Page 62 of Chasing Savannah
He considered his answer, happy to be discussing the prowl like this with her. He wanted to share his vision and get her input.
“I’m new to the whole Alpha role. Having a bigger prowl is daunting, but your family has been amazing…welcoming.”
She nodded. “I’m glad.”
“Will you tell me some of your misgivings about the mating, love?”
She grimaced. “You mean, you need to ask even after that display a little bit ago?”
He shrugged and held his breath as she went quiet. After a minute, he didn’t think she’d answer.
“Latents have to fight…like, a lot. We have to show we’re strong enough to even be in the prowl, let alone have a place in the hierarchy. I was challenged at every meeting I attended, from as far back as I can remember. It gets exhausting.”
“Even with your cousins?”
“Especially after the Seer, my aunt, spread that I didn’t know my place.” She sighed. “Aunt Toni constantly pitted my cousins against me. Even now, anytime someone wants to move up the hierarchy, they find a way to challenge me.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. They didn’t have many latents in the group that had come down with him. He made a mental note to make sure that wasn’t going on in his prowl.
“I bring that up, only to say that I don’t want to spend the rest of my life constantly fighting as the alpha female. That’s not her job. The Fela’s job is to nurture the prowl, I can’t do that if I’m fighting every meeting.”
He looked away and squelched his irritation. She had a valid point. She knew the prowl better than he did at the moment. Who was he to argue her experience?
“I hear your concerns, but I have to be honest, Savannah. I’m willing to fight the whole prowl myself to have you.” He sighed.
She chuckled and rubbed a hand down his back. “And we both know that’s not how panthers work. Now, let’s change the subject. What are your plans for Thanksgiving?”
He stared at her for long moments debating whether or not he wanted to press the subject. Her eyes beseeched him to let it go, and he couldn’t tell her no. He smiled and allowed the subject to change, but in his mind…
He planned.
