#Chapter 42: Welcome to the Pack lands

Ava’s POV
After sharing a kiss with Elijah in his office I tried my hardest to avoid him. And I could tell he did the same. While I took on a few new projects and auditions, whether it was at work or in his house, Elijah stayed in his office.
It was not until he was packing to leave for the werewolf realm that he acknowledged me. It had been three days. Maybe four.
Elijah knocked on the door frame of the door. I looked up from the book that I had been reading. Another required reading that the lessons I was taking at home where assigned to me. Elijah cleared his throat to keep my attention.
“So today I leave for my pack lands. Where you still wanting to accompany me there?” Elijah said.
“You swear you are not going to tow me off to the Undergrounds?” I said to the Alpha. The Undergrounds were a prison that held weres that broke laws of the pack or even certain human laws. Many waited there before their sentence was carried out.
“Kitten I thought I was clear that as long as you are straight with me I am not going to cart you off.” I could tell that he was getting short with me.
“Then I guess I should get packing.” I said as I got up from the chair. Elijah told me that he would be meeting me down stairs. Most of my clothes were just jeans, tee shirts, and shorts that I would pack. Since I would be visiting Elijah’s pack I knew that there would be no need for fancy clothes.
Looking at Elijah’s attire of dark washed jeans, a plain white shirt that hugged his muscle and running shoes I know that I was packing light.
Elijah showed me the door way that he had been using to pass through the realms and I could not deny that I was impressed. This was almost like the portals that my mother would open for us to travel back and forth. But she made sure that her portals were temporary.
To make sure that we never left a magic trail. She use to tell me that as a warning. Looking back I think that is how we got caught. When we walked through the doorway like portal I felt a surge pass through me. It was so warm and welcoming, it felt like my mother was walking me through the portals for the first time.
When we reached the other side I saw only green. Rolling hills that stretch as far as my eyes could see. I heard laughter and playing followed by several children running away from something.
They stopped and shouted to us acknowledging Elijah. “Mister Elijah is here!” One child with a torn shirt said from myself to Elijah.
“Hiya Alpha Eli.” A little girl said as she grabbed Elijah’s hand and move towards the houses.
“Will you play with us?” Another little boy smiled as he grabbed my hand and followed suit.
It made my heart swell when I saw Elijah toss the little girl in the air and catch her. He placed her on his shoulder as we walked into the clearing.
He looked down at the little boy with a scowl. “Your mother is going to be crossed with you having ruined your clothes.”
“I was playing with one of the twins and he tossed me in the air with his teeth.” The little boy shouted as he lifted his hands above his head.
“It’s true Alpha Eli. Twin was chasing us til you and the pretty lady came.” The little girl said.
“Is that so? Then I need to have a talk with the twins.” Elijah said as he gently put the little girl on the ground. “Run home to your mothers now. I have to get Miss Ava settle in.”
“Bye Mister Elijah.” The young boy said with a smile. He was obvious trying to get a rise out of Elijah.
“It’s Alpha Elijah, you dummy.” The boy with the torn shirt said playfully shoving the other boy.
“Bye Misses Ava!” The little girl shouted as she turned around running after the boys.
We both laughed as he ushered me towards the porch of the house that faced the sunset.
“Alpha Eli?” I questioned as he unlocked the door.
“Some of the kids had a hard time with their J’s so Eli is easier.” Elijah said with a shrug. “Come on I’ll show you were you’ll be sleeping.”
After Elijah showed me the guest bedroom of his family home he told me to get ready for dinner with some of the pack members.
As I got dressed I stared at my body in the mirror. I had not gained any weight yet but I still moved my hands over my stomach. My mind traveled back to how the kids reacted to our arrival.
I could not help but smile at the way that Elijah handled the children. It made me wonder how he would treat my child. How he would treat me knowing that this child in my belly was for another man.
I took a deep breath trying to steady myself. Ever since I found out I was pregnant I found it harder to control my emotions. I was upset by the littlest measures. Yesterday I was able to cry easily during filming because someone had taken the last chocolate bagel.
I had snapped at Sally a few days ago when she mentioned that I was looking a little paler than usual. I knew she was worried about my health but I told her to mind her business and worry about us landing gigs for the company. I did apologize to her later that day but I still felt slighted towards her.
I quickly got dressed and made my way downstairs to see Elijah talking to someone.
“Ah there she is.” Elijah said with a smile in my direction. Sitting down on the couch was a elderly woman with her silver hair pinned up. She wore black slacks, a blue blouse and to complete her outfit she wore a pair of black slip-on shoes.
“Ava, this is Julian. She is the doctor for the pack.” Elijah said introducing the woman to me.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Ava. And I see that you are expecting.” Julian said.
“Did you tell her,” I asked Elijah. It was harsher than I had wanted to say.
Elijah went to answer me but Julian cut him off. “He did not need to. I have been the pack’s doctor for decades and I can tell a sick wolf from an expecting mother. Your aura is glowing so brightly.” She patted my hands and smiled.
“Julian has delivered majority of the pups in the pack. The ones she has not she has corresponded with the doctors that have.” Elijah said boosting the woman’s status only to have her shushed him.
I giggled a little by their interaction with one another. “Tomorrow if you would like I will give you a examination and have you give that to your human physician.” Julian said as she began to stand up and make her way to the door.
“I would like that thank you so much, Julian.” I said.
Elijah walked Julian to the door and escorted me out as well. We made our way to a picnic area that had four picnic tables arranged with bright colored table clothes and tableware.
I saw another table but long than the others that had rows of arranged covered plates and bowls. There were two bowls of punch located on each end of the table as well. I also saw a cooler that was set on the ground.
As Elijah took a seat at the end of table he motioned for me to join him. On his left was a man that I recognized and a few that were strangers to me.
“Hey there trouble maker,” the leaner male with short brown hair said to me. I recognized him as Elijah’s right hand man whenever he was around. Knowing that both Elijah and this man were both werewolves meant that he was Elijah’s Beta.
“Trouble Maker?” I said. I was confused. But no one justified his nickname.
“Grayson, behave yourself for once.” An older gentleman wearing glasses and slacks said as he sat down next to Grayson. “Good evening Miss Ava, I apologize for the simpletons that have surrounded you. My name is Lewis, Elijah’s Gamma.” The man said, introducing himself shaking my hand.
I saw the majority of the men at the table growling at his words.
“Watch yourself, Lewis. Last time you put your foot in your mouth; you and Grayson were fighting in the Pitts.” Elijah said as he took a swig of beer. Everyone around them started laughing that was except for myself, Lewis, and Grayson.
For a moment I thought that I saw Grayson’s hairs stand on ends. I knew about Pitts but I did not hear anyone talk about them so coyly. This pack was truly different from Jacob’s pack.
Lewis met Grayson’s glaring eyes and extended his forearm. Grayson extended his opposite arm and his hand clasped Lewis’s forearm. Lewis mimicked the motion. I felt myself let out a sigh of relief.
I exhaled a breath I did not know holding on to.
“Don’t worry, they are not going to fight with me around.” A voice whispered closely in my ear. It sent shivers down my spine. I did not need to look behind me to know how close Elijah was next to me, but I could not bring myself to move away.
It was like that his hold on me was getting tighter and I did not want to pull away anymore.