Unscentable
Chapter 13

Piper

POV

Piper hit the treadmill at sun up, like she did every morning. Her ribs were still causing her pain, but Harper was working on them. She found Brandon next to her 15 minutes later. She smiled down at him as he stepped onto his own treadmill, frowned right at her and pointed to the bruising on her ribs, "What happened?"

"I'm alright, slight altercation with a man, trying to hurt a woman. I won." She grinned down at him

"So you think today's the day, you'll beat me?" Piper asked, distracting him with a challenge. "Maybe." he grinned right up at her as he turned on his machine.

Piper ran every day, about 18 kilometres in the morning and another 18 to 20 in the evening, depending on how she felt at the time. Both their treadmills were hooked to the iFIT app and she was currently running through Vermont. It was up on the screen with the iFIT trainer running and chatting away about the sights and when to breathe and when to kick it up a notch and when to slow it down. Her treadmill under full control of the iFIT app.

Brandon only ran every other day usually, but he had been running every morning with her since they got back. She didn't mind the company, liked running with him. "How's Aspen?" she asked him. "Sleeping, he's not awake every day." Brandon commented.

Piper wondered if that was because Brandon was too young or if it was because Aspen was too young to emerge fully. Or if pushing forward in Whistler, had been too much for the boy's wolf. "He's alright though? You're alright?" her.

"Yes, stop talking and trying to make me loose my breath." Brandon shot at her, then grinned "When he wakes up, he said we'll beat you."

Piper and Harper both snorted at him, fully amused now. "Good luck." they laughed at him "Challenge accepted."

"You're on mum." He grinned right back at Brandon got off the treadmill first with a huff, which had made her laugh. The morning was brisk, but sunny. They ate out on the deck of the dining room, which overlooked the woods of the Emerald Estates Park, and then she took him to school herself instead of him catching the bus.

Came home to work in her home studio on the 2nd floor till her appointment at 5pm this afternoon, where she dropped Brandon off at one of his friends' homes to hang out until she was done working. He didn't mind, happy to hang out and play soccer in the back yard till she came back to pick him up.

Arrived the same way she did the previous day, via the back entrance and courtyard, strolled up the stairs and let herself into her office, called Izzy to let her know she was in. Saw Izzy walk into her office and look right at her, a deep frown on her face. "What is it, Izzy?"

"Did you get into a fight yesterday on your way out?" she asked very directly.

"What?" Piper asked, shocked that she knew this. How could she know this?

"Mr Yummy came into the store today, this morning and tried to sweet talk me into giving up your home address." Izzy said as she sat down in the chair on the other side of Pipers desk.

Piper was staring at her now, goddess had the pack's Gamma charmed all of her information out of Izzy? "Did you tell him Izzy?" Piper asked, quite concerned.

"What? No! Of course, not Piper. I really just wanted to punch him in his handsome face most of the time." she shook her head "but then he told me. You got into a fight and were injured Piper. I was really worried." "Did you tell him after that?"

"No!" she shook her head" I know you would have called me right! If something happened to you.

"Of course I would have." Piper lied to her "Do look injured to you?" she stood up and even turned around so that Izzy could see all of her.

"No" Izzy nodded "they're playing dirty now. I don't like it, Piper, and I don't think they are going to leave you alone either."

Piper sighed, it didn't seem that way at all "Mr Yummy?" she wondered allowed not many could resist that man's charms, "You didn't get charmed by him? Like at all?"

"No, his attitude." she shook her head. "So super sure of himself. And what the hell is with that accent? That suddenly rolls out of him... I just," she shrugged, "got ticked off at him, seemed to surprise him too, that I wasn't all into him. Rolled my eyes at him at one point and he just stood and stared at me very shocked."

"Hmm." Piper smiled, though "I bet it did, that man is better with the ladies than anyone in Drake Industries." it was very interesting that Izzy was immune to Edwards's charm.

"Mr Drake himself, had more luck on that front. Almost had me telling him what he wanted yesterday. Got all smiles and charming at me in the store. Are they all like that?" "Yes unfortunately." Piper nodded "When they want something from you, that is."

"You know Piper, I noticed something about Mr Drake himself, while he was here up close and personal yesterday, and he only missed you by like 10 or 15 minutes too." "Mm, what did you notice?" she asked, curious herself now.

"That Brandon's eyes are exactly the same as Mr Drake's." Her look was very direct.

Piper said nothing at all. But trust Izzy to pick up on that, but then how could she miss it, those eyes were unmistakable so deep dark blue with those brilliant jewel green flecks all through them, they were kind of like looking at a blue green opals, very beautiful and mesmerising, unlike her caramel brown eyes.

"I'm guessing, he doesn't know then, That's why your reaction, why you're avoiding him, huh" Perceptive as ever, though not the reason she want to avoiding him at all.

Heard the door chime and sent Izzy down to answer it. The woman went even though Piper had not answered her question, she was not dumb.

Miss Harvey arrived promptly on time, to discuss her dress and produce a sketch of what she thought she might like. It was not a rough sketch either, turned out to be very detailed, so much so that Piper got the distinct feeling that it was not the girls' handiwork. Took a screenshot of it for reference. It felt very familiar to her, then asked who designed it? "Oh I did, but I had my friend draw it up. What do you think it will cost to make?"

Piper shrugged "That depends on a lot of things: fabrics, lace you choose, the beading quality and style, the buttons the type of underlay and if you want an inbuilt corset or not, what price are you looking at spending and do you know what material you want it made out of.

"Oh yes, I have a list." she pulled out a computer-printed list of materials and handed it to Piper "I like to come prepared." she smiled right at Piper.

Piper put her phone on her lap, and as she looked at the list in her hand of materials in her hand, she knew this was not the girls design, this dress was made by another designer. It was a Victoria Lambardi Design. She was damned certain of it. "Are you sure you designed this? I won't make another designer's dress."

"I did." she nodded "My friend is a brilliant sketch artist, is all."

"I can see that." Piper nodded, as she flicked the picture of the dress to Victoria's number to see if it was her design. Was now just waiting for confirmation.

It didn't take long for her phone to start ringing and Victoria's name popped right up on the screen.

"I'm sorry, do you mind if I take this?"

"Not at all, go ahead." Miss Harvey smiled. Piper placed the phone on the desk and hit the call button, put it on speaker phone, "Vic how are you?" saw Miss Harvey's eyes widen.

"I'm not very good Piper. Did you just send me a design drawing of my latest gown, that came out a month ago?"

"I believe so. I have a Miss Harvey here who's claiming it is hers, but I recognised your label right away, thought you'd like to know."

Watched as the girl shot to her feet, Piper held onto the sketch when she tried to take it from her.

"I want that girl's details, please Piper."

"No problem, I'll send them in detail, even attach the photo if you like."

"It's my design," Miss Harvey suddenly burst out.

"It's a crime to steal a designer's dress." She heard Victoria snapping over the line "and I'll be pressing charges, Piper, please detain her." Piper stood and the woman fled from her office. "Gone Vic, sorry running away as we speak."

"All good Piper, thanks for the heads up, what did she actually want?"

"To see how much it would cost me to make it.

But I know your style, you do love your bling." She smiled. "you know the girl?"

"I believe I do. I fired her about a month ago, one Miss Jade Harvey right,"

"Yes."

"Please do send me any details you have for her. That sketch went missing with her along with a few other things."

"Sure I'll flick you an email right now. And send the sketch and item list she provided me, by courier tomorrow right to your office."

"Thanks Piper."

"No worries, have a nice night." Piper hung up and did just that, she really did hate it when someone tried to pass off another's work as their own. Victoria was higher ranked in the bridal industry than Piper was, and she was actually a very nice person to boot. Friendly and happy to sit and chat with Piper at bridal shows, they'd had dinner a few times, and hung out at an after party of two.

She helped Izzy lock up the store and told her she would see her next week.

Izzy was off for the next 4 days, headed home for her sister's wedding on Sunday, reminded her not to take any of her father's crap, out there in Maine. She wasn't due back at work until Wednesday, then told her "now Izzy, don't do anything silly." all her meaning on don't sleep with some man while drunk and they both laughed then headed off in two different directions.

Piper frowned and turned around to look back behind her 3 times on the way from her store to where she had left her car in the car park, got the impression she was being followed or watched at least. Neither she nor Harper could pick up the Scent of a rogue or pack wolf, for that matter. Shook it off and got in the car, to go and pick Brandon up from his friend's house.

Stood in the kitchen preparing dinner while Brandon headed upstairs to shower after playing soccer the whole time she was gone, with his friends, more had turned up. They all lived close by, some just next door to where he had been, a good social group for him. She was happy about that.

Tonight, beef schnitzel with mash and veggies was on the menu. Not that Brandon was going to be happy about the vegetables part, he voiced on every occasion that he didn't like them, protested on occasion and had outright refused to eat them altogether at times. So stubborn at times.

She hollered up to him to come downstairs for dinner when it was ready and he whined. right away at the sight of the veggies. She saw it coming the minute his eyes landed on the plate.

"A compromise, you eat all your vegetables and I let you eat in front of the TV, even put on your favourite anime to watch."

That got his undivided attention, he smiled right at her and headed off with his plate.

Piper chuckled to herself, there was always a bribe to be had "f you cheat." She added "it will be vegetarian all week long, next week."

Saw his eyes go wide, he looked horrified by the idea, he knew that she would do it too. Pouted a little at her, "Come on mum, that's not fare." He moaned, "Aspen needs meat not vegetables."

'Ah, that cheeky little bugger' she thought, still smiling, playing the wolf card already. It didn't take him long. "Aspen will suffer if you cheat, as much as you will, because I mean, breakfast, lunch and dinners for 7 days, oh and snacks too."

Saw him shove a fork full of squash into his mouth and chew it, all unhappy like. Burst out laughing at his 'I'm eating it' expression, so hilarious, he could always make them laugh, even Harper was chortling at his antics.

She sank down on the lounge next to him, nudged him "You know, you and Aspen need carbs as well as protein to grow up big and strong."

"Your just trying to make me eat stupid vegetables." he muttered.

"There good for you."

"But taste like crap." He muttered as he put more in his mouth and screwed his face up to show he didn't like it.

Piper just laughed again, she did try to cater to his needs and only bought vegetables that she knew he would actually eat. Never bought green beans, or any beans for that matter. The boy wouldn't touch them, regardless of bribery, so she just didn't buy them. She retired to her studio to work some more after Brandon went to bed that night, would have to get up and go into the store first thing for Miss Whitmore's appointment and hoped the girl was over her tantrum from being put off last weekend, to this weekend. The dress she had ordered was complete.

Unless the girl had put on weight, that was, she'd insisted on a skin-tight gown and it had been adjusted twice now due to her weight change. This would be the last time. If no alteration was necessary, the girl could take it home with her and then she was on her

own.

Sat sewing beads into the dress she was currently working on until nearly 2 in the morning, before putting it back on the mannequin, finished it completely, stood and looked at it, smiled to herself, it had turned out lovely and she just knew that the young bride was going to love it, Hope was a sweet natured 25 year old girl, a medical student with lots of debt ahead of her, this dress was a luxury for her, and her parents unbeknownst to her had saved every spare penny for her wedding dress and so she had gotten exactly what she wanted. She would take it into the store tomorrow and call her to tell her it was completed.

Actually recalled Hope crying when her parents had told her she could have any dress in the store she wanted, that they had saved well for her wedding day. She was their only child and they wanted her to have a beautiful day. Piper had thought it was very sweet, and had given them a 15% discount on the dress to help them out, with the actual wedding, they'd tried to refuse her. She'd shrugged it off with a smile. It didn't bother her, and it was her store, her choice.

Was woken by Brandon at the cock of dawn and he was dressed and ready to go for a run, all super excited, yelling at her to get her butt out of bed. She could see Aspen was up and awake the flicker of white in his eyes while they were bouncing around, he was ready for that who's faster challenge, she got up and dressed in her gym gear, tossed him a Nashi pear for a snack before their run "out in the woods today?"

"Sure and Aspen is going to kick your bvtt mum." He was grinning so excitedly, likely his wolf was itching for the challenge.

Harper pushed forward and looked right at him, saw Aspen push forward and she taunted him playfully, "Bring it on son." she grinned right at him.

The second they were done eating, they were out the back door and down the stairs to their small yard, which had four long stone stairs that led straight out into the woods. They had been running in the woods together for a while now, had a nice warn in track from their house that wound through the woods beyond their house all the way down to the Gaf Meadows Park, down to Morgans Run Park and then back again.

Aspen was fast but only young and Harper could keep up with him quite easily, and then once back inside the Emerald Estate Park woods she shot ahead of him, laughing. Heard him actually snarl at her in his displeasure at her running by him and leaving him behind. She'd been holding back and now he knew it.

They stood at the threshold of their property line and grinned right at him. Aspen and Brandon both looked more than annoyed, only made her and Harper chuckle "To slow young man." She teased him and tossled his hair.

"You got too much practice" Brandon muttered.

"Awe, come on. Aspens only a boy, he'll grow strong and faster with time. Then one day he will be able to out run me in a heart beat. I imagine," she'd smiled down at them "You want to go another lap?"

Saw him actually consider it, saw Aspen look right at her, snort and then just stalk off still in control of Brandon's body. Guess not. She strolled after him, to shower and ready for the day.

He still seemed annoyed at breakfast, but even Harper was happy right this minute, seemed her day had been made, having Aspen challenge her, she really liked it, enjoyed her first real wolfen interaction with her son, the first real interaction with another wolf, she was happy about, since they were 18.

Both she and Harper did know that Brandon and Aspen would out run them at some point. The boy had Alpha genes, so the minute he shifted for the first time, would likely be when he could out run them, wondered if Aspen already knew that, what he was, an Alpha Wolf, might just leave that one alone unless they brought it up. It was likely though, she thought, he had come forward to protect her from another Alpha.

Drove out of her driveway and got that weird feeling she was being watched again, though she didn't see anything out of the ordinary, lived in a house on the corner of two cul-de-sac's and she saw no unusual cars on the streets, just the usual neighbours about as well, waved and smiled at them as she drove by, and away from her house, even checked the review mirror saw nothing near the house.

Shook it off as just being paranoid, her house and car were registered to her natural name, not attached to her business in anyway, just like Brandon's last name. Everything away from the business was under Whitlock, but no-one knew that was her real last name, so it was fine.

She also didn't drive anything super fancy that would draw attention to herself, owned a Nissan Roque, had laughed at it when she'd seen one, thought it was apt, checked it out and found it had lots of cargo space, which was good for her to transport supplies around, and she liked the motion activated lift gate, came in real handy at times.

There was plenty of seating space for driving Brandon and his friends' places as well.

Dropped Brandon off at his friend Tyson's place for the boys' birthday party, told him to have nice time and then quietly reminded him not to let Aspen appear, he'd looked right at her as if to say' I'm not dumb you know. before getting out of the car to head into the party. Drove to her store and parked in the car park a few blocks away like she always did and walked the rest of the way to her store.

Though it was really starting to get weird now, and her paranoia was worse, constantly felt like she was being watched, even Harper was all bristled up inside her mind, knew whatever or whoever it was, that they had been sensing now since yesterday, here at the store and today at their home, this couldn't be good. Piper didn't think Bradley would be so pissed off as to track her and send someone outside of her work place.

Though Izzy had said Mr Yummy, had tried to get her to give him her home address. Not that Izzy had done so. Smiled at the thought that Izzy had just wanted to punch him in the face, she was stubborn. Must have ticked Edward off too. There weren't many that could resist a Gamma and his Charm, especially not a human woman.

A part of her wished she'd been there to actually see it, another part of her wondered what Edward himself made of it. A Gamma's ability never worked on their own Mate. Just made them irritated, that their Mate would try to sway them into getting what they wanted, and that was how it did appear that Izzy had reacted to him.

Izzy had also told Piper that she had been drawn to the man. Every time that he had walked passed the store window, she couldn't help herself but look at him. Poor woman could well be his human Mate. She had no idea, hoped not, that would cause Piper and Harper more trouble.

If she was Edwards Mate, Edward would not only take Izzy away but would have her pledge loyalty to Bradley and then that man could pull any and all information out of Izzy where Piper was concerned, if he so chose too.

Walked into her office and headed downstairs, the store was already open, said good morning to the 3 staff already in the store, Laura, who would be taking over from Izzy as the store manager in a months' time, when they went to Australia, Clare and Dianne, the two girls working on the floor today. There were already customers in the store along with their families to help the women pick out the dress she was looking for.

Piper placed the dress she had finished last night, in the back. It was already in a sealed gown bag and had the owner's name on it. Then collected the two wedding dresses from that section and moved them to the front of the store so they would be easily accessible when her clients got there, one for the final payment to be made and picked up and one for the final fitting, which she was hoping for no more adjustments.