Chapter Eight

Ann hadn't known how long it could take a week to pass until she had to wait for their time at the Pearl Night Clan to be over. Luckily for all the bolstering and promises, the alpha that had invaded her thoughts and room had made. She had not seen him around any longer after that night. She was sure that proved he was just looking for a game to play and she was not going to be his playmate. And it did not disappoint her a bit.

Not one little bit, she even had gotten good at ignoring that little voice that liked to chant lair at her whenever she thought of him. And she tried to think of him as little as her waking mind would let her. Her dreaming mind she was still trying to control.

Walking back into the clinic that Monday ready to sort through the Docs message Ann could not have been happier. Despite what that stupid gnat in her head said.

She was back home for a couple of months in her cozy little apartment; away from that pack of testosterone junkies and away from the memory of- no she would not think of him again.

She would only think of the promise of the new Pack territory that waited for her and a Clan rich with history and what Doc had promised to be the most beautiful mountain scenery. She would enjoy her toxic masculinity free time to the fullest before then.

There would be so much to explore when they got there, though maybe not much in the way of free time. Ann still had two months to plan out the trip down to the minute hopefully leaving time for her to really indulge in her curiosity. However, this was a business trip and was subject to the whims of babies and fetuses who would demand attention both in and out of their mothers' bellies. But Ann did not see that as a downside, only as another pro to her list.

Ann loved midwifery especially Were midwifery that was a profession rich in its own past and practices. She had stumbled upon it in her first few weeks with doc and taken to it like a fish to water. Dr. Ohwell had been more than pleased to see this and encourage her in her pursuit as there were not many midwives versed in Were biology.

Taking a moment while opening the clinic, powering up computers, and turning on light, Ann reflected on the irony of it all. When she was browsing for work right out of college at twenty-one with a basic degree in general studies wandering where her life would go. She had been so sure that her life was going to be dull and boring like everything else in her life.

Despite her love of travel and history and excitement, she would most likely end up a gofer for some manager with a superiority complex that ran her ragged and kept her away from her family, as her mother had. Or an absentee drifter that never really stayed one or the other pinching and begging for pennies like her father. Or maybe even overworking herself for years upon years in a dead-end position until they told her she was too old to work and left her with barely enough to live on afterward like her grandfather. While she loved her family, she did not want that kind of fate. She wanted love and adventure and to do something with her life.

Who would have thought that a little blurred for a position sweeping floors and scrubbing vomit from a clinic floor would lead her here? Sitting down at a desk with her name on a little placard copying and filtering messages for a well-respected Were doctor. Knowing the worlds of Weres exited and traveling the world to care for them.

Last year she had been in china helping a Were dragon! In a year they were supposed to go to Africa to do a basic check-up on a Were zebra. Who would have thought that? Or that Ann would be will on her to becoming a fully licensed and trained Were midwife? That was far from the dull life she had assumed waited for her. Though she was still without love it did not matter much. No matter what the gnat chanting in her ear told her.

The irony was funny and it causes a small laugh to pull from her throat as she scribed down the messages left at the office in her and the doc's absents that seemed important until one of them broke her chain of thought.

An aged female voice spoke over the phone that caught Ann's attention. "Hello, Doctor Ohwell? This is Maria again." Ann had never had anyone leave a message with only their first name before. "I was wondering if instead of in two months if you could come and set up at our clan house within the next week or so. There have been some developments that have raised some of the hackles of the male mate. We would very much appreciate it if you could come in a soon as possible. Please call me --" Then the message faded to the usual call back and follow-up information.

This the trip she had been dying for and they were being called in early? Ann was conflicted filled with worry and excitement all at the same time. She was worried for the woman carrying hoping that they were alright and that there was not something serious happening. Male Weres could be hypersensitive to their pregnant mates so it could be something small right? Yet Ann was also shaking from the anticipation of leaving all that much sooner. There would be that much more time to explore and indulge herself in the wonders that the Doc had promised her.

Ann didn't even finish copying the message before Doctor Ohwell entered the clinic wishing her a good morning juggling their usual breakfast and a coffee container in each of his large thin hands.

"Doc!" Ann shouted rushing to her feet then over to the old male to take the daily fuel from his hold. "Guess what! Guess what?"

"What is it, child? Did Santa come early?" The doctor teased her watching as she hopped about like a youngster on Christmas morning.

"No." She shot back attempting to calm her excitement rather poorly. Walking back to her desk still with a little too much pep bouncing her along. "We got a call this morning."

"Oh, is it from Gora again? You are rather enthusiastic about that trip. Though I keep reminding you it is a way away." Ohwell shuffled behind her smiling at the youthful spirit that sparked a twitch of content and joy in his eye. "You are always so energetic but especially so this morning."

"No this not about the Africa trip." She corrected looking through the breakfast bag then looking up at the successfully found a banana danish waiting for her. "We've been called in early." She beamed turning around sparkles nearly falling from her wide eyes. "That mountain Pack you were telling me about wants us to come in early."

The old male blinked for a moment taking in her words before his smile fell a bit. "Oh, dear is there something wrong?"

"I don't think so." Ann shrugged taking a big bite of her danish before pulling her own morning beverage from the container her mentor had carried in. "It just sounds like the male mates are getting all twisted up. And you know wolves if one started stressing then they're all on edge. From what you have told me this clan never had this many females carrying at the same time. It's in the double digits so it most likely just hormones running higher than normal and not just from the mothers."

Ann speculated out loud and it seemed as if the Doc agreed with her. "Thats true, you are probably right. Who called to make the request?"

"Someone name Maria. She sounds nice."

Ohwell nodded taking in the information moving towards his own office. "The Luna then? Yes, she is a sweet old female and if she made the call then there it is most liking not as serious as I feared. I will call her and make the arrangements then."

Ann put down her breakfast before picking up his following the old bird to his office. "I am ready when you are." She informed him placing his meal on top of his desk.

"Are you sure we just got back? Surely you would like to rest around here for a bit?"

"What for?" Ann asked standing up and looking at him. "I would like much more to go out and learn and explore. Besides the soon we get there the soon that nice Luna and those women will get to rest. Their mates are probably up everyone's butt with worry and growling everyone to deaf." Ann rolled her eyes as she thought of the typically Were male behavior taking caution to avoid thinking of one specific male Were.

Ohwell nodded in agreement before shooing the girl away and picking up the call to make the arrangements.