Piper sobbed softly out in the middle of the woods, it was all too much to handle nowadays, it was time to leave her home pack here in Montana. She could no longer take the pain of his betrayal anymore. Not that her Alpha, Alpha Bradley of the Black Haven Pack, knew that it hurt her, every time that he was with another; he had no idea who she was to him.
She, however, had scented him out 3 years ago, at the age of 18. On the first full moon after her 18th birthday. Had felt pain almost instantly, and not because he’d been with another at the time, but because he’d not scented her, not recognized her as his Mate. He had bumped right into her that day even.
Piper and her wolf Harper were more than nervous, tracking his perfect woodsy scent through the packhouse. It had a hint of blackberry, had led them all the way to him. She had been standing right behind him, only half a foot away, he was taller than she was, by a long way, he stood six-four and was all muscled up, he’d been wearing faded blue jeans and a dark purple tee-shirt that day, his dark brown hair had been a little messy.
Alpha Bradley had been talking on his phone that day, and when he had turned around, had run right into her. His deep blue eyes with those flecks of green in them, had turned right on her, and then he’d frowned right down at her. She was only five-six, he’d towered over her.
There had been no recognition in his eyes at all, “Don’t stand so close, girl.” he'd stated casually, and then had stepped around her and just walked away; and her heart had broken.
Harper had howled in pain inside of her mind. They’d known what he was to them, but he had no idea.
It was what she and her wolf had always feared, all her life, even before gaining Harper, even since she was little, had lost her parents to a rogue attack at the age of 10, and no-one here seemed to notice her after her parents' death. No-one seemed to know who she was, it was like she just didn’t exist.
That had been her life. Although she had attended school here in the pack's small K1 to year 12 school, and had graduated with good marks, people were always bumping into her, and telling her to watch her step. No-one knew she was there, invisible to the entire pack is what it felt like, unless someone was looking directly at her, and she knew why.
She had no scent.
Though she could smell every one of them, no-one could smell her. She had gotten a job and worked long quiet hours, tucked away in the back room of a dress-making store inside the pack. She’d loved to learn how to design and create beautiful dresses.
Even a lot of the pack's she-wolfs wore her dresses to the pack's events and mating balls. To their 16th and 18th birthday celebrations. She, however, did not. She lived alone away from the pack, out in a tiny cabin away from everyone, so that they would not hear her sobs and distress as she put up with the pains of betrayal.
The first time she had felt him with another, she and Harper had howled in pain and run away deep into the woods. Found that tiny cabin no longer in use, and curled up into a ball, had stayed there in agony till he’d stopped being with another. Then had just stayed there for a whole day, unable to go back to the pack. Their pain would have been for all to see, if anyone saw her that was.
There was nothing they could do about it. It had hurt like nothing she’d ever felt before, and continued to do so right to this day, and to hide their pains they had hidden themselves away, unable to tell him, what he was to them.
She knew he would never believe her, only if he scented her out would he recognize her as his Mate.
She and Harper both knew this, and they both knew he was never going to be able to do that either. The pains were worse when he was away from the pack; mating some other she-wolf in another pack. Did not hurt her any less than the one she-wolf here in the pack he bedded on a regular basis.
Three long years she’d had to suffer now. Three long years she’d walked the halls of the packhouse, came across him, and not once did he pay her the slightest bit of attention, and when he did bump into her; as did so many others. Because they couldn’t smell that she was right there, he would just frown down at her, either apologize, or ask her to move out of the way, and just move on. Had occasionally snapped at her all angry to watch where she was going.
For two years she slipped into his bedroom when he wasn’t here in the pack, looked at his things, touched his clothes, felt hot tears slide down her cheeks; for the man that was her Mate. The man that had never once scented her out. The man that she and Harper loved, but would never love them.
She had even slept curled up in his bed, not that he’d ever known it. No scent of her remained, she could wander at will anywhere she liked, left no trail at all, had even sat in his Alpha’s chair once, touched his desk and wondered what it would be like to be his Luna.
Tonight, he had been with another, she knew who. He had one regular girl here inside the pack, Bianca. She was older like he was, a warrior, highly ranked. She’d seen them together chatting and flirting on occasion. Seen the way he looked at her body, even that hurt too. He desired Bianca, she was tall and very fit, all muscle, he liked that about her.
Piper had once been fit like that, not tall but very fit, and had been strong too. But the past three years had drained her, she was thin now, always had dark circles under her eyes and looked quite frail.
The small amount of joy she had taken from training, as a warrior, to try and make her parents proud; they had been warriors, that joy of being a good fighter. Not that she had been old enough to go out and fight, had dwindled to nothing, once she’d turned 18; she was barely a shell of her former self now.
She stayed away from all pack events, just worked in the small back room of the store, surrounded by materials and designs to be created. Orders to be filled. Her only solace; that she could create something so beautiful amidst her own misery.
Harper was a ball of sadness and pain, they could not take anymore, they had to leave, it was killing them, and she knew it. Bradley was going away on some Alpha meeting, or some pack business in just two days, and so that is when she was going to say goodbye and leave.
She had no idea if she could reject her Mate without him being there or knowing what she was to him for that matter. But that was what she was going to do. She had to try anyway, it was all they could do.
Piper figured if he had no idea who she was, for the past three years, then why would he need to be there to hear her rejection. It was likely only going to cause her pain. He would feel nothing because he knew nothing. Then, once the full moon came and went after that rejection, surely it would be official, and severed completely by the Moon Goddess herself, or at least she was hoping that’s how it worked.
She and Harper had put themselves in front of him many times, they had no choice left to them, they were nothing to him, never would be and they knew it. Three full years and nothing. Not once had he so much as twitched a nose in her presence.
So, no more would she put herself or her wolf through that. They had enough money saved up to go out into the human world, and make a living for themselves. She had good skills in fashion and design. Although she mostly made dresses, there were millions of humans in need of wedding dresses. The equivalent to a Luna Ceremony Gown.
Spent the next 2 days in the packhouse library, looking at places she could go; her mind made up. She was not even going to look at him one last time. There was no point. She sat at a computer, one hand on the mouse scrolling through places that were well away from the pack. Away from forests and where other packs could well be.
She may be a wolf, but she didn’t feel like one; she was just invisible mostly.
Her other hand was on the Blue Azure Crystal Pendulum Drop necklace that hung around her neck. It had a white gold chain that was fine and felt warm against her skin all the time, and had a white gold casing, to hold the crystal itself and a smaller blue azure crystal ball right above the casing that attached to the chain.
It had been her mother's, she'd told her that one day she would get her daughter one too. A gift for her 16th birthday, and they would have matching mother-daughter jewellery. But Piper had only been 10, when she had lost both her parents. She’d never taken it off, it was the only thing she had left of her; she had found it on her mothers body when the attack had been over, and had retrieved it as her only heirloom.
She and Harper were at the point where they might as well live as a human, no wolf would ever smelled her, and she would remain Mate-less from the moment she rejected him. They were already resigned to that fact. She found a nice city several states away, Harper didn’t care that there was no forest nearby. She had not shifted to her wolf in over a year now, couldn’t, it seemed, or perhaps just no longer wanted to. So she was fine with a city, didn’t want to be in the woods, didn’t want to run and be free, didn’t seem to care at all anymore about being a wolf herself.
Piper found and booked a flight out there, a hotel for somewhere to stay, while they found a small apartment and sorted out the business that she was going to create. They would die and wither away, no more. They would become strong from this, and live a human life from now on. Then they went back to their cabin in the woods by the southern border of the pack, and had just stayed there. They could see the pack gates with the use of a set of binoculars from the roof of her cabin.
She sat and watched and waited for his car to leave, not that hard to spot, it was white, unlike most of the other pack cars, that were black or silver, he drove a white Mercedes SUV. She saw it leave and grabbed her hiking backpack. It was full of her belongings.
Living a simple life meant not much to pack. Her whole life fitted in that one backpack. It was large and designed to be used for long hiking trips, but even with her small, weakened stature, she could manage it. Piper walked through the woods until the packhouse came into view, sighed heavily and headed for it.
Today was the day, she was leaving. No-one would even notice she was gone because they didn't even know she existed. Only those who came into the store to buy one of her dresses at Renee's store, Haven Gowns, may wonder where she had gone. Though Renee had always claimed them as her dresses, she told Piper she was the store owner, so this was how it was. Piper's name was on the label of all her dresses though. Renee never minded about that, and she did pay Piper well. Not that anyone ever asked who Piper was, or asked to meet her.
She walked into the packhouse and right up the main set of stairs, to the very top floor. No-one stopped her, placed her backpack down the hall and around near the Omega stairs, that she would use to leave. It was out of sight and no omegas would be up here at this time of the night. All their work done for the day. Only the Alpha Unit lived in this part of the packhouse; and they were all off with the Alpha.
She walked down to his suite and let herself in. It was clean and smelled like him, fresh pine with eucalyptus and that hint of blackberries. She walked about one last time, a glutton for punishment, she knew. Should have just left already but couldn’t, not without one last scent of him.
Walked into his walk-in and touched all his clothes, slid her hand along them all, touched everything, couldn’t help herself. As much as it pained her and Harper, they were still drawn to him. Likely always would be, leaving was simply self-preservation and if her rejection did not hold, they’d likely not survive much longer anyway.
Piper walked over and stood looking down at his bed, one last night here in his bed, and then gone at the brink of dawn. That was the plan. He’d be gone for several days; always was. The first night away was usually peaceful, but not the nights after that. She stripped off all her clothes and got into his bed. Grabbed onto the pillow that smelled the most like him and buried her face into it, letting the tears fall one last time.
She fell asleep in the middle of his big king-sized bed, wrapped in his scent, in the very sheets that would touch his skin while he slept, allowing herself to dream it was where she belonged one last time.
She woke with a start. It was still dark, then there was the sound of the bedroom door banging closed. She bit her lip, heard movement and then the sound of clothing being removed. She could smell him. Bradley was back, he could not smell her, had not realized she was in here, in his very bed, he hadn’t even turned the lights on.
She was very small at five-six, and was now so thin that she likely didn’t even make a small lump in his bed which had a thick plush feather down comforter on it.
He got into bed, and she prayed he’d stay on that side of the bed, that she would be able to slip out once he was asleep. The punishment for this kind of thing; being in his bed, would likely be terrible. And he would be the one to dish it out. She did not relish the thought of getting a beating or whipping, or thrown in the cells afterwards by her own Mate. It would likely destroy them completely.
Why was he back?
His hand touched her back, stilled completely on her skin, and then a large angry growl came from him. He knew there was a stranger in his bed, he was well within his rights to kill her, and she and Harper both knew it. Wondered if he’d even feel the disconnection afterwards, though doubted it.
Then his body was suddenly pressed up against hers. “Well, I guess you want some time with your Alpha.” his voice had suddenly turned all husky and his hand had slid over the curve of her h*p, and he’d pulled her hard against him. His mouth was on her shoulder and a gr0an escaped him as his fingers dug into her h1p. “I could use company after my day.” he’d growled, “So you’re in luck.” his hand slid up her body.
It was leaving a burning hot trail over her skin, everywhere he was touching her. Piper had no idea what to do. No-one had ever paid her the slightest bit of attention, no-one had ever touched her, and now he was; something she never thought would happen.
After one night of passion.
“I like fkn you.” he’d groaned as he’d rolled off of her body and lay on the bed next to her.
Piper's joy at what had just happened, was gone in an instant, she felt hot tears burn her eyes. ‘He liked fkn her.’ she thought, as pain in her heart replaced the pleasure she had been feeling. She was his Mate, and still, he did not recognize her. Felt not just her own heart shatter, but Harper’s too. She did not look at him, couldn’t, just lay there quietly, held in the sobs of pain, and waited for him to fall asleep.
Then she dragged her aching body from his bed, he still could not tell what she was to him. It was just a good bed warmer. She picked up her clothes, could hear him snoring softly, as her tears continued to fall silently down her face. At least they’d gotten to have him, just once. She stepped away from the bed, from him, and closed her eyes and tried to stop the flow of tears.
Pulled on her clothes, turned from the bedroom doorway, and looked at his sleeping body, pain seared through her and her wolf. They would never survive his betrayal again. Not after this, they both knew it, and they knew he would go off and be with someone else. They were nothing to him, never had been, and without a scent for him to smell, they never would be.
Piper took in a long silent breath, “I Piper Whitlock, warrior to the Black Haven Pack...reject you Bradley Drake as my Mate.” she whispered into the darkness of the room, and then fled as fast as she could, as pain coursed through her body, she heard Harper howl in pain inside her mind. They ran from his suite, down the hall, grabbed their bag and stumbled and nearly fell most of the way down the stairs to the door at the bottom, struggling with the pain of their rejection.
Refused to stop regardless of the pain, they had been through a lot of pain in the past three years, they knew how to run, and hold it in, to hide it until they were alone. She didn’t stop running until they reached the western border of the Pack.
She knew she looked a terrible mess, tears streaming down her face, and she’d stumbled and fallen many times, as pain tore at her insides, but she had picked herself up and kept going. Was still sobbing from the pain she was in, when she looked at the patrol man, he was frowning right at her, had no idea where she had come from, or who she was; not scented her coming, would have heard her, but even now, she could tell he was confused as to what she was.
She stepped out over the border right into rogue territory, saw him step towards her, his eyes widened at her actions. Not many females would do what she was doing. “I reject Alpha Bradley Drake and his Pack, the Black Haven Pack, as my Pack, I...am a rogue now.” she’d stated firmly; her decision clear in her mind.
The border patrol man gasped in shock, then she turned and ran from everything, and everyone she’d ever known, as she felt herself being severed from the pack entirely. It was the only thing that could save her and Harper. They would die here if they had to stay and suffer any longer.
They were not afraid to be out in rogue territory, had been out here before, not even a rogue picked up her wolfen scent. She was a mere human to them as well. So, a human they would be from now on. They would live, breathe, eat and work as a human would, in the human world. She made their way to the airport to catch their flight and start over. A wolf no more.
Piper POV
Piper stood in her bridal shop window, pinning the dress to the mannequin, to make it a neat fit and look its best to attract customers. Not that she was short of them. She smiled, her designs were well liked, even here in the human world.
It was a lovely strapless A-line gown, a blush coloured dress with a square neckline, the skirt flowed freely, and it had a bodice covered in hand embroidered crystal beads. It had a pulled up and neatly pleated section, at the front of the dress, that allowed all the wonderful soft ruffles of the overlapping layers of the soft satin material to be seen. She did like it, had just finished it yesterday.
Her store ‘Goddess Gowns’ here in Portland was one of three she now owned. Her main store, where she worked from, was a nice space, in a two-story building, where all her gowns were on display downstairs, with a spacious sitting area and plush seating. There was a small runway from the dressing rooms, out into the center of the store, where the waiting guests would sit and watch the bride-to-be show-off the dress she chose.
Her office was upstairs in a loft space. She’d had split the loft into two large rooms, her office in the first space and her working studio in the second, where she sat and created her gowns. She was good at her job. Liked her work and had sold many dresses to wealthy humans, as well as regular humans, she catered to everyone.
She kept to herself as much as possible, but did hold and attend fashion shows, and was quite well known in the bridal industry. She stepped back and looked at her latest creation, adjusted it a couple of times, until she was happy with it. Hearing the pretty bell she’d bought tinkle as the store's door opened to let someone in.
Most days they came by appointment, but on Tuesday's she kept her books open, for walk-ins. Her books were pretty full at the moment, Izzy would likely show them around, or make them an appointment to see her at some point in the future.
Then the scent hit her, they were wolves; inside her store were werewolves. She felt Harper growl a little inside of her mind. Although they had come across wolves, and all other manner of creatures over the past eight years, today the scent that hit them, reached their nose. It was one that particularly annoyed them.
Without even turning to look, she could hear the woman, who was laughing and happy, excited to be in this very store, to purchase her gown for her Ceremony as she called it. She heard the man chuckle and reminded her that Brad, had told her to get whatever she wanted, he did not care about the cost it would incur him.
Piper stepped out of the window display, and refused to even look at them. She knew by the scent that was on them, they were of her old pack, likely from the way the woman was talking. This woman was here to purchase a Goddess Gown designed by Piper Harper Designs. To wear to her Luna Ceremony, and to none other than Bradley Drake himself.
“Izzy, please attend to the customers.” she stated flatly as she headed up the stairs to her office.
“Yes Piper.” she heard Izzy call after her.
Piper nor Harper wanted to be anywhere near that woman or her escort for that matter. Pain was already pulling at them both. He’d found another, it seemed. No not found another. Had scented out his first Mate. She thought bitterly. He’d never once scented her, but obviously had that woman downstairs in her very store.
She and Harper might have left out of self-preservation, but it didn’t mean they didn’t still love the man. Knew their rejection had worked, seeing as not once since that night, had she felt the pains of betrayal. It had been the right thing to do, saved both her and Harper. They’d moved well away from that pack, several states away in fact. Why were they here in her store?
This was the first time, they had come across the Black Haven Pack, since they had left. Why of all places would that woman come all the way here to her store? Was it just some cruel joke? She already felt like Selena had rejected her and Harper, cursed them and given her a life of torture, but no, that wasn’t enough, it seemed. Now her Mate had his own Mate, and was here to dump pain upon her once again.
There was a knock on her door “Piper, sorry to bother you. The young lady downstairs wants one of your older gowns,” Izzy stated.
“I don’t make those anymore.” Piper replied calmly, “Just tell her to buy one off of the racks downstairs. I’m sure there is something she will like. I don’t have the time to make anything new right now, even from the old.”
“Yes Piper...are you alright Piper?” Izzy asked her with a slight frown.
“I’m fine Izzy, have a headache is all.” she waved the girl away. “Close my door, I can’t stand the smell.” she stated, not wanting to smell them, or even hear the conversation that those two down there may have. And to gosh with it, if that escort or the girl heard her comment about the smell.
She glanced at the large wall clock and sighed, hopefully they would leave soon. She had to go and get Brandon from the bus stop in a little while. Did not want that man around her son, period. Not that he would connect any dots, she did not smell to that wolf downstairs, and any likeness to Bradley would simply be shrugged off.
There was a knock on her door a few minutes later, and she was about to raise her voice to Izzy, for disturbing her yet again, because she’d been given instructions already. When the door opened without her stating to come in, she looked at it with a deep frown on her face. Her jaw tightened as she watched Cooper opening the door to her office without permission.
Cooper, the Beta to the Black Haven Pack, stood there in her office doorway, smiled right at her, all charmingly, thinking he was going to be able to use his good looks and charm, to be able to sway her into whatever he wanted.
Most human females would be drooling already, at his black hair and deeply dark charcoal grey eyes, his chiseled jaw and well-built physique.
Little did this wolf know, she wasn’t some gullible human out for the charming. She was not going to fall at his feet and stare up at him all dreamy-eyed, and become so smitten that she’d do whatever he wanted her too. It was likely how he’d gotten past Izzy though.
Had used those stormy grey eyes of his and, by the look of it, had run his hand through his hair, which would have showed off the muscles in his arm. He was only wearing a short-sleeved, very well-fitted tee-shirt, and those sickeningly perfectly pearly white teeth of his; that he had turned on her now. He was a picture of charm and sx appeal; he was definitely trying to play on his good looks to get what he wanted. She was not attracted to him in the slightest.
“Hello, I’m Cooper.”
Piper cut him right off there. “I don’t care. Get out.” she snapped at him. She did not want this wolf anywhere near her at all.
Watched his smile actually falter, and he frowned at her. “That’s not a very nice way to treat a potential customer, I have a friend here who would...”
“I don’t care.” she cut him off once again. “I already told my store manager, Izzy, I don’t have time to make a dress from an old, obsolete line.” she turned her eyes away from him, back to her desk and the design pad in front of her, effectively dismissing him, he would understand that; likely seen his Alpha do it many times, he’d probably done it himself a heap.
“Please,” she heard him actually step inside of her office “We’ll pay whatever you want.”
Piper turned her eyes back to him, more than annoyed now, trying to use money to get what he wanted. Now he understood his looks wouldn’t do it; typical. “I don’t need your money. Now I am very busy Carter...was it. Have your friend choose something in the store downstairs.”
“It was Cooper,” he grated out, sounding like he didn’t like her tone.
Well, she didn’t like him in her office, any more than he looked like, he wanted to be there right now. She was ticking the man off, it seemed. Good. Maybe he’d take that woman and leave altogether.
“My friend wants a custom Piper Harper gown.”
She rolled her eyes right at him, whose store did he think he was in? “Everything downstairs is a Piper Harper gown.” she dripped sarcasm at his stupidly spoken request.
“You are very rude.” he glared right at her.
Oh, this was not rude, this was just annoyed, he didn’t want to see her fully pissed off. And she was doing everything to get him out of her store, with the attitude of him not coming back at all.
She saw him actually take a breath and try to calm his anger. His wolf must be cranky at the lack of respect she was showing. She heard Harper snort amused inside her mind; they’d not even really gotten started.
“Please, at least look at the picture of the dress she wants.” he turned slightly “Hadley come in here and show the lady the dress you want.” he called out to her.
Piper's jaw tightened all the way, so much so she could hear her own teeth grinding against each other. He looked right at her, had picked up on it too. They did not want to know the woman’s name, and certainly did not want to have to look right at her, for that matter. That was why she had come upstairs and asked Izzy to deal with them.
On any other given day in her store, Piper would have been more than willing and happy to stay downstairs and assist in her store. Her customers liked to meet her. She knew this, and for the most part, didn’t actually mind interacting with them.
Only the super prima donnas annoyed her. Whining spoiled little baby’s that had never heard the word ‘No’ before, irritated her and Harper for that matter. She was glaring right at him now, and actually saw him try and smell her, an interesting response to her anger. He clearly wasn’t used to humans challenging him or standing up to him.
A very pretty red-headed girl walked into her office a moment later, obviously not her real hair colour. It was as red as a fire truck. The girl, not woman, was young, likely only barely 18 or 19. She smiled right at Piper, had deep dark blue eyes, and she had that trim-taught and terrific body that all wolves have, she was wearing a well-fitted dress that accentuated her mounds and hps, drawing one's eyes right to how fit she actually was. Just his type, she thought bitterly, it did not escape her or Harper that she scented of Alpha blood either.
She did not smile at Hadley; she’d been called. Already initiated into the pack, she had the pack's scent on her as well. The girl faltered as Piper's eyes met hers, fully annoyed and angered to have to be looking right at her.
Cooper brought her further into the office. “I’m sure she won’t bite Hadley.” it was a warning; she and Harper had not missed his tone. “Show her the dress you want. I’m certain I will be able to convince her to make it.”
‘Fat chance.’ Harper snarled inside her mind.
He walked Hadley across the office and sat her down opposite Piper herself. She glared right at him. He was lucky Harper was still inside her mind and not fully on the surface. And oh yes, he was very used to getting his way all the time. And of course, whatever the Luna wanted, she would get. He was here to make sure of that. Well, today he was going to find out that he couldn’t have everything he wanted. She was no push over.
Yes, every other Luna out there got what they wanted. She and Harper hated Luna’s with almost a passion, almost as much as they hated their own Kind.
“Piper.” she felt his aura roll at her, just a little. Likely trying to make her complaint “Please, it is Hadley’s wish.”
“And I told you... I’m busy and don’t have the time.” she shot back at him, making sure he understood his aura meant nothing to her.
“Look at it.” he practically demanded her.
Well, they were no longer a part of his pack anymore, rogues didn’t have masters, didn’t have to answer to anyone unless they actually chose to. She raised an eyebrow at him “I don’t like your attitude.” she snapped and stood up, felt Harper bristle inside her own mind. They would be no match for him, but they were not about to let him, lord it over them, right here in their office.
“Nor I yours.” he snapped right back. He plucked the photo from the girl's hand. “What harm will come from looking at it?” he held it out to her.
“Nothing, I suppose.” she grated out and yanked from his hand, it was actually a magazine clipping not a photo, and the moment her eyes landed on it her anger twitched up a notch. She had only made one of these, had tortured herself with it.
It was the very dress she had designed for herself; the one that she had always imagined she would wear, the one she had designed long before she’d left the pack, tormented herself with dreams of Bradley scenting her and claiming her; and that dress being the one she would wear for her Luna Ceremony. Never happened, never would.
There was one thing Piper was certain of; this girl before her was never going to wear that dress. She would never make it for her to wear to her ceremony to Bradley.
She tore the clipping in half, and then in half again “I will not make that.” she spat as she tossed the torn pieces of paper into the bin. The girl gasped and actually sobbed, then shot up out of the chair and left the room in a rush. Cooper went after her “Go and don’t come back.” she practically snarled right at him.
Saw him stop and glare right at her, stand there and stare at her, right at her, she was not intimidated by him, and it surprised him. Shocked him that he couldn’t seem to frighten her, watched him breathe in again. He was once again trying to figure out what she was. Why she’d not done what he wanted? Well, he would smell nothing, like every other time he’d walked passed her, or ran into her, and he had more than once. He would smell a human and nothing more, if he even smelled that.
He stood in her office doorway staring right at her, as she stared right back at him, locked eyes right with him, her brown eyes never moved from him, a slight smirk touched his lips; she presented a challenge to him and his wolf, it seemed.
His wolf's eyes appeared as it pushed forward. It was likely meant to frighten her, all he got from her was a raised eyebrow at him. “You don’t frighten me, get out of my store.” she stated, never moving her eyes from his wolf's.
Shock registered on his face, at her lack of reaction to his wolf on the surface, then he just turned and left. “Yes, go away and don’t bloody come back.” she muttered to herself, knew his keen sense of hearing would pick it up, didn’t care at all. Wanted him to know that she didn’t want him to come back.
She glanced at the clock and sighed, heard the bell chime; he’d left the store. She poured herself a glass of water and drank it. Today was not a good day. Today was not something she had ever seen coming or even been prepared for.
Downstairs she found Izzy’s eyes on her, questioningly “I’m going to pick up Brandon.”
“Yes Piper.” she just nodded.
Then walked out of her store, and found Cooper across the street with the girl, and as she glanced at them, realized the packs Gamma and Delta were also both there. The Gamma looked right at her, the girl was hugged into him, taking comfort from her Gamma. 'Oh! How sweet.' She thought bitterly. Turned and walked off down the street. Three blocks to the bus stop and waited. She’d survived more than that, all that girl got was a “no”, was a spoiled bloody prima donna.
Brandon got off the bus, and she smiled at him, thankfully he had her caramel-coloured hair, with a few natural blonde highlights from the sun, and his skin was fair like hers too. Though he did have his father's blue eyes with those brilliant green flecks in them. He was her one true joy in her life. She smiled right at him as he stood talking to his friends; would not interrupt the boy, he had people hanging off him, just seven years old and already popular, typical of his Alpha gene’s she supposed.
Finally, he turned his smile on her. “Hey mum.”
“Hey sweetie, I thought...we’d go and get waffles.”
He grinned now. “Sure.” She knew it was his favorite thing, loved waffles with strawberries and doused in hot melted chocolate with a big scoop of chocolate ice cream.
She took his hand and strolled along to the cafe, they ate at sometimes after school. She watched him eat happily. “I thought we could get away, go on a little holiday, the long weekend is coming.”
He looked right at her. “No work?”
Piper chuckled and even heard Harper chortle inside her mind “No work...why don’t we go snowboarding?”
“Sweet.” he grinned, now, all excited. The boy did like to be in the outdoors, and he’d learned to snowboard at 5, bloody took to everything that he tried. His natural agility shone through, as did his track and field, he even excelled at swimming. Everything he did was a natural talent at “Mum it's fall.” he suddenly stated.
“It’s snowing somewhere in the world.” she shrugged. “get your phone out and find somewhere. We’ll leave on Friday after school and come back on Monday. You pick where.”
Piper POV
Their suitcases were all packed and downstairs by the store's counter, they were all ready for their long weekend away in Whistler. She had booked a two-bedroom Panorama Suite at the Four Seasons Resort. The flight from Portland was also booked, and a car would pick them up from the store, to transport them to the airport. As there would be one waiting for them at the airport when they landed.
It was actually really nice to be getting away, and just take time out and relax, snowboard with Brandon all weekend. He’d been so excited for the trip over the last two days, had already written out what he wanted to do in their downtime, and what runs he wanted to snowboard on.
Piper was in her studio, it was Friday midday, and she’d not seen any wolves in the past three days, since her run in with Cooper, obviously upsetting that girl, had made her want to go somewhere else to get her Luna’s gown. Which suited not just Piper, but Harper as well. They were not going to make a gown for their former Alpha's, Mate. No way in god.
She was sewing crystals onto the bodice of a strapless gown for a wealthy heiress, and was sitting with a container of those crystal beads next to her and the ivory coloured gown was laid across her lap.
She lifted her head up at the sound of her store’s front door banging open and shut. Frowned at the sound of her bell crashing around like crazy. Heard her name being stated by a very angry sounding man and sighed heavily.
It was likely the Whitmore girl's father; she’d had to delay his daughter's dress fitting this weekend, had pushed it to next weekend and the girl had pitched a fit. Thrown a tantrum like a two-year-old, then yelled at her, it was unacceptable, and she was going to tell her father. It wasn’t unacceptable at all, the girls' wedding was not for another 4 months, and this was the last fitting. Then she could pick up the dress the following weekend if she had no alterations, which Piper was certain she would, had every other time she’d had a fitting.
She stood up, knew by the sound of angry footsteps on the stairs, and the lighter ones following, that the man and his prima donna of a daughter, were on their way up the stairs likely to tear strips off of her. She hung the dress she was working on back on the mannequin and brushed it out to straighten it.
This was the only part of her job that she did not enjoy, dealing with wealthy aristocratic people who believed the world revolved around them, just like Alpha wolves they were. Lording their power over everyone and trying to make people do what they want. Annoying to say the least.
Piper turned as the door to her studio banged open and stopped dead at the sight before her. Bradley Drake himself, stood there in the doorway, dressed in dark grey slacks and a dark blue long sleeved dress shirt, his blue eyes and their green flecks practically glowing with anger, and directed solely at her.
Pain tore at her and Harper, her heart rate doubled at the sight of him, and she felt like she couldn’t breathe at all, as she stood staring at him. Her own Mate, who never knew who she was. Never would. Goosebumps broke out all over her body, as pain spread through her. She couldn’t speak, couldn’t even draw a breath at the sight of him.
He still smelled the same to her, his scent filled her nostrils, and she heard Harper whine inside her mind. Then there was Hadley his Mate, right next to him, and his hand moved to the small of her back, as he brought her into the room. Gut-wrenching pain twisted her heart, which was now beating erratically inside her chest, at having to see them together. She did not need this. Did not want to see him with her.
Finally, she managed to take in a half-strangled gasp of air, as she took a step back away from him, shook her head slightly. He was looking right at her. And she knew that his Alpha senses would pick up on her erratic heart, beating uncontrollably, her sudden inability to breathe. Her reaction to him in this room, she couldn’t hide it; the pain that she was feeling, that was pulling at every fiber of her and Harper, at seeing him with another, was too much for them to handle.
“You will make Hadley the dress she wants.” he stated coldly, still glaring at her.
Piper shook her head no, because they would not. She would not let anyone else wear the dress that should have been hers; especially not the woman that was taking her place at his side.
He took a step towards her, and Harper pushed forward as they stepped back from him. A snarl came from her at the threat he posed to them. His eyes went more than a little wide, obviously he thought he had come here to deal with a human, his head tilted and she watched as he drew in a deep breath, trying to figure out what she was.
Harper’s eyes would not give them away as a wolf. Her wolf's eyes were white irises, with a black outer edge. They did not have the standard green or yellow of a wolf.
She saw Hadley reach out and touch his arm, her eyes moved right to the way her hand landed on him, the way her fingers curled gently around his forearm. So very familiar, and more pain touched them, her whole body shivered and then started to tremble as she heard Hadley say his name, softly.
Then they were gone, out of the room, through the interconnecting door to her office, out the door to her balcony and down the stairs at full wolfen speed, slamming doors closed behind her as she went. Ran all the way to the small courtyard that she shared with the three other boutique stores along the street.
Tears welling as she desperately tried to calm down and not cry. He’d smelled her, still had no idea who she was, just stood there glaring at her like he hated her. Had come into her office to make demands of her for his new Mate.
He had no idea how much it would hurt her, never had, so why would he now? Her rejection had been in effect for years now, she was nothing to him, never had been, never would be. She hated that she still loved him, that Harper, too, felt for her Mate. Hated that they could still smell him, leaned on the brick wall and felt cold all over, even with the sun shining on her, she still felt cold.
Piper had one hand over her mouth, and the other was clutching at her chest, as she tried to calm herself down. Trying to let go of the pain that was eating them alive, Harper was already curled up in a ball of pain and misery inside her mind, pain was radiating off of her in waves, at seeing him with another.
She slid down the wall and hugged her knees to herself, put her head on her knees and just stayed there. They had moved states away, left Montana altogether, so that they would never have to see him, never even have to hear his name in passing. The industry she was in was nothing like his, and she made sure never to run in the same circles.
His pack was all about construction. They built skyscrapers and gated communities, private log cabins and homes for the super wealthy. The only risk she ran, was that they might at some point work for the same human, but even that was slim, seeing she had moved several states away.
Now he was here in her place of work, angry at her for her refusal to make a Luna dress, for his Luna. There were plenty of other places that the girl could go to get a dress made. god, the woman could get one made right in her pack. Piper was certain that Renee’s boutique was still there, that Renee herself was still making dresses for the pack's she-wolf population.
She closed her eyes and willed that man to leave, to just go away, to never come back. The pain was too great, knowing who and what he had once been to them. Knowing it would never change. He had another Mate now. Tears burned down her cheeks in hot rivers. They could not deal with him. It was just too much to handle.
She sat there on the ground, trying to calm down. It was all she could do, and just breathed, long slow, deep breaths in and out until the pain eased. It did not go away completely but eased until it was just a constant dull ache, it would likely take all day to go away. She took her phone from her pocket and called her own store, called Izzy, who picked up as professional as ever.
“Izzy, is he gone?” she asked softly.
“Yes Piper, are you alright? Where did you go? He sounded very annoyed that you just left.”
“I don’t care Izzy. He left is all I care about. Did you see him drive away at all?”
“No, Piper. What is going on?”
“Nothing. Don’t worry about it. Just... I will not be working for him, for that woman or anyone from his company. It’s Drake Industries, the answer is no.”
“Piper, if you are in trouble.”
“I’m not Izzy.” she reassured her “New protocol though, no taking any appointments without knowing the company they work from. Alright.”
“Okay Piper.” Izzy sounded a bit more than confused, but Piper knew that the woman would follow instructions. Was nothing but professional all the time. Had been working for Piper for six years; she had helped her to open her other two boutiques, one in Olympia, Washington and the other in Los Angeles, California.
Izzy was also about to help start preparations for the first international store, in Sydney, Australia. She had been to a fashion show out there and presented her gowns, and they had sold out. She had orders for more already. Izzy would be opening and going to run that store, a full manager of her own store. There was no-one else that Piper trusted to do so. She and Brandon would be going for a three-month period of time. Perhaps longer, depending on how things went, smoothly or not.
She finally got up from the ground and headed inside by the back entrance to the ground floor, made her way through the storage area, passed the dressing rooms and to the front of the store. Izzy was looking at her somewhat worriedly, as she walked towards the front window and looked outside.
She looked both ways up and down the street, and could not see his car or anything like what his car had been back then. It could have changed, she supposed, but did know he would be driving a 4x4 of some sort. All his pack cars were, had to be due to the size of wolves, all large and imposing.
She saw nothing that would pass for a pack car. Then realized this far from his pack, it was likely that he would be driving a rental car, but there was no sign of him or his unit that she could see. She turned away from the window to find Izzy still watching her.
“It’s nothing,” Piper told her.
It was obvious that Izzy didn’t believe her. “I’ve known you for a long time, Piper. It’s not nothing, because nothing rattles you, ever. Not even the big billionaires that waltz in here thinking it's their way or the highway. Now, twice this week, I’ve seen you reject that woman and both of her? Whatever they are, the men escorting her. Both of them left annoyed and seemed angry about your response to them.”
“Let it go Izzy.” Piper sighed.
“Piper!” Izzy sighed right back “Come on, it's your past, I know that much. You never said where you were from. You never talk about it, like you just appeared here in Portland fully grown.”
“I did.” Piper stated, a little annoyed with her prying.
Izzy actually laughed, “Yeah right... You know them...but, they didn’t seem to know you, right?”
“Correct, and we’ll leave it at that, alright.”
“Fine...and if they come back?” Izzy huffed, giving up on trying to pull information out of her.
“I’m not here. Pure and simple.” Piper murmured.
“I don’t think that either of those guys will believe that.”
“I don’t care, I’ll be away on holidays anyway and hopefully that will solve the issue. Then I can work from home for the next week.”
“Avoidance isn’t always the key, Piper,” Izzy commented casually.
Piper snorted, there was no key, she didn’t scent to anyone. She was invisible even to her own Kind and to others as well, and she had come across a few Vampires. They were fashion addicts, a few fairies and a Bear shifter once, that man had dаmed near knocked her over, put his hands on her to steady her, and had then looked right at her, smelled her up close, frowned deeply at her. She’d politely apologized to him, as he’d continued to stare at her, obviously uncertain as to what to make of her, but had stepped aside and allowed her to pass after a minute.
It was the reaction she got from most other worldly creatures. Humans detected nothing at all, and it was likely most other worldly creatures thought she was just human, which is how she lived her life anyhow.
Piper went and picked Brandon up from the bus stop like normal, walked back to the boutique, and the hire car to take them to the airport was just arriving, very punctual. She didn’t waste any time in grabbing their luggage. Told Izzy she’d see her in a few weeks, just in case there were others around listening.
Didn’t want to risk it, they got in the car, and they were off. Brandon looked right at her, “Mum, what’s wrong?” he asked.
“Nothing.” she smiled at him.
“Weeks?” he queried.
“Oh, that, I’m going to be working from home when we get back is all.”
“Okay.” he nodded, smiling now. Their home was a lot closer to the school and meant less time on the bus. It always made him happier, it also meant he could hang out with his friends and have them over as well. He had a good social life for a seven-year-old.
Piper had no idea how she was going to explain to him about his first shift. She was raising him human, it was better this way, especially if he turned out to be just like her, to have no scent. She could smell him, but he was her child.
Both her parents had never said they couldn’t smell her, and they always seemed to know when she was about, so presumably they had been able to smell her. Just no-one else could, as far as she knew.
She touched the crystal pendant as she thought about her mother. Her wolf's eyes had also been white like Harper’s. A hereditary trait, she thought, but Piper did recall that her parents both had good social lives within the pack.
She did not understand why she was the way she was, only knew it was horrid to have to live with. Until she’d run away and gone rogue, saved her and Harper from death. Their fate inside the pack had been killing them, slowly but surely.
They belonged to no-one out here, were a rogue as was Brandon, not that she smelled that on him, didn’t smell it on her either for that matter. Likely he, too, was going to be unscentable, she hoped not. She didn’t want him to suffer as she had, would not wish that on anybody, not ever.
They arrived at the Four Seasons, and the runs were still open for one hour, she headed straight out with Brandon. He was super excited but kept reminding her “No work mum, you promised.”
Piper was laughing at him now, he’d said it for like the tenth time, as though he didn’t believe her, that he thought she was going to find an excuse to work this weekend. Piper had not even brought her sketch pad, or any drawing pencils. This weekend was just her and Brandon, snowboarding and maybe some hiking, if the weather permitted, and Brandon wanted off of the slopes.
He loved being outdoors, in the forest, went camping with his best friend once and loved it, did not surprise her at all, not considering what he was, and an Alpha wolf would love it even more, especially once shifted, the hunting and chasing of prey. She had no idea when he would have his first shift, usually at 16, but research told her anywhere from 13 on wards.
Piper was going to have to sit him down at some point and explain other worldly creatures to him, before then, she might have to get him to watch a few movies first to see what he thought, though at just seven, it was a bit too early for those types of movies.
They had dinner in their room, and he was now playing an online game with his friends back home. She didn’t mind, was just happy that he was happy. Told him she would go for a walk and be back in a short while. He’d hollered “No work mum.” as she’d headed out the door.
Made Piper laugh, “I promised already, didn’t I?”
She saw him narrow his eyes right on her for a moment and then nodded his head. Piper had stepped out of her room and headed straight for the bar downstairs. She needed a drink, it wouldn’t touch the sides or affect her in anyway, human alcohol did nothing for her. She just wanted one, had a long stressful day and wanted a drink; a human one would do.
She sank down on a bar stool and ordered an espresso martini, loved the smell of coffee, so it was a good start, could sit and sip it and enjoy the smell of it, just relax a little. She was well away from her home, and the stress of the day.
Harper growled inside her mind, full annoyance in her growl, as the scent of wolves hit them, she glanced in the mirrored back splash of the bar and saw a half dozen muscled-up men and a few young looking women headed this way, downed her martini in one go and banged the glass down on the bar, “I’ll take another.” she told the bar tender as those wolves sat down at the bar, but before he could serve them.
Picked up that martini and downed it in one go as well, as the bar tender swiped her credit card, she would normally enjoy sipping on her espresso martini, but her night just got completely ruined.
Took her card back and spun her stool around, muttered as she got up and walked away from the bar “Hate the stench that just came in. You’d think animals would learn to shower.” heard the dead quiet of all of them, every one of those blasted wolves had heard her comment and she knew it, didn’t even care, she’d scented more than one pack, multiple in fact. It irritated her nose.
“What a Beach.” came a female voice.
Piper snorted as she walked out of the bar. “First class bimbo at that.” she shot back, letting them know she had heard the comment as much as they had hers. Didn’t know why they were all here, didn’t care, it had ruined her mood completely, she stood and waited for the elevator to go back up to her room.
“Oh, my goddess, you’re Piper Harper.” a voice cried out, all excited.
Piper rolled her eyes, so not in the mood, the woman or girl sounded very young and very excitable. A bride to be, she thought, only brides would know who she was, turned and looked to where the voice had come from, saw a very pretty young woman hurrying towards her.
Dressed in a beautiful white cashmere sweater, black leggings and white furry boots, but it was the scent she gave off that made Piper look back to the elevator and pray it would open before the woman got to her. She had seen the rather large man strolling along behind the young girl, an Alpha. He was likely the girl's father, they had similar looks, the same dark hair and slate grey eyes, he was smiling at the girl.
She reached Piper before the elevator did “Oh my, I love your Goddess Gowns, I want one when I get married.”
“Married?” That was a human thing. Playing at being human, seeing where they were, she guessed.
“Yes, I can’t wait to meet him one day, the man I will marry.”
The elevator opened and Piper stepped into it. “I suggest you find him first, then buy a dress. Not the other way around. It might seem desperate otherwise.” she told the girl, as she hit the button for her floor.
The girl's mouth opened in an ‘O’ of shock and she just stood and stared at her as the doors closed on her. “Can’t seem to catch a break.” she muttered to herself as the elevator took her up to her floor.
It must be some sort of Alpha meeting going on, just our bloody luck, go away to get away from wolves, only to find a whole bloody hotel full of them. On the bright side, they did know what she was and would leave her alone.
Bradley POV
Bradley was sitting in his office, frowning deeply. He’d not liked hearing his Beta, Cooper, tell him that Piper Harper, the designer, had made Hadley cry. Had not liked hearing she’d torn up the picture of the gown that she wanted either, the girl had been dreaming of wearing that particular gown for years. Hadley was such a sweet-natured kid, never hurt anyone, she did not have a mean bone in her body.
Now some human designer had not just refused to make the dress she was dreaming of wearing. But she had torn up the picture Hadley had been hanging onto, and saved all these years. Waiting for the day she was old enough to get a gown of her own.
He’d always told her no; she was too young. But now she had turned 18, and at some point, she would find her Mate, and wanted that dress. She always had, never once in the past four years of seeing it had she changed her mind.
Her older sister Megan had worn a Piper labelled dress when she found her Mate, and apparently, they had once been sold here in one of the pack's stores. Before Piper Harper became famous, and went by just Piper. She only made wedding dresses now, it seemed.
Now this Piper Harper woman, was not only rude, but had not been the slightest bit intimidated by Cooper either. A human had simply stood her ground, raised an eyebrow at his aura, which he’d rolled right at her. Apparently, she didn’t even flinch when Steel, Cooper’s wolf, had risen, to try and startle or shock the woman into backing down, and going along with giving Hadley the dress she wanted.
“It’s odd, Brad. I couldn’t smell anything about her, not even a human scent. I don’t think she is human; most would have pissed themselves with Steel staring them down, not this woman.” Cooper had told him.
“What’d you make of her exactly?”
“Nothing, for all intensive purposes, looks human.” Cooper replied.
“But she’s not?” Brad's frown deepened.
“I doubt it, but whatever she is. Her scent is fully masked, I’d say.”
“Stay there, I’ll come out and deal with the woman myself. If Hadley wants that dress, then she’ll have it. Has been dreaming of that dress for bloody years.”
“Brad, Eddie picked up something weird off of her too.” he heard his Beta sigh.
“That would be?” Trust his Gamma to try and feel the woman out.
“Anger, when she stepped out of the store, we were still across the street, she actually looked at each of us in turn, rolled her eyes and then stalked off down the street. I was hard-pressed not to go and put fear into the woman.”
“Eddie, stopped you in other words!” Bradley shook his head; it was likely the only thing that would stop him. A concern from the Gamma “Looked at each of you?”
“Yes, right at each of us.”
“Do you think, she knows what you are?”
“Likely. Took an instant dislike to Hadley and myself for that matter.”
“I guess we’ll find out when I pay that woman a visit, I might just make her cry, the way she made Hadley.” he muttered.
He sat tapping his pen on his desk. Cooper was likely right in the 'not human' assumption. He was rarely wrong in his hunches, and the fact that his wolf had not bothered the woman at all, spoke volumes about her not being human.
Brad got up from his desk and made his way to Renee’s boutique, and pushed into the store, and Renee smiled up at him “Alpha, what can I help you with?” she asked right away.
“Hadley is having trouble getting the dress she wants,” he told her.
“Ah yes,” Renee nodded “The Piper Harper gown! Hadley came in here and asked if I could get it ordered for her. No such luck, Alpha. It’s not made anymore, I’m afraid.”
“Not made anymore?” he asked out of curiosity.
“Mm, the lady I spoke with, stated it's well out of season, and only one was ever made, a display gown only, no orders were taken, and it was removed from the catalogue.”
That didn’t sound right to him. “Did you ever meet this Piper Harper person, before she was well known?” he wanted to know the background of the woman.
Renee raised an eyebrow at him. “Yes.” she nodded with a frown of her own now, shook her head as well, and seemed a bit confused by his question “I stocked her dresses for about three and a half years, here in the store, then nothing, just gone, no more.”
“What was the woman like?” he asked outright. “I have to go and deal with her myself.”
“Quiet.”
“That’s it?”
“Yes, that’s it.” Renee nodded “Never really said much to me.”
Bradley left just as frustrated as he’d gone into the store, headed back to his office and googled the woman. Her company came up; Piper Harper Designs, and a photo of a bunch of women outside the front of a store. He had no idea which one she was, though from what he could find out. She did a fair bit of travelling and bridal fashion shows, she had three stores, and there on her company page was a plan for her first international store, to open soon.
She had good reviews from wealthy clients, mostly humans. Though he did note some of the names were old or ancient sounding, that made him think some were not human at all. Perhaps this woman simply knew about other worldly creatures, and therefore, was not so easily scared or frightened by them.
He scrolled through the information trying to find out anything about the woman herself. Nothing much. She just appeared about six years ago and was a hit, already had her first store out in Portland for a year and a half before making it big. Which is where he knew Hadley and his unit were.
Likely, if this woman was used to dealing with wolves, vampires and other creatures, he...
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