Unscentable
Chapter 65

Bradley POV

Bradley saw Annabella out of his office and thanked her for helping with Brandon, for also answering Piper's questions, one's he'd also been concerned about himself. He did want more children and once he won Piper over, she was going to have trouble getting him to keep his hands to himself.

He was likely going to Mate the hell out of her for days on end. Smiled to himself at that thought, then shook his head and pushed it aside, it was going to be a good while before that was going to happen. He needed to think about something else 'right' he told himself as he stepped back into his office, glanced at his watch, still had half an hour before training finished.

"Brandon son."

The boy looked up at him, he was still playing with the ring he would obtain later in life, hopefully much later. He was no longer sitting on the floor but between Piper and Izzy. There little rogue pack.

"We need to talk about Aspen." Brad told him as he walked over and sat down on the opposite chair to them.

"Now you heard what Annabella said about your wolf emerging."

"Yes." the boy nodded.

"Well, when he does, you'll have to wear that ring all the time."

"Yes"

Piper frowned at him and then turned to look down at Brandon. "Sweetie, your father is not doing this right."

Brad did like it when Piper acknowledged him as the boy's father right to him, made him a little warm on the inside.

"What you need to know," Piper continued and tilted the boy's face up to hers. "Can I talk to Aspen?"

Brad blinked as he watched Aspen push forward on request, so much control already, shocked him quite a bit. He'd thought the boy's wolf was all primal instincts, which he acted on. Although he'd heard the wolf mutter at her after the run challenge, he'd never actually seen the wolf be called out for a conversation before. Didn't realise he could be.

"Aspen, what I need from you, is for you not to emerge in wolf form till it is absolutely necessary. I didn't know what I was, you do now."

Saw Aspen tilt his head and stare up at his mother, "You suffered like Iris did." his gravelly voice rolled right out of him, before his eyes moved to Bradley himself.

"Yes I did." Piper acknowledged, for though there was nothing about the pains of betrayal in the story, she and Brad both understood that was what was meant by pain and suffering to the Princess in the story. Seems so did Aspen.

"Why you left!" he turned back to look at her once more. "I understand better, now. One-sided bond." Bradley watched Piper nod her head. Not once did she blame him, he also realised she'd talked to Aspen before, likely called him out before, his wolf might be young but still had that inherited knowledge all wolves got.

"My pendant made me invisible to this pack. I understand that now. I did not know before. My parents died when I was 10. I didn't...they didn't tell me any of this.. when you emerge fully Brandon has to wear the ring, he'll, you'll become invisible to this pack." Bradley frowned now, no he wouldn't be, because Brad was going to be training his pack in not using their wolfen senses, and he was going to start that right away.

But perhaps keeping that to himself at this point and what Piper was telling him would keep Aspen inside the boy. Decided not to interrupt her.

"Do you understand?" Piper asked a minute later when Aspen still hadn't responded to her.

"I will come, when I come." Aspen stated and then just receded, didn't sound overly happy about being asked not to emerge.

Piper's eyes met his, and she actually looked a little on the worried side to him. This was all they could do, ask his wolf not to emerge. Aspen, being an Alpha wolf who was already fierce and stubborn, would likely do as he pleased.

Sighed himself, "Let it be for now, we'll have to wait and see," there wasn't much else he could say. "Best you keep that ring on you at all times, I'd say." He didn't much like it, but it was what it was unfortunately.

Piper nodded at him, seemed just as unhappy about it as he was, watched her slip that ring on to the middle finger of her right hand.

"Training is nearly finished, I'll organise the boys and cars and we'll head into Helena to do some shopping. Why don't you head on back upstairs and grab your things, I'll come and get you when the boys are cleaned up and ready." "Piper, can we look at places for the new store to go?

"It was Izzy, already asking about her new job. Likely missed her work.

"I guess so." Piper nodded as they got up, "though I have no idea, what stores or real estate is available." Brad smiled, stood and leaned in the open doorway to his office and just watched the two women, each of them had one of Brandon's hands, stroll off down the pack-house towards the elevator, watched as they got in the elevator talking about what Izzy wanted in her store.

Piper and Brandon were both walking about the pack-house unescorted and seemingly unconcerned right this minute.

She was becoming comfortable inside the pack, though he had a feeling it was because Brandon was comfortable, he was going to take it as a win. A step closer to gaining his Mate.

Mind-linked to his entire unit, told them of the plan for the day. They all seemed a bit shocked that he'd agreed to letting her off pack territory already, though Eddie chuckled at him but said nothing further, that man likely had tuned into Piper himself this morning and felt all that happiness and joy pouring off of her.

He sat down at his desk and looked up available real estate. There was nothing really available that even looked close to her store in Portland and he had seen the one in Olympia. It too looked very similar, also knew from Eddie that the store in Sydney was pretty much just a bigger version of the one in Portland. It seemed she had a style.

But he could at least drive her and Izzy around and let them look at everything that was available for themselves. Cooper sank himself in the chair across from him freshly showered and dressed for the shopping trip. "Have you arranged for the press to see you and Piper together in Helena?"

"What?" Brad frowned at his Beta.

Watched Cooper roll his eyes at him "Come on Brad, we talked about this in Portland, she has got a human world life. We need for the humans to see you two together, remember. Start that human world relationship going."

"Oh, it had completely slipped my mind. A complicated morning."

"Why? What happened between you and Piper?"

Cooper was leaning forward, now looking at him worriedly.

"Nothing like that. Actually, Annabella managed to talk to Piper and Brandon, she was very helpful with Brandon and Aspen. She is definitely the right person to explain who they are to children."

"Good, that's a good start." Cooper leaned back in his chair again.

"It was." Brad nodded "But Aspen was not happy about being asked not to emerge though."

"Alpha wolf and a rogue at that." Coop shrugged "What'd he say?"

"I'll come, when I come." Cooper snorted, now fully amused, it seemed "Sound's like you."

"I'm not like that."

"Really? An interesting statement, Mr. I'll do what I want when I want."

Even Brad laughed now, he did often say that when he was annoyed about his brother or father wanting him to do something he wasn't in the mood to do or didn't want to do at all.

"I'll make some calls. Grace will be discreet but get some good pictures of the two of you together, likely Brandon as well."

"Alright." Brad nodded, he didn't think that Piper was going to be overly happy about it when she found out, but it would just be a few pictures, surely she wouldn't get too mad.

"Oh hey I heard you got Piper food this morning.

"I did." Cooper nodded and stood up. "I was up and she was coming out of her room. I offered no big deal"

"Thank you."

Watched the man wave it off "I'll go bring the cars around. You, me, Piper and Brandon in one car and Eddie, Izzy, Harry and Betsie in the other." "Betsie?"

"Mm apparently, they need new baby furniture for their new suite."

"Oh yeah, sorry kind of slipped my mind with all that was going on with Piper."

་་།

I guess so." Coop nodded and strolled out of his office.

An hour later, they were in Helena, and after Cooper parked the car, he got out and helped Brandon from the car, held his hand out to Piper. She just looked at him and then got out by herself. He had tried.

They all strolled at a casual pace down the walking mall. There was no real rush at all. He let Piper, Izzy and Betsie all stop and look at whatever took their fancy.

Though she would not let him pay for anything at all, not for her and not for Brandon. It irked him, he wanted to be able to provide for her and their son. Certainly could afford it.

But kept that in full check, just smiled and nodded as though it didn't bother him when it really did. This was what she was used to doing, paying for everything.

He knew she could afford it, likely no limit on that platinum AMEX she was swiping away on. Like him, she didn't even look at the prices of things, knew without a doubt she could afford them.

He bought coffees for everyone except Betsie, who wouldn't drink caffeine while pregnant, got her a herbal tea, and Brandon a strawberry milkshake. He strolled along and held that boy's hand, at one point, right there along with Piper as well, the boy between them, Brandon, seemed happy enough.

Piper still looked at him with a raised eyebrow when he did that. Bradley just smiled right at her, he was not going to be deterred from holding his sons hand or having them look like a family either, had no intention of ever stopping doing it, well till the boy was too old for it, he supposed.

Brad was more than happy two hours into shopping when Brandon complained he was tired of walking around, 'his feet hurt.' Brad just picked him up and popped him up on to his shoulders "Better?" He asked.

"Yep, and I can see everything from up here, your so tall dad"

Brad smiled, "you will be to I imagine, just like Grandpa and I."

The boy did love using the word 'dad' as much as the word 'mum', when he wanted to point something out to either of them or both of them, he got to hear him say twice now, "Mum, Dad, look at that." one full sentence. Warmed his heart greatly. It was clear Brandon was all in for them, being a family.

"Why don't we go and get some lunch?" he offered when Betsie sat down and looked a bit tired.

They sat and ate in a nice saloon and grill place. He offered Piper a glass of wine only to recall she'd stated she didn't drink it, so he offered her something from the bar, to which she declined, just had a soda like Brandon did.

The chatter around the table was mostly revolved around Betsie and Harry's new pup on the way. She was only 2 months along but already seemed be showing a little, wondered if there was more than one in there, but let it alone, they would announce boy or girl or twins when they were ready.

Even Brandon had questions for his Uncle Harry and Aunt Betsie. Apparently they were now family to the boy because Harry was Eddie's brother, even asked about their other children and how many cousins he suddenly had, how many kids they wanted. Stated he was an only child.

Heard Betsie giggle at him "You'll get brothers and sisters one day I'm sure."

Saw Piper damned near spit her drink all over the place and everyone laughed. She however, didn't seem to find it amusing at all, not ready to go down that road.

They were bonded and at some point she had to know it was coming.

Brad just smiled at her when she glared at him. He didn't say it, though it was likely from the expression on her face she thought he would put a stop to that line of talk. Especially when she found Brandon, looking right at her questioningly. Brad was not getting involved in that one, he actually had no idea what her thoughts were on the subject.

They'd have to talk about it at some point, but not until after she had fully accepted him. It was too early for that though. However, if she asked him she would get a definite yes, he'd not gotten to see her pregnant with Brandon, had missed out on so much, wanted to have that experience with her.

When Piper didn't answer Brandon, the boy's eyes moved right to him, asking him the unspoken question about him getting brothers and sisters. Guess he liked the idea. Felt Piper actually kick him under the table, laughed at it, didn't really hurt, he didn't think it was meant to either, just a warning to shut it likely.

He just smiled at Brandon. "Too early to even consider thinking that far ahead son." It was the only answer he could come up with. That wasn't going to infuriate his Mate. Seemed to settle the boys' questions for now.

Then they drove Piper and Izzy around the city to look at real estate for her new store, vacant buildings for sale or blocks of land. She didn't want a lease, she wanted to buy. That pleased him a lot. Both her and Izzy hopped out and looked at the places, though they didn't really seem all that happy with the space, or location at this point.

"You know Brad," It was Cooper, they were both leaning on the car while Piper and Izzy peered through the front window of a building for sale.

"Mm."

"You do own a five-storey building yourself. You could show the ground floor to Piper, have it redesigned to her liking. It's currently just a Grand Foyer."

"Mm I could." Brad nodded "Do you think she'd want that?"

"To be close to her Mate, all the time? Yes Bradley I do." the man shook his head at him, seemed dismayed to be having to answer the question.

"Got to get her to be my Mate first," he sighed.

"Well, it'll take months to redesign and remodel. You two should be good by then, right?"

Brad looked right at Cooper. "Why are you so helpful all the time suddenly, instead of playing devils advocate, like you normally do." Watched the man shrug "Just trying to help you get your Mate. We all want that." "Hmm, I get the feeling there is something else going on.. what'd you say back in Sydney about you might have already done something wrong and need a beating for."

"Hmm, let's just sort you and Piper out first, that can wait."

"What did you do, Cooper?"

"Nothing." Cooper commented and leaned away from the car, "Ready ladies?"

Brad stared at the man with narrowed eyes. Oh, there was definitely something going on. "Spit it out Cooper." he stated as he got in the car.

Heard Piper chuckle softly from the backseat, saw her turn and look out the window, when he looked at her to now "What's so funny?"

"You." She bit her lip and held in more laughter, then looked right at him "Can't control your Gamma. Can't make you Beta talk. It's funny to me... Bet I could have a guess at what is going on."

"Piper, there is a lovely building just down the way." It was Cooper. ""Il drive us there right now, walk you around myself."

Heard the woman snort with full amusement "If you like Cooper." She answered him.

The man was more than aggressive in his drive to Black Haven headquarters, where he housed his Law Firm and ran his construction businesses from. Watched that man get out and bang the door shut behind him. Oh yes, there was something going on and it was clear to Brad that Piper did actually know what it was.

Cooper stalked all the way around the car, looked quite cranky to Bradley, yanked her door open and snapped right at her, his Luna "Are you ready?"

"Enough Cooper." Brad got out of the car and rolled his Aura right at his Beta, saw the man's shocked expression, and then and only then seemed to realise what he'd done, backed off instantly from Piper. "Sorry Piper." He even apologised.

"It's fine." She didn't even find his behavior offensive, still seemed fully anmused to Bradley.

"I'll take her, Cooper, you can stay here and calm down." he reached in the car for Brandon, no issues with that the boy reached up to allow it. He even sat him right on his hip, saw Eddie pulling up as he closed the door. "Jeez you know some warning would have been nice," he muttered as he got out and helped Izzy out.

"Agreed." Bradley answered him, glaring at Cooper Come on Piper, Izzy. Eighty percent of the ground floor can be remodelled here if you like the space."

Could see Piper looking at the building. She would recognise it, it had been the pack's head office for years, even when she'd been in the pack, "This is your head office!" she stated with a frown, she could also read the signage which was in big bold black lettering, Drake Industries & Black Haven Law Firm. All his businesses ran out of this building.

"It is, Cooper pointed out to me." he encouraged her and Izzy to walk inside. "The whole bottom floor is basically dead space, just a very large foyer."

"You want me to build a bridal store in your company foyer?" she asked up at him.

Izzy was already off and looking at the space. It was empty just had a large reception desk and four elevators off to the left. There were three she-wolves sitting at the front desk manning the phones. They all looked up at him a bit surprised to see him, but bowed their heads "Alpha." they all said in unison.

"Ladies," he greeted them back.

Watched as their eyes fell on Brandon on his hip and then Piper, smiled himself when they all greeted her as they had him "Luna." watched Piper turn and look at them, they all bowed to her as they had to him.

"Hello," she answered, and then moved on, saw Eddie frown at her for a moment. The man was a tuned to her, it seemed she was uncomfortable with the term 'Luna', he thought. But let it go, she'd not actively accepted him yet, so maybe she didn't think it was appropriate.

Stood with Brandon and leaned on one of the pillars dotted about the foyer, with Eddie and just let them walk around and talk, Izzy was clearly happy with the space, already appeared to be mapping out what she wanted where.

Piper, it seemed, was listening to the woman, and he wondered if she'd told Izzy about becoming a full partner to her business yet. Didn't think so, Izzy would surely have told Eddie and it would have gotten back to him. Saw her looking up at the ceiling and wondered why? Watched her shake her head, he wasn't actively listening to their conversation, she didn't seem happy about anything. This went on for a good forty minutes. Brandon had fallen asleep on his shoulder out of sheer boredom, it seemed, not that Brad minded.

He was also happy that in the past forty minutes not once did Piper turn to look back at him with Brandon, she obviously trusted him with their son, she'd also told him last night to take him for dinner, and left him to put the boy to bed.

Now she was here and all business it seemed, as was lzzy. These two had done this before, that much he could tell, by the way they were walking and looking and discussing in depth. Probably what he looked like with Cooper or his own father, he realised. It was nice to see he had a Mate who could handle a business. Had a competent business partner as well.

Both women walked back over to them. Izzy smiled.

"like the space."

"Piper?" he asked.

"No loft space, for my design studio." she shook her head.

"Is that important to you?" he asked.

"I like my loft space, it's a good place to work and the platform gives me a good view of my store." Brad smiled right at her. "I'm sure I'd be willing to demolish some of the first floor to make room for your design studio and office." "Offices." Izzy corrected him right away. "My store this one. So I get an office too."

Brad just nodded "I'll be fine with that." and he was.

Piper had just stated 'no space for her design studio' sounded very much like her decision was made, also had stated'/like my loft space' Brad would give her whatever she wanted, to keep her here, including the whole first floor if she wanted it. "We should get back, Brandon's all tuckered out." He commented casually, and saw her glance at him and then just nod her head, was still thinking about the space it seemed.