Unscentable
Chapter 17

Bradley POV

His eyes landed on Piper's car as it pulled up. Cooper had told him that she owned a Red Nissan Rogue. Both he and Cooper stepped behind their rental car and out of sight. They didn't want her to spot them, his eyes fell on the man inside the car, couldn't see him clearly with the sun hitting the windshield and causing glare.

When she got out of her SUV she did not look happy. The man also got out, Bradley used his wolfs hearing to pick up her words, "Stay here, I don't need Brandon freaking out." watched the rather large man lean on her car and watch her, turned his sight to Piper, heard the conversation she had with the woman at the door. Not her boyfriend. Felt actual relief at that. "He's a wolf. Coop told him via the mind-link.

While Bradley was focused on Piper, his Beta was focused on the man, it seemed, his eyes moved back to him.

'An Alpha Wolf' Bradley confirmed as he breathed in deeply, using all Benson's senses to pick up what Rank he was, account for the size of the man. What he was doing here with her, leaning so casually on her car, the man looked very comfortable. She had not though.

From her comment it was likely that Brandon would also know this man, and wasn't going to like him being there either:. Saw the boy's facial expression at the sight of that man by their car and actually smiled. His boy did not like the man, it was clear. Had to watch that man touch his son's head, "Good to see you son." those words ripped a very large and aggressive growl right out of his wolf Benson, he was not about to contain it. There was another Alpha laying claim to his child, not something he or Benson were at all happy about.

Cooper's hand on his shoulder, a firm grip, saw with satisfaction as Brandon pulled himself away from that Alpha wolf.

A good boy, knew that man was not his father.

Saw both Piper and the Alpha's head whip around to see where it had come from, and Bradley's eyes widened as he recognised that Alpha they were allied packs 'Alpha Timothy Avery, of the Ice Moon Pack! He told Cooper via the mind-link, though it was likely his Beta also recognised the man 'Her mother's home pack's Alpha.

'Perhaps your father got a hold of him?

'Maybe, but they definitely know him.'

'Brandon, doesn't like him, that's for sure, Coop agreed.

Saw her get in the car while Alpha Timothy searched the area 'id!ot she'll run. Bradley thought. It was clear to him that Piper didn't want him around. Watched her start that car of hers and just speed away, shook his head, how did Alpha Timothy not see that coming, even he had.

Saw the man just stand there and watch her drive away, shake his head, didn't seem all that concerned "Is that you Alpha Bradley?" he called out as he reached into his top jacket pocked and pulled out his phone.

Bradley frowned, likely his father had gotten call in, he and Cooper moved into the man's line of sight, he strolled towards them while talking to who Bradley presumed was his Beta, informed them to be on the look out for her she had driven away while he was distracted.

Ended the call and looked right at him "Alpha Bradley, that could have gone much better if you had not interfered. I had her, now.." he waved a hand down the street. "gone."

"What do you mean? You had her."

"Your father called. She's actually my cousin and I was...had managed to pull her in."

"Didn't look happy about it," Bradley commented, and she had not and, by the speeding away didn't want to be pulled in as he stated.

"Hmm, she's wilful, I had to threaten her to get my way. Like I did the first time I came across her."

"You threatened her? Not even I have resorted to that." He did not like it at all, surely there was a better way.

"Hmm, you have an agenda, I believe, I only want to get her to my grandmother, those two need to sit and talk. Your issue...the boy is yours, I'm guessing.. should have picked it when I saw him the first time." Bradley did not say anything, just looked at the man.

"I'm curious how he was conceived, and you will be explaining that to me, especially why she went rogue.

"I guess," Bradley shot right back, "We should both ask that question." saw the man frown right at him.

"We'll take your car," Timothy stated calmly.

"To where exactly?"

"Her place, I will need her and the boy's passports, so she can come into Canada."

"And you think I am just going to let you take her and my son," he snapped, Benson was getting angrier by the second.

"Yes I do, Bradley. We're allies have been for many decades, and I need her to understand about herself, her linage before you come in and try to get the boy, he will not want to go with you, fiercely protective of his mother." Bradley frowned now as he got in the car. "What are you talking about? What do you know?"

"That his wolf appeared last weekend, when I confronted her about disrespecting my daughter in front of a room full of Alpha's no less. Doesn't respect any ranking system. I don't think, not anymore anyway, have been a rogue to long. The boy he screamed right at me, his wolf right on the surface. It was the first time she saw it. Panicked tried desperately to calm him down. Didn't want him shifting in broad daylight, in front of a bunch of humans."

Bradley's frown deepened. "That's unusual," and it was the boy was just 7.

"Very, but it appears his Alpha Gene's make him very strong. Unfortunately, he'll be just like her, like me and all the Whitlock's, though most males are fine, the women, however," he sighed and looked out the side window. "However?"

"End up dead at a very young age, if they don't know what they are. Killed by their own pack usually." the man sounded sad.

Bradley's eyes turned right on the man, questioningly. He did not like what he was hearing.

"Elaborate"

"I'd rather not." he looked at Bradley "How was the child conceived?"

Bradley's jaw tightened "I'd rather not." he used the man's own words on him and turned to face forward again.

"If it was r**e, Bradley. I will Alpha duel you to the death." he commented casually.

Bradley understood that he meant it though, not only did he mean it, he did not intend to loose that duel either. He had seen the man fight, he was a fierce wolf.

"It was not that," he stated " I have never done that, ever to anyone."

"Won't want her to say it was. I will be asking her. 'll believe her words over anyone else's and act accordingly. Your father has a pack agreement with mine about that girl, and no harm to her from your pack or." he snorted sounded a little amused. "You might want to dig it up, Bradley, and read it yourself."

Cooper pulled the car up out the front of Piper's house, they all got out and he watched as Timothy clicked a small black box and the garage door opened, and the man simply strolled into the house like he had a right to be there, walked up the stairs to let himself into her house like he had been here before.

They waited outside by his car for 20 minutes, more of the man's wolves turned up. He recognized the mans Beta Ryan, right away "Alpha Bradley, Cooper." he nodded to them both as he walked over.

"The boss still inside?"

"Searching for passports." Bradley nodded.

"Hm," he leaned on the car next to him, "She's a handful I see." he smiled, "like her mother was and her grandmother for that matter."

Bradley said nothing, watched as Timothy came out empty handed and shook his head. "Couldn't replace them."

"Likely on her all the time," Cooper offered up She's a rogue and would likely keep them handy to her, for...exactly this kind of thing I'd be guessing."

Bradley sighed, as did Timothy.

"Bradley, I would appreciate it, if you let me and my men handle my cousin. Bring her in and get her to understand what she is. Before you come and lay claim to the boy."

"It's not just the boy, Timothy. I believe she is my Mate." He told the man.

Now that got his attention, he was looking right at Bradley now, a deep frown on his face. "You could not know this. Would be unscentable to you."

"She is. I don't smell anything at all, but.."

"But?"

"There was an incident," he sighed. "only a select few know what I am going to tell you."

"No one here will speak of it." Timothy

"I suffered the pain of rejection, but did not have a Mate at the time. It was also the day that Piper went rogue from the pack, which compounded my pain. My Gamma picked up on her pain of the rejection at the same time. So we believe she is my Mate." "Hm, unusual, but if she rejected you, your bond is over."

"It was not to my face. I woke up in agony not knowing what was going on. I have also never accepted it, didn't even know I had a Mate."

"Then?"

"A long story I guess...For another time."

"Hm, I'll bring her in and let you know when I have her. Will that work for you?"

"I don't like it" he admitted "But due to certain unfortunate circumstances, Piper believes Hadley is my Mate. I haven't, nor any of my men, have been able to get even so much as a phone call through to her, to teli her it's not the case." "How on earth, does one think your little sister is your Mate?" he shook his head seemed confused as well as unhappy.

"Hadley insisted on getting a Piper Harper gown, I finally let her, sent my unit with her for protection while she was here... Didn't go down so well."

"So well?" Cooper snorted "she made Hadley cry."

Timothy shook his head understood right away "And you the over-protective big brother, came in and tried to lay the law down and demanded Hadley gets what she wants, right? And Alpha insisting on a Luna Gown for a girl." "Yes." Bradley nodded simply.

"Stupid Bradley."

"How was I supposed to know? I didn't even know Piper Harper was a previous pack member."

"Then how do you know now?"

"Her reaction to seeing me with Hadley, pain rolled off of her in waves and then she just bolted out of the store. Made a new protocol for her company to never accept anyone from Drake Industries for an appointment. Kind of all just.." he shrugged "fell into place, though it was Hadley that made the comment that Pipers whole body just went crazy and it did. I'd never seen a reaction like that to just me walking into a room before. Hadley thought Piper reacted like a Mate would... No-one in my Pack bar my Unit and my Doctor know what happened to me that day, so it was an unusual statement. Gained my attention and made me really think about her reaction."

"How old was she Bradley, when she went rogue?"

"21." he answered honestly.

Saw the man close his eyes and swear under his breath, obviously knew the ramifications.

Right! Let me handle it." he muttered "Ryan did you.. jack her car."

"Of course," he snorted like it was a stupid question.

"Go home, Bradley please. "I'll keep you informed and once she's calm and understands, I'll send for you and we'll do this the Whitlock way of replaceing out if she is your Mate or was."

"Just ask her, she'll know right."

"Yes," he nodded, "but for you to know to actually scent her that's another matter. We'll get to that once I've got her brought in" and then he just turned and walked away, his Beta falling into step with him.

"Alpha Timothy." he addressed him by his full title.

"No harm will come to her or the boy, I give you my word. And I will not tell her you know either. You can do that yourself."

There was not much he could do at this point.

He was certain Timothy was not going to hurt her or his child. They were his kin. He was also very certain that he was not going to allow Bradley or his Unit to assist in her capture either. Didn't like it, didn't like that he had threatened her. Wondered what that threat

was.

Sighed looked at Cooper who huffed himself, wondered if he should have her house cleaned out and all her stuff packed up and taken back to his pack. Even if she was not his Mate anymore, he would be insisting on her staying in his pack to raise Brandon. He was the rightful heir to his pack.

Maybe he could convince her to give him a chance. He'd not known about her. Surely something could be done about this massively screwed up mess of a Mate Bond between the two of them. Perhaps if she spent some time with him they could regrow their bond and come back together.

Looked at the house for a long minute organise movers Cooper, all her and Brandon's stuff, everything, have it moved to the pack."

"You sure on that. You don't want to wait?"

"No, I don't want to wait. Regardless of the outcome, both Piper and Brandon will be in my Pack. I'll sort it all out with her, it is what Benson and I want. To sort it out." He turned and got in the car. "Lets go home. Let Timothy bring her in. He's her cousin, and likely to have more luck than will."

Cooper drove. He was quiet for a long while, then said "You know Timothy said she was like him, he's Mated and has children. I can scent him. No wolf will mark another without scenting them first, unless chosen mates. Perhaps once that charm comes off in private just the two of you, you'll be able to scent her."

"I don't know." Bradley sighed as he stared out his window. Benson was also quiet, didn't like that she and Brandon were going to be taken to another pack.

He needed to replace out what a Whitlock was, though Timothy claimed to be her cousin, his last name was not Whitlock, it was Avery. Though Pipers was currently Harper. Even when she had been born, though she had not been given her father's name, was registered as a Whitlock. No siblings either, he recalled. Just one child.

He got Eddie and Harry to drive Hadley's car back to the pack in Montana. They would get there well ahead of them, while he booked himself, Cooper and Hadley on a plane back to the pack, though they would not leave till the next day. It was the earliest flight he could get.