Unscentable
Chapter 76

Brad

POV

Brad watched Piper walk into his office late that afternoon. His office door had been open, both he and Cooper were sitting working, he'd made the decision to actually leave her be. Give her actual space and not be constantly by her side. It was not what he wanted,

but he had told her he'd give her the time she needed and he had not done that as of yet.

He really had to sort out that van in the impound lot, but it was very clear she was not going to help him out, though he was hoping that with their pictures all over the internet the police would now believe him. Though he did still know she was going to have to call and speak with them, to confirm he was not stealing her things.

Did not think it was going to happen anytime soon, she was clear about her intent. The way she had put his father right in his place. Showed him and his father how annoying and angry one got when they were being moved out of their home without permission. Had told him outright she believed he'd had no right to do that, she was right in one respect.

But he, as the Alpha, also had the right to bring her and Brandon here. They were his family, the boy had been easy to confirm as his own. She not so much. He thought that a part of her surely had to understand why he did what he did.

No Alpha in their right mind would leave their heir out there in the world unprotected with a rogue status, where anything could happen to him. Her still being his Mate, she too would come back to the pack at some point, so the logical thing to do was to move them and everything of theirs here to the pack. So that when they arrived they had everything they owned around them, and they would feel more comfortable here inside the pack, surrounded by their own things.

Brad smiled at her as she walked into his office. As annoyed as he was that she was not willing to help him out, he was still happy she was here and now an official pack member. Piper he noted, was carrying a notepad and pen. "I need some things from you, have a list."

That made him happy, she needed something from him and was actually asking him for it. "What would you like?"

"I need your head office ground floor and first floor building plans, with the area's your willing to provide for the new store marked out on them. Daniel will also need the entire building plans as well, for structural integrity or something, said you'd understand about that. So he can see what he's working with." Held out a piece of paper to him.

Brad sighed internally that was not what he'd been hoping for, had been hoping it was something personal, but he accepted the piece of paper on it was an email address.

"You can send it there. That's Daniel's email. I've spoken to him and he's happy to start the new project." held out another list to him.

Brad took that as well, even knew what it would be, he did oversee the construction side of the business, though it was Eddie and Harry, along with both their fathers, who actually ran that side of the pack business.

His office was in the law firm on the fifth floor along with his father and Coopers. Although Cooper was not a lawyer, he held a business degree among others.

Glanced at the list, no real surprise. It was a request for building codes and compliance's that would be needed for him to get the work here in Helena underway.

"I have Eddie and Harry get this to you."

"Just send it to Daniel and put my name or Goddess Gowns Helena in the subject line. I don't need it. You might want to give Daniel a contact number, he'll likely want to discuss many things. You are still happy to give some of the first floor for the loft space, yes?" "Yes, Piper. How much would you like?"

"I'll let you and Daniel sort that out. He understands my requirements for a working studio, that both Izzy and I will want offices and a bathroom of our own."

"Alright, he'll likely deal with Eddie, he's in charge of the construction side along with Harry."

"Good, that will make it easier." saw her smile "Izzy will get whatever she wants out of that man.

She was not wrong on that. Brad agreed, "Piper, I will give you whatever you want as well, you know this right. She looked right at him "I don't need anything. I have plenty of money to do as I please with... on that note, what is it going to cost me for that space? I'll need a figure, to cut you a check."

Brad was frowning now, "I'm giving you the space Piper, I want you to have it, I don't want your money. As my Luna, what is mine is also yours."

Saw her sigh, didn't seem to either understand or like it. He couldn't tell which.

"I can afford it, you know, am worth quite a bit."

"I'm well aware of your net worth, damned near fell of the bed I was sitting on, when I found out." Saw her snort, amused by this it seemed. Obviously knew he'd not been expecting it. "Shocked were you?"

"I was, we all were." He nodded "not often a rogue can accumulate that kind of wealth...I am glad you were able to do this for yourself. Be strong enough to survive everything you went through and build a happy life for yourself." Brad told her honestly and he was very proud of her, and the way she'd managed to live. The way she'd raised Brandon so happy.

Doubted there were many out there that could survive what she had and not only pull herself together but thrive and then flourish and grow a multi-million dollar business as well.

"Izzy was happy with her contract, I see." He smiled.

"Yes she was. More than shocked, didn't see it coming."

"Tend to do things on the sneaky side, do we?"

"No." Piper shook her head "I'm up front mostly, but she shrugged. "that was always my plan, just hadn't informed Izzy that was all."

"Well, I'm glad she's happy here and has a job she clearly loves, we should move her things here." He brought up moving one of their things to the pack, had to start small.

"I believe she has already started sorting that out. Don't worry about it." watched her turn to leave his office.

"Piper, I have a moving van there, if you would only."

"I don't think she's using it or wants to." he saw her turn and smiled right at him "Found a moving company on her own." Then she just walked out of his office with a slight bounce in her step. Brad leaned back in his chair and sighed as he watched her go till she was out of sight, seemed happy to be telling him that he realized. Still trying to put him in his place, he thought.

"Might want to cut your losses on that truck. I don't think she is ever going to help you out."

Brad's eyes moved to Cooper. The man was likely right, would stop fighting it, would have to accept the charges and take the fine. Only then would they release his truck back to him, sighed "So stubborn."

"I don't think that is it. I think she is doing exactly what Hadley told her to do. Is trying to put you in your place. I didn't think it was a good idea to move her either, if you recall."

"I know," and Brad did recall Cooper telling him as much. The damage was done now though. "To late now, I guess."

"Likely" Cooper nodded "Have you apologized for that?" Brad looked right at him. "No, it's my right as the Alpha."

"Might want to rethink that. They were a pack of their own and you. I guess you might say, you strolled into their pack and tried to claim it for yourself."

Brad was staring at the man now, he'd not even considered that line of thought, he was the Alpha of a much larger and stronger pack, it could be that he was seen as an invading force. It did happen all the time, stronger packs stalking in and claiming and overtaking smaller packs, absorbing those who couldn't fight them off or have no chance at winning.

Being forced to submit to the larger, stronger pack's Alpha, no war or physical resistance during the take-over, to save pack members' lives. But there was still resistance and unhappiness about the take over and loss of control. Sighed heavily. "I'm the invading Alpha."

"It could be seen that way. You don't know her, or any of them that well, their thoughts on it."

"I know, she's so closed off to me still. Wouldn't even tell me about Harper."

"Maybe Brad, you won't be able to get to know her until you resolve this problem. You might want to replace out if that's how she feels. Was brought here in an unconscious state. Had not accepted you, was in fact running away from you at the time."

"I don't think she was running away, Cooper, just freaked out or scared of the full moon and me wanting to see her. She would never leave Brandon, would have come back in the morning, I believe."

"Agreed." Cooper nodded "But still woke up here, inside the pack. Everyone in her pack moved here, no-one really had a choice in the matter."

He had apologized a lot for the way things had been, what she had suffered here inside the pack and explained to her why he'd brought her here, needing a pack hospital, but he'd not apologized for trying to move her belongings. Likely this was the problem, he thought, with how annoyed she got every time that his movers and moving van were brought up, she still told him he had no right to do that. It was how she felt, he could not change that.

He took dinner up to the Luna Suite himself. She looked at him with narrowed eyes, but let him in. Brandon smiled up at him and waved, he had a headset on and was playing a game, after acknowledging him, he went right back to his game and talked into the headset.

Glanced at Piper, "He's online gaming with his friends in Portland," she informed him. Took the plate for Brandon and placed it next to him so he could eat and game at the same time. He'd brought hot dogs for the boy. Brandon seemed pretty happy with the choice. He had brought roast chicken dinners for himself and Piper. The tray he was carrying also had three slices of cake on it.

"I thought we could sit and chat, get to know each other." Brad commented as he placed the tray down on the new coffee table.

Piper sank down on the lounge. "I need a bigger suite, and Brandon needs his own room, I also really need a proper table to work from." she told him pretty much right away.

Brad was tempted to offer their actual suite. It was across the hall and housed not just their bedroom, but also had an office she could use, and there were three bedrooms. Brandon could certainly take his pick of those rooms. There was also a kitchen and dining room which would allow them to eat a proper sit-down meal.

Refrained himself from doing so. "I can look into that tomorrow." He simply nodded.

"Good." She nodded right back.

"What do you like to do, Piper? When not working."

"Many things."

"A clue would be nice." He frowned at her, as he handed her, her dinner.

"You've been inside my house." She looked right at him, pointedly "You've seen what Brandon and I do in the photos." Brad nodded, he couldn't deny it. "I have," he admitted. "I also noticed that Brandon is into nearly everything, your room, however.." Brad looked right at her.

"He is very active, yes."

"I saw... what do you like to do?"

"Whatever he wants."

"For yourself, Piper. Not for our boy."

"I like to run," She finally answered his question, and saw the smirk on her face. Likely thinking about the fact that she could outrun him and easily so. Though she'd not run once since being here inside the pack, likely still not recovered enough.

Wondered if she would be worried about the residual scars from her battle with that vampire, he knew she had some. Samuel had told him she would have, that she'd always have the scar from the vampire feeding off of her.

He had not liked that himself but there was nothing to be done about it.

"Other than running?"

"I work a lot, Brandon and I snowboard, do the occasional indoor rock climbing, we hike sometimes, the boy also likes to swim."

"Do you do anything for yourself?" He frowned. It was all about the boy.

"I work and run. I don't mind shopping, though...

"Only buy things for Brandon." He nodded, her part of the house was void of everything, other than clothes."

How come you don't buy things for yourself?" Brad asked the question that had been bugging him since seeing her part of the house.

"I don't need them, need very little personally, just clothes to wear." she shrugged" I work, I run and hang out with Brandon and Izzy, that is pretty much it."

"Do you like movies?" she was not very forthcoming, needed to replace a way to get her to open up.

Watched her turn and look at him. "Doesn't everyone?"

He frowned at her, didn't like how closed off she was.

Wanted to ask her about being here in the pack before turning eighteen? What her life had been like?

Where had she lived? How had she survived? But did not want to do that with Brandon in the room. It might upset him and he didn't want that.

"Could we take a walk later? You and 1?" Brad asked casually.

Saw her eyes move right to him, and narrow on him, likely trying to figure out what he wanted "I just thought we could talk freely just the two of us." his eyes moved to Brandon and then back to hers" have some questions, I'd like to know the answers to, and I'm certain you have your own." She was just staring at him and then nodded

"Alright." Returned to her meal, wondered if she didn't have any questions at all or didn't really care about who he was, what type of person he was. He supposed she had grown up here, along with him. He was eight years older than her, she might very well have seen him, what he was like growing up and all the way up until she left. Might consider she knew him.