Anna was right. Piper had completely blown this thing with Bran out of proportion. Saying it all out loud, turning the idea into a physical thing, had made Piper feel ridiculous.
Here she was, mooning over some old as dirt, but infuriatingly hot man, all because of one heated look from a hotel doorway?
Despite, the small touches or the heated looks he'd occasionally throw her way, the doorway incident was the only true insistence he'd shown desire.
Piper picked her memory, trying to remember their recent interactions. They'd run and they'd laugh and tease and sure, Bran seemed happy. However, she grumbled, Bran didn't act like the usual men who were into her. Of course, the whole psychotic mate made the situation a bit...tricky, but still, shouldn't she be able to tell?
With slight devastation, she had come to realize she should be able to tell. Bran didn't feel the same for her. And just because of her own feelings were growing daily, didn't mean Bran's were as well. Piper realized with horror that she had become some pathetic fan girl, creating some grand romance in her head.
Anna was right. It was definitely best to stay away from Squints. And, Piper realized, space would be easy to come by in the next few days. She had already ditched her morning run, in order to stay away and save the Christmas party tonight she wouldn't see Bran until she returned from Detroit.
The reminder of the party made her nauseous. The annual Rusty Boar christmas party was the regalia of the town. Anna, of course, had swindled Piper into promising to attend. Bran would definitely be there, but Piper hoped with enough alcohol she could even make herself disappear.
Besides, she remembered, Bran would be busy with entertaining his sons. Samuel should be back in town sometime today. Piper was sure the men, Anna and Fatal Attraction would all have a lovely Christmas dinner before the party. She grumbled at the cozy scene.
Of course, Anna had not been alone in the unsolicited holiday advice. Tag had also done his part, suggesting a particularly coal-worthy strategy to get her mind off Bran. He had smiled devilishly and advised she find a 'distraction'.
Piper was fairly certain he meant sex. She sighed, missing the pleasure that accompanied the word. Perhaps Tag's idea had merit. A fling may do her some good. Afterall, she recalled, it had been six months since she'd come to Aspen Creek and many months before that since she'd had some steamy fun.
She imagined herself on some large man's arm at the party tonight. Instantly, Bran's face popped into her mind and she curiously tried to imagine his reaction. Piper expected Bran would be happy to see her accompanied, even relieved.
Squints was the Marrok, after-all. He had to be somewhat aware of her embarrassing reactions toward him. Piper grumbled at his stupid all-knowing habbit. Clearly, he was too much a gentlemen or too embarrassed to bring up the subject.
Piper groaned loudly, laying her hands in her head, wishing she could skip the event. She'd much rather hide in her room and leave at the crack of dawn for Detroit. At least Van would be happy to see her. When Piper had called him, she'd been practically ready to beg to come visit. Begging proved unnecessary as Van invited her to stay until New Years excitedly.
Even the promise of violence against T.J. didn't make her feel better.
Possible scenario's about how to least embarrass herself at the party tonight flitted through her mind. Eventually, she became so stressed, her control snapped. Her fingers opened and closed, her arm shook she slightly. Her resolve dissolved as she allowed herself to do something she'd longed to the past month.
Throwing open the ugly door, she started jogging behind the motel, into a light patch of trees.
The gun was cold in her palm. Again, her left hand flexed. Shit, she missed shooting. Bran had annoyingly lectured her how dangerous target practice was with so many wolves around. Bran had also, she decided, come to trust her over the past few months. Piper wasn't a rookie, she knew how to find a good spot. Besides, she grumbled, Piper wasn't Bran's puppet.
Her arms lifted, sighting the gun. The weight in her hand was reassuring, empowering. Memories flitted back, previous ghosts of shots vibrated her arms. She squeezed and rode the kickback. A burnt smell of reassurance lit the air as a tree 50 yards away splintered.
She breathed in the smell. She would never wait this long to shoot again.
A good shot can save your life, a voice whispered through her mind. On their own accord, images came through her subconsious. Mac's blood soaking through his pristine white shirt, some stupid dress she wore, ripping as she lunged for one of them.
The screams of Happy New Year sounded from rooftops and buildings all around them. It fills the city and leaves a whisper as Mac's life leaves her eyes.
She reached for her gun, only to remember she didn't carry it. No room in this dress, she had joked with her brother. The blood colored the white sidewalk as the men's steps run away.
Piper pulled herself back, the gun in her hands, shaking violently. To steady herself, she squeezed off two rounds, then three more.
The chamber clicked empty just as a nearby twig snapped. Spinning with her empty gun aimed, Piper tried to calm her nerves.
A solid man, built of muscle and sharp lines stood before her. His eyes were lighter than his dirt-brown hair. A confident smile lined his features.
"You know," he drawled, "the Marrok doesn't allow shooting in this area."
Piper scowled. Why did everyone call him Marrok? Piper honestly didn't care for the title. Bran was just Bran, just a man. People spoke of the Marrok with he awe invoked of God.
"The Marrok has other things to worry about than my illicit shooting."
He nodded, causing Piper to take a closer look. His eyes were set deeply and his long nose made his face too sharp to be beautiful. Still, there was something about him, something familiar.
She nodded toward him, "Move on. I only look interested."
The man chuckled, the smile not touching his eyes.
"For the safety of my fellow wolves, I think I better stay."
She made a large-eyed, shocked face. "WEREWOLVES! Where?"
He grinned, "You're funny."
"I'm also trained. I'm not going to shoot anyone," Leah's snarling face came to mind, "accidentally, at least."
The man continued to stand there, with an infuriating smirk. Piper sighed deeply, considering she was out of bullets, she supposed this therapy session was over.
She saluted him, "At ease, soldier, I'm leaving." Piper began to walk away only for the man to jog next to her.
"You're new," he said, "What's your name."
"Not interested," she kept walking.
He smiled, sticking out a hand, "Nice to meet you, Not Interested, I'm Samuel."
Piper faltered, coming to a stop. She was an idiot, now wonder this man looked familiar. Standing before her, in all his holiday glory, was Samuel. He smiled at the recognition she undoubtably showed at his name.
"So you've heard of me," he drawled, "That's not very fair seeing as I've never heard of you."
A spark ran through her belly. He was grinning like an idiot at her, making direct eye-contact, slightly teasing. Was Samuel actually, flirting with her? Hmm.
She extended a hand, awkwardly. "I'm Piper."
He held onto her hand, tugging her closer. "Do you have a last name, Piper?"
"Nope, just one word. Like Madona"
He laughed and this time it touched his eyes. "I wonder why Da hasn't mentioned you?"
A small, stupid disappointment stabbed her stomach. Bran hadn't even bothered to mention her to his son. She pushed away the embarrassment. God, she was being pathetic.
"Dont know. Don't care." she lied. "If it makes you feel better, he won't tell me much about you, either."
Piper saw the surprise in his eyes. She managed to hold back a wince at the statement. She had practically just admitted how close her and Bran were as well as her own desire to know him better. Stupidly , stupidly, pathetic.
Samuel smiled slyly, "I guess Da had left a lot out in our recent chats."
She met his gaze, surprised his eyes matched Bran's. They were light, mezmorizing. She shook herself from their hold. This was Bran's son!
"Maybe if you came around more often, you would know more."
"I've been off trying to figure some things out."
Piper snorted. She knew where Samuel had been: Off living with the famous Mercy. "A hard-on does not count as personal growth."
His thin eyebrows rose. "You know, you remind me of someone…" he let the sentence trail as he took a step closer.
Piper's hand was still in his own, she fought the compulsion of his pale eyes. Samuel was very close to her now; she smelled an earthy musk coming from his large, warm body. It would be so easy to lean in, to curl up to him. An easy distraction her mind whispered.
She leaned lightly toward him, not sure how things had progressed so quickly. Samuel was definitely attractive, in that strong unconventional way. Piper felt that same pull, that attraction, she sometimes did with Alphas. Something wild inside her called out to him. She was very tempted to kiss him.
However, if her problems with Leah had taught her anything, it was think first, follow your libido later. She wouldn't make the same mistake twice, with the first mistake's son nonetheless.
Samuel belonged to Mercy and just because she reminded her of his woman, did not make it alright to kiss him.
Despite her resolve, she played along a moment further, leaning into him. When her lips were only a breath away, her hand pressed flatly against his chest.
All at once, she whispered, "I'm not your Mercy," before shoving him back out of whatever delusion he was in.
He stumbled and looked dumbstruck a moment, before laughing. "Clearly not," he rubbed where she'd pushed him, "that would have worked on her."
She snorted at Samuel's arrogance before walking away. She was almost in her room, when Samuel called out from a distance behind her.
"Are you going to the party tonight?"
Piper turned, smiling, before disappearing behind the ugly orange door.