Page 25 of Chasing Savannah
Chapter 9
“Mom, this shirt is too tight.” Jamie walked out of his bedroom pulling on the collar of his white dress shirt.
She sighed and held up a finger as her phone rang. Her son hated dressing in anything other than a t-shirt and basketball shorts. She expected he’d complain about wearing the dress shirt and white linen pants. She had a white v neck t-shirt that she would have him put on right as his grandfather arrived. He’d be grateful to not have to wear the dress shirt and forget to complain about the pants. It was a dance all moms did with their children she knew, still, she shot him an irritated glare.
“Yes.” She answered the phone.
“Honey, I can’t make it to come get Jamie. There’s so much to be done here. Can you bring him?” Her grandfather Harper sounded winded.
“He doesn’t have to come, Grandpa. I can bring him by when there’s not so much going on.” She didn’t want to step foot on prowl land with a changeover ceremony going on. It was too tempting.
“No!” Jamie rushed over and put his hands together in a pleading gesture.
“I know how you feel sweetheart, but please bring him. I don’t want to disappoint my boy. You can leave before the ceremony starts.”
She grumbled. “Damn it, I mean, dang it.”
“Five cents in the jar.” Jamie sang.
She growled.
“Savannah, he needs to feel the new prowl link.” Her grandfather’s voice was adamant.
“Fine. We’ll be there.”
“Yes!” Jamie pumped his fist.
She ended the call and then realized what she’d agreed to. God. She scrambled to get dressed, digging in her closet for something white. Her grandmother would kill her if she showed up in any other color. All ceremonies were performed and attended in white. She didn’t attend any ceremonies, but, luckily she’d gone to an all-white party with Naomi some months back. She had a cute skater dress, but the front was a little club-y. Her grandfathers would both probably say something, but she didn’t have anything else.
She slapped on some makeup, cursing herself the whole time. She should just drop Jamie off, no need for her to stay. Yet, she lined her eyes carefully, wanting to look her best. Darn it, she was going to the ceremony. There was no use in pretending otherwise. Her son danced in and out of the bathroom, excited she was going with him. He kept up a steady stream of chatter as she put on the finishing touches. She packed a bag with a change of clothes for them both, because there was only so long they could wear white in the country.
It only took her forty five minutes to get to their place. She navigated the dark dirt road by rote, her mind churning with what she’d decided to do. She sighed. Surely attending the ceremony wouldn’t bring down the end of days. Some of her cousins were hanging out on the porch as she parked, their quiet chatter ending as she reached the front step. She waved and walked right into house. There were more cousins milling around, all of them her immediate family, and she was happy she’d come. She gave out hugs and kisses, having not seen this many of her cousins gathered at once since Thanksgiving last year.
Her grandmother came from upstairs and spotted her. “You came!” Rebecca rushed over and gave her a hug. She wore a simple sheath dress, the color making her dark skin glow. “Do you think there is enough cleavage showing in that dress?”
She tugged up on the bodice of her dress, shooting her guffawing cousins a glare. “It was all I had to wear.”
“Well, never mind then. I’m just glad you’re here.”
She looked around the living room, nostalgia overwhelming her. “Will the new Alpha take this over?”
She was a little sad thinking about it, she’d grown up in the house, visiting her grandparents. She ran her fingers over the pictures her grandmother had scattered across the room. It was Rebecca’s grandkids in various school portraits. She had a giant album underneath the coffee table that held years and years of pictures. If she had more time, she’d open it and laugh with her cousins as they always did when they got together.
“No, they have their own prowl house set up in town.” Rebecca tossed over her shoulder as she flitted off to do something else.
That made her happy to hear. “How will that work?” she murmured more to herself than to Rebecca’s retreating form.
“You ask a lot of questions for someone who doesn’t care.” Her grandfather Harper looked handsome in his white linen pants and pressed, button down shirt. As always he was immaculate, his manner precise and competent. He hugged her as he came into the living room.
“I’m just curious, granddad.”
“We will merge our prowls, and your grandfather and I will step aside and take our place as elders.” He patted the top of Jamie’s head and her son tiptoed to rub his head under his great-grandfather’s chin.
“Won’t that be strange having the old Alpha around?” She crossed her arms over her chest.
“The young man is powerful, trust me, the panthers will have no problem following him. His power calls to all around him.” Harper reassured her.
“I’m happy and will enjoy retirement with my mates.” Jeremiah stepped into the room, his power preceding him. Her cousins straightened in his presence, their joking coming to a halt.
