Unscentable
Chapter 64

Piper

POV

Piper watched as Hadley walked into the dining room. Her eyes met Piper's, though only briefly before the girl went and got food, it appeared she was uncomfortable right this minute. Seemed she had to come and sit at the same table as Piper, must be the Alpha's

family table, she realised. Hadn't really thought about it upon sitting down.

Looked more than nervous to Piper now, as she sat down, it was pretty darn clear she did not want to aggravate or upset Piper in case she went to Brad with what she had seen earlier this morning.

Piper had meant what she said to Cooper, she didn't care herself what the two of them did, but it seemed Hadley understood that at any given moment, for any given reason, Piper could out the two of them to Bradley. Found it somewhat amusing actually.

It was in her tone as well. The girl was more than nervous, Piper didn't bring it up, she'd told Cooper it was none of her business, but now she wondered if Cooper had told Hadley what she'd said on the matter. It was likely. But she still had something on them if she needed leverage, looked right at the girl and wondered just how badly they wanted to keep their little secret.

Alpha's tended to do as they pleased, Piper was betting on it being Cooper not wanting to be found out, Hadley, being of Alpha blood, likely didn't care, could do as she pleased pretty much.

Piper turned her attention to Alpha Benjamin. He was pushing his luck with Brandon. She had to warn him when Brandon edged away from the man. Piper didn't want Aspen raring up and going the man and the boy inching away from him, let her know he was not yet comfortable with the very large man next to him.

Alpha Benjamin was the same height as Bradley, but was actually bigger than him, muscle wise, likely he still worked out all the time. Still probably trained several days a week. This was not a large pack and all who were capable, retired or not, were likely ordered into battle if there was a rogue attack. Or a rival pack coming at them.

They had some pretty close allies if she recalled correctly from schooling, that could get here quickly, but till that help arrived they had to handle everything on their own.

Life inside a pack, was not always just loved up wolves, it could be quite terrifying at times. She'd seen it first hand, felt the pain of loss and had reported rogues on the move inside the pack itself. Trying to keep this from Brandon was a must at this point. She was going to have to sit him down and talk to him, explain just how important it was to keep Aspen inside of him, but if there was an attack, how did you do that? If he felt threatened in anyway by a pack attack, it was likely that Aspen would just rip right out of the boy.

Watching Brandon's reaction to the possibility of actually riding a wolf, she could see that he was a bit confused and then just saw amazed at hearing just how big they could get. Almost shook her own head when it seemed Brad and his father, Benjamin, were almost arguing over whose wolf he was going to ride.

Piper didn't think she'd seen any child ride a wolf before. Wolves were proud creatures, and that could be seen as a weakness, that they were softhearted and not strong and fierce. Especially the Alpha wolf, felt Harper actually huff inside her mind at their 'who's wolf he'd ride', seemed she was annoyed by it herself.

Perhaps would have wanted that for herself. It was possible or it could just be that she didn't have that option open to herself, when Piper tried to ask her got silence on the matter. Didn't want to talk about it.

Found herself the centre of attention at Brandon's 'Bet he can't beat mum.' comment. This did actually amuse her as well as Harper, smirked to themselves at the memory of beating even the Alpha of the pack just days ago. Then a deal was struck on her behalf, sighed internally as she watched Brandon shake that man's hand.

The boy had just made his first Alpha to Alpha deal.

Looked right at Brad who was just watching his son, who settled comfortably back into his chair after shaking Benjamin's hand, was back to eating his breakfast, some of his or all of his weariness gone it seemed.

Brad didn't seem bothered by this deal their son had just made. Perhaps she was mistaken in what she saw. It could be simply family rivalry she guessed. She didn't know.

Felt a cold breeze blowing in from outside as a wolf opened and closed one of the doors to the outside area of the pack, and saw Brandon shiver a little, as she did.

Curiously, Izzy didn't even notice it.

Brought her mind to clothing and shopping. "Brad, I need to take Brandon to get warm clothes, it's cold here"

Saw the man's eyes turn directly upon her, a frown on his face, knew exactly what he was thinking, it was clear for all to see, he thought she was going to use that as an excuse to run away back to Portland. If she was going to do that she would have done it at four thirty this morning when she was the only one awake.

"I'm a bit cold," Izzy commented.

"Piper, I'd rather you didn't leave for now." Brad stated flatly.

"I'm sure you would. Will you have the three of us freeze? We were not packed for a winter trip. You were the one who decided to bring us here, without warning."

"No fighting in front of the boy." It was Alpha Benjamin, his tone seemed to brook no argument.

"Piper, I can send someone, a personal shopper to do that for you. Just give me your sizes, that's all I'll need."

"No, I am capable of doing this myself, I will do it myself, in fact. More than capable of being out in the human world." She didn't have to take orders from Benjamin and would speak as she wanted. He could svck it up.

"Wait, wait, wait." It was Lilly. "Bradley, take the girl shopping yourself, all of you go. Wait for training to be finished and Eddie can go with you as well, your whole unit, if you want."

Piper frowned at the woman, she did not need a babysitter or a Gamma, or an entire unit to do some simple winter shopping.

"Alright." Brad nodded "After training is complete." he agreed with Lilly, then looked at Piper. "I'll take you all shopping, we can make a day of it."

She didn't need a day of it, but seeing as she'd been the one to bring it up and they did need winter clothes, didn't argue about it "Fine, I need to talk with Brandon today, before he comes across Timothy Avery."

Saw the boy frown at just the mere mention of the man's name, but he said nothing.

"Timothy was roped into training this morning, for that very reason," Brad informed her.

"Good." She stood up "Come on Brandon, you Aspen and I need to talk."

"About?" She heard Brandon ask as he got down from the table, also noted that Brad stood up as well, frowned right at him, but let it go. She was just used to doing everything on her own, and likely wasn't going to be like that with Brad around all the time. "Why don't we use my office? It's quiet and no one will come in."

Piper nodded and took Brandon's hand to wait for Brad to pass. She knew where his office was, across from the pack-house front door. Also, knew you did not lead an Alpha anywhere inside his own pack, least of all to his own office.

He held his hand out to the boy and Brandon took it.

She blinked as he stepped and they had to fall in step with him, saw the smile on his face before he looked away. She could well imagine how they looked right this minute. It pleased him obviously, "Izzy." She called out, and got a full frown from him. "I'm right here, no need to yell." The woman, it seemed, had gotten up to follow them even without being asked to.

"She needs to know as well, might help in a... situation." Piper answered his frown.

Saw him just nod and then continue on walking.

They were all just about to walk into his office, when she heard a woman call out "Alpha Bradley." She turned as did he. The woman was older, had long grey hair braided down the right side and dangling over her shoulder, was wearing a simple pair of loose-fitting jeans and a plain pink tee-shirt. "Wait.. please may I come in as well."

"Annabella, your Elder." Brad stated calmly at her questioning look.

She sighed "No Timothy."

"At training, remember."

"Fine," she muttered, and walked off into his office, let go of Brandon's hand and he was off already looking around the office, such a curious nature. Though she supposed this was his father's office, he'd have heard that. Also knew the man would want him to take over one day. She'd told him as much. Was likely off to investigate what would be his one day.

Saw the woman step into the room, looked right at Izzy and frowned, smelled her, twice even, then looked at Brad with a raised eyebrow.

He just shrugged "We don't know yet."

"Hmm, should be fun for you when she arrives." The woman snorted, smiled right at Izzy, inclined her head slightly, then moved on. Brad frowned at the woman now. It was likely this Annabella was old enough to register what Izzy's wolf was, though Piper and Harper had no idea and Brad had just stated they didn't know either. It was curious, though she didn't seem to want to elaborate.

Walked right over to Piper. "My goodness look at you, you look just like your mother." she smiled at Piper " my name is Annabella, I'm your great grandmother."

"So I heard❞ Piper acknowledged, "What is it you want?"

"Just to help you understand what you and Brandon are. Apologise for not realising you were orphaned and coming to collect you. I also have this for Brandon, for when he needs it." she took a ring off her finger and held it out to Piper. "It'll protect him, and don't worry about the fit. It's magic will adjust itself to fit him, like your pendant's necklace, your wolf would have worn it, they are magically imbued to fit us and our wolves when shifted.

Piper stared at the ring. It was made with the same stone as her pendant, she realised, and she did know her necklace had adjusted to fit Harper as well. She'd never taken it off, not even thought about it, not even on her first shift. She'd seen it on her mother's wolf knew it wouldn't break.

Took the ring "Brad told me already what I was."

"Good good." Annabella nodded, "though I would have liked to do that myself. I guess, under the circumstances acceptable. Do you understand?"

“།

I get it." Piper nodded "We're here to tell Brandon, so his wolf will not emerge too early."

"If he does, Piper, it's okay. I'll come along with some of the other Elders, we'll teach the pack in the ways of not always using their wolfen senses. It's how our entire pack runs, you and Brandon will be seen all the time.

Though you do smell like Bradley now and Brandon, she smiled at the boy, still smells like your kin, due to Aspen not fully emerging yet. Why don't you sit down and let me explain it to him? II'm very good at this, explaining to the children. Will you let me?" Piper moved her eyes to the boy and blinked at him.

She'd not been keeping track of him, the boy was in Brad's Alpha Chair, spinning himself around and around.

Glanced at Brad worriedly.

"It's fine," He smiled "He's happy and that is what matters."

"He's in your chair" She murmured.

"I can see that." he actually chuckled "It will be his one day." Then he just walked over and stopped the chair from spinning, "Son, come and meet Annabella, she's got something very important to tell you."

"Me?"

"Yes, you. Your very special."

"I know." He grinned up at Brad and hopped off the chair. Piper sat down and before Annabella could start anything, educate Izzy on wolves and how they used their sense of smell for everything, she frowned a lot, seemed to talk to Fade quite a bit and then said "Is that why Eddie smells so good to me all the time?"

"Yes."

"Oh, bloody man has been smelling delicious for two days now, driving me nuts."

"That'll be the reason why you can't say no to him."

"Wait.. does he smell like that to everyone?" Even Brad laughed now "No, Izzy. One of those scents only you and Fade can smell, it's his own unique Mate scent." Brad told her.

"Hmm, well how do I know which one that is?"

"Well to me, Eddie smells like. Cedar and ginger, so whatever else you smell, is unique to you."

Saw her giggle almost instantly as she realised what it was.

"Now keep that to yourself." Piper smiled at her, though had a feeling she would likely tell her at some point. Especially if she found it that amusing. Brad's unique scent was Blackberries. No-one else but her could smell that about him. Though now she wondered if they did because she smelled like him. Shook it off.

"But it's so funny."

"And all yours, he's your weirdo, remember."

Izzy nodded "All mine." she smiled, really liked this about Eddie.

"Yes, always."

Watched her lean back on the couch. "I wonder what I smell like to him? Hey, can I ask him?"

"Yes, of course." Piper nodded.

Izzy seemed very happy with all this, smiling away to herself.

Piper indicated for Annabella to sit and talk with Brandon now.

The woman sat cross-legged on the floor with him right in front of her, and wove their linage into a story like a fairy tale.

"There was a wolfen princess, her name was Iris, I this princess held a secret from all wolfen kind, on of the utmost importance. That she was the most desirable princess to all wolfen kind. No male wolf could resist her, she'd been locked away in her castle for years to keep her safe from those males.

"A witch had been brought forth to create a magical charm to hide her from all those wolves. That were not her Goddess Gifted Mate. She had to wait many long years to replace her wolfen prince, who was her Mate. But because of the magical pendant," Annabella pulled out her pendant and showed him hers, "Her prince could not scent her. He did not know that she was his Mate.

"Princess Iris did suffer much pain and heartache, because he did not know who she was. She prayed long and hard to their Goddess to give her away for only him to scent her. Sadly, there was no answer to her prayers.

"Filled with sadness, the Princess could still not obtain her Prince, until one day when she could not stand the suffering and pain any longer, she climbed to the top of a long hill within her kingdom, and on the night of a full moon, when she felt the closest to their Goddess, she sat once more and prayed with all she had."

"Offered up her own blood to the moon goddess herself, begged with her head bowed low to the earth, cuts to both her arms as her blood seeped from her to the earth, her blood offering, as one last effort to obtain her Prince." stopped in her story and got to see him lean forward, wanted to know if it worked.

"And finally, her prince, his wolf, an Alpha wolf with the strongest sense of smell, caught the scent of her blood and he hunted all over the kingdom, tracking the scent of blood and his Mate, feared the worst for her. So much blood he could smell. "His wolf raced him to the top of the hill to replace his Mate, so small and frail now, lying in the grass whispering words of prayer to their goddess to please bring her Mate to her, to let him scent her.

"His hand touched her hair softly and when she looked up there he was looking right down at her, saddened by what he heard, what he knew, she had been within his reach all this time and he'd never know.

"The Princess looked up to her Prince, unsure as to if he could smell her or if he had just come across her.

She'd been before him many times to no avail. Her Prince tilted her chin right up and he and his wolf laid claim to her "Mine." they told her together. Finally, the Princess had found the way for her Mate to Claim her.

"They could be happy now, be together, and they were, had many little pups. Iris and her Prince's linage still lives on to this day, there is a tel-tale sign to let this be known, a wolf, with white eyes." "Like me and mum!" Brandon exclaimed.

Annabella nodded, then allowed her wolf to push forward and showed to him her own wolf's white eyes.

We are all just like Iris... Now little one, you will be the most desirable wolf, but you'll only want your Mate, just like Iris did. So, when your wolf Aspen emerges fully, you too, will have to wear your own magical charm." "I will?"

"Yes little one, a ring to wear always. Your mum has it now for you and when you're old enough and you scent out your Mate." Annabella smiled right at him "and your already so handsome. Oh and those eyes. Wow, like looking at the northern aurora, so special already. I bet you'll just have the most beautiful Mate. Oh, but Brandon? How will you obtain her?" Annabella asked him playfully. "Did you listen carefully?" Watched Brandon smile real big. "My blood." He yelled excitedly.

"That's right, though unlike Iris our Princess, only a little blood is needed, one tiny nick, and your Mate will come running right into your open arms."

Piper watched him smile all happy. Sighed internally, wondered why her mother never told her that tale. It might have saved a lifetime of loneliness and pain to boot. Annabella really was good at explaining this to him, likely it was her job within her pack. "Can I see my ring?" Brandon turned to her now. Though Piper did not want that thing on her boy, not until it was absolutely necessary she did hand it over for him to look at, he turned it over and around and then smiled right up at her "It's the same colour as yours mum."

"Mm, it is." She nodded and looked right at Annabella. "His children?"

"Not all children in the blood line get the gene, but any wolf with white eyes has it."

"So how do you fiqure that out before the child's wolf emerges?"

"Ah, yes, a good question. That was a little more difficult to sort out but we did eventually. So now we Whitlock's shift for the first time inside, usually with either your mother or father, in a locked room. Then, if the wolfs eyes are white, a charm is given before leaving the room."

"And where does one get a charm from?"

"From us, of course, my dear. We have many. They are not tailored to a specific person, but to the gene itself. It can be passed on and given to another. As you wear your mothers now. We will send you a pendant or ring for every child you have and Brandon's too, just in case they need it. We will always be allied packs, just call and ask."

It sounded so very simply, to people who knew and understood that was. She really did hope there weren't any others out there like her. Annabella, she realised was not so bad, "Thank you for coming, talking to Brandon. I didn't really know how I was going to do this."

"I'm happy to come for all of your children Piper, explain it or you could pop on up to the Ice Moon Pack for a visit, anytime you like."

Piper frowned at that, she did not particularly want to have to deal with Timothy Avery, not put Brandon in front of that man either.

"I beat him myself, just so you know. Your cousin Tim, as did his own mother and two sisters." She chuckled "It was very humiliating for him, his own mother dragged him out into the middle of the pack and all the Whitlock's got to watch her beat her own son, their current Alpha. One of our little Whitlock laws. You, my dear, might replace those amusing to read."

She let that one go, though she was happy to hear he'd gotten a beating for his behaviour towards her and Brandon.

"You said not all children would get the gene." it was Brad.

"No," Annabella shook her head, about I in every 3 or four nowadays, depends on the gene pool of the Whitlock Mate, if it's weaker or stronger than the Mates."

"Alright." he nodded.

Piper looked right at him with a raised eyebrow now. She knew why he was asking, she hadn't even made her decision yet and he was already planning more children it seemed. He just shrugged at her, a half smile on his face, likely thought it was amusing that she knew what he was thinking. Rolled her eyes.