Unscentable
Chapter 68

Piper POV

It was the way Brad was looking at her, when he asked her to attend a private family dinner, and that please, she could see that there was something else going on. Didn't know what it was, but whatever it was, was causing the man concern. Though he was trying to mask his emotions and convey to her nothing was wrong, something she was very good at doing and detecting herself, for that matter.

He did cover it very quickly, it was there a flicker of something akin to sadness, she thought. Something in him needed this.

Piper did not think it was just his wanting to have dinner with her either, and this was what had made her nod her head and say yes to that family dinner. The minute that she did, he simply stepped aside and opened her door for her, to go back inside her room once more.

He did not attempt to come in and see Brandon either, it was weird. Something was definitely off. "You don't need to dress up, Piper. Just come as you are, you and Brandon." at her nod he closed the door and was gone.

Piper sat down way more confused, then out in the hallway, 'don't like it. Harper stated, sounded a bit annoyed. So it wasn't just her, even Harper felt something was off. It took a full minute to shake it off. If he wanted her to know, surely he would tell her outright. He did seem pretty straight forward in voicing what he wanted. Realised she had no idea what time dinner would be, he'd not said. Probably coming and picking them up was all.

"Mum?"

"I don't know," she answered honestly. "Annabella wants to talk to me again." It was all she knew.

"I like her." Brandon smiled up at her.

"Mm, she does seem nice." Piper nodded "Your dad, wants us to have dinner with him."

"Okay." He nodded.

"His whole family," Piper added.

"Oh... whose that?"

"Um, I guess his parents, sister and brothers, any cousins you might have, he didn't really say, just stated a family dinner.." looked right at him "Brandon, it will be a room full of Alpha wolves, is Aspen going to be okay with that?" needed to see how he felt about this. Watched him seem to discuss it with his wolf, then nod his head "Should be, he seems to understand which wolves are his kin."

"Alright." she nodded, a good start to him getting along with other Alpha wolves.

Brad did come to collect them at 6. He'd changed into jeans and a tee-shirt himself, and Piper wondered as she looked at him, if he should buy something in a bigger size, that shirt was a neat fit and hugged all the curves of his chest and abdominal muscles, even noticed she could see his v-line with that shirt on.

Heard the man clear his throat and when she looked at him questioningly, there was a fully amused smile right on his face, internally chastised herself and shook her own head, realising she had been staring right at his body, ogling him, she supposed. Certainly had taken a good look at him and he knew it.

Heard his amused chuckle a moment later when she glared at him, he knew she'd been looking at all his muscles, caught in the act, she'd not really even known she was doing it until he'd cleared his voice and smiled right at her. Seemed happy she was ogling him. "Everyone is going casual. I'm hoping it will help ease Aspen's tension a little."

"Alright." Piper nodded and said nothing more.

They walked into the private dining room and everyone was already there. It seemed they were the last to arrive. Bradley introduced everyone by name.

Benjamin and Lilly, his father and stepmother, Hendrix, his brother and then his Mate Robyn and their two daughters, Levi and Blake. Then there was Megan and her Mate, Simon. She was Lilly's daughter to her previous Mate, and their three children also all girls; Hilda, Nadine and Lee-Anne. And then Hadley, his sister.

Piper realised that he had not only introduced them but in ranked order, a bit weird seeing as it was a family dinner. It was a lot to take in. Apparently, his other brother was off on holiday with his Mate at her old pack.

So they would get that introduction when he came back.

Piper sat where Brad pulled a chair out for her, still no sign of Izzy, likely Fade and Timber were still getting acquainted out in the woods. Brandon sat between her and Benjamin. He was still smiling at the boy, and heard Bradley actually tell his father to let up a bit as he sat down himself.

Everyone was dressed in jeans and tee-shirts or sweaters, and there was a lot of chatter going on around the table. Among his family members, it seemed that they all got along well. She was pretty quiet, used to it just being her and Brandon with Izzy every other day, it was very noisy in here. With them laughing and getting along.

There were some questions directed at her and Brandon alike, mostly it seemed about what they liked to do, when not at work or in school where Brandon was concerned. Brandon answered questions, like she did, but didn't offer anything extra, as neither did she. Though when the boy had stated his favourite place was the Swiss Alp's because it was really good for snowboarding, that stopped near everyone in the room and suddenly the questions were firing at the boy about where he'd been for holidays. Brandon seemed to come more alive at that point.

He did enjoy telling them about all the places he had been, all over the world, smiled right up at her at one point and said "Mum takes me wherever I want to go." and she'd just smiled right down at him, she did do that.

If he asked, she took him. Wanted him to have everything, never miss out on a single thing he wanted.

They were all shocked bar Brad, about all the places he had been, which told her that that man had indeed been inside of her house. Likely seen all their family photos. She let him talk to whoever and about whatever it was good to see him and Aspen so comfortable in the room.

Piper herself was thrown a few questions about her business and about how well it was doing. How she'd managed to build such a large company for herself.

She'd just shrugged it off. Her designs, even here in the pack when she'd been here, had been popular, stated it was just luck in all likelihood.

Megan comment that 'maybe it was the Goddess's way of compensating her for all she'd had to go through. Piper just stared at the woman. She doubted that very much, so didn't say anything at all about it. She didn't like that they all seemed to know what had happened between her and Bradley, that was private business, why did everyone here seem to know about it, annoyed her that they had been told, more than a little.

Bradley brought up Piper opening a new store here in Helena, that he'd offered the foyer of Drake Industries and all eyes turned upon her suddenly. "I haven't made a decision." she stated calmly, "Though Izzy does like the location." and the woman did.

It was Benjamin, his father that brought up their pack movers who'd been arrested and that the van was still currently impounded in Portland. He looked right at her as though he expected her to fix that, "Not my problem." she shook her head, and it was not as far as she believed.

"Piper please." It was Brad now. She turned to look at him. "call and rescind your claim that my men were breaking into your house."

"Why? Isn't that just what they did? I did not agree to them packing and moving my things. I certainly don't recall giving you or them a key to my house. So I believe that is considered breaking and entering, also packed some of my things into that truck without permission.

That is theft, is it not?" He was a lawyer, he would know.

She was staring right at him, was still annoyed with the way he had just gone to her home, had decided to pack it up for himself and move her without her permission.

"You are my Mate, Piper. So it's not. I was simply helping you to move home."

"Really?" She leaned back in her chair and stared hard at him "I'm still a rogue currently. I was also at the time, so you, Bradley, have no actual claim on any of my things." Saw him frown right at her "I have laid my claim on you Piper."

"Oh, I'm well aware of the fact, that I do not recall that either." She snapped.

"Children." it was Benjamin. "no fighting at the table. Piper ignored the man "and if you think just because you claim to me, I'm about to go handing everything I own over to you. My hard-earned companies, my car, my house or my money. You'd be dead wrong. I earned a good living as a rogue. That money will not be going into your bank account or into this packs funds either. You have no right to it, regardless of your claim on me.

He was frowning right at her now and deeply, so "I have never asked you to," he commented, "and I'm not going to either. This pack has plenty of money."

"Good," Piper stated, she was not about to hand over thirty to fifty percent of her net worth to this man, just because he was there Mate and an Alpha. She didn't even know if he knew what her actual net worth was. He might very well have looked it up, he might not care at all. Though from the questions and comments she had heard it was likely they all did know she was worth a considerable sum.

Heard the man sigh and just stopped talking, it seemed he wanted to let it go for now, that was likely something they were going to have to come back too.

Though it did seem he was unhappy about her response to his moving van. Well, he shouldn't have been so bloody arrogant as to believe he could just up and move her any time he liked.

Dinner went for a good hour and a half and she was over it, by the time they all started to file out. Had fallen silent and just didn't want to talk anymore. Was not used to this kind of thing, was used to dinner being small and quiet, or alone for that matter. Brad did seem to realise this and called a halt to dinner himself.

Annabella was waiting in Brad's office along with Cooper. They seemed to be just chatting casually. Brad picked Brandon up, the boy was fine with being picked up constantly by the man, ""'ll be just out in the foyer." He said, looking right at Annabella. "I won't go far." "Good." was all the woman said in return as he stepped out of his own office after Cooper did, and closed the door, she turned and looked right at Annabella.

"What is all this about?"

"Bradley didn't tell you? Why you were summoned?"

"No, just stated you had some questions for me. To answer them honestly."

"I don't think you would lie to me, piper. But I am quite surprised he didn't give you the run down, most men would." Piper shrugged. "Guess I'm allowed to formulate my own opinions."

"That is a good thing. Come and sit down."

Piper did, sat and looked right at the woman, her great grandmother, she'd been told, didn't look anything like her at all. It took a full minute before Annabella spoke "How was Brandon conceived?" She asked. Piper frowned at that woman, that was a stupid question. "Same as every other child out there."

"Not what I meant. Did you consent to having s*x? is what I actually meant." Piper stared at the woman now, she did not want to think about that night. "What happened between Bradley and I, is our business." "You'd think that.. but with what you are, we need to make sure that it wasn't against your will."

Leaned back in her chair and stared at her now, "Why is that important?"

"Whitlock laws, and the contract between this pack and our pack. There were rules around your mother Jewel and any female children she had. I'm just looking to see if the contract was breached." "You're here to punish him, in other words."

She saw Annabella sigh and shake her head. "Not me. it will be Timothy who does that. Alpha to Alpha. That's what the contract states."

Now that gained her attention and not just hers, she felt Harper sit right up and tilt her head, "What exactly is the punishment?" she asked.

"Did you consent, Piper, or did he just take what he wanted from you?" Piper's eyes narrowed on Annabella, this was why he wanted a family dinner, she realised. Bradley had no idea how she felt about that night. And if she was to claim he'd taken what he wanted from her, he was going to be punished. Felt Harper snarl at that thought "The punishment?" she questioned again.

"Answer my question first, then I'll answer yours." Piper stared hard at the woman, as Annabella stared right back at her, she was trying to read her. That might be difficult for the woman. She looked impassive most of the time, as she was now, in fact, had very good control of how to not show her emotions, if she so chose to, had learned to do that a long time ago.

"I crawled into his bed. If you must know."

"I don't care about that. Did you consent or not?

"He was my Mate, he did not hurt me," Piper told her.

"Doesn't mean you said yes, Piper. Just means the bond took over and you enjoyed it. Did you consent?

She was pushing really hard for whether or not Piper gave consent. She actually did not recall doing so. Just felt his hands on her and then he'd been all over her.

She'd not said no, but didn't recall saying yes either.

There was an Alpha here to punish and Alpha if she said no.

'Alpha Duel. Harper informed her, sounded very angry all of a sudden as she came to the realisation.

"That's' Piper halted as she considered it 'to the death.

As much as she wasn't actively seeking to attach herself to Bradley at this moment in time. Harper was not at all liking the idea of an Alpha on Alpha duel. In fact, it was ticking her off. Piper realised she could feel Harper's anger notching upwards. Looked at Annabella. "He was my Mate. I was leaving this pack. Couldn't take the pain of him not knowing who I was anymore." that was all the complete truth. "Crawled na*ked into his bed, wanted one moment with a man I craved, but would not recognise me. I got that moment, enjoyed it, said please and actually begged him not to stop. Then I left, rejected him while he slept, and then ran away and rejected his pack. Harper and I were dying and staying here was no longer an option for Us."

Saw Annabella really looking at her fora long time. "I'm not lying," Piper commented, though only one part of it was a lie, it was unlikely that Annabella would detect it.

"So you went to him?"

"I did. Right into his room, into his very bed."

"That's not what Timothy said."

Piper raised an eyebrow at the woman. "Isn't it? I was there, was he?"

Annabella sighed "So your stating you consented to everything that happened that night between you and Bradley."

"Yes." Piper stated flatly.

"Alright." Annabella nodded "I'll accept that, seeing as I don't sense any fear or hatred where the man is concerned. If I had, I wouldn't believe you and would have your own Alpha come in here and Order you to tell the truth." "The punishment?"

"You're not so stupid, a duel to the death Piper. Like you and your wolf thought." she'd not missed her and Harper's brief comments to each other.

"I want to see that contract," she stated, and now she did, needed to know what else was in it.

"We will not change it, Piper. Make amendments for Brandon, but no changes will be made for you or any Whitlock girls you and Bradley produce in the future, or Brandon for that matter. It is not negotiable."

"I want to see it." Piper restated.

"Bradley will give it to you, I'm sure, and considering Brandon will be the next Alpha, he'll also need to see it at some point before he takes over, though when he is much older. To know what falls right on his shoulders," the woman stood up. "Good night Piper." Piper stood and followed the woman out of the room. Not only was Bradley standing out there, so was his whole Unit, Eddie was back or had been recalled. Not sure which, likely the latter due to the seriousness of the situation. His father was also standing next to him along with Alpha Timothy. They were all waiting for the outcome of this little meeting. It seemed all of them knew about it.

"All is well." Annabella told Timothy, and Piper saw the man actually looked relieved. Obviously, he didn't want to Alpha Duel Bradley to the death, anymore that Bradley likely wanted to himself. He also looked relieved, as did his father and the entire Alpha Unit. She was in no way relieved, she had no idea who would win that Duel, looked from one to the other, more than annoyed, and then turned and stalked away. No wonder a family dinner was so important to him. It could very well have been his last one. They were going to punch that man right in his stupidly handsome face one day. He could have warned her as to what the consequences were, or what the hell she was walking into or setting him up for. The punishment at least.

Though why he hadn't? Maybe he to wanted an actual answer to that question. He'd taken her pretty damned quick that night. Perhaps what he'd felt in Sydney when he touched her, had happened that night and he'd lost all control. When she thought about it now, he did seem insatiable to her, so it was likely.

Stalked into her room and banged the door shut, scared both Izzy and Brandon. It seemed "I'm gonna punch him in that smug face of his one day." She muttered and flopped down on the couch.

"What'd he do?" Izzy asked, sounding concerned.

"Nothing." Piper sighed and he actually hadn't this time, he'd actually done nothing, had sent her into that meeting with no intention of influencing her at all.

Wanted her to just tell the truth and let the chips fall where they may.

She could actually feel Harper was still ticked off, her own Mate had Marked and claimed her, but had left out that he might very well be in an Alpha Duel and die this very night, which would have meant he could have been taken away from her. 'Mine. Harper snarled all aggression inside her mind.

Piper blinked at that 'Harper?"

She could feel rage starting to pour off of her wolf "Izzy." she stated could feel Harper stalking furiously inside her mind. "Get Brandon out of here now."

"What?" it was both Izzy and Brandon.

"Do it, Harper is losing it." "Mum?"

"Go Brandon. Please." She asked as she felt waves of fury roll off of her wolf as Harper tried to push forward. Saw Fade on the surface looked right at her, then just snatched up Brandon and left the room in a flash. Her wolf seemed to understand what was about to happen.

Piper had only ever felt this much rage from her wolf once before, when they had been cornered between Eddie and Bradley and they had been trying to touch her, when she'd not wanted to be touched at all. This, however, was something else.

Felt Harper rip to the surface and shove her all the way back into her own mind, then just roared all her fury and aggression into the room, kicked the coffee table and it went flying across the room and shattered against the wall "how dare he." she snarled and the couch was up ended and the curtains were ripped off the windows and tossed about the room.

Her fury didn't last all that long, got it all out in less than 5 minutes, just an explosion of pure rage it seemed, and then she was just done, stood standing in the middle of the room glaring right at the door to the hallway, though no longer in a fury, was still ticked

off.

'Don't go out there! Piper tried to calm her wolf. "Stay put, we're okay."

'Mad at Mate. She snarled I can see that, I even understand why!' and she did.

Bradley kept telling them he and Benson wanted them, but knew that there was a possibility he was going to die very quickly and hadn't said a damned thing.

Benson had Marked her with the possibility that he could be ripped away from her at any given moment. It was inconsiderate of her wolfs feelings. 'Punish him.' Harper snarled.

"How do you want to do that? It might hurt Brandon in doing so. Is attached to the man now!' might not have been a problem if the boy didn't care about his father, likely Piper would just let her go out there and beat the living hell out of him for his stupidity. Heard Harper snarl again and then just receded and stalked off to the back of her mind, still mad at her Mate.

Yes, Piper was more than annoyed and a little angry. But not outraged by it. Brad had not tried to sway her into telling Annabella she'd consented, he'd let her just tell the truth. Not that she had stated the whole truth.

Everything that night had happened so fast, she'd not even had the chance to say no, he was her Mate, and he'd wanted her, it was all she and Harper had ever really wanted, sighed who the bloody hell knew. Looked at the state of the room and shook her head, bloody men, they were all impossible.

Walked over and righted the couch, couldn't do much about the coffee tables shattered glass all over the room, or the torn and ripped curtains. Harper had all her claws out during that moment of rage.

Saw the door open slowly and found Eddie stepping in, looked cautious to her. He looked at the room as he closed the door, looked right at her questioningly.

"Harper in a fury."

"Oh, I got that from Izzy and Fade, both screaming it at me, down our Mate Bond link." Her eyes moved to Edward's neck, there was a large filigree here on his neck, had a slight bluish tinge. She noted, the size of the mark indicated that they had Marked and Mated in wolf form.

"I don't think it's a good idea to put them near Harper right this minute, she is out for punishment, furious at her Mates "Edwards' eyes lit right up and that smile was huge all of a sudden "At her Mates, huh?"

"Shut it Edward, I can't deal with that right now & well."

"Alright, can you deal with a few omega's to help clean up this mess?"

"No, I can do it myself, don't bring them afterhours. That's not fair to them."

"They'll come Piper, you're the Luna."

"I don't want them to work just because I had a tantrum. Well, Harper did. Just get me a dust pan and broom."

"Alight." He nodded "Your still mad."

"Yes, she is." Piper nodded "Leave it alone, it'll pass on its own or she'll" Piper left it unsaid, it would be clear to Edward the Gamma that if Harper wanted a piece of her Mate she would do so and be uncaring as to who saw it or how he felt about it.

Watched him leave the room, sighed, Harper was lying down inside her mind, but her tail was flicking furiously from side to side, she couldn't punish Brad or his wolf without upsetting Brandon in all likelihood, and this was also spilling annoyance into her wolf's mood as well.