Page 14 of Chasing Savannah

“Did you ever think we would get here?” Derrick rolled his neck to loosen the tension riding him.

“As I recall you’d been urging me to establish a prowl from the day we met.” He said dryly.

Derrick laughed. “I saw my future with you, I can’t help you’re slow to pick up.”

Carlos laughed. “Shit, man, a mate.”

“A damn fine one too.”

Carlos growled, the sound carrying in the night. Heads turned from those on the patio.

“Keep calm a few more days and then we can actively go on the hunt.” His Beta soothed.

He smiled, anticipating the dance with Savannah. “Do you think she likes shifters?”

“Oh, that’s right, I didn’t tell you. Our mate is latent.”

His cat jerked from his reins momentarily, fur rippled along his arms. “Is that right?” How did he not notice?

He nodded. “Said she hasn’t been to a prowl meeting in years, but she’ll know what she is to us.”

That was good news. “Explains her hasty exit this afternoon.”

“That and she had company.”

“What kind of company?” he growled, jealousy a quick response.

“Two females, one a cat, family from the scent.” Derrick shrugged.

Interesting. “So, she’ll definitely know what’s up.”

“Doesn’t mean she’ll be an easy win,” Derrick cautioned.

Carlos scoffed. “You think our cats want easy?”

“You know how much I love a good chase.” Derrick bared his teeth, his eyes changing back and forth to his panther.

Carlos smiled, him and his cat anticipating the hunt for their mate. Now all he had to do was get through dinner without touching her.

***

Derrick wouldn’t say she ran, necessarily. Did she escape the confines of the van in a hasty manner?

Yes.

Nearly an hour later, they pulled back into the yard after dinner and Savannah had hauled ass out of Laura’s van the moment it went into park. He’d sat next to her on the ride home and honestly, it had been a near thing, him keeping his hands to himself. Her scent was heady and his panther wanted to wallow in it. He followed her the few steps next door to her house. She didn’t even notice him behind her. One part of his ego liked that they had her so rattled. The security expert in him frowned. She needed to be a lot more conscious of her surroundings.

Savi’s hands shook as she dug through her purse. Though he’d warned Carlos to quit staring, he’d spent the whole dinner watching her, cataloguing the little mannerisms she used when speaking. It gave him pleasure to watch her. The car ride back had been torture, no doubt, but worth it. She’d sat against the window and he’d watched the passing street lights play against her skin. Her arousal had clouded the air in the car, and while it had been akin to torture, he enjoyed every moment.

“You cannot be in a Tribond.” She muttered to herself, as she pulled out her keys. “You can use your vibrator and that will be that.”

His keen hearing caught it all, from six feet away. His cat sprung forward and a snarl rumbled his chest. He would get no sleep tonight, knowing what she’d be busy doing. “Need help?”

She dropped her keys and whipped around, her eyes wide, and mouth parted in shock. “Jesus, you scared me.” She held a hand to her chest.

Derrick laughed and bent over to get her keys. Their eyes met as she straightened, and lust tore through him, the heat in her eyes roasting him. She quickly averted her eyes, unable to hold his gaze. He let out a hungry growl. He handed over her keys, brushing a lingering touch over her fingers.

She cleared her throat. “Did you want something?”