Unscentable
Chapter 57

Piper

POV

Piper woke up to find Brandon sitting on the side of her bed, just watching her. She smiled up at him, actually felt a lot better, her headache was gone and though she could still feel Harper healing her not as much as before, most of her wounds probably healed Wondered once again just how close it had been, glanced at the blood bag. It was nearly empty now, would be finished soon. Hopefully, the pack doctor or a nurse would come and talk to her. They should know how close it was.

now.

Hadn't seen Bradley yet, that man appeared to be keeping his distance, though she knew he had been here earlier, when it was dark, had smelled him herself. It was possible that he was still sitting out there in the corridor, she guessed. Sat herself up "Have you eaten yet?" she asked Brandon.

"Yes," he nodded, "a nurse brought me lots of food to choose from, it was a massive breakfast." Not really that surprising to her, he was Bradley's son and would want for nothing, here inside this pack, she supposed. Though he had not wanted for anything with her as his mother. She had made sure of that.

"Wolves generally eat a lot." she nodded at him. "You never eat like that."

"I don't need to." she shook her head, and she didn't, only wolves who shifted needed to consume that much food for energy, or after the wolf healed you. Harper was going to need food at some point. Though she didn't seem concerned about it at this point, was still quiet inside her mind.

"Why not?" he asked right away.

"That's a big question, for when you're older," she commented. One thing at a time, though he had asked about Harper earlier, he was obviously curious to see her.

She had no idea how to explain that to him. She would really have to think about that one, though she had told him she'd been sickly and dying, that could help, she supposed.

Changed the subject completely. "You called Bradley dad, but Aspen is still mad at him?" Wolves were usually aligned to their human counterparts' way of thinking or vice versa. A wolf could influence their human. Saw him shrug "it's what he is."

Piper couldn't argue with that statement, but knew her boy well enough to know that there was more to it. "Brandon?"

"It's not dad he's mad at. It's dads wolf."

"Alright," now she understood "You and Bradley are getting along then?"

"He seems nice, answered all my questions, answered some of Aspens too before...then he.. and well... Dad seems nice to us."

"Alright." she nodded. It was clear to her, while she had been out, they had bonded. "How do you feel now, about being here?" she asked wanted to know what he thought.

"Aspen is very confused, very.. uncomfortable and" he shook his head, "was very angry when we got here."

"Is he still angry?"

"Sleeping right this minute... think he hurt Aunt Izzy, I'm not sure how. Dad said he was, he hurt dad too."

"I'm sorry Brandon, it must be very difficult for you at the moment, Aspen being upset and angry." It was likely her fault, if she'd not run off and come across that vampire, none of this would likely be happening, she supposed.

Watched the boy get down off the bed, and watched him walkover to the window in the room. It had a full view of the front of the pack, she could see a few houses and a couple of the two-storey apartment buildings that some lived in. It also had a view of the playground.

Piper looked at all the cables and cords running under her hospital gown, likely to set off alarms if she just removed them.

"Looks like a town mum."

"That is does." she agreed "There's a school and everything out there."

"Did you live out there somewhere?"

"Not really." she shook her head. "I lived alone for the most part." saw him turn and look at her with a frown. "Since I was ten," she answered him, wouldn't lie to him about it.

Saw his eyes go wide.

"I told you, remember, it wasn't good here for Harper and I." and it had not been, being lonely and invisible had not been fun at all.

"Will it be different now?" he asked her.

"I don't know." and she didn't, she had no idea at all how it would be to be out there in the pack once more.

Didn't want to be still. Understood she needed to be here for medical reasons, but that didn't mean she was willing to step outside this room. She had never wanted to come back here, but was now here. She had no choice in the matter. Was just trying to deal with it without showing that to Brandon.

"There's a massive playground. I've never seen one so big mum." Brandon said, pointing to it, she could see it, it had been updated and expanded since she'd left, could see other children climbing all over it, wondered if Brandon wanted to go down there himself and try it all out. He was an active boy.

It was basically a kiddie version of an agility course, there was lots of climbing and rope walking, that she could see and kids were running in and out of tunnels, and she could see an actual proper rock climbing structure. It was like a large 2-story high pyramid, she could also see normal play equipment, wolfen children were no different to human children at this age, enjoyed swings and sea-saws and loved those roundabout spinners too.

There were over two dozen kids out there playing on the equipment and zipping around on scooters and bikes. It probably looked very enticing to Brandon, she could even see a group of kids kicking a ball around, that would definitely get his attention. This pack might be small compared to others, but its members didn't really want for anything at all. This pack had always been wealthy, from what she recalled, there was an entire section of the pack-house dedicated to kids' entertainment. Movie theatres, gaming rooms with every imaginable thing they could want for she supposed. Even had a whole room full of just pinball machines of all types and sizes.

This pack was wealthy due to the human world business's it retained from generation to generation, likely would have been a really nice place to grow up in and be a part of, if she'd been normal, that was.

Turned at the sound of the door opening, a smallish woman came in, dark hair and even darker eyes, right at her "Good morning Luna. It's good to see you awake. I'm penny, your nurse for the morning. Piper just stared at her, the woman was definitely a wolf, though she had looked right at her, skipped over the way she had been addressed altogether. Penny was still looking at her, she realised, it was weird. Wolves never looked at her.

"Dr Samuel will be in soon. He wanted me to take some blood from you, to check your haemoglobin levels, may I?" Piper knew that she had lost a lot of blood, nodded to the woman, smelled her as she came and stood next to the bed, was an omega, drew blood from her other arm, was quick and efficient at her job. Smiled right at Piper, looked her right in the eyes, when she was done, stated "Dr Samuel will be in to see you soon." Then strolled out of the room. It was weird.

It didn't take Dr Samuel long to arrive. About 10 minutes, he looked right at her as well. "Silly girl, you shouldn't go taking vampires on, on your own." he shook his head.

"I did not start it." Piper informed him, more than a little annoyed by his comment, she was not so stupid. "I even, tried to talk that woman out of it, for your information." she glared right at him "I'm not totally stupid you know."

Saw him stop walking and stare at her, then sighed" My apologies, I was just trying to make light of the situation, I see it did not come across that way." He walked right over to the bed now. "You've lost quite a bit of blood, I've had to transfuse 3 units of whole blood since you got here. How are you feeling?" seems he'd turned all professional now.

"Fine." she commented "When do these come off?" she asked, indicating all the ECG leads attached to her.

"Let me print out a reading. If it's all good I'll remove them." She waited for him to do so, got the all-clear and she un-clipped them herself, didn't want his hands on her and she knew neither did Harper. Was glad that she could get out of bed and move about. "I let the Alpha know you're awake and doing better. He's got an Alpha coming to the pack, I believe, or would not have left at all. He has not left the hospital since bringing you in."

So everyone keeps telling her, like they had all been instructed to tell her that, "My restrictions?" She knew she would have them, wouldn't be half surprised to find guards outside the room or half his Alpha Unit. Whether they would be to keep her here or to protect Brandon she was not sure of. Could well be both, she supposed.

"None, Luna.. why would you not be allowed to move freely about in your own pack?" he was frowning right at her, then his eyes moved to Brandon "But...your son's wolf, might be a bit of an issue out there."

"What? Why?" she frowned right back at him.

"Didn't take to the pack at all. From my understanding. You might want to discuss that with Lilly, she seems to understand better than anyone."

"So I can just leave then?" she enquired.

"You can leave the hospital." he nodded. "Just..." his eyes moved to Brandon who was still over by the window. "I would be careful of his wolf's reaction." Then the man walked out of the room.

Piper's eyes moved to Brandon and she wondered once again what had happened while she was unconscious. "Brandon?" she got out of the bed and walked over to him, "Aspen is not happy here?" she questioned him.

"No." he shook his head" Too many wolves, wanted...I don't know." he looked up at her "to make them all understand what he was, I think, he kind of just freaked out."

Piper sighed, this could very well be her fault. He'd never had any interactions with wolves, until a few weeks ago, and none of it had been good. She didn't know what to do about it, didn't even know what she was going to do about being here herself at this point. This was not where she lived, not where she planned on ever living.

Food was brought in on a large trolley, and the young boy pushing it, maybe 15 years old, smiled right at her "The Alpha said to provide you with an array of food to choose from Luna." she frowned at him and saw him stiffen and then bow his head to her. "My apologies, if I did something wrong Luna."

"You didn't, I'm just confused. Don't bow to me." She told him, and saw relief on his face, before he left the room. Wondered if he would get in trouble, he certainly looked as though he was worried about it.

Every wolf that had come into the room, had looked right at her, they all saw her. It was odd to say the least, shook her head, waved Brandon over to come and eat with her as well if he was hungry. She was hungry and so...

She was sitting on her bed with Brandon watching TV had no real inclination to go outside at all, neither did Harper before she'd fallen asleep inside of her mind. She was tired from healing her and Brandon seemed happy enough sitting on the bed with her. The room had its own bathroom and a nice sized TV that had access to all the pay channels Brandon could ever want.

His eyes had lit up when he'd found his favourite channel, he was relaxed on the bed next to her watching an anime cartoon, when Izzy and Eddie strolled into the oom, they both smiled at her. Izzy ran right over to her and hugged her. "Thank the goddess Piper. You really scared me."

"Sorry Izzy, I didn't mean to." she hugged her back, but then frowned at the same time, turned and looked at her neck, expecting to find her Marked but saw nothing, looked at Eddie questioningly, she smelled like a wolf to Piper. "Weird, I know," he commented.

"What's weird?" Izzy asked.

"You smell different," Piper told her honestly. Watched the woman shrug "Used Eddies body was I guess."

"No that's not it." Piper shook her head, looked at Izzy again and actively smelled her, but couldn't quite put a rank to it, but she was definitely no longer just human, looked at Eddie once more. "When?" she asked.

"Last night" he answered, sitting on the end of her bed, watched him tug Izzy right between his splayed legs to rest against him. "Doesn't recall anything." He shrugged.

"Recall what?" Izzy asked "what am I missing?" looked up at Eddie and then to Piper.

"Izzy, do you feel different?" Piper asked curiously.

Watched the woman think about it, then just shake her head 'no. "Just me as always why?"

"Has Edward explained Marking to you yet?"

"Yes." She nodded "this morning, before we came here, wants to Mark me tonight. That's also what Bradley did to you." she muttered.

"Actually Izzy, that was Benson, not Brad." Eddie corrected her, "and you incited his wolf into a full blown Alpha rage, that's why it happened. Brad would never have done that, without Piper's consent."

"Is that why she's in lockdown?" Eddie shook his head, glanced at Izzy and then right at Piper and sighed "We didn't exactly know what was going on, so better to be safe than sorry. Though Benson is still mad at Izzy, so still keeping her away from him at the moment."

"Someone had to put him in his place," Izzy muttered.

Watched as Eddie sighed looked right at Piper "Not exactly sure what type she is, but very aggressive."

"My type, what?" Izzy sounded very confused. Piper sighed this time, looked down at Brandon. He was sitting quietly, didn't seem bothered by their conversation, but he was listening. She knew "Izzy, when you're Marked and Mated you'll get a wolf of your own. Not all humans do, but most will. You will, that's what we're talking about."

Saw the woman's eyes go wide "I will?"

"Got her already". Eddie told her "She's just not out yet. On the full moon I'm guessing baby." Izzy was frowning now "like Timber, this morning?"

"Yes." Eddie nodded.

"Oh that's gonna hurt." she murmured.

Heard Eddie chuckle, "You'll get used to it. After a few times, it doesn't hurt at all."

Watched as Izzy's eyes moved to Piper questioningly "I've never seen Harper."

"Mm, Harper doesn't shift anymore." Piper shrugged.

Actually saw pain in Eddie's eyes as he looked right at her.

"Mum?"

She looked down at Brandon, at his questioning look. "Not since I was 20. Can't anymore." she finally told him.

"Piper I'm so sorry." It was Edward. "I really did try to find you, all those years. I just... I couldn't.. thought I was broken."

"It's not you Edward." she shrugged, and it wasn't him, it was her and she knew it. No scent. How can you find something you don't know about, or smell, didn't even know existed "Can I ask you something?" "Yes of course, Piper." He nodded.

"Today, everyone has looked right at me. I don't understand that."

"Ah, yes, well you're no longer hidden from the pack, smell like Bradley actually. The minute Benson Marked you, we could all smell you."

Now she was staring at him, that was very odd. "How could his wolf Mark me, without scenting me?" Eddie smiled, "I'll let Brad explain that, but they actually did, I believe."

"Not possible." Piper frowned.

"There is a way. I believe it's called the Whitlock way. Huffed in annoyance at just the thought of Alpha Timothy, "I am not going to have anything to do with Alpha Timothy." she muttered.

"Hmm, he's your cousin and I believe he and your great grandmother are in a meeting with Bradley now, they're going to want to see you. Need to discuss your bloodline with you."

"I don't care, Edward. I do not want anything to do with that man, he has done nothing but threaten me.

"He's an j***t, I agree. But we do need to understand about your type of wolf. If not for yourself, Piper," his eyes moved right to Brandon, "for your son."

Unfortunately, Piper could not even argue with that logic. She didn't want Brandon to grow up like she had, wouldn't wish that on anyone, not even an enemy wolf. "So the man is here then?" "Just arrived, yes."

Huffed again, wondered how he'd feel about her and Harper punching him right in his stupid arrogant face. Letting him have it full wolf strength, for all the threats he'd made against her. "Breath Piper." It was Edward. Stupid Gamma could pick up on her anger, she guessed.

"No," she snapped and didn't want to. Izzy giggled "She's mad."

"I know I can feel it," Eddie commented.

"Me to." Izzy leaned against him "It's funny."

Piper shook her head and wondered just what type of wolf Izzy was, thought her anger was funny, could feel it at that, interesting in itself.

"Can Harper and I punch him without repercussions, Edward"

"I don't know." Eddie shook his head. "Might want to ask Brad that one. Though Timothy is an allied pack and considering your dealings with him," he shrugged, "you might not get back lash."

"I'll do it." Izzy stated in a gravelly tone, and when her eyes landed on Izzy saw almost iridescent blue eyes looking back at her, her wolf all on the surface. Saw Brandon move instantly, realised it was actually Aspen from the way he shot over to look at her, tilted his head and smelled her.

Even Eddie was looking at her now, shocked by the sudden rise of the wolf.

"Name?" Aspen asked.

"Fade, Alpha." she inclined her head "Nice to finally meet you."

"Welcome Fade." he inclined his own head, and then just came back to Piper and receded. Saw Timber push forward and heard him growl all soft and playful, she thought, saw Fade turn and look at him, then just snort and recede away herself. "interesting." Eddie chuckled.

"What was that?" Izzy gasped.

"That was your wolf, Fade." Eddie smiled at her.

"Wow, she's.." Izzy shook her head. "I don't know, but that was really weird."

"Aligned to Aspen," Piper commented.

"Explains a lot." Eddie nodded, looking right at the boy, then he looked at Piper "Why don't we get you out of here and show Brandon and Aspen around."

"I don't know." Piper sighed, "Dr Samuel said."

"Ignore him. Aspen and Brandon were completely stressed out even before they got here yesterday. It'll be fine. I'll go and get you some clothes.. Izzy." he tilted her face up to his "Stay here." "Alright." she nodded.

Watched him stare at her for a long silent minute, heard her chuckle and then bit her l!p, then he pecked her on the lips and got up and left.