#Chapter 46: The Scent of a Challenging Dominant

ELIJAH’s POV
There was a knock on the door just after Ava had left the house. While I had decided to work from home for the rest of the week I was adamant about being interrupted for any reason. And the person at the door was persist to getting my attention.
Opening the door I was greeted by someone that had never been around my home before. I knew my regular mailman and the deliveryman that frequently dropped off packages to my home. This man was neither of them.
He was tall but just a few inches shorter than I was. He seemed unkept with his beard. I could not tell about his hair due to the hat he smashed down on his head.
“Good morning, sir.” The man said with a bright smile. At least he was polite. The mailman grunted at me the first few times delivering mail. “I have a bouquet delivery and all I need from you is to sign.”
As I took the clipboard and began to sign I looked at the flowers in his hands. They were without question expensive. White rose decorated the outside layer. As I took the arrangement from him my eyes kept hold on the bouquet. We said our goodbye and I shut the door.
I place them on the table and before getting back to work I examen the gift. The vase was a crystal green filled half way with water. While the out layer of the arrangement had white roses the middle showed a single pink and white orchid demanding attention. Around the orchid were a few pink camelias.
I reached for the card but I was puzzled. There was no indications as to whom it was from. It only read To: Ava.
I just chalked it up to a fan that admired Ava’s work and was too shy to include detail about themselves.
But I was completely mistaken. For the next few days flowers were being left at my door. Different arrangements all more expensive than the last, but none of them were signed.
To: Ava that was all the cards read. At this point I figured Sally was sending flowers from Ava’s fans to my home address.
I decided to call her to see if something could be done.
“Good morning, Sally Roggen speaking.” Her voice was cheerful this morning.
“Hey, Sally, its Elijah.”
“Oh, Mr. Connery, how are you?”
“I am good but I need to ask a favor could you not give my personal address for Ava’s gifts to be sent here. I would appreciate it.” I did not want to be rude but it was getting to be to much.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t understand. All of Ava’s personal effects and gifts are sent to a P..O. Box and then I bring them to her studio apartment. I never gave your address as a forward for any of Ava’s fan mail or gifts.”
“Really,” I said looking at the newest arrangemtnt on my kitchen counter. Most of them had not been properly taken care of before being delievered so they died within a few hours. But this bouquet was freshly picked.
It was the same color I had been seeing for days now. Pink camelias, pink orchids and white lilies. Pink and white were symbols of love and of longing. But the color was not what go to me.
I felt compelled to smell the bouquet and as I took a whiff I instantly regretted it. I felt my wolf take over as my body began to tremble. I was over the edge and fighting Neptune for control.
The bouquet was covered in someone else’ scent and it was not humans. It was the scent of an ALpha. His pheromones were coated around the flowers and it was clear he was staking his claim on his bitch.
Ava.
I swallowed my spit and took off out the door. I needed fresh air. I needed to clear my head. Any longer with that scent around me who know what would happen.
I could feel my wolf settle and calm down with the outside air calming the anger inside me. As I gained control I was happy to see that I left the bay doors of the kitchen open to air out the scent.
I knew I had to go back inside and get rid of everything the Alpha left for Ava. I quickly grabbed the flowers and heard a the sound of something falling on the floor. Hidden inside the flowers was a letter and a small square shaped gift box.
I was not going to take the time abd read the letter. Even though I wanted to know who this was I did not want to ply in Ava’s life. So I went to the backyard and tossed the gifts on the ground and stomped the my shed.
I had an array of tools need for my yard and lawn. I grabbed the rusted shovel that was leaning against one of the walls and trotted out the door. Wasting little time I drove the shovel into the dirt and slammed my foot against the it to drive it deeper into the hole.
With every thought that ran through my mind left me seething. Who was the Alpha that was leaving presents for Ava? How did he know she was here?
As quickly as I dug the hole I kicked the gifts inside the pit and covered up my secret. I felt like a dog hiding a tore shoe from his owner. I did not want to hid this from Ava but something about this made me uneasy.
I slowly returned the shovel back to my shed and after kicking off my mud covered shoes I walked back into the house. I left my work unattended and unfinished; I needed a shower. I needed to calm my still lingering anger and I hot shower would help.
As I entered the bathroom and turned the shower on I had not realized how much Ava had effected my life. While her clothing and personal items were in the guest room there were some night were she would sleep in bed with me.
Her scent was everywhere I turned and it calmed me down as I breathed her in. Maybe that’s why I was rattled so quickly by the thought of another male trying to court Ava. I turned the shower off and exited out of the bathroom.
While I was getting dressed I heard the front door open and then shut. Ava was home. For some reason that thought brought a smile to my face.
I walked down the kitchen to see her with bags of take out one in each hand. When our eyes met she looked away blushing.
“I knew you would be working all day and since I was in meetings I thought it would be nice to order out.” Ava said.
She placed the bags on the kitchen counter and started pulling out containers.
“Let’s see we have Pad-Thai. There is shawarma in this container. And this is nana bread in the foil paper, curry and rice in this container.” Ava said as she brough her hands together.
“Looks amazing.” I said as I handed her a plate. She sat down at and I began to put my work and laptop in my workbag. While I sat down she opened each container and handed me for us to self-serve.
When I took a bite I noticed Ava shifting in her seat as if she was nervous about something.
“Alright, kitten, what do you have to tell me?” I said looked into her hazel eyes.
“So there is a new role in a drama that I was asked to appear in and I was hoping that I could audition and see if I get it.” Ava said.
I stopped chewing for a moment and looked up at the woman in front of me.
“I know I agreed that I would take it easy on the roles because of my pregnancy but this one is really great for me. And I would be so busy working that I would not be bothering you.”
“You are not bothering me Ava. Are they going to be able to work around your appointments?”
“It is too soon to tell but if I get the role you or Sally can discuss it with them. And I promise not to strain myself.”
I let out a deep sigh and gave in to the tiny woman’s demands. “Alright, as look as its not going to put a strain on you or the child; I don’t see why not.”
In a rush she jumped out of her chair ran to me and gave me a hug.
“Thank you so much Elijah. You won’t regret this.” Without even thinking she gave me a peck on the lips and hurried back to her food.
“The down side is if I get the part I won’t be here as much.”
That means you won’t see anymore gifts either.
Even though I would be disappointed not seeing her around as much I knew I needed to keep Ava out of this Alpha’s reach til I knew more about him.