Unscentable
Chapter 59

Piper

POV

necklaces from when she was 16.

Go out there inside the pack, amongst other wolves? Wolves who she and Harper would recognise and none of them would her. Toyed with that pendant around her neck, she'd taken it off her mother at 10, because they were both supposed to have one, matching According to Bradley, if she ever took it off she would smell like she was in heat and all the un-mated wolves would come for her. She guessed her mother knew this, but had not wanted to tell her yet, being so young, likely didn't want to frighten her with this news and of course, it would to a 10-year-old girl.

She was not so stupid as to misunderstand his meaning, he was not Marked himself. He had told her not to take it off or he would even want to Mate her. All her life alone out there inside this pack because of a pendant, a magical charm that she had no idea she was even wearing. But now she knew if she'd not claimed it and worn it, had never wanted to take it off, felt connected to her mother through it.

The ramifications of taking it off would have been horrendous. She knew and understood what being in heat meant. School had classes on that for all the students, male and female, so that they could understand it for when they got their Mates. Piper knew that he was standing watching her, she could feel his eyes upon her, was waiting on her answer to his question, but did not know if she wanted to be out there amongst all those wolves, to be honest. Harper was on edge with the thought of going out there, though wanted to be closer to Brandon. She had also not growled at Bradley for touching them, and he had several times now, was still quiet on the subject of her Mate though.

"You are scentable now Piper, to the rest of the pack, my scent is now yours apparently." She knew that he was just trying to reassure her about being out there, that his pack would recognise her now. This accounted for why everyone who'd come in here looked right at her.

"Do I smell like you, to you?" She was curious about that herself.

Heard him chuckle softly "No, your scent is very delicate, to me you smell like orange flowers with honey and apricot nectar. Benson and I replace it beautiful. We scented you. Well, your blood actually after that vampire attacked you, and apparently that is how it is done. A Whitlock's blood on the full moon must be exposed to their Mate. A Whitlock would always scent their Mate first and with proper education." he sighed, "which you did not get, you could have revealed yourself to me right away." "Brandon will be the same?"

"Yes, though Timothy said and you might not like this, but I won't lie to you, he had a lot of fun with being a Whitlock male."

Piper shook her head. "I can well imagine he did." A male alpha with the scent of heat to use at will, he could have multiple women to sate his needs anytime he liked.

"I do not want that for Brandon."

"Neither do I, to be honest. What have you told him Piper, about us?"

"Not the truth," Piper looked right at him "I knew trom a very young age, that no-one could smell me, not even other children. So I knew you wouldn't either. I've always known it was not your fault. So I left out what happened and just told him, it was a one-sided bond." "Thank you."

"I will tell him the truth if he asks, as an adult. He is like me, so he will have more questions as he gets older. Aspen didn't understand how I got him and we weren't together." "Alright, I'd like to be there for that."

"That will be up to Brandon, who he wants in the room."

He was frowning at her now. "Piper, you are allowed to have things for yourself, do things for yourself."

"I don't need anything, grew up with nothing, learned to have just what I needed and nothing more." She shrugged.

Actually saw pain in his expression at her words and waved it off. "Don't concern yourself with it. I learned how to deal with everything on my own, got used to being alone."

"It hurts me Piper, to hear you speak this way, I want to be able to give you everything, be here for you."

"I don't even know what I want. I never intended on coming back, not ever. And not just here, but any pack."

"Harper? How does she feel?"

Piper knew that question was more his wolf wanting answers than Bradley himself.

"I don't know, other than confused she is quiet, not really talking to me."

"At all?" he sounded concerned.

"Not since the hotel and your text." She shook her head.

"I'm sorry Piper, I pushed you, and I shouldn't have" Piper sighed "What's done is done, I guess."

"Piper, when you left the country.. did you run away from me or from Alpha Timothy?"

"Timothy. I thought you'd just leave and go away on your own, at some point, it was just a dress." He was frowning down at her again "I had no idea about who you were, and sending Hadley in there with Beta, and the whole unit, I'm sorry.. You know you really confused Cooper, stood up to him and he did not know what to make of you." a smile touched his face "Not many can stand up to a Beta like you did, he was more than annoyed about it."

"Well, he shouldn't go around trying to get his own way, all the time. That's not fair, it was very clear to me he was very used to getting his own way, you as well, all of you harassed Izzy and I."

"I know, not at all used to anyone saying 'no' to us, it was quite the shock to the system."

"Perhaps you shouldn't get what you want all the time then," Piper told him flatly.

"Piper?" his frown deepened "I'm not about to accept a rejection, if your going to voice one. I told you this already, I meant it."

"I heard you the first time.. I will not be making any decisions until Harper decides on what she wants." Then she turned and walked away from him, headed for the door. She could feel Harper starting to fret about being so far from Brandon while in this pack, stepped out into the corridor and looked around. She'd never been in the hospital before or didn't recall it anyway.

"To the right, for the exit." Bradley told her "I'll go with you."

She looked at him and wondered if this was how it was going to be, him following her around al the time, sighed internally. She was used to being on her own, didn't know how she was going to feel about him constantly being around.

Headed off down the corridor, he fell right into step with her, though didn't touched her, just walked along next to her. She shivered, when stepping outside of the hospital, into the cold October air, had forgotten how cold it got out here, so close to winter. "Do you need a jacket? I can have one brought to you." Bradley asked,

"No, I'll be fine, just forgot how cold it gets."

"First snow due in about 3 weeks."

Piper just nodded her head, and continued to walk towards the playground. "You need to forgive Izzy, she means, well, got hurt by a man. It's likely why she yelled at you is all. Doesn't do so well with men ordering her around, her entire life has been like that, her father and his choice for her husband, Phillip."

"She's going to have to adjust, Piper."

"Good luck with that," She snorted.

"I might need your help on bringing her into the pack officially."

"Why?" she looked up at him briefly "Eddie is here. She won't leave him." stepped into the playground and saw Brandon smile right at her, she smiled right back at him, he was sitting atop the climbing pyramid, had been climbing up it while she'd been walking there, had been watching him do so.

"Look" he grinned down at her "No ropes mum."

"I can see that." she smiled, watched him climb all the way back down and then run over to her.

"I really like the park mum." She could see how excited he was to be here already.

"There's a bigger challenge here if I recall correctly. But you're too young to try it." Watched him put his hands on his h!ps and stare up at her "I am not."

"Yes you are." She teased him "Want to see it?" She asked.

"Yeah." He was grinning now, super excited, bouncing on the balls of his feet, now unable to sit still.

Nodded her head and looked at Bradley, was actively going to engage the man to play with his own son. Harper didn't seem to mind the thought. "The agility course still where it used to be?" She asked him.

Saw him nod "He's a bit young for that Piper."

"I am not." Brandon turned right to him and watched as he stared right up at Bradley and threw out a challenge "I'll beat you."

"I don't think so son." Bradley smiled down at the boy. "But, we can go over and see it if you like." Brad's eyes turned right to hers, as did Brandon's.

"Go" she nodded.

Saw Bradley smile at her then turn to look at Brandon. "I'd race you, son, but I have the advantage of knowing where it is. Come on." Watched as the man reached down to pick the boy up and Brandon actually allowed it, sat right on the man's h!p still grinning. "I hold the current record." He told Brandon.

Piper smiled to herself as Bradley turned and walked away and headed for the agility course. She herself doubted very much that he held the record. She had lived on that thing herself growing up. It was a good place to go to forget all that had going on around her, a good place to exhaust oneself, to push yourself until there were no thoughts at all of being alone, just felt so tired that all she had been able to do was think of sleep after being out here for hours.

She had used that course more often than anyone inside this pack, and when she had gotten her wolf she and Harper used it multiple times a day or night. If there was no-one on it, it had been fair game for them.

Found Eddie right next to her "You're amused about something." She shrugged at him as they fell into step behind Bradley. "it happens on occasion, Edward."

Looked around the pack. It was awfully quiet, she realised "Where are all the adults?" she'd only seen a handful of Omega's about since leaving the pack hospital.

"Aspen doesn't do so well with ranked wolves. Lilly thought it best to only have omega's about while Brandon's wolf adjusts."

She frowned up at him "Why?"

"I don't know, something about rogues in a pack. They don't always handle it well. I presume he's never been in one before now."

"Correct." Piper nodded her head.

"He looks happy Piper."

"I can see that, Edward." She commented right back, and she could. She and Harper may not like being here at this moment, but already Brandon was starting to like it here. Mostly because Edward was trying and succeeding in assimilating the boy. He seemed to know Brandon's weakness, his need to compete and be on the go all the time. It might be a bit different when Aspen wakes up. Especially with Bradley carrying him around.

Heard Edward chuckle, could see lzzy was walking hand in hand with Edward, she looked happy to Piper, had finally found her Mr Right. He was exactly what the woman desired as well, blonde and muscled up.

Wondered what Fade would look like, wondered just how long that wolf had been with Izzy? She herself had not sensed anything different in Izzy, not til today when she'd woken up.

It likely happened on the full moon, hadn't shifted yet though, but Piper was willing to bet that would happen before the next full moon. Those bright blue eyes of her wolf, that was a curiosity, most wolves had green, though pure-blooded Alpha wolves had red and she had seen yellow before, and hers were white.

Wondered what other colours were out there and what they were indicative of. She'd never seen blue, was betting Fade was going to be something special.

Walked quietly along behind Bradley, Harper was lying inside her mind, head on her paws just watching, seemed somewhat interested but not interacting at all.

Still not willing to voice her opinion. Piper was not going to push her. She'd talk when she was ready. Watched as Bradley put Brandon down on the waist-high fence and then explained as he pointed out all the different things on the agility course, the hurdles to go over and the low hurdles to drop under, the tires to be stepped in and out of, the climbing wall and the abseil that was needed to come down the backside, the wooden walls of varied height that had to be jumped up and over or scaled if you were to short. The very steep mud slopes of a pit to go down and try to get back up the other side a good 20 feet either side. Monkey bars, and rope ladders that had to climbed up and over and down the other side. There were four of those dotted around the course, all with different tensions to vary the degree of difficulty. The climbing ropes and then the final army climb under bamboo rods which turned into a giant mud pit when w*et.

Brandon was fully excited by the course, was itching to get out there and give it a go himself, even though he was way too small to hit those climbing walls and hurdles, looked right at her all pleadingly, when Bradley told him he was too young for it. Wondered if she should allow it and say yes. She'd used it from the age of ten and wasn't all that big, as long as you were careful it was alright. "I guess you can try some of it. Walk it, Eddie or your father can go with you." She finally stated. She saw Bradley's eyes turn to her. She could see he clearly didn't like the idea. "I'd rather he didn't Piper, he is way too young."

"He wants to," she stated simply. Rarely did she deny her boy anything.

"Still." Bradley frowned at her.

"If you won't, then I will." she stepped forward "I lived on this thing from the age of 10, so I don't see why not."

"What?" Both Bradley and Eddie stated together, sounded completely shocked.

"I also doubt you hold the record." she shot at him. "Harper and I likely still do." Saw Bradley's mouth fall open as she walked round the fence and passed him. "Come on Brandon." She reached out for him.

"Wait, a compromise instead." Bradley said, putting a hand on her arm to halt her. "Eddie and I will run it, Brandon can watch."

Piper looked at Brandon, he was pouting about not being able to get out there, but then nodded.

"Brad, we are not exactly dressed for this." it was Eddie.

"Shoes and shirts off Gamma." Bradley rapped out and order "Show your Mate just how good you are." She looked right at Edward, he was grinning now, shucking off his shoes already. He liked that idea, obviously Bradley knew what buttons to push. Piper sat herself down, leaned back on the fence and motioned for Izzy to come sit with her. She did, pulled Brandon into her lap. She knew Bradley was likely to win against the Gamma, his alpha wolf would be stronger and faster. Whispered into Brandon's ear "Tell them, no wolf assistance."

Saw the boy grin, then he yelled out "Dad?". Both Eddie and Bradley were headed over to the start of the Bradley turned and looked at the boy, a smile on his face. He clearly liked how Brandon called him dad. "Yes son," he called right back. "No wolf assistance."

Saw Bradley's eyes flick right at her, still wasn't used to him actually being able to look right at her. Although he'd been doing it now for a while, it still felt weird for him to be looking directly at her with purpose. He knew what Brandon had said was all her idea. Heard Edward burst out laughing, he also seemed to get it. A fair match it was now. Let's just see who was better in agility. It was now possible for Edward to actually beat his Alpha.

"Count it out Brandon." Bradley called once they were over at the starting line.

The boy did, called out loudly, counting backwards from five and then yelled "Go Eddie."

Saw Bradley nearly stumble off the start line at the realisation that his own son was going to be cheering on the Gamma and not him. Piper couldn't help but chuckle at that, as did Izzy. She even heard Harper snort with amusement inside her mind. Watching the two of them, they were evenly matched without wolves, it seemed. Piper popped Brandon into Izzy's lap when they were about a 3rd of the way through the course and got up, walked over and turned the sprinklers on, to make it just that bit more difficult, saw them both turn and look at her, she tipped an imaginary hat to both of them and went and sat back down. The last part of that course was an army crawl under those bamboo rods, and now it will be a mud pit when they got to it. Heard Harper actually chortle inside her mind, she was fully amused now, it seemed.

"Mum?" Brandon asked, looking at her.

"More interesting this way" She smiled down at him.

"Will I get to do this sometime?"

"It is likely, but there are rules as to the age you can, you're not old enough at this point." she told him and he wasn't.

"So I have to wait until I'm ten?" he sounded very unhappy.

"13 actually." she informed him.

"What? But you said you were 10."

"Yes, I had no-one to tell me no." she shrugged and she didn't.

Heard him mutter, that it wasn't fair, saw Izzy hug him, she could likely sneak him out here and let him walk it with her assistance, though how Bradley would feel about that, when he found out about it?

"Wait till he leaves for a meeting. Harper piped in.

'Mm, could work. Piper agreed with her.

Watched as the two hit the crawl, a one hundred foot-long crawl through the mud, under those bamboo rods, a tight squeeze for both of them, females not so much. Their smaller builds were more suited to this part of the course, which allowed for the woman to catch up and over take some of the male warriors. She herself didn't have any trouble with it, was only tiny in frame.

Brandon was up on his feet now, yelling for Eddie to move his backside. Izzy stood up and picked the boy up, and they were both cheering for Eddie to win. Saw Bradley emerge first but barely so. Eddie was killing himself laughing when he got out. He'd lost but was fully amused by all the cheering he was getting, it seemed.

Watched as Bradley shook his head and then shoved the man over and back into the mud, when he got up, Piper bit her l!p fully amused "You should have let Brandon walk it." she told him.

"Does he not know who he's supposed to cheer for?"

Bradley asked as he stepped up to her. They were sitting at the finish line, and both she and Bradley watched as Edward got up from the mud once more, waved his muddy hands at both Izzy and Brandon and then feinted at them. The two took off hand in hand laughing and Edward was chasing them a second later.

Piper and Harper snorted as Edward caught up with them and rubbed mud all over the two of them, then just picked them up one under each arm like they weighed nothing to him, carried them back to the mud pit and tossed them both in, laughing himself now. "He does, just.." Piper looked up at Bradley, he was covered from head to toe in mud himself, "You wouldn't let him on the course." she shrugged.

Saw the man huff and shake his head. "The sprinklers? You though that would be funny did you?"

"Perhaps," She nodded.

"I should toss you in the mud," Brad commented and eyed her off like he was really thinking about it.

Piper raised an eyebrow at him. "I probably wouldn't if I were you."

"Hmm."

"You didn't beat my time, just so you know."