Unscentable
Chapter 56

Bradley POV

Brad opened the door to the Luna's medical suite and saw Piper asleep in the bed with her arm around Brandon. Their boy was curled into her left side, the IV running into her right arm. He could see was still attached to her. He wondered briefly if he should take a photo of the two of them resting together. It tugged at his heart a little, to know he was not welcome in that picture.

Wondered how long the two of them would sleep, likely comforted by each others presence. He really did need to speak to her, to sort all of this mess out. Just couldn't it seem to catch a break. His father had mind-linked him to inform him that Alpha Timothy and one of the Whitlock Elders were actually on their way here now. He'd already called Timothy to let him know that Piper was here once more within the Pack.

Timothy and the Elder would be coming directly here in wolf form, from their pack just on the other side of the border and would be here by noon. Bradley had been very unhappy about his news. Piper and Brandon had not even had time to adjust to being here and now the two of them were going to have to deal with Timothy.

Something he was certain neither one of them would want to do, he just knew it was not going to go down well.

He was unlikely to have anytime to sort things out or even try to. He closed the door quietly after a few minutes of just watching them, and stepped away. They both appeared to be sleeping soundly, at least she had woken up and he knew that she was going to be okay.

Found Dr Samuel and let him know that he had to go and get ready for an Alpha who was coming to the pack in short order. That if Piper wanted to get up and walk about, she was allowed to if he judged her well enough to do so. That he did not want her movements restricted, but did want to know if she actually left the hospital.

Bradley could not only smell her now but he could also feel her through their half-realised Bond, so at least he would not only know where she went, he could actually track her through their Bond now. He had wanted to be there when she woke up. Knew that Timothy did not like being kept waiting, was a bit of an impatient man, always had been, for as long as Bradley had known him. He also knew that Timothy was likely going to insist on seeing her to get those answers he wanted about Brandon's conception.

He was going to be a complete pain in Brad's backside, seeing as Piper was now also Marked by him, while she had been unconscious. That was not likely to go down so well with the man, considering the contract between their packs.

Headed for the pack-house and up to his suite, trying to figure out a way to not get into a full-blown fight with the man over her and her state. Came down to; if Timothy hadn't scared her off, none of this would have happened. Was going to have to turn it on him. The man was not going to like that at all.

Turned the corner of the hall down to the Alpha quarters, to replace Hadley standing down outside of Cooper's suite talking to him, looked more than annoyed to Bradley. They both turned and looked right at him, clearly to involved in whatever they had been talking about to hear him coming, or probably thought he was still in the pack hospital.

Hadley glared right at him and then at Cooper and stalked off down the hallway in the other direction, confused him, there was nothing down there, just a dead end and a set of omega stairs that led to the other floors and the basement. Watched her slam her hand right against it and bang on through it out of sight.

Bradley raised an eyebrow at Cooper. "What's going on?" He asked.

"Nothing you need to worry about. I can deal with it, you just focus on Piper."

"Timothy is on his way," Bradley commented "will be here by lunchtime."

Saw the man frown "Is Piper aware yet?"

"No." Brad sighed "but she woke up about 4 this morning, currently sleeping again. Brandon is with her, in the bed."

"Alright." Cooper nodded and turned to go back into his suite.

"Cooper, Hadley?" Brad asked again.

"Boyfriend trouble." That got Bradley's attention. "Since when does she have a boyfriend?"

"A little while, not till after her 18th birthday though."

"Who's the wolf?" Bradley frowned. "I'll have words with him."

"No need. He's more than paranoid about your reaction. That seems to be her problem. I'll handle it Brad, you have enough to deal with."

"So he should be." Bradley nodded and walked into his suite. Cooper was more than capable of handling one wolf, would like put fear into him as much as Bradley himself would. Left him to deal with it. It was also likely why Hadley had gone to Cooper and not him, smiled at the fact that the wolf was paranoid about his reaction.

Though it was more likely he should be worried about their father Benjamin's reaction. Thankfully, he didn't have to worry about that in the future, he had a son and not a daughter.

Showered, a long scorching hot shower to try and help ease the tension in his body, dressed in dark navy blue slacks and a light blue dress shirt, then headed down to get some breakfast, though it was past the actual breakfast time here in the pack-house dining room, but there was always a buffet of fresh fruits and sandwiches laid out, no one starved around here in his pack.

Any and al pack members could stroll in here and graze on some sort of food all day. This also helped to keep the actual meal times not so hectic for the omegas he trusted to run the kitchen and cook for everyone.

Found most of them sitting around drinking coffee and having something to eat themselves.

They all smiled up at him and the head Omega, a man named Calvin, stood to get him something to eat. Brad waved him off "I can get it." he told him "Go finish your break." He could see them all looking at him, most of them were smiling at him, and several of them congratulated him on replaceing his Luna.

He smiled and nodded back to them, then sat himself down to eat, found just about every member who happened to stroll in to get a drink or food smiling at him and congratulating him as well. He nodded his thanks to them all, though there was still a part of him that was worried about what was going to happen, when he did try to talk to her, after what Brandon had told her last night, she knew it had been Benson his wolf and not Brad himself that had claimed her and marked her. Had no idea about her thoughts on that. But he could only smile at his pack members and let them all think that everything was going to be alright. He didn't need them showing concern about the situation or any of them deciding to go to her and asking her questions. Not that he thought that would happen. There would be formal ramifications for anyone he found harassing her. She was the Luna and respect would be given. The whole pack knew this, would abide by the rules, he told himself.

He took his coffee to his office and sank down at his desk, wondering if there was anyone she'd be comfortable with, Lilly had been up with her all night, and he couldn't go asking her to do so again today. She was likely up in her suite sleeping now. Found Eddie sitting in the chair across from him. "I don't have time, Eddie."

"You'll have to make time." he commented, looking right at him. Bradley glared at him now. "Why? If you just want Izzy out of the room?"

"Izzy's got her wolf." the man stated flatly, seemed a bit annoyed with Bradley's tone himself. Bradley sighed "Sorry Eddie." He apologised for his tone and lack of concern. This was actually a big issue.

When?" he asked now. Could his day get any more stressful?

"Last night," Eddie stated, "I woke up to replace it staring me down, in human form. All on the surface and in complete control of Izzy." then the man smiled right at him, full amused now "Then it just all aggressively Mate the hell out of Timber." "Then the problem is?" Brad didn't understand they were Mates, and wolves Mated each other all the time, was a good thing, created a better, stronger bond between them.

"Izzy woke up this morning with no knowledge of it.

Or didn't seem to, didn't say anything at all about it. Odd. Bradley stared right at him. It was indeed odd. Thought about it long and hard, then shook his head "Mark her, see what happens." he finally stated, and waved the man out of his office. "Bradley?" Eddie frowned at him.

"Timothy is coming Eddie, I have much bigger concerns right this minute. If you Mark her, she'll shift on the next full moon."

"I understand that Bradley, but she has not seen any of us shift before."

"Yes she has, didn't Timber stalk her in Maine." Saw the man flinch, didn't like being reminded of his screw up, it seemed.

"Saw Timber yes, but not the shift itself."

"Then go and talk to her about it. Shift for her, you would anyway, before the full moon. This way she can see Timber meet him and not be afraid of him. She'll also know what she'll be in for when her wolf emerges."

"Pack-house rules about shifting inside?" Bradley sighed "Take her outside. I only put her in lock down because we didn't know what she was.

Though still might want to keep her away from Benson, a might still angry with her."

"This could explain her reaction to you, Brad."

"Agreed it could. Pack mentality. Find out what sort of wolf, if you can and get back to me."

"Alright." Eddie nodded "I can have her go and sit with Piper and Brandon afterwards."

Bradley looked right at him, that would actually solve one of his problems. "Good idea Eddie." He nodded.

"Sorry I was short with you, just got a lot going on."

"I know." Eddie nodded right back "It'll be alright Brad."

"I hope so."

"No it will be. I got nothing bad from her this morning. Not even anger. Just seemed confused about how it happened. Marking her may have actually resolved some of her and Harper's fear of your never be ing able to scent them and therefore claiming and Marking them." "So she seemed fine to you."

"Not exactly fine, but not angry or upset, that I could feel" he shrugged.

"Thanks Eddie."

"Your welcome." watched the man stroll out of his office.

Could anything else weird happen today? Shook his head.

Alpha Timothy arrived right at 12pm, Bradley's northern border patroller announced the man and his one guest. They both arrived in wolf form but shifted at the border to announce themselves, were escorted to the pack house and both were offered the chance to wash up and put on clean clothes.

He was sitting in his office with them both 15 minutes after they arrived to the pack-house. The Whitlock Elder was an older woman, but being an elder what did he expect, she had those light blue eyes of Alpha Timothy, had long grey hair, that was hanging loose down her back, went to the middle of her back, and though her hair was grey, denoting her age she didn't look a day past 50, but was likely nearly 100 he thought, a small woman who was fit had kept pace with Timothy and Brad knew they had ran at full wolfen speed to get here, she didn't scent of Alpha blood but that did not mean she wasn't.

Timothy introduced her as Annabella Whitlock, his great grandmother, and claimed she was also Pipers' great grandmother too. He didn't see any resemblance to Piper at all, but there were generations between them, so no real surprise there, he supposed. Bradley informed them that as far as he was aware, Piper meeting either of them, was not going to go down so well. Piper had already expressed that to him, she was uncaring for a family that had abandoned he. Which brought him to ask.

How was it that none of them had come for the girl when her mother had died? Which was what his father had thought had happened.

Annabella sighed softly and shook her head sadly "Her actual grandmother, Jewel's mother Ophelia, who would have felt Jewel's death, died before Jewel did. Therefore, no-one in the pack knew anything was wrong at the time."

Bradley turned his attention to Timothy. "Why didn't you ask after them? You're the current Alpha, surely you knew Jewel and Piper were here. Did you not, once in this pack or even when I visited yours, think to ask about your Aunt or cousin?"

"We have a very large family. I have many cousins, I'd never actually met Piper. Jewel came here long before I took over."

"Still shouldn't someone have asked?" his eyes moved back to Annabella. "Wasn't Piper to be brought before the elders for an explanation of what she is, before she got her wolf? I believe that is what the Contract states."

Again the woman sighed "Yes, but Jewel did know what they were, she was more than capable of explaining this to her own child. But yes, we are also at fault." the woman nodded "When can I see her?"

"When she wants to and not before," Bradley stated flatly.

"Bradley, you knew this was going to happen," It was Timothy and he was frowning deeply at him. "Best you don't delay it. If you want to know if she is your Mate."

"She is my Mate and our Bond is in tact." Bradley informed him.

"And how do you know this?" it was Annabella seemed curious now.

"Long story short, I touched her, and she felt it. Shocked the hell out of her."

"Your wolf is not going to just take her word for it, Bradley." Timothy rolled his eyes at him. "No wolf will."

"Yes he was. But just to let you know, we have scented her already. I don't understand how you do it, but when she was attacked by that Vampire, we smelled her blood and Benson recognised her as his mate instantly." it was his turn to sigh now "Unfortunately, Benson, already claimed her. Marked her."

"Unfortunately?" it was Annabella, "Do you not want her?" she was frowning right at him, sounded almost disapproving.

"I want her as does Benson." Brad stated"

Unfortunately, she was unconscious from the injuries she'd sustained and." he shrugged "I have yet to talk to her about it, since it happened she's been unconscious all this time, not long woken up."

"So you've scented and Marked her." Annabella nodded, seemed much happier with that knowledge "If she accepts you. You will need to understand about us, Whitlock's."

"I know, that pendant hides her scent right." his eyes moved to Timothy. He'd seen this man in both human and wolf form, had never seen him once wear a pendant.

Timothy seemed to understand and raised his right hand, turned it over so Bradley could see the ring on his index finger, a blue assure jewel in it, "Ring for men," he stated simply. "So why the need?"

"Not unscentable, highly scentable and to every un-mated male wolf inside your pack or out of it." Annabella told him.

"What?" he frowned, not understanding, but he already didn't like the sound of it. Annabella sighed heavily. "If I was to remove my pendant, you yourself would want to mate me right now." she looked right at him "Your not Marked, so you would be affected. Only Marked and Mated wolves can resist the scent. We smell like we're in heat all the time."

Bradley was staring at her, bloody horrified by this news. All the thoughts that were suddenly rolling around inside of his mind. His eyes moved to her neck, she was Marked, had a Mate herself. Still had to wear that pendant even after being Marked and Mated it seemed.

He could now understand that clause within the contract, the reason why his father had told him not to let her take that pendant off around his unit, only Harry was Marked and Mate. The complete seriousness of the situation she was in, something she had absolutely no idea about.

His eyes moved back to the pendant Annabella wore.

"So she'll smell like that all the time?" He didn't want that for her, that was horrible, one slip up and she could be set upon by all his un-mated wolves.

"Yes." Annabella nodded "She needs to know this, so she can understand the ramifications of taking that pendant off."

"I don't think that she will, it was her mothers and as far as we can tell, put it on at just 10, then just vanished from us all."

Timothy sighed now. "We in the Ice Moon Pack, are used to Whitlock's. Most females Mate off to others in the pack, gifted or chosen, so not really an issue. We're all trained from when we get our wolves to not use our wolfen senses inside the pack unless it's necessary, or in other packs."

"A heads up would have been nice, ever for Jewel." he frowned at the pair of them.

"It's not something we go around telling other packs, get the occasional killing of Whitlock women, from those who would use them for their own sick pleasures. It's not nice."

Bradley could well imagine it would not be, scenting like they were in heat all the time and taken against their will to sate some sick bastard's sh!t needs at any given moment for as long as he liked uncaring for her condition or consent. Rubbed a hand over his face. "You can see why we don't go telling just anyone, yes?" Annabella asked.

Bradley nodded, he understood alright.

"Jewel was also Marked when she came here, so not an issue, had her Mate's scent on her all the time, so you all would have recognised her. Piper will scent of you from now on."

"So I don't need to lo-jack my Mate then?" Saw and heard Timothy snort with full amusement" You might want to do that anyway, you got yourself a runner."

Bradley ignored that, the man had no idea just how right he was, though on a different level, that woman could run, even outrun him. "Brandon?" he asked instead.

"Will be like us, will need a ring at 16, or maybe sooner." Timothy answered him "The minute his wolf emerges fully, he'll be scentable. Annabella here has a ring for him, I believe."

"I do, I hear he's an early shifter, though has not fully shifted yet?"

"Not yet. It has come damned close a few times." Bradley nodded.

"Best we get a ring on him now then," she nodded.

"No." Bradley shook his head "He'll be invisible to this pack. I won't have that. I can guarantee Piper will not stand for it, it's how she felt after putting that pendant on."

"He'll have to wear it, from the moment of his first shift, regardless of age, he'll be scentable to all the un-mated females in this pack." Timothy informed him flatly.

Bradley stared at the man, horrified now. "He's just seven."

"Hence the very prompt visit." Timothy nodded "A bit urgent now.. though I can only imagine the boy, once he becomes a man, will have all manner of fun with it." A smile touched his face "I know I certainly did." He snorted, amused. Watched Annabella hit him. "That is terrible Tim."

Timothy smiled. "It was just fun for me, for an Alpha male with needs to sate, un-mated and old enough to play around. I'm sure 18-year-old Brandon will have any and all the women he wants for as long as he likes, till he replaces his Mate, that is." sounded fully amused.

Bradley frowned at the man. Yes, he could see why he was amused, but he did not actually appreciate it right that minute. His boy was just seven and if he shifted would become unscentable the minute that ring was put on him.

Let it go for the moment "The Whitlock way of scenting your Mate?"

"Exactly how you did it." Annabella smiled right at him. "Blood on the full moon." He frowned. "Elaborate"

"On the full moon, when a Whitlock scents out their Mate, one would simply just nick themselves, and their Mate would scent them back. It's pretty simple. If you know what to do, that is."

"You could have written that into the contract somewhere." Bradley muttered.

"Whitlock's mostly live in the Ice Moon Pack, protected there at all times. Most of them will actually insist on staying inside the pack, some are even known to reject their Mates if they will not agree to move to the pack."

"That's why your pack is so large," he suddenly realised. They rarely lost pack members, just gain them. Saw Timothy nod, "We grow bigger with every generation and tracking linage is a must, don't want any unwanted s*x with family members. Why her linage to us is important. I've already added her to the linage. Brandon as well for when he comes to the pack as the future Alpha, wants to." he shrugged.

"Jewel" Annabella sighed, "Very stubborn and headstrong, wanted to see another's pack life and insisted on going to her Mate's pack against all our Wishes." Bradley sighed, likely where Piper got her stubbornness from.