Page 99 of Chasing Savannah
“You don’t deserve to be alpha female.”
She recognized that voice. She narrowed her eyes and swiveled her head. The woman from the elevator was staring at her, her arms crossed.
“If you want, I can give you some of the attention you’re seeking.” Savi pushed back from the picnic table and stood.
A man rushed up to them and stepped between her and the woman. “Callie, let’s not do this. Mallory, let’s go.” He grabbed the other woman’s arm.
Mallory shook her arm free. “No. I want to challenge her.”
“Let’s do this then.” Savi already had her hair in two braids, her face makeup free and no jewelry on anywhere. She came to the meeting prepared to fight.
Charlotte had taken one look at her when she’d arrived and glued herself to Savannah’s side the whole night. Her cousin knew what was up. Charlotte had been at her side for every fight she’d fought when they were younger. Her cousin stood beside her now.
“You can’t challenge her, she’s not alpha female yet. She’s a nobody.” Her cousin Liz spat, butting into their conversation.
“Fuck off, Liz!” Charlotte hissed.
“She can catch a ‘pre-alpha status’ beat down as far as I’m concerned.” Savannah stepped closer to Mallory. “What do you say, Mallory?”
“You can fight everyone in this clearing, and it still won’t make you a good Fela, latent.” Liz marched into their circle, walking directly to Savannah.
Savannah turned her attention to Liz, waiting until she got just close enough. As soon as Liz stepped within her reach, she struck. Liz’s head whipped back as Savannah punched her in the nose.
“You were told to mind your place, now step back and shut up.” Savannah didn’t raise her voice.
Liz grabbed her nose and screeched. “You bitch.”
Savannah stared Liz down until the other woman looked away. The heat from her mates seared her back as they gathered behind her. She didn’t dare glance at them. After the conversation they’d had last night, she was almost afraid to see their doubt of her in their faces. If they intervened in any way, it would undermine her.
Brielle came up on them and shoved Liz back out of the way. “Liz is dumb, but she’s right. Even if you challenge Savi, it won’t be for the alpha position, as she doesn’t yet have it.”
“I don’t care. She has no place here and she should know it.” Mallory spat at her feet.
Brielle growled, but Savannah placed a hand on her cousin’s arm. “Call the challenge, Brielle, I have no problem showing hermyplace.”
Brielle looked behind Savannah. Carlos must’ve given her assent because she gave a long whistle and the clearing quieted and formed a circle.
“Remember what we taught you, little cousin.” Brielle whispered before turning and moving to the center of the circle.
Savannah followed Brielle, working to calm her racing heart. She wasn’t worried about the fight with Mallory. She and Brielle worked out together, her cousin having taught her to fight years ago when she had Jamie. Brielle understood her need to make a place for her son.
She rolled her shoulders to loosen the tension. She knew half of it came from her mates. The two of them paced the circle, their worry for her flowing down their bond. Brielle went over the rules of the challenge, reiterating that it wasn’t for alpha female.
“Savannah even though you’re latent—”
“I understand.” She cut Brielle off.
“All the same, I’ll go over the rules of challenge. The fight stops as soon as one of the fighters submits. Savannah is latent, but Mallory still has the option to call forth her panther. No maiming, no killing, understood?” Brielle looked to both challengers.
Both women nodded. Mallory gave her a cocky smirk. One Savannah returned. Mallory’s smirk died as Brielle called the match to start.
The two women circled each other, their faces equally determined. Savannah’s gait was relaxed as she moved, her body positioned to take an attack, no matter how Mallory struck. Carlos clenched his hands, wincing as his claws sliced into his palms. He kept his expression stoic, no sign of his inner turmoil.
They couldn’t intervene, he knew that, and yet his body tensed as Mallory struck first, swiping at Savannah with her claws. His mate easily ducked, moving faster than he thought a latent could move. Mallory lost her footing as she reached again for Savannah. Dodging her to one side, Savannah turned and kicked the back of Mallory’s knees as she passed. The female buckled, one knee hitting the ground. She quickly rebounded, standing and growling before leaping at Savannah.
The two women collided and he cringed at the sound, his panther slamming against his control. Savannah was ruthless, striking Mallory with quick fists to her face, and solar plexus. Savi’s focused gazed reminded him of his arrogance in assuming she wouldn’t know how to protect herself. Savannah had been right to call him on his shit.
His mate blocked a blow with her forearm, back slapping Mallory. Savi reached to punch her, but missed as Mallory spun and raked her claws across Savannah’s back. The crowd gasped, and he snarled. Tension flowed between him and Derrick, until his shoulders were tight with it, and his breath came out in short, urgent pants. Their mate, her face determined, spun, showing no sign that she was hurting.
