Page 29 of Chasing Savannah

She growled and her grandfather answered with his own growl. His power, even over the phone, inundated her, especially strong since Carlos had renewed her prowl link.

“Fine,” she said through clenched teeth.

“Come see for yourself, Vanna, if at any point you feel it’s too violent, there are plenty other things happening. You’ve been in enough challenges to know it won’t get too violent. We’re doing it so the two prowls will get to know each other. There’s food, and games for the kids.”

She thought it through, even though he wasn’t really giving her a choice. “Fine.”

“Perfect,” she heard the smile in his voice and couldn’t help but feel as though she’d fallen for something.

***

Carlos roamed the empty field where they were having the prowl gathering. Picnic tables were set up near the grills, there were games set up for the cubs, and panthers from both prowls pitched in to get food prepared and decorations set. He crossed his arms over his chest and surveyed the area. Pride filled him, the magic of the territory flowed through him and he was once again happy he’d made the move.

Dried leaves crunched on the ground behind him a moment before a soft touch rested on his shoulder.

“Fela,” he murmured in greeting, recognizing her scent.

She circled him until she hovered at his peripheral and smiled, “not any longer.” She sighed and there was relief, not regret in the sound. “What do you think so far?”

“I think you guys have outdone yourself. The excitement is palpable through the prowl link.” He turned to face her.

She laughed, “That is an understatement.”

He smiled. She was right. The link was buzzing, enough to make a one giddy.

“So, my granddaughter...”

He tensed and she pat his shoulder.

“Don’t worry, I ain’t here to warn you off.”

As if she could. He kept that thought to himself.

“Her grandfathers are happy about the mating, but they don’t know Savannah the way I do. They don’t understand how deep rooted her…fear of being a part of this prowl is.”

He turned to her then, and took in her worried expression. “Do you know the cause of it?”

She shook her head. “She used to spend her every spare moment here. She loves this prowl, no matter how hard she fights to show it. One evening she was happy at a gathering, dancing and playing with the others her age, and the next morning, she left with her mother, angry.”

“Did something happen?”

“Clearly, but what? Even after all these years, I’ve been unable to find out.”

“And no one will talk?”

She shook her head and rubbed her arms. “I suspect it had something to do with the seer we used to have.”

“In what way?”

She shrugged her shoulders. “My mates will tell me nothing, save, Jeremiah’s sister was no longer our seer, and unwelcome on our lands. Her children chose to stay, but she and her mate left, banished.”

He frowned.

She sighed and shook off her melancholy, “you’ll have a fight on your hands. She thinks she’s not strong enough as a latent to be in our prowl, good luck convincing her she’s strong enough to be alpha female.”

He nodded. “I’m no stranger to fighting.”

“If you give her too much leeway, she’ll run, and she’ll keep running. You’ll need to be sneaky.” She warned. She kissed his cheek. “Let me go supervise, I don’t know how well you city cats can cook.”