Unscentable
Chapter 61

Piper

POV

The Luna Suite. Bradley had walked her and Brandon right to it, they'd taken the elevator to get up here, not something she'd ever done, always just walked the stairs, she knew where it was, had hated seeing the words on the door, had learned to not look at the door at all, pretty much just refused to acknowledge it existed after a while. It had just been another reminder of what she'd never be.

He'd opened the door for her and Brandon, swiped a card over the lock, just like in a hotel she supposed, that was new, just had regular door handles the last time she'd been here with keyholes. Must have upgraded everything. She did note the pack-house looked slightly different, more modern than before. Brad had replaced all the windows and flooring, and noted there were shutters outside. Likely to keep the winter cold out.

He'd handed her the card, and smiled at her. She knew, as the Alpha, he would have his own, a master key to access every room in this building. There was no point in locking the door, it wouldn't keep him out. Though she was fairly certain he could likely lock her in if he so chose.

He did not however, enter the room, just ushered her in and said to take their time and warm up, then stepped out and closed the door. She heard the lock click, shook her head. Turned and looked at the room. It was designed like a large hotel suite, she thought, with a deep plush-looking couch and matching arm chair. They were both in a cream suede material and they had green throw pillows on them. There was a fireplace with a large wall mounted TV above the mantle.

Had a very nice ensuite, all white marble with a few decorative long narrow jewel green coloured tiles that ran down from the ceiling ranging from a quarter to half way down the walls, kind of brought to mind dangling vines, she thought absently as she filled the massive soaker tub for Brandon.

He was sitting quietly waiting, he did seem a bit cold to her, but he did only have a towel on, had already peeled his wet clothes off, "It's like a small pool, mum." he commented.

"Mm, it does." it could pass for a small plunge pool, she thought.

"My bath is not even this big."

"That it is not," Piper acknowledged, his bath was not even half the size of this one. And the one in her own ensuite back in Portland was not half the size of this either, though her bath was a luxury she'd given herself, the only one thing she allowed herself really. "Hop on in," she said when it was full. "I'll leave the door open, to listen for you."

"Alright." he'd nodded and hopped in, the water level came right to his shoulders when he sat down, it was filled with bubbles "It's so deep."

"No silly business," she commented. "But relax and be warm."

"It's toastie warm already." he grinned up at her.

She stepped out of the bathroom, leaving the door open all the way. He could swim, but still she would keep her ears tuned to him in there, make sure he was safe.

Walked herself over and sank down on that plush looking couch, it indeed was soft and lush to sit in, leaned back into it and looked at the rest of the room, only one large bed in here, up against the far wall, though she could see that a single bed had been brought in, and not just some trundle bed either, a proper single bed. Bradley's son would sleep comfortably, it seemed.

She sighed to herself and knew why this room was a one-bedroom suite, most Alpha's would not have a Luna with a child already. So no need for other bedrooms. It was tailored to a single woman, not a single mother. Wondered if she could be moved out of this room and into another.

There was not enough room in here for her and Brandon. As much as she loved him, she liked having a room to herself, her own quiet space. Otherwise, things felt crowded, shook it off and got up. She could only ask, though it might not go down so well.

Walked into the closet and found all her clothes were not only neatly hung and folded but were all ironed and pressed, as were Brandon's for that matter. The weather here was cold, being so close to winter. And in this closet were clothes designed for the warm summer that had been approaching in Sydney. They had no winter wears here.

Got out some pyjamas and laid them on his bed for him. It wasn't all that late, only just coming up on four in the afternoon, but she was not intending to go roaming about, was starting to feel tired already, probably should still be in the hospital, not fully recovered, she supposed.

As for that family dinner offer, she had no intention of doing that today, was not at all ready to deal with that.

Though it did appear Bradley seemed to understand that, hadn't pushed it and had said as much.

Piper could hear Brandon splashing about in that bath, playing some imaginary game like any 7 year old would, shook her head and smiled to herself, just knew there was going to be water and bubbles all over the floor in there, the boy, it seemed, was more than comfortable right this minute. Not relaxing either, wound up and energetic still.

Went back and got him some proper clothes out. He was not going to want to be in pyjamas or want to crawl into bed at this hour, though she could feel that big bed calling to her and Harper, it wasn't just her who was tired she realised. Harper felt exhausted to her. They were still recovering from the blood loss. Though she couldn't feel Harper healing her any more, that might be why her wolf was so very tired.

Took the opportunity while Brandon was in the bath to have a look at herself, her injuries. There were no massive amount of horrible scars that she could see, though she still had staples in one of her arms and along her side. They were no longer necessary, plucked them out, a short sharp sting as each one was removed, shook it off.

Did have a few fine scars, though they were thin and white already, likely mostly healed on their own before Harper had woken up. Patched up before leaving Sydney, by Coope, she imagined, he'd done a good job of keeping her scars to a minimum, though whether he'd been trying to do that or not, she doubted it. Would likely have been a rush job to stop the bleeding and get the heck away from vampire territory.

Not much she could do about them. What was done was done, she had not wanted to fight, had told that stupid woman as much, moved her eyes to her neck where she had been fed on. A savage bite, shuddered as she recalled the feeling of those fangs digging into her to feed on her, not something she ever wanted to feel again.

The skin there was scarred, that creature had bitten hard and it looked to have torn some of the skin away, dragged its fangs down her skin as it had staggered away from her. Had a permanent reminder, she supposed, nothing she could do about it, two puncture marks and the slightly torn skin below, might lighten up with time, who knew.

Her eyes moved to the other side of her neck, where she had been Marked by Benson. Silver filigree adorned the crook of her neck, didn't recall how that had felt at all, no memory of getting that. It seemed to be made up of interconnecting swirls, though she could actually see what looked like the Pack Symbol in there, shook it off.

That was nonsense, but frowned and looked closer at it in the mirror. And there did seem to be a moon like shape outlined by a thin silver swirl that joined to a-filled-in swirl of silver, that looked much like the lake of the pack symbol, it could be she supposed. Turned away from the mirror, let it go. There was no kitchen or even kitchenette here, not even coffee making facilities. There was also no food in this suite, or snacks of any kind, frowned and then sighed. Knew why, so that they would have to go and eat downstairs in the pack-house dining room. There would be no holing up in this room. Though surely she could order stuff to the room, she doubted that anyone would say no to her. Not with Bradley's Mark on her.

She was hungry, turned and looked around the room, there was no phone in here to connect to the kitchen, huffed and reminded herself she was not in the human world anymore, that wolves within packs didn't need telephones. They just used their mind-link ability to talk to whoever they wanted and get what they wanted to their room.

That was not going to happen. She was not part of this pack, so had no way at this moment to contact anyone. She'd not pledged loyalty, he may have Marked her, but she was still considered a rogue until she and Harper either pledged loyalty to him or Marked him back, she supposed. Didn't really know.

"Mum?"

Her eyes moved to the boy, she'd not heard him get out of the bath. Lost in her own thoughts, it seemed, not a good thing with him being in the bath and all, would have to rein that in. "Sorry Brandon, what did you ask?" "Nothing, you were zoned out there, that's all."

"I'm actually a bit tired." Piper told him honestly "Go and get dressed."

"Do you think that TV has all the channels like in the hospital?" "Yes" she nodded.

"No PS5 mum."

She looked at him, had no idea what had been packed and brought here or not. "Yours could be in a suitcase. Get dressed first though." she commented as he headed toward the open walk in closet.

He pouted right up at her "Then set it up if it's there." shook her head "On the bright side Brandon, your friends will be awake to play with you more, from here."

"Oh, I forgot that." he grinned. She knew it would make him happy to hear this, he was gone to get dressed and then sat and watched him drag a suitcase from the walk-in and open it. "Sweet, it's all here." He was already pulling it out to set it up when there was a knock on the door.

Watch him actually run over to answer it, she let him was to tired to bother, was likely only going to be one of three people. But internally sighed to herself, assimilated very quickly to being here, he had wanted to know what a pack was like, he'd told her as much, and had asked her to go and have dinner with Bradley.

Took all of one day for him to be comfortable here, saw the boy smile right up at his father, saw Bradley smile right back at him, seemed he was very happy with the boy's reaction to him. And why wouldn't he be? "Hi dad."

"Hi son, what are you up to? I thought..." his eyes moved to Piper "We could take a look around, show you about the pack-house."

"Mum can I?" Brand looked at her, seemed excited.

"If you want to," piper nodded, but didn't get up from her place on the couch. Saw Bradley frown instantly at her.

"I'm actually tired." She answered him before he made some comment about wanting her to go as well.

She knew from his frown, that was what he'd been going to state. He had used the word 'we' and he'd looked right at her.

"Alright, it can wait until tomorrow." He nodded "Dr Samuel, did tell me you'd be a bit tired for a day or two." watched him step into the room, look down at Brandon "Are you alright to wait until mum's feeling better."

"Yes, was going to set up my PS5 anyway."

"Go do that then," he tousled the boy's hair.

"There is no food in here...Brad." she commented, oh that was weird using his name for the first time right at him. She shook her head a little, she was going to have to start using it at some point, especially if Brandon was going to want to be here all the time and it did certainly look that way.

Found his eyes right on her, it was not missed on him, that this was the first time she'd called him by his actual name "I know, this suite." he looked around, "Is not designed well for our situation, I'll have some brought up. What would you and Brandon like?" he sat himself down on the couch.

"If T had a phone to the kitchen I could get whatever I want, whenever I or Brandon are hungry."

Saw him lean right back into the corner of the other end of the couch and look right at her "Let me initiate you back into the pack, and you can mind-link to anyone you like... order food at will."

"Don't push me." She glared right at him.

Could feel Brandon's eyes on her, turned to look at him and sighed. There had been a bit of anger in her tone and she knew it. Aspen might be sleeping but that didn't mean he wouldn't wake up, if Brandon got upset.

"It was a suggestion, Piper. I'm not going to force you. I told you I would give you time. I meant that."

She really wanted to comment about that, it had not sounded like a suggestion to her, she'd barely been awake 12 hours and he was already wanting to initiate her back into his pack. He'd said he'd give her time, but he hadn't. Was still pushing to get what he wanted quickly. Not only had she woken up here inside his pack, she was Marked by him as well. Yes, he was going to give her the time she needed. Not.

"Set up Brandon, it's fine. I'm just tired, therefore a bit grumpy." Piper commented "Don't wake Aspen over it.

"Alright, but you're not going to fight with dad are you?" Closed her eyes, it was entirely possible if he didn't stop pushing her she might just punch him with all Harper's strength right in his stupid face. But she would contain that until he wasn't around. "No, Brandon," she said, instead "it's been a long day.. didn't appreciate the comment was all." and she had not. 12 bloody hours.

Yeah, that's giving her all the time she needed.

"Why did you bring me here?" She turned her eyes to the man in question. "to your pack?"

"You needed a hospital Piper."

"There would have been more than one in Sydney, I'm sure."

Saw him frown "You needed a pack hospital, not a human one. We left in a very big hurry, due to not wanting vampires to come and attack us, we'd have been completely outnumbered and quickly so."

Piper could not argue with that, just sighed "I'm hungry and tired." she told him.

"What would you like to eat?" he asked simply.

"I don't really care, to be honest, I eat pretty much anything."

"I don't want vegetables." Brandon piped up, showed he was listening to them talk.

"Hm, you never do." Piper shook her head, and yawned. She really was starting to feel the pull of sleep, it was dragging at her quite quickly. Maybe just sleep would do her. "Brandon, why don't you go with your father to get food." she offered. That should make the man happy.

"Piper?" It was Brad.

"I'm really tired, you go and eat." She told her and yawned again.

He was suddenly right in front of her "Piper?" He sounded worried.

Looked right up at him, and blinked didn't realise he was so very close. She must have shut her eyes for a moment, a micro sleep, maybe "Go, I'm fine."

"I'll call the doctor, perhaps your not ready to be out of the hospital." His hand touched her face.

Shoved him away from her. "I'm just tired, you yourself said the doctor told you I would be tired for a day or two."

"I don't know, you're practically falling asleep while talking to me." He frowned at her as he sat next to her.

Piper got herself up, realised Harper was actually asleep already. "It's been a long day, emotionally and physically, Harper is exhausted, I think it's just spilling over to me"

"Are you certain? You lost a lot of blood." Brad was also on his feet now, frowning down at her.

"I'll be fine." she waved him off "Go, take Brandon and get him some dinner, I'm going to lay down for a bit."

He stood staring at her for a very long time, like he was trying to assess her or something. Watched his head tilt slightly and realised that was exactly what he was doing, he was using his wolf senses to check her heart rate and breathing "You don't have any pain." He commented. Not a question, a statement.

"What? no."

"I know, I'm just stating a fact Il already know."

"And how could you know this?" Piper raised an eyebrow, though she really just wanted him to leave so she could lay down.

"Because Piper, I feel it when you're injured, knew you'd busted your knee before you told me you were injured. Felt every damned hit from that vampire and even felt it feed on you. Set Benson off into a massive rage, damned lucky he stayed inside of me, in his rush to get to you."

She was just staring at him now, a deep frown on her face, she didn't understand that, he'd not even had proof of who she was to him, hadn't scented her at the time.

"I'll let you rest, but I want Dr Samuel to check you over first thing in the morning. I'll stay with Brandon till bed time" watched him turn and pick up the boy and say "Come on, let's go get an early dinner and let mum rest"

Did not know what to make of all that he'd said, but was actually very tired, changed into her pyjamas and crawled into the bed. It was soft and comfortable, curled around a pillow and allowed sleep to claim her.