Page 122 of Chasing Savannah
She was trembling, her sobs quiet, but still shaking her body. Simon sidled up behind them, taking his place as Savi’s bodyguard and Carlos stepped from his mate.
“I got this.” He held her eyes until she nodded.
He stepped from the forest into the yard. “You have my attention, Alexander, though it may not bring you what you’ve been looking for.”
If the male was surprised Carlos knew his name, he didn’t show it. “I want the Watson prowl, and all the land that comes with it. It’s rightfully mine and I will take it back, as it was taken from my family.”
The Alpha was arrogant, much more than he should’ve been seeing as how half his prowl was dead on the ground around them. Carlos’ eyes flickered to the rooftop behind Alexander, relaxing as his Beta took up position.
“Cowardly and dumb. How long did you think you’d be able to hold my prowl?” Carlos kept his eye on the Alpha’s claws so close to Jamie and Ross’ neck.
He thought back to Joelle’s prophecy, and the doubt he’d had. Everything that they’d attributed to Yasim, could’ve applied to Alexander. In every way, what she had predicted had come true. Who then, was feeding into his paranoia?
“Alexander will have no problem holding Tampa with my guidance.” A woman walked from the house.
He knew who she was immediately. Her scent and features put her in the Watson family. Ryan walked out behind her, his head down in a submissive position.
“No.” Savannah shouted and rushed from the woods, Simon on her heels.
He held in his growl. “Antoinette, I presume?”
She nodded gleefully. “I’m sorry you won’t get to enjoy your territory. But don’t worry. Ryan here has kept us apprised of everything happening. Our takeover will be seamless.”
Carlos narrowed his eyes on the traitor. He debated the male’s life as he stood at Antoinette’s side with his head down. Could he allow Ryan to live, would it set a bad example?
“I’m curious, Ryan. What did they promise you that would make you give up the safety of our prowl?” Carlos’ voice was a deep rumble as his panther struggled to end the male where he stood.
“Alexander promised to mate with my sister and make her Alpha female.” Ryan said softly. He was a submissive, and always had been.
It didn’t surprise Carlos that the male bargained on behalf of his sisters. But…
“Did they know?”
Ryan raised his head, regret, fear swirling in his eyes. “I wanted to prove to them that I could provide.”
Carlos would’ve felt bad for him, if Ryan’s terrible decisions didn’t put his cub’s life in the hand of a cowardly Alpha. Carlos turned his gaze to his stepson and nephew, using the prowl link to push reassurance to them. Both boys relaxed, their tear stained faces, clearing. Suddenly a series of whistles came from the darkness around the home. He kept the boys trapped in his gaze to keep their panic down. Two of Alexander’s enforcers were pushed into the moonlight, landing in a thud, unconscious. Brielle and her team, in cat form, stalked behind them from the trees, slinking into view.
More of Carlos’ enforcers came out of the brush, in both human and panther form, the power of their prowl filling the clearing. Antoinette’s face registered the change of tide and she inched away.
Carlos gave a small nod and Derrick sprang from the top of the house, landing on Alexander’s back. The force of it pushed the kids forward. Carlos raced and grabbed them, before they hit the ground, passing them back to his mate. Derrick’s panther shredded Alexander’s back. Alexander growled and shifted, angling his body around. Derrick’s panther was relentless, he didn’t pause in his assault. Alexander gave a gurgling cry a moment later, falling to the ground. Derrick stood behind his lifeless body, his claws bloody from slitting the Alpha’s throat.
Carlos flickered a glance at the fallen alpha, then back to Antoinette. “You were saying?”
Her face registered shock right before two of his enforcers forced her to the ground. He stooped while they forced her face into the grass.
“I would love to kill you, but I’m new here and have already broken enough rules this evening. So, here’s what’s going to happen. We’re going to deliver you to the council for punishment.”
Antoinette struggled, but the enforcers held her down. Fear finally settling on her face, she struggled to look as a final bundle of her protectors hit the ground behind her, coming out the front door of the house. Theo sauntered out of the doorway, anger lighting his eyes, signs of his battle all over his bloodied and torn clothes. Carlos smiled, knowing no further threats would be coming out after his brother-in-law.
***
Savi did the hardest thing she’d had to do ever. She gave her son over to her cousin to keep safe. She was going back. She was going to kill her aunt. The moment she saw the glee with which her aunt made her announcement while that bastard’s hands were around son’s neck, she’d decided.
She marched back to the yard, her eyes focused on Antoinette. Her aunt looked up as she entered the clearing, calculation lighting her eyes.
“Oh you’ve ascended to alpha female. How selfish. You’ll take your whole prowl down and for what?” Her aunt spat in her direction.
“I know about your lies, you don’t even have power.”
