Page 37 of Chasing Savannah
“She’s pretty banged and bruised. She was out alone, in panther form, when she was attacked. Says she didn’t see anything that can help.” Harper walked them into the small cabin.
A woman in a robe with bandages covering her neck and shoulder, was sitting on a chair at a small dining room table in the kitchen. Her face was bruised, her lip swollen and cut.
“It will take her a little bit for the bruising to go away. We tried coaxing her into her panther form to heal faster, but right now she’s refusing,” Harper said softly.
He nodded and walked over to her. His panther raised, and the woman responded by lifting her chin and lowering her gaze. He pushed down on his anger at her injuries and stooped to reach her. He let his panther off the leash a little. The woman reached up and rubbed her head under his chin. He smoothed his chin over her hair and let out a reassuring chuff. Her shuddering sigh relaxed her body and her panther reached up to his. Their magic brushed each other’s as the Alpha panther offered her comfort. She closed her eyes, her breathing easier and less panicked than when he’d arrived.
He waited until she opened her eyes. “Did they say anything?”
She pulled her robe closed. “They wanted to know who the power that moved through the land was. I simply said our Felix and he called me a liar and kept hitting me.”
Derrick growled behind him and she flinched. “We’ll get someone here to see you home. Would you prefer they stay with you?”
She lowered her gaze. “Yes, Beta.”
“Done.” Derrick walked from the cabin, taking some of the anger with him.
Carlos gave her a final nuzzle and left as well.
“This safe house is one of our more easily accessible ones. Anyone could have known about it.” Harper said.
“It doesn’t sit well with me for a lone woman to be attacked and questioned. What ran him off?”
“She said they smelled the patrol coming.” An enforcer walked up, her jeans and combat boots dusty. Her black t-shirt was soaked with perspiration, more than likely from their chase.
“And?” He stared at the woman, seeing her own frustration.
She shrugged. “We lost him. We followed his scent from the prowl land to here. I sent off others to follow his trail as far as we could. We lost them at the river.”
Carlos growled and pushed down on his panther, knowing the cat wanted to go on the hunt.
“There’s nothing we can do about it now, save keep an eye on our women,” Derrick commented.
“Restricting their movement won’t go over well,” Harper said.
He groaned because he knew if he asked any of his sisters to stay in their homes they would physically fight him.
“No one goes out alone,” he ordered. “Not even the males.” He pushed the order down his link, enforced with his power. “Pairs of two for now until we catch these guys. I have a feeling this is them gathering information.”
Derrick nodded. “What kind of prowl are they, that this is the way they send out to get information. Wouldn’t they want to be subtle?”
“If it’s who we suspect it is, from what my mother told me, their prowl link can’t be healthy. Not with two insane alphas back to back.” Carlos looked around at the destruction.
Harper grunted. “I’m off, let me know if you need anything else.”
“I have healers that came with us, I’d be happy if you got them together and acclimated them to the prowl.”
Harper looked surprised. “How many?”
“There are four of them.” Derrick supplied.
“Wow, that’s a lot.” Harper looked astonished.
“We all came from armed forces, we’re used to fighting. Granted most of the security work we do is by computer, or small person security jobs, but my mother said the prowl attracts what it needs. We’re always in need of healers.” Carlos shrugged.
“I’ll be happy for the help,” Harper said. “Now, I can really retire. We’ve only two ourselves, I’ll get with them all and establish how we’ll work together.”
They waved him off and stood there for a moment. He looked to the enforcer still standing there. “Escort the woman home and make sure someone stays with her.”
“Of course, Felix.”
Derrick turned to him as they got in the truck. “How bad do you think this will get?”
Carlos sighed. “We’ll handle it, no matter how bad it gets.”
Derrick nodded and they pulled off.
