Page 129 of Chasing Savannah

Epilogue

Savannah walked through the prowl gathering, a baby belonging to her cousin on her hip. It was a full gathering, with close to ninety panthers in attendance. They were celebrating both Christmas and the return of their cubs, and the fact that they’d gotten rid of the threat. She worried that the panther council could still come back and punish them in some way for the way they’d handled the other prowl, but she put it aside. They would deal with whatever the council tried to throw at them.

Smoke was churning from the grills, despite how cold it was outside. The smell of cooking meats and vegetables made her stomach grumble. She needed to eat, but she was content to wander the meeting area and soak up the vibe of those gathered. Her connection to Derrick and Carlos deepened each day, and with it, her connection to the prowl.

“It’s good, right?” Naomi’s quiet voice washed over her.

“It is, Nay.” She whispered, letting her cousin’s voice calm her further.

It had only been a couple weeks since Naomi had been added to the prowl’s link, but in that time, her Zeta power had done as Joelle predicted and stabilized the prowl. A sense of contentment pervaded the link.

“Did you imagine we would be in the prowl again?” Naomi reached out and grabbed the baby from her, and cooed at the cute little girl.

“No, but I’m so glad we have. I feel whole.” She looked around at the prowl.

Her grandfathers were manning the grill, there were kids running around screaming and playing and her mates were…

She narrowed her eyes. Where were they?

Naomi chuckled. “I was instructed to come get the baby, and tell you to meet them at grandma’s.”

Her heartbeat picked up and she smiled. She had a feeling she knew what they wanted. She waved at her cousin and rushed towards her grandparents’ home.

***

He watched her from within his panther. He moved stealthily through the brush surrounding the house, keeping his body low to the ground. He chuffed a signal to the Alpha hunting with him.

They weren’t hunting rabbit, no, their prey was of the human variety. She stood on the porch of her grandparents, her tight jeans showing him miles of legs. They moved closer to the porch, hidden in the bushes. Her body tensed, her senses alerting her to the fact that she was hunted.

She stretched her arms, and rolled her neck, the skin of her stomach peeking from the bottom of her sweater. He swallowed a growl, and moved, knowing he’d be rewarded for his patience. She preened, her steps seductive as she moved to the edge of the porch. Her hips swayed as she descended the wooden steps.

A growl escaped the Alpha, and her lips turned up into a knowing smile. His heartbeat picked up its rhythm, excited that their mate would play with them. Adrenaline spiked and his panther became anxious, its steps quicker through the brush. She walked slowly to the edge of the bushes. He tracked the direction she would run and moved to intercept. She smiled again, the devilish tilt to her mouth making him hungry. In that one moment of distraction, she took off in the opposite direction.

Carlos shot off after her, his panther damn near euphoric. Savannah grew up in these woods so she knew them well and gave them a hell of a chase. He whistled and Derrick cut to the left of him to cut their mate off. He ruffled the foliage purposefully letting her know they were gaining on her. She laughed and picked up her speed. He moved in closer, brushing across her legs before disappearing again into the brush. Derrick herded her to the left and she sprinted in that direction. He knew where his co mate was guiding her.

Soon, the cabin where they’d sealed their bond came into focus. She jumped on the porch and squealed when he jumped after her. She raced in and made it to the bedroom before Derrick clipped her legs and she ended up on the bed, splayed, her sides shaking in laughter. He shifted and growled. Her laughter stopped, and her smiled turned wicked. She crawled backwards on the bed until she reached the headboard.

He knelt on the bed and crawled on top of her. “I’ve decided that I like chasing you.”

Derrick lifted her upper body and slid under her. “I agree, I like chasing Savannah,” he murmured and licked a line up their mate’s neck.

“Now that you’ve caught me, what do you plan to do with me?”

Carlos gave her a smile that had her eyes widening, along with her legs. Her arousal scented the small cabin and he purred. He’d show her rather than tell.