Unscentable
Chapter 70

Piper POV

Piper was sitting in the pack-house dining room with Brandon, Izzy, Bradley and his entire Alpha Unit. He'd knocked on her door this morning and very politely asked her if she would join him downstairs for breakfast along with Brandon. The boy had yelled about being hungry and headed right out the door, leaving her with not much choice in the matter.

Had stared at him, still annoyed with him from last night, as was Harper, was actually sitting in her mind glaring at their Mate before them. Got the impression she still wanted to sink her claws into them. That Brandon was the only reason she didn't.

Her spoon was halted halfway to her mouth as Lilly came running into the pack-house dinning room calling out his name, excitedly waving a piece of newspaper around. It looked to have been torn out of someone's hand, by the frown on Benjamin's face and the rest of the paper he was carrying, it was likely she had ripped it right from him, while he'd been reading it and ran off with it.

"Bradley, Piper your in the paper." Lilly had yelled excitedly as she'd run right over to the table, then had taken a deep breath in and read out the head line"

Helena's most eligible bachelor. Snapped up and off the market." then she turned the paper around so that they could all see the picture. It was a full colour photo of Bradley along with herself, and Brandon right in the middle. They were both holding his hand as they walked along.

Piper sighed, did not need this right this minute.

Then Lilly turned it back around and continued to read out the article which stated, that the trio had not only been seen shopping for several hours, but they'd had lunch together and that all of Bradley's close friends had also been there. That upon further investigation of the possibility that one Mr Bradley Drake was off the market or soon would be.

They'd found out that the woman in the photo with him was one Miss Piper Harper, owner of the Goddess Gowns Bridal store's, a renowned wedding dress designer. That it has also been noted that Mr Drake himself had recently been in Portland on more than one occasion, and his last stay had been in a hotel for nearly a week, right out by the Goddess Gown store where Piper Harper herself worked from. Then it stated in bold letters at the bottom "Sorry ladies, it looks like our Bachelor is taken."

Piper was staring at the woman, did not know what to say at all.

Bradley plucked the paper from Lilly's hands and read it himself, smiled "It's a nice picture." he stated "Thank you Lilly."

"I'm so excited." She was smiling at him "There is more, but Benjamin kept that bit. I had to rip this bit from him,"

"I wasn't finished reading it, woman." Benjamin shook his head.

Just great, Piper thought to herself. As the man handed the rest of the page over. There were more pictures of them together, even a picture of Eddie, who'd been snapped kissing Izzy. The reporter had also tracked down who lzzy was, right down to her father in Maine.

Edward was all over it, even Izzy got up to look at their photos. He was happy himself to read out the caption under there photo. "Edward Patrick's off the market as well Ladies." Found herself under Brads' gaze, and she huffed. "Sorry, I can't control what they write." he stated, but was still smiling, and a part of Piper wondered if that man had set this all up.

Though, from the sheer excitement coming off of his stepmother Lilly, she had doubts. If it was planned she'd not have come running in like that all hopped up like she was full of sugar. She was too excited for it to have been planned.

"May I?" she asked and was handed over the rest of the article to peruse. There was some chatter about Harrison and his wife picking out baby furniture, so the speculation of a new baby on the way was there as well.

Brandon was leaning over her arm looking at it. "I'm in the paper." he sounded very excited. "Can I call and tell my friends mum?"

"Of course you can, son." Brad answered before she could.

"Sweet," he was grinning now, "can I take a photo as proof, mum, they'll never believe me otherwise."

"Sure." she sighed, she was certain they would believe him, or at least she thought so. Portland wasn't even really awake yet, but she was likely going to be fielding calls from people she knew, once they were. "Are you unhappy about this, Piper?"

"Annoyed." She stated honestly, for although Harper had laid claim in their mind to their Mate, she'd not actually stated it out loud to the man. Though Piper was dead certain that Edward had told his Alpha what she'd said about Harper's tantrum last night. 'Not tantrum, rightful rage. Harper snorted at her.

"If that's what you're happy with, Piper answered her, wasn't going to argue with her wolf about it. They both had sightly different points of views on the subject of last night's meeting with Annabella and how it transpired.

"It's just one article," Brad commented.

"Maybe not." It was Cooper. "Might want to google your and Piper's names together." Piper closed her eyes and sighed now. Did she really want to 'no' she thought, but then pulled her phone out and did just that. There were even more photos of them online. Some of them from inside the place they'd all had lunch, even one of Brandon asleep in Brad's arm, out the front of his head office, while she walked next to him.

There were many more of their shopping trip, and a few of her and Izzy looking at real estate options, captioned

Is Goddess Gowns coming to Helena?" Seems this photographer had trailed them all over the place. It was getting out of hand.

Just one day outside of the pack, with him and it was all over the place. Brad seemed happy about it though, not a care at all about all their photos splashed everywhere.

"Piper, I'm likely or my head of HR is going to be fielding calls about this, how do you want to handle it? How do you want me to respond?" he asked her.

She looked right at him, knew how he wanted to respond to it, he would just confirm it and she knew it. "You'll do as you please, I imagine." She muttered and got up from the table and walked away.

Heard him state "Izzy you got Brandon." and Izzy's "yes."

Then he was walking after her out of the dining room. She knew he would, because he'd not been happy with her answer at all, likely wanted her to tell him to confirm it.

"Piper, I don't want to deny this." and there it was.

What he wanted she thought, "You are my Mate, we are Mate's. It's just a matter of time. You know I won't take no for an answer, I want you as my Mate."

"I heard you," she muttered, turned and looked at him "Barely two days, Bradley. And you've got it all over the news."

"I did not organise this," he commented.

"Then which one of your unit did?" she asked out right, it was too convenient for her liking.

"Piper, I'm in the paper all the time. People recognize me, and being a bachelor for the past eight years, not once ever seen with a woman on my arm, it's bound to get people's attention." Brad replied calmly, but it sounded too prepared to her ear. "Which one?" she didn't believe him. Cooper had googled their names together pretty darn quick, to quickly now that she thought about it."

He sighed "Cooper I believe." the man actually answered her and owned up to it.

"Really your Beta." She had leverage on that man, maybe it was time to use it. Turn his own Alpha's attention to the man's indiscretion with Hadley.

"Piper?" She turned her eyes to replace Hadley standing there at the bottom of the stairs that led up to the higher floors, who knew how long she had been there, though from the tone of her voice, long enough to know that Piper could well out them it seemed "Are you alright? I heard what happened. Must be a shock for you." Though she looked nervously at Piper. "Hadley just stay out of this." Brad told her.

"Why?" She heard Hadley snap right back "the poor woman is still trying to adjust to being here inside the pack again and now is practically tied to you, according to the press. It must feel like your pushing her to your own agenda. It's not right Bradley." Now that was an interesting statement coming from Hadley, Piper actually wondered if the girl genuinely meant it or was trying to save herself from Piper, who knew about her and Cooper's little secret.

"I'm not pushing Piper, Hadley."

"Well, that must be how it feels for Piper. You shouldn't always get what you want, just because your the Alpha Bradley." the girl snapped and then stalked off towards the dining room.

Piper wondered just how long it was going to be before Cooper came to hunt her down, to make sure she wasn't going to out them to Bradley. Watched the man frown after his sister.

"Did you know Cooper was going to do it?" Piper asked and was willing to bet the answer was going to be a yes. She knew Cooper couldn't have done this without the Alpha's permission, they had likely planned it, even if it was Cooper who suggested it, Bradley had to agree to it and approve of it.

Stood and waited for his answer, his eyes seemed to linger on his sister longer than necessary, and when he finally did turn and look at her, she knew it was a yes.

Didn't even need him to voice it, guilt was written there on his facial expression. Shook her head "So much for giving me time. You never meant that I see." Piper turned and walked away from him. She was more than annoyed.

"Stop following me." she snapped when she heard his foot fall behind her as she headed for the pack-house front doors.

"Piper please."

"No! I want to be alone, go away." and she did want to be alone. A small part of her actually missed being alone. Had always hated being alone, but was so used to it, that she'd gotten used to it, she supposed. Stepped out of the pack-house and strode away. Stopped after fifty metres and turned to glare at him, he was still following her "If you don't stop following, I'm going to let Harper have a piece of you." She stated flatly, "and if you think she won't or doesn't want to. You'd be very mistaken." "Piper, I just want to make sure you're alright."

"Do I look alright to you?" she snapped, annoyed.

"Piper!"

"No!." she yelled at him. "Give me some freaking space, for just one bloody minute."

Saw him blink a the way she yelled at him, but he didn't get it, couldn't understand it, loved his pack life, was likely very social with everyone.

But for her it had just been a decade of isolation and loneliness and then, when she left just her, Brandon and Izzy. Now, everywhere she went, he was there. His unit was there. She needed a freaking minute to herself. Likely more than a minute. It was clear to her that he thought just because she was here inside the pack everything was peachy. Well it wasn't, not really.

Turned and stalked away from him, it wasn't like she was going to go far. Brandon was still in the pack-house, if she intended on up and leaving right that minute, she would have to go back in there and get him first.

Finally didn't hear any footsteps following her, marched herself off into the woods and just kept on going, didn't really know where she was headed, just went where she felt like going, there was she noted no-one out here in the woods.

Found herself deep inside the woods, right outside her old cabin, it was still there, stood and stared at it for a long minute. Then just walked over and pushed through the door, it creaked a little and closed behind her with a tiny click like it always had. It looked much the same to her as when she'd been here. Just a little dustier and had some vines now growing up through one floor board and out the window. The glass was cracked and the plant had taken to it.

Walked on over and sat herself down on the old mattress, that had once been her bed for a long time and closed her eyes. It was always so peaceful in here, only that one window and not much sound got in, even the birds outside seemed to be quieted by the cabin.

No-one had ever found her here, not in the whole time she'd lived here. It was a part of the pack lands, but was so deep within the woods it was nearly dark all the time. She briefly wondered what this place had been before it was abandoned. It was not the first time she'd wondered. Never found any information on it in the pack library. Was just here.

It was so quiet out here, so deep in the woods, she felt peaceful and relaxed here in this place that was her home, she was already starting to feel better, calmer, even Harper felt calm right this minute. Guess it was home, she thought a little sadly. Wolves weren't creatures that did well on their own, but that's all Harper had ever known, really.

Piper had already been alone for 6 years when Harper had come along, and this tiny one-room cabin had been their solace, when they had been distressed or sad. Had stumbled upon it or into it, she couldn't really recall, during her flee from the pack house at the first pains of betrayal, had run into the woods and ended up here.

Turned and moved the dusty curtain aside and there was her name carved into the wooden wall of the cabin below the window 'Piper Harper Whitlock lives here! Not that anyone had ever known that. Slid her fingers over the letters, across the scratched indents of the wood, had used Harper's claw to engrave that into the wooden wall. If anyone ever actually found this place, it wasn't likely the only place they'd see that. She must have scratched her name into every nook and cranny of the cabin, over the years she'd been here. Piper could see from here at least a dozen of them.

Had wanted to believe that someone would come in here and replace her, or at least this place and then look for her at least, no such luck. Felt tears well up, she'd never existed inside this pack, but had desperately wanted to, wondered if any of the other places she carved her name around the pack were still there going un-noticed by all.

Sighed and put the curtain back, unlikely, with all the upgrades she'd seen that had been made in the years away from this place. Likely they were all gone now.

Though there was likely to be in the basement of the pack-house, she thought, she doubted it would have been remodelled.

Closed her eyes and just sat there, pushed all thoughts from her mind and allowed the quiet of the woods to fill her, just the sound of the trees blowing in the wind was all there was out here.

'Piper?"

Piper's eyes opened and she looked around he. Could have sworn she'd heard Izzy. "Izzy?" she called out, thinking maybe the girl was outside. Got nothing in return, frowned and shook it off, glanced at her watch and blinked, it was nearly 11 in the morning, must have dozed off at some point. That was something she'd always been able to do here. She slept really well inside this cabin, it was quiet, nothing ever disturbed her.

'Piper?' she felt the word pushed inside her mind, like a mind-link, did sound like Izzy, perhaps that was what had woken her.

'Izzy?' she asked back, reaching out along the tether she felt, definitely a mind-link, weird hadn't felt that sensation in years. Didn't even know if she'd be able to use it once more.

'Oh thank the Goddess, Piper. Where are you?" Sounded worried to Piper.

Stretched herself out and stood up. "In the woods," she answered, probably should get back had been gone for hours, it seemed.

"Where in the woods? Bradley is completely freaking out, can't replace you.'

"What else is new?' she muttered. No-one in this pack ever found her.

"Where?' Izzy pressed the point.

'South woods. Piper told her, and stepped outside the cabin to head back to the pack-house, was likely in for a yelling at, if he couldn't replace her. Got all of about a hundred metres when a large black wolf could be seen running towards her. Knew it was Benson, had seen that wolf many times before. Came to a stand still and just watched it approach her, wondered why it was coming so damned fast, though, he did appear to be running at full speed.

Wondered why he was freaked out at all, surely he knew she'd not left the pack, his border patrol would have stopped her in all likelihood and reported it to him.

That was a given.

He shifted back right in front of her, and was damn near yanked off her feet and he crushed her up against his na*ked body, "Goddess Piper, you scared the hell out of me." he was was hugging her so bloody tight it was almost hard to draw breath. "Where did you go?"

Piper frowned, did not understand him. "Why are you all freaked out?"

"You were gone from me."

"Yeah, I walked off, but..."

"No Piper." He pulled away from her a little. "You were gone. Literally gone, I just felt you, well stopped feeling you all of a sudden." his hand was in her hair, and he was looking down at her like he was really worried.

Piper just stared up at him, didn't understand it. "stopped feeling me?"

"Yes, you bare my Mark. I can feel or sense where you are now. Well, I could until you just vanished a few hours ago. I have a pack wide search underway."

"What? I just went.." Piper frowned, she'd not heard people searching for her, no wolves running about, no one calling her name. Though now, when she and Harper focused on it, they could actually hear other wolves out and lots of them. "Where did you go?" He asked "Did you leave the pack? You shouldn't. It's dangerous."

"No... I just went where I used to live."

He was staring at her now, a little more than shocked, and actually watched him look around the area.

She knew it was deep in the woods. "Where? Show me, there is nothing out here Piper." he sounded not just confused but a little concerned.

"A cabin,"

"What?" He was frowning down at her now.

Piper shook her head and turned away from him, pointed further south, "A hundred metres or so down there."

His hand found hers and he was suddenly walking in that direction, pulled her into step with him. "Brad, your na*ked you know." and he was, butt a*ss na*ked, walking in the woods.

"Yes," he commented, "Feel free to ogle, what belongs to you."

She Shook her head, and walked along beside him, frowned up at him when he walked right by it. "Brad stop, it's right there." she pulled him up and pointed to it. Saw him frown and realised that he could not actually see it.

Shook her head, and pulled him towards it, stepped inside, heard him swear and then ducked down and rub his head, oops. He hit his head on the door frame, hadn't even thought of that. Then just felt his whole body still and he was looking around. "What the..." "I don't understand, why couldn't you see it?" she asked him. "it was right there."

Watched him walk around and actually look at the place, looked at the mattress on the floor, the dusty curtains and then just grabbed her hand "Out." He suddenly said and tugged her outside. She went didn't understand why.

Watched him turn and look back at it after a few steps, frowned again "It's cloaked by magic." he sighed. "No wonder Eddie could never replace you." "Can you see it now?"

"No." he shook his head, "Designed to protect who it belongs to, I'd say." turned and looked right at her.

"I didn't build it, just stumbled into it when I was 18."

Heard him sigh softly "I'm sorry Piper." then pulled her right back into his chest "Please don't come here again, it's a little on the creepy side to me."

"It's home to me"

Felt him hug her "Not anymore, your home is with me, with Brandon. Inside the pack-house. And when you're ready in our suite."

She heard movement and turned her head to see his entire unit coming, all just wearing shorts, obviously been out in wolf form looking for her. Copper was carrying a pair of shorts for Bradley, she supposed. He looked at her and then at Brad and smiled, tossed Brad the pants and only then did she recall he was bvtt a*ss na*ked and she was pulled into him.

Turned and looked away a little embarrassed while he put his pants on. Was asked to show them the cabin, when none of them could see it either. Eddie seemed the most annoyed with this place, muttered something about bloody witches and then something else about it was no wonder he couldn't replace her. He stalked around it and marked up several trees to be able to come back to replace it later.

Then stood and stared right at her, seemed he was as annoyed with her as the cabin. It was not her fault, had blindly blundered into it at 18, had not known it was here or looking for it, just been desperately trying to replace a place where no one could hear her cries of pain.

"Get your butt back to the pack-house." Eddie muttered, and then stalked off, himself.

Looked at Bradley questioningly "Not even Eddie could feel you, and he's tuned into you like a watchdog currently. Day and night, doesn't want to not be able to replace you again. Then you were suddenly gone from me and him.