Chapter 21: Chapter Twenty

DAX

The weekend had finally arrived, and with it, a sense of calm. My wolf, restless and agitated for the past week, had finally settled down. The days without Savannah had been a test of endurance, my wolf’s bloodlust refusing to be quelled. But now, he was quiet, allowing me to shift back for the coronation. It had taken every ounce of my self-control to leave Savannah in that bathroom, her eyes wide with fear as she witnessed my struggle to keep the beast within at bay.

Savannah had drifted off to sleep around the third hour of our drive to southern Louisiana. My mother’s incessant calls and texts provided a welcome distraction from the events of the morning. The fear in Randi’s eyes had been palpable, but what had scared her? Savannah was on the brink of her first shift, a fact that both my wolf and I could sense. But why would Randi, a seasoned shifter, be afraid of a newcomer?

As I steered the Jeep down the familiar road leading to the pack house, the weeping willows formed a lazy canopy overhead, their branches swaying gently in the breeze. Dust swirled around the tires, a familiar sight that brought a sense of comfort. ~Home sweet home.~

The pack house was an old plantation house, its ten rooms echoing with history. My parents had it gutted and remodeled, unable to bear the thought of the atrocities that had once taken place within its walls. Other pack families had chosen to build their own homes on the fifty acres of land surrounding the main house.

As I parked under the massive oak tree in the front yard, I gently woke Savannah. Her eyes fluttered open, and she sat up with a start. “Oh my lord, we’re here? Why didn’t you wake me before?” She hastily ran her fingers through her hair and pulled out a tube of lipstick.

“Relax,” I said with a chuckle. “No one knows we’re here yet. I wanted you to get some sleep, you seemed tired.”

Savannah nodded, her eyes wide with apprehension. “I’m so nervous.”

“Don’t worry,” I reassured her, glancing over at the wraparound porch where my mother stood, her hands clasped together under her chin. “It’s going to be okay.”

Savannah followed my gaze and cringed. When she looked back at me, her eyes were glistening with unshed tears. “What’s wrong?” I asked.

“I’ve never done this,” she admitted in a whisper. “I grew up with Trent. His family was the only one I knew. He was the only guy I dated… ~ever~, besides you. And now I’m meeting all these people and I’m nervous. What if I’m not what they expect? I haven’t even shifted yet—”

“Savannah, my family is your family. They’re going to love you. Let’s go meet my mom first. She can’t wait to see you.”

Savannah nodded slowly. “Okay.”

As we approached the pack house, a group of pups playing in the yard spotted us. My nephew, Bear, ran towards us at full speed. I scooped him up and tossed him into the air, his laughter ringing out as he shouted, “Uncle Dax! ’Bout time you got here.”

“Who’s this lady?” he asked, his eyes wide with curiosity.

Savannah chuckled. “I’m Savannah.”

Bear’s mouth formed an O. “You’re his mate?” he asked. “Poor girl,” he mumbled, before racing away with the other kids.

My mother was practically bouncing on her heels as we approached the stairs. She tucked her light hair behind her ears and beamed at us. “I thought you two would never get here,” she said, opening her arms wide. “I’m Blaire, Dax’s mom. And you’re Savannah. It’s so nice to meet you. You’re beautiful.”

Savannah blushed a deep red. “Thank you, ma’am. I’m a little nervous…”

“Nonsense,” my mother said, pulling her into a hug. “You’re going to be our new luna one day. And you’re going to be brilliant. Let’s get you inside. Are you two hungry? We’ve been cooking all day. I hope you like chicken, because we made tons. Hell, we made every kind of meat south of the Mason-Dixon line.”

Savannah glanced at me over her shoulder as my mother ushered her inside. The grand staircase was decorated with soft gold and white, in preparation for the coronation on Saturday. I could sense Savannah’s nerves, and I ran my fingers down her spine in a comforting gesture.

“Where are Dad and Brody?” I asked. Brody was my older brother, the beta of our pack. Although it was common for the eldest son to become the alpha, I had been born with the gene, not him. He never seemed to mind, knowing that being an alpha came with a lot of responsibilities.

My mother handed us each a glass of sweet tea. “They’re out back with the rest of the pack, waiting for you two. Let’s go introduce our soon-to-be luna,” she said, her excitement palpable.

Savannah’s heartbeat quickened, and I intertwined my fingers with hers as we strolled through the pack house and out the back door.

The backyard was brimming with my family, both new and old. As my mother clapped her hands, all eyes turned to us.

I spotted my dad first, standing by the barbecue grill with steaks spread out before him, and my older brother Brody at his side.

Brody and I were mirror images of our father, with our dark hair and dark eyes. It was my sister, who had married and moved to a pack in the northern part of the state, who took after our mother.

However, it was my younger brother, perched on the tire swing that hung from the old oak, flipping me off, that truly made me feel at home.

“Everyone. I’d like you to meet Savannah Harper, your future luna.”

The entire pack, consisting of more than eighty wolves, clapped and welcomed Savannah with open arms. If a human stumbled upon us at that moment, I didn’t think they would suspect anything.

“Welcome to The Legion Pack, sweetheart,” my mother said. “We’re so excited for you to be here.”

I guided Savannah down the back porch stairs, and through a throng of people, all hugging and welcoming her like family. My grandmother, the luna before my mother, waited patiently for her turn by the back garden.

Once we reached her, she rose from her place on a concrete bench, and extended her hands to Savannah.

Her whimsical white hair fluttered in the humid wind, and the wrinkles around her face deepened when she smiled.

It was a stark contrast from Savannah’s Grammy. She took Savannah’s hands in hers, and her brows furrowed slowly. Savannah swallowed deeply and shot me a look.

“Grandma, this is Savannah, my mate.”

“I know who she is,” she retorted, always sassy, never classy. “You …” She leaned in and whispered, “You haven’t shifted.”

Trust Grandma to notice. Besides her wolf, Grandma held something special. Not magic, per se, but a sixth sense, and it was spot on, because Savannah hadn’t shifted.

Savannah nodded. “I didn’t know I was a werewolf until a month ago. I was raised by my Grammy; she’s human. My parents died when I was little.”

Grandma’s mouth fell open, and I wanted to shake some sense into her, but she pulled Savannah into a tight hug. “You’ll be just fine here. We’ll all help you into your position. Don’t you worry about a thing, dear.”

Savannah tucked her ebony hair behind her ear. “Thank you for that.”

She nodded and gestured toward the picnic table my dad had built for the pack. “It’s time to eat, dear, we’ll speak about it much later.”

I glanced back over my shoulder to thank Grandma, but she wore a deep frown on her face, a frown that sent a chill down my spine.

Ignoring it, because I could ask her about it later, I slid my arm around Savannah’s waist and leaned in to whisper, “You’re doing great.”

She nodded. “I’m doing great,” she said more to herself than to me.

***

As night fell, the wolves grew restless, and most of the males retreated to the woods to shift. I didn’t dare leave Savannah with my family, knowing she couldn’t shift. I didn’t want her to feel left out.

Savannah perched on the barstool in our kitchen, chatting with my mother about anything but werewolves, while I sat in the den with Brody and my dad.

Brody lobbed the football at the back of my head, and I hurled the television remote at his, which he barely dodged. “You know I haven’t missed you at all,” I said, propping my feet onto the ottoman.

“We all know that’s a lie. I’m pretty irresistible, or so Mandy says.”

“Yeah, only because she’s biologically programmed to think so,” I mumbled.

Dad cleared his throat. “Brody, find something else to do, I need to speak to Daxton.”

Brody laughed behind Dad’s back and jogged out of the den toward the kitchen.

I turned my attention to Dad, who had been quiet since the party ended, almost too quiet. He seemed to like Savannah, but something was bothering him.

“What’s up, Dad? You’re making me nervous. Is it about Savannah? You know she’s getting closer to shifting…”

He shook his head. “Savannah is great. I think she’ll make a fine luna one day, son. This is about the lycan. Braxton has kept me updated on everything. He seems to think that you’re taking on too much.

It’s your senior year, you’ve almost graduated, and he said you are patrolling all the time. You’re going to lose control of your wolf if that happens.”

~Leave it to Braxton.~

Casually, to downplay the situation, I leaned back in my seat, giving my dad the ~are you serious~ look. “Dad, I think it’s pretty normal to get worked up about a lycan attack, especially if they are after my mate.”

He nodded as if he agreed but ran his fingers over his beard in an attempt to gather his thoughts. “I understand, son, but you have to take a break. Keep your head above water.

Do not let your wolf take complete control or you’ll go rogue. You know how it can happen…”

“Dad,” I said, leaning forward to capture his full attention. “I’m not going to do that. I promise.”

Reluctantly, he nodded and slapped my cheek playfully. “I noticed you haven’t marked Savannah yet,” he said.

“You realize that could help with the lycan issue, right? It might not prevent them from attempting to take her, but it would certainly deter them from trying to mate with her. Are you hesitating because of her past?”

“I don’t want to frighten her away. She’s been thrust into this world without any preparation, and I don’t want her to feel like she’s being forced into anything.”

Dad rubbed the back of his neck thoughtfully. “I get it. Maybe you should reveal your surprise tonight instead of waiting until tomorrow?”

A smirk tugged at the corner of my mouth. “I can do that. I’ll go rescue her now.” I rose from my seat at the same time as Dad. As he pulled me into a hug, I locked eyes with Savannah from across the kitchen.

I held her gaze as I made my way to save her from my mother’s enthusiastic discussion about children. My younger brother, Jorey, snuck into the kitchen from the hallway, creeping up behind Savannah.

Before I could intervene, he jabbed her in the ribs. She jumped, her phone flying from her hands and meeting an untimely end on the floor. Jorey’s mouth fell open in shock, while Mom shot him a death glare.

“Really?” I said, picking up Savannah’s phone. The screen was shattered into countless pieces, the light stubbornly refusing to flicker on. “Nice job, Jorey,” I snapped, smacking the back of his head.

He ducked away, stammering, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize she was holding it.”

Savannah’s mouth twisted into a frown. I knew she’d been waiting for messages from her Grammy and Amber.

“I’ll take you into town this weekend to get a new one,” I promised, shooting Jorey a heated glare.

Mom scoffed. “Go to your room, Jorey. No one has time for your antics. And while you’re at it, wash your ass! I know you skipped your shower this morning.”

Jorey was at that stage in life where playtime always took precedence over hygiene.

Savannah chuckled, pocketed her broken phone, and turned to face me. “I have a surprise for you.”

Her eyes lit up. “Really? Do tell.”

Mom gave me a thumbs up over her shoulder before making herself scarce. I helped Savannah down from her stool and led her outside. The midnight sky was a canvas of stars, the moon a crescent hidden behind the trees.

“Where are you taking me?” she asked after several minutes of walking through the woods. She didn’t seem scared, just curious, as we followed the trail my father had carved out years ago.

“Remember what I said about secrets,” I murmured. “It wouldn’t be one if I told you.”

She smiled. “And I never got the chance to kiss it out of you this week. Too bad, your loss.”

I wrapped my arm around her waist and whispered in her ear, “I’ll agree to that.”

Savannah nestled into the crook of my arm, allowing me to guide her blindly through the woods. As the trees began to thin, Savannah quickened her pace, trying to outrun me.

She let out a yelp when I hoisted her over my shoulder like a caveman. “Come on, Dax. Put me out of my misery.”

Once we reached the clearing, I set her down gently, catching her shoulders before she could spin around. Her hazel eyes sparkled in the moonlight, her face alight with anticipation.

“This is because I love you, Savannah Harper. Because you’ll always be mine, no matter what happens. This is where we’ll spend our lives together.”

Realization dawned on her, and she spun around so quickly I couldn’t stop her. She froze when she saw the cottage nestled in the woods, a cobblestone path leading to a wraparound porch adorned with flowers.

Savannah’s breath hitched, her heart pounding erratically. I was about to voice my concern when she turned to look at me, tears glistening on her cheeks.

“Baby,” I whispered, reaching for her, but she took a step back.

“You built this for me?” she asked in a soft voice.

I nodded, sliding one hand into the pocket of my jeans. “Yeah. My dad helped. I’ve been working on it for years. As cliché as it sounds, I’m serious when I say, I’ve been waiting my entire life for you, Savannah.

I didn’t know what you would look like, or when you would come, but I knew you would.”

Savannah covered her mouth to stifle a sob. She reached out and took my hand. “Show me.”

I led her along the pathway, up the stairs, and pulled the key from my pocket. The cottage had four bedrooms—I didn’t want to make assumptions about how many children we would have, but I wanted to leave the option open.

I flipped the light switch, a warm swirl of anticipation tingling on my skin as she stepped over the threshold onto the light wood floors. She took in the open floor plan, the gray and white furniture, the bright lighting.

“My God… It’s perfect,” she whispered.

I chuckled. “You haven’t seen the entire house yet. Come on, I’ll show you.”

We toured the house, from the bathroom with its marble clawfoot tub and granite sinks, to the glass shower with a hanging showerhead.

I saved our bedroom for last, letting her walk inside first. I’d spent months selecting the wooden bedframe, the shaggy gray rugs, the matching chest of drawers, and the perfect spot for the TV.

If I had anything to do with it, we wouldn’t have much time for TV. Savannah turned to look up at me, her cheeks flushed, her breath coming in quick gasps. “Daxton.”

“Hmm?” I asked, tracing my finger along the doorframe, my gaze settling back on her.

“I want you to mark me.”