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Ellie was staying at a local inn. She was excited that her parents had decided to let her accompany her boyfriend and his grandparents to visit Leila. She knew Kieran had not talked to Leila or Jasper about bring her but as a new Shifter she had been desperate to mee some of her own. So far Kieran and Leila were the only other Shifters she had ever met.
'Kier, will you bring Leila here? I really am hoping to see her.' She sent via text. Kieran and Ellie's relationship was new and exciting. They had been dating for just over two months, and it had sort of just happened.

When Elle had discovered she was a Shifter she had sought her childhood friend out. They had grown a bit apart over the last few years, but she had not been shy about revealing herself as a Shifter. The pair had worked together on Shifting and learning to work with their wolves. Ellie pouted when she got Kieran's response. Apparently they would not be returning to the room just yet.

It was much later in the evening. The entire Pack was in the main house. They were eating in the large dining room tonight since everyone had come for dinner, and they had four guests as well. The Pack were all curious and a bit excited to meet Leila's family.

Dinner wasn't fancy but it was hearty and satisfying. A home made beef stew, the carrots in the stew came from their garden. unfortunately the potatoes didn't. There were large full biscuits to go with the stew, and Leila's favorite Jasmine rice. There were also two smaller bowls on the side. One of plain egg noodles, and one of mashed potatoes. Some of the Pack members weren't fond of rice.

For dessert there were three fresh baked apple pies, and two pumpkins and one Pecan Pie. Leila's Grandmother had made the Pecan Pie, and it was one of Leila's favorite. In her opinion she had never tasted a better Pecan Pie then her Grandmother's.

Kieran sat to Leila's right. Jasper to her left. Her Grandmother was across from her. Her Grandfather sat to his Grandmother's right which put him directly across from Jasper. Ellie sat to her Grandmother's left which put her across from Kieran. the looks Kieran and Ellie kept shooting one another clued Leila into why exactly Ellie was there. Ellie and Kieran were dating. It was a new relationship, and the pair didn't like being apart just yet. Leila was a bit surprised but kept it to herself. After all she new Ellie well, and had always liked her.
"So Jasper...what is it you do for a living?" Her Grandfather asked. Jasper looked up calmly.
"I'm an Electrician."
"So that was an electrical emergency you left to take care of earlier?"
"No sir. That was a fire I left to take care of."
"Jasper, Hunter, Aaron and Bobby are all volunteer fire fighters in town. " Leila said, clearly proud of them all.Her Grandfather looked around the table.
"Is Bobby the one with the hippie hair?" He asked and several of the guys started dying laughing.
"No Pop-pop. Avery is the one with the hippie hair, sorry Avery!" Leila added quickly.
"Bobby is the stocky one. Bobby raise your hand." Bobby complied and her Grandfather nodded his head.

Leila frowned as she watched her Grandfather eat. He was great with people, names, places, and stories. He seemed very much unlike himself.
"You sure you aren't a Cult?" He asked and looked from Jasper to Hunter, and then Terra.
"Pop-pop!" Kieran started cracking up. Her Grandmother laughed too.
"Leila, you can't deny that this many men and barely any women here. Out in the middle of nowhere doesn't seem crazy. Like this communes and cults."
"Don't drink the Kool-Aid!" Kieran added and Leila elbowed him. He laughed harder and Ellie tried to give Kieran a stern look.

Most of the Pack members who did not live in the main house had already left for the evening. Jasper, Leila, Kieran, her Grandparents and Ellie were all seated in the smaller living room. Hunter, Terra and their little had went up to their room for the evening.

Leila's grandparents insisted that they would go stay in the Motel in town. They would be back first thing in the morning. Leila had just saw them out and Jasper was trying to suggest that they go upstairs when they heard the door. Jasper growled in frustration as his wife stepped away.
"Go up Leila. I will be up shortly." Leila blew him a kiss and then pulled her top off. She tossed it to her husband and she turned and walked off.
"Tease!" He called and dropped her shirt onto the coffee table.

He moved to the door though he wanted to chase his wife to their bedroom. He was still finding it hard to keep his hands off of her. She was hot and cold nowadays. Some days she completely shut down his advances. That was definitely true the week after she found out she was pregnant, in fact this was her first advance since the news. He on the other hand had been even more attracted to her.

When he opened the door he was surprised to see a member of Meadow's Pack. The member wasted no time in explaining what had happened in Meadow's territory. Jasper growled in frustration and anger. He hurriedly moved through the house. He gathered up Aaron and Bobby, and one other man he trusted. A man named Gunner, Gunner was a bit weird but very trustworthy.

The small quartet hurried to Meadow's territory. Her messenger traveled with them but he was hanging back. Already pretty exhausted from the first trip to their territory. They made it to Meadow's house in record time.

"Jasper is out doing a check search of the perimeter." Aaron stated after he shifted back. He stepped toward Meadow.
"We are all very sorry to hear of your Pack's lost. We are all here to offer our services to you Meadow. Tell us what you need from us." Aaron was Jasper's most reliable Pack member. He would make a wonderful Beta and Alpha one day. If that was actually what Aaron ever wanted for himself.

Jasper finally went into the house. He had Aaron, Bobby and gunner go patrol. He would only trust his own Pack with such an important task. It wasn't that he distrusted Meadow's Pack, it's that he had serious questions about their security. There was no way two elevated members of the Pack should have been killed by common hunters. There should have been no way they got close enough to the Pack.
"So Meadow, what is it you want us to do? Find them? Kill them? I will not let them live. They have no intention of allowing us to live our lives peacefully. So I will not show them mercy." His features looked tight, and set. Like he was was wearing some sort of mask.

Jasper traveled back to his territory. It was late when he finally crawled into bed beside his sleeping wife. He brushed her hair away from her face and kissed her cheek gently. He did not want to wake her. He curled up behind her. Sliding his hand around her belly to cradle it.

He was still amazed that he was married and would be a Father soon. He loved the little belly she was getting, and couldn't resist touching it when the opportunity presented itself. The thought that growing inside this beautiful young woman was their child. His child. The idea was amazing and just mind blowing. He was still wrapping his mind around it.

The next morning Jasper, Hunter, Leila and Terra were in the kitchen talking. Jasper was filling them all in on what happened in Meadow's territory. Kieran and Ellie arrived, Jasper was surprised but once Leila spoke up that she had invited them he simply accepted it. He had been about to ask Leila to travel to Kegan's territory to inform them of what was going on, but much to his relief he didn't have too. He asked Kieran to make the trip instead. He did not want his pregnant wife make that trip alone. Hunter couldn't because of his injury, and Terra was not known well in that Pack.

The next morning meadow had awaken in an melted ice bath. "That's just great." She mumbled. She got out and took a lurk warm shower. She changed into a a nice airy dress and went about her day. She ate breakfast with the pack. She started on her paperwork for the day. Her parents will was sitting on her desk. They had left everything to her. It was still so hard for her to believe they were gone. She looked up at their canvas on the wall. "I miss you already." She said toward the picture. She would wait around for everyone's arrival in her office as she was working through the pain of planning their funeral.