Page 26 of Chasing Savannah
She hugged her other grandad, soaking in his smell. He always smelled of mint, the dark musk of his panther and a wild scent she associated with him and his fields. Her latent power swelled a little, as it always did when she was near him. Not enough to alarm anyone, and bring undue attention to her. Certainly not enough to hold her own within the prowl. She quickly squashed the bitter thought. Her grandfather was dressed in white pants with a silk sash. His chest was bare, and she couldn’t believe he was seventy years old. It did not reflect in his build.
Rebecca stood in the hallway outside of the living room and clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention. “It’s time.” She announced.
Her grandmother gave Jeremiah one last kiss, their foreheads meeting as they murmured to each other. Grandpa Harper joined them, his arms going around them both. Jeremiah rubbed his chin against the top of his mates’ heads, their power swelling, overtaking the room.
Savannah let out a shuddering breath, tears clogging her throat. Her grandparents’ love was palpable. Her cousins all paused and watched as the three of them exchanged affection.
Rebecca sighed and wiped her face. She stepped back from her mates and cleared her throat. Jeremiah cupped her chin and stared into his mate’s eyes before turning to his family. He gave one long whistle and everyone in the house followed him out the door. Some of her cousins glared at her as she joined the group. One in particular shoved past her to take up a spot in front of her. She sighed, and started her mental countdown. She needed to be away from everyone in another hour, or surely she’d have to fight someone.
She and her family walked in a group towards the clearing where they held all their ceremonies and family cook outs. Murmuring from the already gathered crowd traveled in the night air, the prowl’s excitement palpable. They walked to the meeting circle and there stood Carlos, strong and proud in loose white pants and a sash, to match her grandfather. His curly hair was tamed, and slicked down, showing off his high cheekbones and strong chin. His chest was chiseled, tapering into washboard abs that made her mouth water. She longed to run her fingers across his stomach, to touch his skin. Her power swelled again, and she frowned. Both her grandfathers turned to her and smiled, satisfaction gleaming in their eyes. Why, she didn’t know, but they were up to something, no doubt. She didn’t want any parts of it. She slowed her steps to hide behind her cousins towards the back to keep their grandfathers’ attention away from her.
Once they entered the circle with the other prowl members, her aunts turned and magic swelled as they closed the circle. Close to seventy members of the prowl formed a circle and sat on benches ringing the fighting area, leaving only the alphas standing.
Carlos’ eyes followed her as she sat next to Charlotte. Her body heated, and flushed and she looked away to escape his piercing gaze.
“Biiitch,” Charlotte whispered and bumped her shoulder.
“Don’t even.” She hissed.
A beautiful woman she didn’t recognize stood and started chanting. Her aunts and grandmother followed suit, the remaining prowl members catching the melody and joining. Soon, the circle’s power flared and her heart started thumping with excitement.
Her grandfather Jeremiah started moving his feet in a complicated pattern, circling Carlos. After three revolutions Carlos’ feet took up the rhythm, his graceful movements mesmerizing. They started mock fighting, their swings still near enough for tension to coat the circle. Her heart raced, fear for her grandfather coming to the forefront. Power raised, the strength of it stealing her breath, weighing on her body. Carlos’ skin was covered in sweat as he picked up speed, showing off his Alpha power.
Despite his age, Jeremiah’s panther was still strong, and his power moved through the circle, reminding the prowl of why he’d led them for so long. Their feet moved, kicking up dust, their hands moving in a fast pattern as they circled each other, ducking and dodging punches and kicks. Jeremiah threw punches and Carlos’ parried them with quick movements.
Jeremiah kicked, and Carlos dodged, their elegant movements keeping the gathered panthers spellbound. Power built to a feverish pitch, and the chanting slowed, softened until the crowd leaned forward to catch the ancient words. Carlos raised his leg, kicking towards Jeremiah’s chest, pausing less than a hairs breadth away. She sucked in a surprised breath, afraid he’d actually struck her grandfather. Jeremiah stood still, the two of them locking eyes, their breathing sawing in and out of their chest, the sound of it overpowering the chanting.
All movement stopped, the chanting quieted and Jeremiah lifted his chin, exposing his neck. Roars filled the circle as Carlos leaned over Jeremiah’s neck. They stepped apart a moment later and Jeremiah raised Carlos’ arm and presented him to the prowl. Whistles and cheers lifted and magic flowed around, raising goosebumps on her arms.
Jeremiah removed his sash and presented it to Carlos, who accepted it with a bow. Power flowed from her grandfather to Carlos, and then outward to the circle. The magic pressed against her. Carlos turned to her, and her head buzzed, pressure building. His eyes glowed as he watched her, the light in his gaze trapping her, raising power in her body until her ears popped. A rush of warmth, and togetherness flooded her body until she choked up. Carlos had intentionally added her to the prowl link. She lowered her head as tears gathered in her eyes. She wiped her face and once the ceremony was done, kissed her son and escaped during the chaos of the congratulations. She’d promised Jamie that they would spend the night, so she hastened to her grandparent’s house.
She couldn’t be a part of this, it was too much, brought back too many memories. She raced to her car to get the small bag she’d packed and was fumbling in her purse for the keys when her power flared, and smoldering heat warmed her back. She refused turn around.
“Elder Jeremiah is your grandfather.” Carlos’ growl tightened her body.
She sighed, finally finding her keys and unlocking the door. She turned to face them. “Yes.”
Carlos’ canines flashed in the moonlight, his smile predatory. “Okay then.”
Derrick tilted his head, his eyes flashing gold before he too smiled. “So, it begins.”
“What?” She looked between them.
“You’re leaving?” Carlos asked.
Shit. If she stayed, what would they do? She could easily lie and come back, right? Derrick stared, and her core clenched in need.
No way would she tell them she was staying.
“Yeah, I just, I wasn’t supposed to be here. I was just making sure Jamie was here to merge with the new prowl link.” She ran a nervous hand over her hair.
Carlos nodded. “And you, did you feel the new link?”
She looked away, her heart aching to be a normal part of the prowl. “Yeah, I shouldn’t have been there for that.”
They both stared, their eyes amber, claws out, and their animals close to the surface. Derrick opened his mouth to say something, but Carlos grabbed his arm.
“Good night then, we don’t want to hold you up,” Carlos purred.
