Page 6 of Pretty Little Kitty

And he’d understood what Suero had said.

Kia raised his hand, his thumb and index finger a small distance apart. “Just a little. I didn’t catch everything you said, but enough to understand the gist.”

“I just don’t get why you didn’t talk to me about what you were feeling,” Suero said.

“No one really understands what it’s like being the nephew of an alpha,” he murmured, staring at the floor. “I lost my parents when I was pretty young. Xavier took me in and raised me. Unlike the rest of my coalition, I’m held to different standards.” Kia pressed his lips together and slowly shook his head. “If he knew where I was right now...”

Suero frowned. “Would he hurt you?”

The thought of anyone abusing someone so small made Suero’s wolf snarl. If Kia wasn’t safe at home, how could he let him go back?

But that wasn’t his decision to make. If Kia were anyone else, Suero wouldn’t hesitate to ask him to stay. But being related to Xavier complicated matters significantly.

So maybe Suero now understood his predicament. That still didn’t excuse the guy shutting him out.

“No,” Kia quickly replied. “He’s just really intense sometimes.” His brows furrowed. “Honestly, I have no idea what he would do if he found out I was here.”

Suero started to respond when he heard a loud rumbling. “Hungry?”

“Starving.” Kia placed a hand over his stomach, wincing a little. “I skipped breakfast and now I feel like I could eat a whole cow.”

“Sorry, I’m fresh out of cows.”

Rising from the couch, Suero extended his hand. His wolf softly growled when Kia took it, pulling himself up from the couch. They just stood there, gazing at each other.

He couldn’t believe how much he’d missed Kia. It felt like his world had righted itself now that his kitten stood in front of him.

Kia gazed up at him, his tongue darting out to wet his lips, his breath growing shallow. Suero had never wanted to kiss someone so much. Those perfect, heart-shaped lips just begged to be ravaged.

The rumble was even louder this time.

Spinning Kia around, Suero guided him toward the kitchen, hands firmly on his shoulders. “I don’t keep much food here since most of my time is spent—”

“At Sin & Steel.” Kia smirked as they walked. “I remember. It’s where most of your pack hangs out. A wolf den.”

The way he smiled, all sweet and proud, had Suero grinning like a damn fool. From the moment they’d met, when Matias had tasked Suero with interrogating Kia, there had been an undeniable spark between them. At the time, Suero had ignored the feeling because he had a job to focus on.

But fuck if Kia hadn’t melted his tough exterior. The guy had been trembling, wiping away tears, insisting he wasn’t colluding with the hyenas.

Suero frowned slightly, noticing Kia’s little skip as he entered the kitchen. He had a feeling he was in deep trouble when it came to the kitty cat, whose innocence might just be Suero’s downfall.

* * * *

Jared entered Xavier’s home and saw a few coalition members talking quietly with the alpha in the living room. Since they were speaking in hushed tones, he moved swiftly toward the staircase, his steps softened by the plush carpet beneath him.

The aroma of bacon and syrup still lingered in the air, mingling with the distinct earthy scent of cheetah. He had to resist the urge to go to the kitchen and check for any leftovers.

After reaching the top of the stairs, Jared headed to Kia’s bedroom. It was unusual for his cousin to sleep late into the afternoon. By now, Kia should’ve been outside enjoying the day.

And making himself scarce since he hated politics. Xavier’s home was constantly busy, someone always there with a problem they couldn’t seem to figure out on their own.

Although Jared cared deeply for his coalition, some members acted like they didn’t have two brain cells to rub together and needed Xavier’s advice to function.

He couldn’t imagine himself running to his uncle for every decision. Xavier must’ve been tired of the constant interruptions, yet he never complained.

Not that Xavier ever would. It was his responsibility to keep the coalition running smoothly, no matter how trivial the issues. Jared would have locked his door and put up a sign that said he was on vacation if it were him. Everyone would just have to figure out their own little crises like big boys.

Without knocking, Jared entered Kia’s room. “Time to get up, lazy bones,” he called out, trailing off as he noticed the neatly made bed.

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