Without Reservations

gone. A werewolf’s blood could heal his human female mate without turning them into a wolf. Keaton wondered… It didn’t matter, they didn’t have time to chance it.
    The combined strength of Jake and Chay’s blood sped up the process. Remi’s wounds were healing before their eyes, so it must be working.
    The tear on Jake’s arm healed and Jake brought it back up to his mouth, intent on ripping it open again.
    Chay grabbed his arm. “No. It’s working, there’s no need.”
    Jake snarled, jerking his arm from Chay’s grip, and prepared to attack.
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    Without Reservations
    Keaton tensed, his hands shifting to claws. He moved between Chay and Jake, instinctively protecting his mate. He growled and felt his teeth sting his gums.
    He pulled Keaton back with him, moving away from Jake.
    Jake blinked, flinching like someone slapped him. He held his hands up. “I’m sorry.”
    Keaton relaxed, letting his hands shift back to normal. His teeth receded and with the smell of Chay’s blood no longer fresh, his eyes changed as well. “I’m sorry too. You all right?”
    Jake took a deep breath. “Yeah.” He ran his bloody hands down his face. He looked up. His eyes were still canine, but his teeth shrank back to human.
    Chay cleared his throat. “Why don’t you go take a shower, Jake? I’ll go find you some of my sweats to wear.”
    “I…” Jake glanced down at Remi, then at his own naked bloodstained body. “Yeah, okay. I’ll go clean up, then fill you both in on what happened. You think he’ll be okay?”
    Chay nodded. “I think so. Keaton and I will clean him up while you’re in the shower. When he wakes up we are all going to have some explaining to do.”
    Keaton snorted. “No shit. Somehow I never imagined myself explaining the existence of werewolves to Remi.”
    Chay ushered Jake into the bathroom while Keaton peeled the remaining, mangled, bloody clothes from Remi’s body. It was a shame the man had a personality defect because he was gorgeous. He was damned near as handsome as Chay.
    The shower started and Chay came back with some clothes. “Okay, Bit, I got a bucket of soapy water and a washcloth. How are his wounds healing?”
    “Good. They’re closed. Still red and a little puffy, they’re starting to scab over. Damn, that works fast.”
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    J.L. Langley
    Chay set the bucket down and pulled Keaton into his arms, kissing him soundly. “Yeah. I’ve never actually seen anyone changed. I had no idea it would work so quickly. How long do you think he’ll be out of it?”
    “I don’t know. This is a first for me too. I’m so sorry, Chay.” Keaton caressed his mate’s cheek. “It was my brother. I’m sure of it. It’s just too big of a coincidence not to be.”
    Chay nodded. “I think so too.” He hugged Keaton, holding him for several seconds. “We need to get Remi cleaned up.”
    “Yeah.” They pulled apart and got to work. There would be plenty of time to talk later. They needed to know what Jake knew and what Remi remembered when he woke.
    Chay rolled Remi on to his side. “Grab the rag and wash off his back.”
    He got the rag, wrung it out and leaned over the unconscious man.
    “Are there any scratches there?” Chay asked.
    “Jesus Christ.” There were crisscrossing scars all up and down Remi’s back, like he’d been whipped.
    “Guess they didn’t heal, huh?”
    Keaton looked up at Chay as he ran the washcloth over Remi’s back and shook his head. “No.”
    “I didn’t think they would, but I’ve never know anyone who was turned, so…” Chay shrugged.
    “What the hell happened?” Keaton dipped the rag again, rinsing the blood out. He washed Remi’s buttocks and thighs, noticing similar scars, but not as many as on his back.
    “Happened the summer we turned sixteen. He and our friend Billy were walking back from the movie theater and some guys jumped them.
    Remi ended up in the hospital in ICU. Billy died.”
    Keaton gasped, caught off guard. That didn’t seem right. The scars were consistent with a whip or a belt. Why would someone… “Did they know the assailants?”
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    Without Reservations
    Chay gently laid Remi down, meeting Keaton’s gaze. “No. Remi never could identify them.”
    “Chay these were done by a belt.” He picked up the shirt Chay had brought and worked it carefully over Remi’s head. He put Remi’s arms through and pulled the shirt