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The men returned with the herbs. Maverick thanked them and
ordered Cody to wrap his mate up and take him out to the waiting
SUV.
But it could be dangerous for him, Cody protested, massaging
Keata s limbs. He knew they had to leave but feared the trip would
kill Keata. He was torn.
We will make it fast, but we must leave. Maverick s voice
brooked no argument.
Cody wrapped Keata up in the silk comforter before pushing past
everyone and running up the stairs.
I would not have told his secret, Christian informed the Alpha.
Duly noted. Thank you for helping him. Maverick shook his
hand before the warriors ran after Cody.
92 Lynn Hagen
Chapter Nine
Cody rubbed aloe vera lotion into Keata s skin. The entire pack
was in his room watching the shift. His mate lay naked under a sheet
as he rubbed his sore limbs.
Since Kyoshi had gone through the same change, they knew what
to expect. It still didn t make watching it any easier. The wolf
physician had met them at the house, taking blood samples at
Maverick s request, the Alpha wanting to know why cousins who did
not share the same father both had shifter blood flowing in their veins.
I found your answer. The doctor looked up from his microscope
he had brought with him along with other various machines at the
Alpha s request. They share the same DNA, but not as cousins. As
brothers.
How? Kyoshi cried out. Storm had to hold his mate up as
Kyoshi stumbled backward.
Same father. The doctor turned back to his work.
Could our mothers not have known? Kyoshi stared at Keata. I
can t believe this. Brothers?
Storm pulled Kyoshi into his arms, holding his mate close. Kyoshi
stared opened mouth at Keata. Cody felt for Kysohi, but his concerns
were with Keata right now.
I remember the pain but not how long it took. Will he suffer
much longer? Kyoshi turned to Maverick.
No, Kyoshi, Maverick assured him.
The tea had been brought in after brewing for an hour. Cody held
his mate as Storm tipped the cup to his lips. Keata seemed to have
quieted once he drank it. Cody worried. Keata was not acting the
Keata s Promise 93
same as Kyoshi when he shifted.
No two shifts are alike, Maverick reminded him.
Cody watched as Keata became the most beautiful Xiamen tiger.
His mate shifted flawlessly and lay on the bed staring up at him.
Cody crawled onto the bed, and Keata curled into his lap.
They all stared at the small tiger that lay in Cody s lap. Keata had
survived the shift.
Take him out, Cody. Let him run. Maverick waved everyone
out.
He led his mate from the room, leaning down to scratch behind his
ears. Keata had stopped a few times to bat at his hands.
When Johnny came running to his mate, Keata pounced on him
and they rolled around.
Now we can really pull some pranks, Johnny whispered, but
Cody heard.
Cody shifted once they reached the backyard, Keata bouncing
around as he played with him. Kyoshi shifted into his cat form as
well.
The wolves all joined in, with Loco and Tank chasing after Keata,
Cody growling and chasing after the wolves.
Keata rolled around on the grass, pawing at Cody.
Cody nipped at him and moved him toward the kitchen door after
hours of play.
He took his mate upstairs, helping Keata to shift back to human
form with Kyoshi s help. Cody wouldn t allow anyone else in the
room considering Keata would be naked when he returned to his
human form.
My brother. Kyoshi cried as he held Keata.
How? Keata asked as he pulled away and dressed. He pulled
Keata back into his arms, tears falling down his cheeks. Kyoshi began
to cry, and Cody trotted into the bathroom to get dressed and give
them a moment of privacy.
When he emerged, they were still hugging and crying.
94 Lynn Hagen
Same father, different mother, Kyoshi told Keata as he wiped
the tears from his face.
Then you two are still cousins. This is confusing. Cody petted
Keata s back as he crawled into Cody s lap.
I don t know how it all works, but that is true. I don t care. I still
love Keata no matter what has changed. Kyoshi kissed Keata s cheek
before leaving the room.
Come here, kitty. Cody smiled as he pulled Keata closer to him,
his cock hardening when Keata purred.
* * * *
Keata and Johnny snuck into Maverick s office.
Keata stuck the whoopee cushion on the Alpha s seat as Johnny
smeared the face paint around the mouthpiece on the phone sitting on
Maverick s desk.
They replaced his chai tea with black coffee and ran from the
room.
Maverick, can we talk to you? Johnny asked innocently.
Sure, fellas. Maverick led them into his office and took a seat.
Keata tried to keep a straight face as the loudest fart emanated
from Maverick s chair. He looked up at the two, his brows pulled
together.
Uh, excuse me. Maverick turned to them, his cheeks blushing.
Now what did you two need?
I was wondering if you could call Hawk for me. I just can t seem
to find him anywhere.
Keata bit the inside of his mouth.
Sure. Maverick picked the phone up and dialed, talking into the
mouthpiece. When he hung up, Johnny and Keata couldn t stop the
laughter at the face paint on Maverick s chin and lower lip.
Maverick growled and picked up his tea, spitting it out after
taking a healthy swallow.
Keata s Promise 95
Okay, you two have had your fun. Get out and go harass
someone else.
The two raced from the room, peals of laughter following after
them.
* * * *
Maverick sat back and chuckled. He had known what was going
on, but why spoil their fun? He grabbed a napkin from his drawer and
wiped his face off.
* * * *
Cody walked into the closed diner with Keata s hand held tightly
in his.
He hadn t let Keata leave his side. Frank? Cody yelled out as he
entered the place.
Back here, Cody, Frank yelled out from past the gutted kitchen.
Cody led Keata to the back. He glanced around at what would
need to be done to bring this place back to standards and codes to get
it running again.
Hey. Frank held his hand out to Cody, shaking it.
I see I get to talk with my little friend as well. Frank patted
Keata on the shoulder, ignoring Cody s growl.
Cody explained to him what happened a week ago. Keata s
kidnapping, not the shifting part. It was decided that the less people
knew about the tigers, the better.
Fuck me, man. Did you kill the bastards? Frank ruffled Keata s
hair and offered him a smoothie, not knowing Keata went gaga over
them.
They will no longer be a problem. Cody leaned against a
sawhorse.
Good. All to hell with whoever tries to hurt the little guy. Frank
96 Lynn Hagen
waved Cody to his office, leaving the door open so Cody could watch
Keata suck down the thick drink.
You know, you just won him over. Smoothies and chicken strips
are his all-time favorites. Cody chuckled as he watched his mate
lovingly.
Good to know. Frank slid the plans over to Cody. Now, I ve
taken the liberty of pricing the new equipment and the labor of
construction.
Cody looked at the pages of equipment Frank had printed out.
Won t do.
What do you mean? It s great, sturdy equipment. Frank
furrowed his brows.
I don t want sturdy. Here. Cody pulled the large envelope from
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