to the other “subjects.”

He also had tried to speak to them using his telepathy, but that hadn’t worked. Maybe one of the experiments had taken away that ability. He didn’t know. Maybe he’d never know. He sighed.

He was stuck in a cage in his wolf form, curled up with his back to the wall. The last experiment he’d been subjected to had done something to suppress his human side. He couldn’t shift out of his animal form. He didn’t know how long ago that was. His head hurt. He’d lost track of time. He could feel his human side present, but it seemed like he was sleeping.

Why keep him alive?

Why didn’t he just end it?

The he Jamie referred to was Alden Williamson, his best friend, Aiden’s, father, who was a monster. A true monster.

Aiden.

He missed him so much it hurt. He wondered if Aiden was searching for him, or if he’d just moved on with his life. He probably would never find out.

Pop!

A tall, thin human male appeared inside his cage.

Jamie blinked and jumped to his paws. He tried to appear aggressive, make himself look bigger, but he was so weak. He was so hungry.

The pale man, who seemed to be in his mid to late twenties, stood frowning at him. He then knelt and held one out one hand. Jamie sniffed. He was a shifter – a large cat, maybe a puma or a cougar. Dressed in worn jeans and a dark hoodie, his pale green eyes flashed yellow then back. Jamie tilted his head at the man.

“I’m going to get you out of here.” His voice was kind despite the empty look in his eyes.

Jamie tried to take a step back, but there was nowhere to go. How could this guy get him out of here? How’d he even get in here? Was this a trick? Was he dreaming? Maybe he was already dead.

“I know you don’t believe me, but I can get you out. It’s just something I can do. I just need to grab hold of you, and then we can leave. But we need to hurry. They’re on their way to get you,” the man said. “They’re going to put you down. K-kill you,” he stuttered. “I can’t let it happen again.” The man squeezed his eyes shut as if trying to forget something bad.

What could he do? He didn’t have any better options so…

Jamie remained still as the man placed his hand on his shoulder.

And then the world went black.