Unscentable
Chapter 78

Brad

POV

It nearly broke Brad's heart to see that room where she lived in the pack-house basement, so much pain and all her need to be seen and recognized everywhere he looked. He wanted to take all that pain away from her.

His own wolf Benson whined in pain inside his mind. It was no wonder Piper shut herself off emotionally and didn't want to talk about things. Her life here inside his pack.

Actually feeling her slide her arms around him, when he hugged her, wanting to accept what little comfort he could offer to her, when there was nothing else he could do about her past, was utterly amazing.

Piper was actually in his arms willingly for the first time and leaning into him. When she turned those eyes of hers up to him, the way she leaned her chin on his chest, seemed so comfortable, so natural a thing for her to do. All he could think about was kissing her, and she knew it. Did not take long for Piper to realize he was going to either.

She was his Mate and he wanted nothing more than to kiss her, hadn't even really been able to get close to her till now, so stand offish, and had good reason to be.

He was a little surprised that she didn't bolt away from him, when he leaned down and kissed her.

Soft and gentle, slowly he kissed her. Even when she kissed him back, he didn't want to rush anything with her, he would take his time with her this time. Had practically devoured her the last time he'd had her, he would not do that again.

Felt the tears touch his thumb that was resting on her cheek, before he heard the sob that came from her, and then she was pulling away from him. Wouldn't let her leave. He was not embarrassed or bothered by her tears.

Knew when she could not explain them she was very overwhelmed and allowed her to be, did not want her to apologize to him for how she felt, wanted to see all her emotions on the surface, let it go for now.

One kiss was more than he had been hoping for tonight, though he had nearly kissed her in the laundry room, had thought about it, was pretty darn certain she knew it, she had turned away from him very quickly when she realized it. Walked with her all over the place, allowed her to take him anywhere and everywhere around the pack.

Walked all over the woods and her initials were carved all over the pack. Just trying to be seen anywhere she could be. It hurt more than a little. He'd never actually taken any notice of the names in the trees. Wolves were no different to humans in this regard, they liked to carve their and their mates names in tress.

Though that one on the agility course and the time along with it, she was fast. He was going to start a new challenge with her, one that would go on for all their lives. Made him smile when she said she'd sit and watch, would challenge him back if he managed to beat her.

Liked hearing her say this, all words of his Mate, his Luna, willing to stay here with him, be with him.

Brad was going to issue a whole new challenge to the entire pack, for that matter, would have to sit down and think up a really good prize, for the one who could beat the Luna. He might just have to add a serious running challenge to those summer games he held every year. See if there was anyone in the pack who could out run his Luna.

When he saw the nervous way, she looked away from him and said there were two more places to see.

Brad knew instantly they were places she should not have gone, but, being unscentable had gone anyway.

Piper knew she would not get caught. One in his office. That intrigued him.

Knew right away the other was going to be in his suite, was damned curious about how many times she'd been in there, but Piper did seem quite embarrassed, so he let it go. Would hunt the office first.

Prowled around and looked at everything, he'd remodeled already, had to ask if it was still in here, didn't think it was likely, apparently it still was. Even Benson was looking from behind his eyes now, they got nothing.

Wherever it was he'd yet to replace it, not even when he sat behind his desk, could see she was fully amused by this.

Liked that she was happy, even if it was at his expense. She was smiling and trying not to laugh and it was just the two of them, no-one else around, could see they would be able to get along. They were going to be okay once everything was sorted out. Though got the feeling she was going to enjoy tormenting him.

It was getting late. Not even he realized the time, had been just happy spending time with her, holding her hand the whole time and walking about, made that comment about his suite and blinked at her response.

Brad had not meant for her to think he wanted her to sleep in his bed. Though that k!ss had been amazing, he was not at all about to ask her to climb into his bed. It was too soon for that.

Brad did like that she seemed comfortable enough to always let him hold her hand now. Their bond was growing slowly and he knew it would be good and strong. They were taking their time in coming together.

Piper seemed surprised that he'd kept his suite the same for her and he had. He wanted his Mate to come home to something familiar. It was the only place in the pack-house that had not been fully renovated. Only the windows and balcony doors had been replaced.

Frowned at his father who openly smelled Piper, he was more than annoyed about it, in fact. Turned on that man the minute her suite door was closed "Are you crazy?" Brad snapped right at his father.

"You were gone four hours," his father shrugged, "plenty of time to Mate her."

"And so you think it is appropriate to smell her, do you?"

"Calm down, Bradley."

"No I will not." Brad snapped "how the hell would you like it if another male smelled Lilly like that?" Saw his father sigh "I just..."

"You'll bloody know when it happens," Bradley snapped, "cause I will bare her Mark afterwards, I imagine. Don't you ever smell Piper again, or I'll be ripping into you. I don't bloody care you were the former Alpha. I am the Alpha and that's the bloody Luna you just smelled. It's fr****g disrespectful." He snarled the last three words. Saw his father stare at him, then actually pologized. "Sorry son, I am just excited for you that she is here, hoping..."

"Stop it. She needs time. I'll be giving her all she needs and the next person. Regardless of rank to smell her will spend a week on the shaming post." His father's eyes were wide now, obviously knew that included him, turned and walked away, banged into his suite and stood there, so much for his good mood.

Took more than several minutes to calm himself down. Was tempted to put that man on the shaming post for a day just to make sure he didn't try it again. Wouldn't even bloody think about it.

Showered and lay down on his bed, let his eyes move about the room slowly, taking everything in, surely though if it was somewhere visible the omega that cleaned his suite would have brought it up, frowned to himself. So it was somewhere in here but not in plain sight.

He sat up and wondered to himself 'if I was going to write my name in here somewhere, not to be seen' got out of his bed 'where would I do that?' he thought, looked at his actual bed, no to obvious, he would have seen it for certain at some point over the past 8 years.

Strolled around the room and looked about, started moving furniture about to look for it, moved everything in that bedroom, found nothing. Strolled out of his bedroom and into his suite's office, again nothing. This was going to drive him nuts. He searched every room in his suite, moved all the furniture. The place was a right mess when he was done. Huffed in annoyance, still nothing.

Perhaps she was just toying with him. Maybe there was nothing here in the suite. It was possible she was playing with him, had told him he would loose sleep over it, and to enjoy the hunt. Slept very little, had stalked himself to his bed at 3 in the morning and begrudgingly climbed into it to get sleep, but just rolled around mostly frustrated.

He got himself out of bed at 0600, still frustrated by not having found it, and went and knocked on her suite door. When Piper opened it he huffed right at her and she burst out laughing right up at him, clearly knew he'd not found her name in his suite. She was highly amused, yanked her clean out the suite's doorway and picked her up, tossed her over his shoulder and stalked off with her to his room. She was still laughing, replaceing his frustration and fruitless searching hilarious, it seemed. Put her down in his bedroom doorway, and turned her around to face the room. "Where is it?" He asked.

"Did you not replace it?" Piper was very amused, couldn't even hide it.

"Obviously not, give me a clue, at least." she could see the mess he'd made and not just in his bedroom but out there in the living room as well.

"Hmm," Piper turned and looked right up at him, smiling happily at him.

"What's going on?" it was Brandon, and his voice came from right behind Brad. He turned and looked at the boy. "Morning son." must have followed him across the hall and right into the Alpha suite.

"Your mum, left something in here years ago, I can't replace it." turned his eyes back to Piper. "One clue is all I ask."

Watched her raise her hand and hold up her thumb and pointer finger "It's about this big." the gap between them was about three inches. "Good luck, if you've never found it in the 9 years it's been there, you're not likely to."

"Piper." Brad huffed at her a little on the annoyed side, but only a little, she was. He realized not only playing with and having fun, she was actually standing inside his suite. In their suite, in his bedroom and was still smiling up at him, and their son was standing next to him.

His family was inside the Alpha suite, he realized suddenly. He'd not even thought about it, til this very minute. This was what it was going to be like. He smiled down at her, his annoyance gone completely, replaced by happiness at the realization that this was what he was going to enjoy when she was ready.

"You're tormenting me." Piper nodded "I am...I'm also not going to tell you... ever." Brad's eyes widened as she ducked around him and smiled down at Brandon. "Let's go get breakfast."

"What'd you leave in there?" he heard Brandon ask.

"My name is written on something." she chuckled softly.

"And she won't tell me where son. Help me out, won't you." Brad asked the boy, was smiling himself now, didn't care at all, too happy at seeing them in his suite.

"No." Brandon poked his tongue out at him "I'm with mum." No real surprise there, he thought to himself as he followed them out of the Alpha suite. "Can I join you for breakfast?" he asked.

"If you think you can replace the dining room," Piper laughed. Brad growled right at her, all playful, couldn't help it.

Even Benson was all happy inside and wanted to play with their Mate himself, saw her eyes shot right to his and he grinned at her "Torment away." he knew she'd see his wolf's eyes flickering they both really wanted to play with her.