Chapter Eleven

When the doc had said Friday morning, he had meant morning. The week leading up to the trip she had been so excite that it had nearly impossible to sleep. There was such so much to do so little time to do it in. She barely remembered to pack between calling family to let them know she was out of town and informing her land load. And there were still a million other things that needed her attention on top of working at the clinic. With more patients and messages and messes to take care of.

The afternoon before the trip Ann called her mentor so as to double check time. When he had told her to be at the clinic at five thirty, she was a little nervous about being up so early with such little sleep.

It didn't matter however, as Ann didn't sleep at all that night. No matter how hard she tried or how many times she turned from way to the other. She just could not fall asleep. So finally, giving up Ann decided to get ready. Even with her things prepacked and set to the side. She still double checked all her luggage and to do list trying to kill as much time as possible.

Even stalling for as long as she did Ann still ended up at the office arriving at four forty-five. At least she wasn't there a fill hour early. Ohwell arrived at five ten to Ann leaning against the clinic's locked door eyes closed trying to get at least a few seconds of shut eye. Worried that once again she would not be able to sleep.

"My you are here early." Ohwell chuckled pulling a black wheeled travel case behind him. "You more eager than had I had anticipated."

Ann shook her head. "No, it's not that. I mean yes, I am excited. But this is the first time that I am actually going to have an active role in one of our trips. Not just as an extra pair of hands." Ann blinked looking away for a moment. "I am just nerves. What if I don't do live up to expectations?" "Who's" The doc asked tilting his head to the side. Ann was not sure if he was impersonating and owl to try and calm her down. Or if his Were owl instincts just took over. She would bet on a bit of both but it did not help her nerves at all.

"Everyone's, but myself mostly," She admitted closing her eyes again.

Ohwell chuckled again moving forwards putting a hand lightly on Ann's shoulder. That was odd doc would usually give her a hug when she was doubting herself. The doc had been a bit distant lately, he was still there to talk with but it just felt like he was pulling away from her. Though it could have been Ann over thinking everything with her nerves jittering about. But she could have really used his hug.

She would never say it out loud though. Ann hate to show weakness even to those she trusts. It was one thing to admit a problem it was another to ask someone for comfort from sad problem. She hated to ask for physical contact so Ann just nodded taking in the slight gesture of comfort.

A large dark blue car pulled up in front of them just a few second before five thirty. Ann blinked for a moment think to herself that for large spenders this clan was supposed to be for forking over all the founds for this trip these cars where rather sensible. They were large enough to hold the two Weres driving them as well as to comfortably seat Ann and the Doc. Also, to leave plenty of room in the trunk for luggage. They were also Hybrids kind of cars so that meant that the gas mileage was good. Ann also assumed it would have all the safety features newer cars tended to have.

Though they two cars was not used cars they was not some outrageous show of wealth she had been expecting. Maybe this was a sign that everything was not going to be as bad as she feared it might be. That was until the large Weres stepped out of the vehicles, though they were not nearly as big one particular Were that haunter her.

Ann was not sure when she started to compare Weres. But it seemed that now she was comparing every Were she came across with the one male she who shadowed in her mind.

Shaking the thought away Ann started to help put her bags in the trunk. The strangers tried to stop her as many male Weres tended to look at her as some weak little flower. These Were's were especially bad. They kept calling her miss even after the first time when Ann had given them her name. When they were trying to take her bags, they avoided touching her as if she was carrying the plague.

Ohwell said that this clan had modern ideals. These Were's sure were not treating her as a modern woman. She finally got her bags into the vehicle using that their aversion to touching her to her advantage.

She finally climbed into the back seat of one of the cars slamming the door hard. It only took a moment for the doctor to climb into the back with her. Leaving the other car completely empty. He was smirking with a knowing mischievous look in his eye. "Are we enjoying the trip yet?"

Ann only gave him a hard look before closing her eyes. It would be about an hour ride to the airport depending on the traffic. That should be enough time for her to get in a descent nap and soft her stony mood. Ohwell just chuckle before settling back into the, admittedly comfortable, cloth seats.

The drive to the airport was quiet Ann just sat back trying to nap as Ohwell... Well, she wasn't sure what Ohwell was doing but he was quite. The car was very comfortable and was one of the smoothest rides she had ever experienced. The wonder of new cars thought it could just be the model. She wondered if a used model of this type of ride would be just as smooth. Ann was about to ask what year or model their ride was.

Though when she opened her eyes Ann frowned a noticing that they were not going the normal way to the airport. Slightly looking over to the doc for reassurance he seemed relaxed. Simply reading a small book in his hands eye down. Ann tapped her mentor's arm to get his attention. She was surprised to see him start, as Ohwell was such a calm man. He usually welcomed psychical contact. Ann could not understand how her tapping him would cause such a reaction.

Putting it aside for a moment Ann asked what was bothering her at the moment. "Doctor, this is not the way towards airport."

Ohwell looked out the window for a moment before turning back to the young woman with a reassuring smile. "Oh yes, we are not going to the public airport. There is a privately owned air strip that a few clans with their own planes use every now and then. It's a bit farther out then where we normally go, but the time we save not going through security makes up for the extra travel time."

Ann's jaw dropped, "We are taking a private plane?" Ohwell nodded turning back to his book. Ann pulled his sleeve watching him tense up. It was so unusual finally having enough Ann asked what she had been dying to know since this whole bazar string of evens happened. "Oliver what is going on?" She asked her voice becoming stern. 'We have never been invited to use a private plane before. You have been acting odd and your being really distant. I want answers."

Ohwell let out a soft sigh lowering the book before turning to look at a with a small sad smile. "I am sorry Ann. I did want to make you think I was being distant. Since you are going to be spending more time around one on one with a mated male on this trip it's just better if you don't have much of my scent on you." Ann nodded that did make since. Male mates tended to be ants if someone had a male scent on them. "I didn't want to talk about it and make you overly cautious I know what a worry worm you are."

"Worry wart," She correct him before motioning for him to continue

"As for the private plane. I thought it would be a nice surprise since you have never been on one." Ohwell smiled at him again. Again, this made since to Ann causing her to smile. "Oh, I guess I was just a little too nervous." Ann laughed a little embarrassed.

Ann closed her eyes again letting out a deep breath feeling herself relax a little for the first time since the arrangement for the trip had been finalized. "I guess I am just tense." Ohwell made a sound to inform her that he agreed with that guess, then she assumed went back to his book while she rested her eyes still closed.

They arrived at the airstrip sooner then she had expected. Once she was out of the car Ann looked around spotting only one plane in the area. She assumed that was the plane that they would be riding in. It was a smaller plane but looked durable and well crafted. "Wow," Ann gasped turning back to Ohwell with a smile. Silently letting him know that she did enjoy his little make shift surprise to calm her down.

"Yes I am glad they sent one of their smaller planes. " Ohwell agreed Ann turned with her mouth open looking at the plane again. This clan had more than one plane? This clan was turning out to be more and more load than she had originally thought. She was also growing a little impressed how they didn't seem to want to boast about said wealth.

"This is the fastest plane the clan owns." One of the Weres that had accompanied them spoke up her bags already in his hands. Ann was surprised she had not heard either of the stranger Were's talk the entire trip.

She even wondered at one point if they could speak. "The alpha wants you there as soon as possible." HE informed her to which Ann nodded, if they were going to calm rampaging males then it made perfect since that their Alpha wanted them to hurry. After all, keeping the peace in a clan was one of the jobs of an Alpha. "Then we better hurry to stop any furthers headaches from happening then."

The Weres Ann didn't know smiled in what looked like appreciation. Ann let the doc lead her onto the plane. Even with a faster flight that their exhort had promised this flight would still be a few hours. Maybe she could get some shut eye. Even if that plan failed, she could grill her mentor more on the Luna's thing that they had touched on before. So there would be something to do on the plane. She was surprised that she had never noticed or heard of another leader of a pack besides a Gia or Alpha.

Once inside the plane she was surprised to see how cozy the décor was. Every thing was colored with shades of cream and brown and a few touches of forest green spread throughout. Each of the seats looked like recliners with over stuffed green velvet pillows and thick brown throw blankets. There where only a few seats so the interior was spacious. Sadly, all thought of poking Ohwell for an impromptu lesson left her head. She rushed to a seat buckling in then covered herself with a blanket. She let out a sigh of relief as she pushing the seat back to relaxed position. IT was even more comfortable as she had imagined.

She was asleep before the plane even started rolling forward. It was peaceful flight and an even more peaceful rest. For the first time in a while, she was not hounded in her dreams by the hound dog that had been so forceful with her. In fact she had not dreams at all just pleasant quiet reat. When she was woken up to be informed the plane had landed, she didn't even register it. In a sleepy haze she moved from the plan to the car. Ann then immediately fell back asleep in the car that looked almost exactly like the one that had picked her and the doctor up at the clinic.

Ann didn't register how long the whole trip had taken as she caught up on almost a weeks worth of rest. All she knew was that she felt well rested when she felt someone shaking her awake in the car. "We there?" She groaned thinking it was the doctor who was trying to rouse her. That was until more of her sense started coming back to her as she left the haze of sleep.

That smell, where did she know that smell from, that warm touch on her arm and around her shoulder. She knew that touch. It only took a second for the piece to click in her head before her eyes flew opened meeting storm grey eyes flaked with deep forest green.

"Welcome home, my little mate."