Page 60 of Chasing Savannah
She left the kitchen to go gather her stuff and all he could do was shake his head. His sisters had told him her burgeoning attitude was a good thing, in that it signified her being secure in her place in his life. For a child who’d gone through the amount of trauma Marcella had at such a young age, it was a great sign.
He’d rescued her as a toddler, from a prowl ravaged by supremacists. When they were done, the small prowl’s numbers had dwindled to the little girl huddled in the clothes dryer where her mother had hidden her. His unit had come up on the small cougar prowl’s land, entirely by accident while on a training excursion. The carnage had sickened him. He’d taken one look at Marcella’s fear filled, dark eyes and promised to keep her safe.
It had taken him and Derrick countless hours and too many pages of red tape to count before they were given custody of the young cub. He left the army within that year and started the prowl Derrick had been bugging him to start. Now, he had a place where his daughter was secure and he was anxious to put down roots.
Marcella had decided that Savannah would be her mother, and no amount of talking had changed the little girl’s mind. Not that he’d tried especially hard. As far as he was concerned, Savannah would be his mate.
That meant Ella was technically right.
He stood and smiled, anticipation at seeing his mate making him happy. She’d left the house two mornings ago as if the hounds of hell were on her heels. He gave yesterday to Derrick, knowing his Beta would use every ounce of charm he had on their mate. Tonight was his turn. They’d decided that splitting up would keep her off guard. According to Derrick it was working.
He couldn’t wait to see her.
He locked the door and he and Ella headed to her house. Her whole street was decorated, the cul-de-sac where her house was, more so. There was a table set up with a giant cauldron and music blaring. There were a lot of cars parked up and down the street in front of her house.
Ella squealed in the back seat in excitement. “It’s a party! This will be so exciting, Papa.”
They walked into the house and was greeted by a chorus of hellos from his siblings and their children, along with nods and waves from other members of their prowl. More proof his mate was falling into the role of alpha female. A good portion of the prowl was gathered at her house, and not just her cousins. Some of the men and women who had come down with him were sitting around the living room talking and mingling with the Tampa group.
It looked impromptu, though food trays were spread on the table in the dining room. He found Savannah at the kitchen counter painting her son’s face. She looked up at him and smiled and his heart contracted.
“It’s a lot bigger to do than I expected.” She smiled sheepishly.
“It’s great. Anything I can do to help?” he offered.
She shook her head and put her paint brushes down. She held out her arms to Ella and the little girl rushed to hug her.
“Savi, I didn’t want Papa to mess up my zombie face so can you do it?” Ella’s look of adoration was probably the same look on his own face.
Savannah kissed Ella’s nose. “Of course, baby girl. Let me finish Jamie’s then it’s your turn.”
Carlos laughed at Jamie’s black and white striped suit. “Are you supposed to be Beetlejuice?”
Jamie smiled and shrugged. “Mom’s a dork and it’s one of our favorite movies.”
“Hey, what does me, being a dork, have to do with anything?” She pulled his nose before going back to painting his face.
“I’m going outside with the males until you guys are ready.”
She nodded and waved him away. “We’re leaving when it gets dark.”
He rounded the kitchen island and pulled her into his chest. “Before I forget.” He kissed her, a soft coaxing until her mouth opened. Their tongues dueled and his body heated. He pulled back, satisfied with the bemused look on her face. More satisfied that Savannah didn’t fight his public claiming.
“Hello, love.” He whispered.
“Hi.” She said softly.
“I’ll walk with you and the kids, ‘kay?”
She nodded and he smiled, kissing her forehead and leaving. Derrick’s way was definitely working. He found his brothers-in-law, and some of his enforcers outside drinking beer and sitting around a cauldron of candy. They passed him a soda and he chatted about prowl business with them. The kids trickled out as their costumes were finished and they ran around the cul-de-sac playing.
He was out there nearly an hour before dusk settled and the scent of his mate reached him. He turned as she walked out of her garage in a pair of tight jeans that just…
He breathed out and put a chokehold on his panther as it reared up. She wore a t-shirt that read ‘This girl bites back’ with fangs on the front. Lord, did he want to test that theory. Theo bumped his elbow into him and shook him out of the fantasy reel playing in his head. The raised voices reached him next. A tall slender woman stalked out of the back door and walked off in a huff.
Savannah growled, her face tight in anger. He turned to follow the woman with his gaze, curious as to who she was. His mate cleared her throat and he turned back. Savannah stood in front of him, her head cocked expectantly.
“I’m sorry, did you say something?”
