Page 96 of Chasing Savannah
Carlos sighed, the sound content. “She’s so stubborn. But, I enjoyed every minute of the debate.” Carlos’ smile was devilish, his obvious enjoyment in it written all over his face.
“She left your office in a daze, but I foresee you having this conversation again when the sexual haze wears off.” He warned the Alpha.
Carlos laughed. “God, that woman is stubborn.”
Derrick grunted. She was that. “I want her trained to fight from an enforcer. The longer we go without catching the bastards attacking our women, the more uneasy I become.”
Carlos tapped his finger on his desk and considered it. “She would probably like it. I’m sure it will make her feel more secure, independent. Has she spotted Simon yet?”
He thought to the conversation he and Savi just had. “As far as she knows, she doesn’t have security.”
Carlos groaned. “While we’re on the subject of security, we need to do something about the enforcers working better together.”
He sighed. “It’s on the agenda. The country cats have their own way of doing things.”
“They’ve kept their territory and held their prowl together using those same methods.” Carlos reminded him.
Derrick grunted but said nothing. He was well aware of the enforcers’ struggle. While the hierarchy was settled, hunting for the panthers attacking their prowl was exposing a weak point. The Tampa enforcers were reluctant to hunt using the Jersey’s prowl’s methods and vice versa. With every attack and their subsequent escape, it was becoming more noticeable.
“Brielle is taking me out, showing me and Simon their hunting methods, hopefully between the three of us, we can come up with something that blends the two.” He finally answered.
“I’ll leave that to you. Now back to our mate. We can bring up her getting training tonight. Debate it with her.” Carlos waggled his eyebrows.
Derrick laughed and stood. “I’m headed out with her to some showroom, I’ll soften her up for the debate.”
Carlos laughed and waved him out. He waved to the Carlos’ assistant as he passed her desk again, headed to his office, down the hall. The more he thought on it, the more the idea of training Savannah cemented. It would help twofold. He knew Savannah would have issues being alpha female. Her latency would be a sticking point until she could prove to the women she could lead them. Teaching her to fight as an enforcer would train her for any challenges she’d face. As a bonus, it would prepare her for any type of attack. He would certainly feel better about her flitting around town if he knew she could defend herself. Now to convince their mate. He smiled, like Carlos, he looked forward to the debate.
***
Giggling greeted him as he exited the elevator on the penthouse level. Ella and Jamie were running in circles in the middle of what would be the living room as Savannah seemingly tuned them out. She was scribbling in a notebook, muttering to herself. He winced as Ella squealed and started chasing Jamie. They bounded towards the stairs.
“Hey.” Savannah barked absently.
The two continued, ignoring her protest.
“No, you two.” His voice stopped them on the bottom step. “No playing on the stairs.”
“Boooo,” they both yelled, but stepped away. They rushed him with hugs and he laughed, savoring their affection.
Would this be what he came home to each night? Carlos grunted as he let them tackle him to the floor. He pushed them off, and walked into another room to strip. He shifted into his panther and slunk into the living to surprise the kids. Ella and Jamie screamed and ran when they saw him. His panther chased them across the empty apartment. He batted them around, and tackled them both, licking their faces, and chuffing against their stomach. Their every laugh melted away his tension. Savannah stood over them a few minutes later, as they wrestled on the floor.
“And here I thought you being here would bring some semblance of quiet.” She harrumphed.
The kids jumped up and ran again. He shifted back to human and pulled Savannah’s leg. She fell onto his lap with a squeak. He kissed her. “I don’t know why you thought that.”
She swatted him and rolled off his lap, breathless with laughter. “You’re ridiculous. Put on some clothes.”
He smiled and her eyes misted over as she stared down at him. She cleared her throat and offered him one of the drop cloths strewn across the floor. The elevator dinged again and they both turned as Derrick exited the lift holding two giant sized pizzas.
“Pizzas!” Jamie yelled, jumping with an excited whoop.
“Dinner in the penthouse.” The Beta announced.
The kids cheered, circling Derrick. Carlos wrapped the cloth around his waist and went to change. By the time he came back, there were more drop cloths on the floor, picnic style. It was perfect, and everything he hadn’t realized he wanted. He talked with his mates, and their cubs, enjoying his new family. It didn’t take long for the kids to get bored, so they packed up their trash and headed downstairs.
Savannah set up a movie for them and the adults headed to the kitchen for coffee. Carlos pulled her into his lap after she poured their cups.
“I wanted to talk to you about something.” He watched her face.
