Page 13 of Chasing Savannah

Chapter 5

Carlos skimmed a finger across the condensation gathering on his beer glass. They’d chosen a seafood restaurant on the water, a little over a thirty-minute drive from his sister’s house, and had he’d known it would take so long, he may have reconsidered. Trapped in Laura’s minivan with the scent of his mate permeating the air, he’d been tempted to jump out of the car while it was moving.

Jesus, but she was beautiful.

He didn't know what was more attractive, her dark eyes, the way the light caught the smooth skin of her exposed shoulders, or her smile as she laughed with his sister.

All of it made him want to reach for her.

Her forehead had reached his nose when he stood in front of her at Laura’s house. She was a tall woman, another thing about her he liked. Beautifully proportioned, the simple dress she wore clung to her curves, the dark blue color making her mahogany skin gleam. He wanted to run his hands and trace every line of her body. He ached to rub along her skin and marvel in their different hues. Her darker skin would no doubt glow next to his lighter brown. He adjusted in his chair.

How Derrick spent a week with her without taking her against the nearest wall was a small miracle as far as he was concerned. Clearly his Beta was more disciplined than he. Just the touch of her hand when he’d met her, had sent his body into a tailspin. He didn’t quite get how Derrick had been so sure about the female when he’d talked about her, but one look at Savannah had his cat beating against his skull to get at their mate.

He breathed out.

Ours.

There was no doubt their mating would be a Tribond. He’d fought alongside Derrick in the Army Rangers for eight years, the two of them were closer than brothers. That they would get to share a mate was a gift to him. One he wanted to take his sweet time unwrapping. They’d shared women over the years, but because Tribonds were so rare, he thought that would end when either of them met their mate. He knew of no pack or prowl north in the tristate area that had a Tribond, not even back some generations.

He flexed his fingers, reliving the power the three of them had raised just by touching. If he’d had any further doubt about their Tribond, that would’ve sealed it for him. The contact had staggered him, both his cat and Derrick’s rumbling through their connection. Soon, he’d have that same closeness with Savannah. He couldn’t wait.

“You’re staring.” Derrick leaned over and whispered.

“Can you blame me?” He whispered back.

Derrick sipped from his beer. “No, no I cannot, but you don’t want to scare our mate there, Alpha.”

Carlos sighed and shifted his glance slightly over to his sister, though he still watched Savannah from the corner of his eye. Laura was animated, recounting something she’d done the other day, and the smile on Savannah’s face made him as hard as an iron spike.

He groaned. How in the hell would he make it back in the car with her?

Derrick choked out a laugh and all eyes swiveled to them. He slapped his Beta on the back.

“What?”

“You’re speaking aloud.” Derrick whispered.

His face burned. “How loud?”

Theo cleared his throat on the other side of the table and raised an eyebrow.

Gods, he had to get better control. He excused himself from the table citing a bathroom break. He instead turned and headed outside. The heat was something he would need to get used to. It was October and still, outside felt like he was steaming in a bag.

Derrick joined him a moment later. “Do you see why I was so anxious to get back?”

“How in the hell did you do it? No way could I have met her and went back to New Jersey.”

Derrick shrugged. “I know what we need to accomplish. I want this transition to go as smoothly as possible, if for nothing else than to make sure Savannah stays safe.”

He nodded, he definitely understood that. When Derrick divulged to him that he believed they’d be in a Tribond, he’d been rightfully skeptical. Still, he’d planned and organized, pushing as much resources around as they needed to secure the land and the building where he would house his prowl. He wanted everything in place, on the off chance that Derrick had been right. Now seeing her, feeling his cat’s need for her...

He wanted to leave the dinner and head straight for his office. There was so much more that needed to be done.

“When are we meeting with the other alpha?”

“Tomorrow afternoon.”

He nodded. “Whatever it takes, Derrick. I want this area stable, safe for our mate and our new prowl.”