Unscentable
Chapter 33

Bradley POV

Bradley stood once again before Piper's room. He'd left her be for a solid two-hour period, which should give her the time to adjust to not only him being there and wanting to talk to her, but also to the knowledge that he knew about Brandon. Consider the offer to come and have a sit-down talk with him. Would have also given her time to think about him wanting her to come home, move back to the pack. He was hoping that this time he would actually get an introduction to his son as well. That was a pressing concern for him.

She had not once even so much as opened her hotel door, or attempted to leave, likely knew she was going to be watched by his unit now, something he knew she was not going to like at all. But he had no choice at this point, he was not going to leaver her or his son out here unprotected for anyone to snatch away from him, when he had just tracked her down himself.

Piper had tried to call Izzy, to check on her. He thought. She had not come back from her trip to the new store, likely worried about the woman. Eddie had answered Izzy's phone, didn't want her ex calling her and he got the distinct impression that man was not going to just walk away from Izzy. So was intending on answering the phone when he called. Just to put that man right in his place and tell him to get lost.

Apparently, Piper had called him an a*ss-hole due to the fact that Izzy was human and he had taken her for himself and claimed the woman. Piper would know the rules. They were all schooled inside the pack and humans and the Mate Bond was one of the classes they all had to take, so they knew how to deal with a human Mate if they found themselves faced with one.

Eddie had told her that Izzy was his Mate, but from all reports, that had not seemed to matter at all to Piper, still pissed off about it and reiterated that Izzy was human. Eddie had not been happy about the insult. He had been quite annoyed about it in fact. To which Bradley had told him, "Well Eddie, she is right, Piper is also to be the future Luna to the Pack, so deal with it." Gotten utter silence from his Gamma on that one. Probably made Eddie realise that he was causing their Luna, who was his actual job, to keep calm during stressful situations, and this would be one for her, more undue stress. Especially with Izzy not just being Pipers employee, but appeared to be her closest friend.

He had been chastised by his Luna, or soon to be Luna, if Bradley had his way. Bradley actually liked it, that she had laid her boot right into his Gamma for his behaviour. As was her actual given right to do, if she was already the Luna and part of the pack, she well could have dished out a solid punishment.

The man was going about all of this completely backwards, where his human Mate was concerned, and if Piper wanted to read Eddie the riot act, Bradley was going to stand by and let her, likely smile at her the whole time, too. She was very strong willed and didn't seem to care who she talked to and how. Already had a Luna's air of authority, just didn't realise it, he supposed.

Likely just put it down to being a rogue and had no-one to tell her what to do.

Piper opened the door and stood staring at him, seemed quite annoyed he thought, that he was back before her once more, then she looked passed him, looking for his Gamma, he thought. Likely wanted to tear strips off him in person. "Eddie, is not with me, but do feel free Piper, to smack him one for his behaviour. His mother already has." he half smiled at her.

"Where is Izzy?" she asked right away.

"In our suite upstairs. She is still sleeping. A bit of an issue going on there," Bradley admitted, she already knew.

"Oh, I'm well aware of that fact. You have no control over your own Gamma." she shot right at him, a little anger showing in her words.

Bradley frowned at her. "I have tried to rein him in, Piper."

"Then you didn't do a good enough job, did you?" she glared right at him.

She was outright challenging him, he realised, and letting him know she didn't think his authority over his men was any good. He nor Benson didn't much like it.

They both wanted to retort themselves, but knew they had to hold it in, needed to stay calm and controlled in the face of her lack of respect for who he was.

"Why don't you and Brandon come up to the suite, we'll sit down for lunch, and you can go and check on Izzy yourself." He offered up instead, making sure to keep his Voice calm and let none of his annoyance show.

Could possibly kill two birds with one stone with it. Get her to see Izzy was alright and get her and Brandon into his suite to have a meal with him at the same time. He could actually see that she was thinking about it. Perhaps this was the right way to do things. Might need Izzy for leverage. Wouldn't use his own son, but Izzy?

"Did he mark her?" she asked, not what he was expecting at all.

"No." he sighed.

"But?" she questioned instantly, at his hesitation to finish his sentence.

A heavy sigh escaped him, he already knew she was not going to like what he had to tell her, "His wolf Timber, Mated her this morning."

Saw real anger flash in those eyes of hers, she knew the laws, knew humans had to be treated differently to she-wolves, then snapped right at him "If I were you, I'd punish that a*ss-hole."

"Calm down Piper, and I will be. When we get back to the Pack, can't very well do it here in the human world now can I?" he muttered. He was also glad there were no actual humans in the hallway right now. This was not a conversation to be had out in the open. "She's not going to stay with him, if he constantly treats her like his play thing." "Play thing?" Bradley frowned, not really understanding.

"That's the politest way I can put it." she grated" how else is a girl, supposed to feel when a man just turns up, shoves her up against a wall or onto bed and takes what he wants, when he wants?" she was staring hard at him now.

Bradley was staring right back at her. He'd actually not considered that aspect of Eddies behaviour, it was a natural thing for wolves to be all aggressive when it came to mating, well they could be. He now realised he'd only actually considered that the man and his wolf had Mated her, without her knowing what they were to her.

Not how she would feel about the way it was done.

From all reports, one from Cooper and the one from Harry, Izzy had actively participated in the act, had even derived a lot of pleasure from it, no real surprise to him.

It was now clear they were Mates. His wolf would not Mate her unless he was certain of her being his Mate.

Wouldn't even give the woman a second passing glance otherwise. Izzy had seemed to crave Eddies' or Timber's touch, been aroused by it and Mated him right back.

"Alright, I hear you," he told her after thinking about it, letting her know he understood her concerns. They were real "Though Izzy unfortunately, ran from Eddie, and that set Timber off, Eddie did try to tell her not to run, to warn her. From what I was told." "And how would she know what that meant?" saw her shake a head, had a real point on that one "I don't care to be honest, he needs to back off and do things the right way, or he'll likely end up with no Mate at all, you might want to warn him." Bradley nodded, "I will do Piper...on that note, do you think she will be open to it? Accepting Eddie fully?"

"This is not the time nor the place to discuss such things." she told him flatly.

He didn't see why not she'd brought it up. It was just an extension of the conversation they were actually having now but could use that to get what he wanted"

Agreed, May I come in then?" if this conversation was not to be had out in the open then inside her room was as good a place as his suite.

"No."

He frowned instantly. "Piper please...we really do need to talk and about everything, if I can't come in then will you and Brandon both, come upstairs, I would like a proper introduction to the boy. We.. you and I, we also really need to talk." "I'm not just going to hand him over to you." She shot angrily at him.

"I'm not asking you to." he said right back, he didn't want her thinking that "I have no intention of separating the two of you, not now, not ever." he reaffirmed for her "I want both of you." he stated calmly to see what reaction he would get. She frowned right at him now, narrowed her eyes right on him, likely didn't believe him, "I have a life. Well away from you and yours. I have no intention of going back to pack life, inside your pack or any other for that matter."

Now he was frowning deeply, the words, 'you and yours'. 'inside your pack' bothered him greatly. "Please at least come and have one meal, we can discuss things. I'll give you time to think about things. I'm not going to rush this Piper, if you need time.. I'm going to give you that." he told her with full sincerity, hopefully she would hear it and believe it.

"I'm not going back to being invisible, inside a pack." she stated flatly.

"I'm not asking you too." he was frowning deeply, as he realised that during this entire conversation, that not once had she said his actual name or Eddies for that matter, had used the words 'you' and 'him'. Sounded like she was actively avoiding using his name. Probably hadn't said it out loud in a very long time, might actually cause her pain to say it he realised.

The 'you and yours' was also bothering him now, wondered if she was talking about her having to be inside his pack, where she thought she would have to see him with other she-wolves, his and his lovers.

Also the going back to being invisible, made him realise that's how she had felt growing up inside the pack, felt invisible because no one could recall her, bothered him a lot. Wolves were social creatures and he did know she had been alone since the age of 10. Had no idea how she coped at all with that, how she had survived all that time. Wanted to ask her in fact, but was having no luck talking about the pack with her at this point. Not ready he guessed.

"I want Izzy back. You will have her brought back to this room." she suddenly demanded of him, trying to make him an Alpha do as she wanted him to. Likely used to getting her own way in the human world. Or she thought having Brandon would gain her leverage over him to get what she wanted.

"Piper, come up and collect her yourself, it's room 1008, on the 10th floor." he stated, was not willing to bow to her demand, she might have Brandon, but he had Izzy. "Bring Brandon, lunch at 1230." he said and then just turned and walked away, he was getting annoyed by her challenging him, and he was going to loose his temper at some point,

She was not the only one having to deal with their bond, which was unattainable for the both of them, she only thought it was her who was affected, by her not having a scent, she was very wrong on that account and if she would give him 1 hour of her time he would explain it to her.

Bradley found Izzy stepping out of his suite when he strolled down the hallway to his room on the 10th floor, Isobelle, please go back inside the room. I can't have Eddie hunting you every minute of every day right at the moment."

She looked right at him, bit her l!p at the realization that Eddie was not going to just leave her alone he thought. Saw her look passed him, she was looking for Eddie and he knew it. "Can we talk Izzy, you and 12" he stepped right up to her 'Inside would be best." he opened the door all the way and at her sigh he ushered her back inside the room.

He walked her over to the lounge and waved her to a seat, "Piper is worried about you. I've told her she can come and collect you herself, we can all have lunch together." "Um."

"Please stay here Izzy. I need Piper to agree to this.

More is going on then you think." he walked over and got her a bottle of water from the minibar, and she not only took it but drank a third of it as well.

"Um, you haven't seen my phone have you?"

"Eddie has it I believe." Bradley told her as he sat opposite her, got a frown from her at this bit of knowledge "He's quite possessive Izzy, and Eddie is not about to walk away from you. More than likes you in fact.

"I believe he wants you to come and live out in Montana with all of us inside Drake Industries gated community."

Watched her nearly choke on a mouthful of water she'd been drinking. Then just stared at him. Pretty much the reaction he was expecting, due to Eddie's backwards approach. He smiled right at her "I have approved it, in case you're wondering."

"I...l can't do that. I am going to be running Piper's new store here in just a months time." she finally managed to say.

"Hmm, a hick up." he nodded. "I'd like for Piper and Brandon to come back as well. All three of you, would be welcomed."

Saw her frown now "Piper is not going to do that." she told him out right.

"Why not?" Perhaps Izzy could give him, some information that he didn't have, something that could help him to sway Piper into coming home."

"Um.."

"It's alright Izzy. You can just say it. I can take an insult, believe you've already called me a few not so nice names... even though you don't know me at all, and that they were uncalled for."

Actually saw guilt pass over her facial expression and then her eyes fell away from him. "Piper is my friend, Mr Drake and you hurt her."

"Hm, that's what she says. What if I was to tell you? That is not exactly the whole truth."

She was back to looking at him now. It seemed curious, he thought, wondering if Piper had lied to her perhaps "It doesn't matter, she'll not come back, does not... and I don't blame her.. want to be around that child you're about to marry."

"What? A child? And I'm not getting married..." he frowned and then realised she was talking about his sister "Hadley." he shook his head "Izzy, Hadley is my little sister, not someone I am going to marry. I have also already told Piper, just this morning. Was in fact the very reason I was trying to get a hold of her, to tell her just that."

"Oh!"

"Oh, indeed" Bradley nodded, "then replaceing out about Brandon, that was a complete shock. Actually, if it wasn't for you I'd likely still be in the dark about my son."

"What? I didn't tell you anything." she shook her head.

"No you didn't." he acknowledged, "but my man, Cooper, overheard you ask Piper at the store in Portland if I was the boys father. 'Has the same eyes. I believe you stated."

Saw her sigh as she looked right at him, at his eyes in fact. "He does have some very unique eyes, it's not like I was going to miss you have the same."

"So, Izzy, I'd like you to help me." Bradley asked outright.

"Oh, no. You and Piper. I'm not choosing your side, she is my best friend, Mr Drake. I have known her for a very long time, and you all of two minutes...l also know she has real pain where you're concerned."

Bradley liked how loyal she was but needed her help "Just some information is all I need. I'm not going away Izzy, anymore than Eddie is for you."

"What exactly do you want from Piper?" she asked directly.

"Everything." he stated simply.

"Everything? Elaborate. Piper is not the dating type"

He smiled "And I'm actually thankful for that." And he was, he did not relish suffering the pains of betrayal.

"OH! So it's okay for you to date and fvck around, but not her." Izzy suddenly snapped all sarcastically, her temper triggered "You're a typical man. Just a pig."

Bradley was staring at her now, wide-eyed and completely shocked by her sudden angry outburst, and the foul language she had used, clearly had man issues herself, like he thought. Shook it off had to. "Isobelle, please don't speak to me like that. You know nothing about me, and that is not at all what I meant."

"Bullshit." she yelled right at him "And I know plenty about you. Read your Bio, looked you up online. Knew men just like you, in fact I grew up around men just like you, rich, arrogant, controlling and with the belief you're gods gift to women, when really all you do is go and fvck around, regardless of who you hurt."

Even Benson was annoyed with her now, Bradley had to keep him in check, she was human, reminded his wolf of just that. "I have not fr***d around in a very long time. "He snapped at her" and if you did actually know me at all, you'd know that." he couldn't keep the irritation out of his voice anymore, trying to rein Benson in and stay in control was no easy feat. "I do not know what Piper told you. Likely not much at all." and he didn't think Piper had ever mentioned him till recently, let alone the situation she was in, "She left me, I've not been with anyone since.

"He told her flatly "Not a single woman since she left." he reiterated to her to make it perfectly clear.

The look on her face told him, she did not believe him at all, obviously knew it was 8 years. "You're celibate?" she questioned him sounded skeptical.

"I am. I only want Piper, however the woman left in the middle of the night, changed her name and just vanished from my life. Eddie actually hunted her most of that night, but had no luck himself in replaceing her."

"Why didn't you do it yourself?" she shot right at him. Still didn't believe him, he realised.

Bradley sighed "I was in the hospital, nearly died that night, not long after she left, I thought someone had poisoned me. When I woke up, she was gone." did not tell her at the time he thought it was Piper who'd done that. Best leave that alone, especially as that was not the case at all.

He could see her frown deepen, as she tried to absorb the news he wanted to tell her the truth, but didn't know if she'd handle it. Was curious as to what she would do if he let Benson push forward, heard Benson snort inside his mind 'run'.

She was just staring at him, several minutes he waited. "Piper told me you never cared about her. I heard the actual pain in her voice, she did not lie about it."

He couldn't even get into that with her, not here, that was a conversation for inside the pack, so he couldn't explain anything without telling her what he or Piper was, what a Mate Bond is at this time. Sighed that is not exactly true, I was blind, I admit that." and he had been, not being able to scent her at all, hindered all his memories of her, all of them, not just her as his Mate, but her as a pack member too.

Right now when he looked at Piper, he was not using any of his wolfs senses, had to switch them off along with all his instincts to use them, to recognise her for that matter, not an easy thing to do, it was ingrained into him to smell everything around him, to recollect and create memories of people.

Every time he was in front of her right now, he was just looking at her with his eyes only, it was all he could do. Trying to ingrain her into his memory without a scent. He could at least see her and hold her image in his mind with this technique. Seemed to be the only way to hold on to her.

"You only want what you can't have, is more like it. Is she the first woman to ever leave you, I wonder?" Izzy was not about to let go of her assumption of him, it seemed.

Bradley frowned at her, the world she came from, rich, arrogant me, who needed to be in control, she was very biased against him, that was a certainty. If he answered 'yes' to that question, she would likely laugh at him, tell him he didn't handle rejection. So he didn't say anything at all on that subject.

"Izzy I will not hurt her. I am loyal in this regard, I will treat Piper with respect. Give her everything she wants, deny her nothing." heard her snort "Accept her freedom from you right?"

"It's complicated, Izzy. Piper and I come from a very different world to you. Our lives move differently to yours. Piper actually belongs with me, and I want her."

"Well, Mr Drake, good luck getting her to believe that," she rolled her eyes right at him.

"Then help me."

"Why should I? Give me one good reason!"

"I love her." he stated.

Saw the woman burst out laughing, a little on the hysterical side, then her eyes landed right on his and all amusement was gone, "Love? I doubt that very much, Mr Drake. Piper is a very well known Designe. She has been in a lot of magazines, done TV interviews. How is it if you, as you say" she dripped with sarcasm "Love her."

Rolled her eyes yet again "you couldn't replace her, she didn't exactly hide herself in a dark corner of dingy little room. She graced the cover of 4 magazines just last yea, magazines that were national, so would have also been there in Montana, where you live, on the news stands, and you say, you couldn't replace her. More like you didn't look for her at all. Only now that you know about Brandon, do you want her around."

The low growl that ripped out of Benson at her very hurtful words and the blatant disrespect she was showing, shot the woman to her feet and her eyes were very wide as she now stared down at him, likely looking right at Benson's green glowing eyes, his wolf had had enough of her accusatory words, he was the Alpha in this room and would not be tolerating anymore from her.

Bradley forced Benson to back down and cleared his throat, "Like I said, it's very complicated, we're not the same as you." Stood up himself when she edged towards the door slowly, mind-link to Eddie to come right to the room.

That not only was Izzy awake, she'd ticked Benson off and he'd growled right at her, was now scared and itching to leave. Heard Eddie swear, but that was it. He walked over to bar her exit from the room. "I'd like you to stay here, till Piper comes and gets you." he reminded her casually.

She was still just staring at him. It didn't take Eddie long to arrive, he strode right into the room and looked right at Izzy, fear was still written on her face for all to see as she stared at Bradley.

Eddie sighed heavily and walked over to her, Bradley watched her step into the man's arms without hesitation, when he held them out to her, a good thing to see. She trusted him on pure instinct. Watched Eddie hug her and then walked her back to his room and close the door, she went, didn't seem to resist in anyway at all.

The woman had infuriated him, pushed him passed his and his wolf's limit, they were not likely going to get any help from her at this point, sighed. There was nothing he could do about it. Wondered what she thought about Eddie turning upright when she needed him to. I likely thought it was a mere coincidence.