Page 12 of Pretty Little Kitty

They burst into laughter, then dug into their food, momentarily ditching their troubles as they enjoyed the meal and each other’s company.

Chapter Four

Kia clutched his chest, on the verge of tears. His cheetah was having a full-on meltdown, yowling to get back to Suero. “Stop.”

Jared shot him a look, then refocused on the road. “Huh?”

“I said, stop!” Sucking in air did nothing to ease the pressure, the weight on his chest unbearable.

His cousin swerved onto the shoulder and threw the car into Park, eyes filled with concern. “What’s wrong?”

Kia practically launched himself out of the car, struggling for each breath. He couldn’t do this. He couldn't walk away from Suero or pretend the wolf shifter didn’t mean anything to him.

His cheetah refused to let him believe that lie any longer. From their first encounter, the attraction to Suero had been undeniable, only growing more intense with every conversation, text, and date they had.

The truth hit him like a jolt of clarity. His cheetah had chosen Suero as his mate.

Oh god! It all made sense now, why he’d been an absolute mess these past weeks, barely eating or sleeping. It also explained why he’d taken such a wild gamble to see Suero and speak with him.

He pressed a trembling hand over his mouth. What if Suero’s wolf wanted nothing to do with him? Kia would lose interest in everyone else, while Suero could move on, free to date whoever he wanted.

If Suero’s wolf rejected Kia… His dumb cat had just sealed his fate.

“Are you feeling car sick?” Jared asked when he got out and joined him. “Can it wait? We haven’t reached our land yet. If we’re caught in wolf territory, we’re totally screwed.”

“Go.” Kia stared longingly toward Blackthorn, fully aware he was about to run back to Suero, about to risk everything for the wolf.

But would Suero welcome him or demand he return home? The thought chilled him to the bone, yet he couldn’t force himself back into the car.

“Go?” Jared frowned, shaking his head slowly. “What’re you talking about? The only place we’re going is home, Kia.”

Wiping a tear from his cheek, Kia turned to his cousin. “My cheetah has chosen. Suero is il mio prescelto.” My chosen one.

For a moment, Jared just stared at him, then his eyes grew wide. “Oh crap.”

“Exactly.” Kia crossed his arms and delivered a swift kick to the rear tire, cursing his dumb cat for making his life difficult.

A wolf as a mate. Really?

“What’re you gonna do?” Jared asked, resting his hand on the car’s trunk. “You need to call him, tell him what just happened. Maybe he’ll know what to do.” Jared smacked his forehead. Whap! “This is really bad. Like, seriously bad.”

“And if Suero’s wolf doesn’t want me?” Kia’s voice quivered. “What then, Jared? Am I stuck aching for someone who—”

“You won’t know unless you talk to him,” Jared interrupted, his eyes narrowing. “Don’t you dare get all doomsday on me. I told you it was a mistake not to call him. Don’t freeze him out again. Not this time, Kia. He deserves to know your cheetah has chosen him.”

Everything Jared said was true and made sense, but all Kia could hear was chaos in his head. His mind was spinning, making it impossible to focus.

Suddenly, Jared swiped Kia’s phone right out of his back pocket. Kia tried to snatch it back, but his cousin darted around the car, pressing buttons like a lunatic as he ran.

“Give it back!” Kia chased him in a ridiculous loop around the car. When he tried to outsmart him by switching direction, Jared sprinted toward the field on their right.

“Jared, stop!” he yelled, realizing they were straying too far from the car. They weren’t even on their own land. It was one thing to sneak back into Blackthorn, but they were out in the open.

Matias had let it slide once already, but Kia doubted the alpha would be so lenient again, especially now that two cheetahs were involved.

Since they were on the wolves’ land without permission, Matias had every right to kill them if he wanted to.

Even worse, he might call Xavier.

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