This chapter was harder to write. I'd appreciate your reviews.

Piper woke up furious with herself. Last night had been the single best and single worst experience she'd had since coming to Aspen Creek. Kissing Bran had sparked something in her that she couldn't even recognize. The single act had felt so right. And worse, the kiss hadn't satisfied her need for him. It had taken serious willpower to push him away.

Piper grumbled as she shoved handfuls of clothes into her bag. A few days ago, Bran had promised to drive her to the airport and despite what occurred last night, she was sure he would still come. Bran wasn't one to break a promise. Despite the one he'd made to his mate, she pettily thought.

In truth, this trip couldn't have come at a better time. She had been relieved that Van had agreed so quickly to her visit. And even better, the detective friend she had called a favor on had finally come through. This visit was as much for her need for vengeance as it was a reprieve from Bran.

She was sure that everyone had figured she'd moved on by now. Piper kept most of the guilt and anguish she felt in thoughts of Mac to herself. In secret, she had hired a P.I. to track the Reds new local hangout. After months of waiting, the group had finally resurfaced in the basement of a dingy bar Sandbox. Piper had decided the moment she'd gotten the information she would end this. Mac's killers wouldn't go free. She would die trying before she let this all go.

Piper was also sure that both Alphas would have their panties in a bundle if they knew her real reason to visit Detroit. Obviously, she hadn't told anyone the real reason. She only hoped they would forgive her in time. Both Van and Bran had spoken to her about changing into a wolf. In truth, she was interested in the idea. However, there was always a risk she wouldn't survive the she didn't those Reds would walk free. Piper refused to even acknowledge the idea of changing until after their deaths. She only hoped she would live that long.

Besides, remaining a human had its advantages. Neither Alpha had any jurisdiction over her, despite both of their delusions. They couldn't order her to not do this. Piper figured that they would, however, stoop to lock her in some room until the Reds changed locations, therefore making secrecy necessary.

She grabbed her bags and locked away the morbid thoughts as she shut the door to the orange room. Earlier, Piper had decided it would be best to wait for Bran on the curb. By the time his beat up truck pulled up, she was practically vibrating with anticipation.

How was she supposed to act around him? Their past interactions had all been fueled by the idea that her attraction toward him was one-sided. Now that she knew it was not, how would she act, worse, how would he act.

Would he try to kiss her again? she wondered. Maybe, he would confess more feelings. Piper really hoped he did neither because she was fairly sure she wouldn't be able to control herself in that situation. As she opened the cab door, she pictured throwing herself across the bench seat, straddling his lap,-"Morning, Piper."

Shit, don't think about having sex with him, don't think about having-

"Ye- Hey, G'Morning."

She climbed in and began to fidget with a grayed edge of her bag, beating away all visions of licking him from head to toe. Nothing was working however, so she searched his neck for some sign of the bite. Unfortunately, due to stupid werewolf healing, the mark was gone. She tried to remember it, tried to call up some of the anger she felt, but instead his words played back to her.

I can't stop thinking about you.

The cab seemed to shrink in size. Bran cleared his throat uncomfortably. In his stupid Marrok voice, he said, "Piper, we need to talk about last night."

The shiver worked itself down his spine the second her name left his lips. Piper practically purred, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Piper," he scolded. She continued to stare out the window. Don't think about sex, don't think about sex.

"Last night was," he said.

miraculous, wonderful, life-shattering, orgasmic.

"a mistake."

"Oh." The exclamation left her lips without thought. She looked toward him sharply. His jaw was clenched tightly and the tops of his knuckles were white.

"What?" she asked dumbly.

"I shouldn't have done that. I'm sorry."

Piper was irrationally shocked. The pain in her chest bloomed. Bran was actually taking back that moment, he was playing down what had occured. Out of all his possible reactions, Piper had never thought determined, intense, goofy Bran would regret kissing her.

"right." She fought for a grip on reality as he glanced toward her, looking stern. Piper noted dumbly that his eyes looked attractive with the brown shirt he wore.

"I have a mate. I just can't do that," he informed her, as if she hadn't already known that. The condesending angered her. Of course, she knew he had a mate. Leah's snarling face popped into her mind. A terrible, repulsive, hideous, psychotic mate.

His tone implied she was some child who did not know this. As if, Piper were the one who had kissed him, the one who had said all those wonderful, disloyal, things. The thought both hurt and angered Piper. In the battle between the two emotions, she held onto the anger.

"Stop acting like i did this! You kissed me! You admitted feelings for me!"

"I know I did." he said diplomatically, "I'm sorry. It was unfair-"

The tone was so cordial, so leader of the North American Werewolves that Piper snapped.

"-DROP THE FUCKING ACT, SQUINTS!"

The outburst had worked to jolt him from the role. He looked confused, but his tone turned normal. "Piper, I'm not-"

"Yes, yes you are. Dop that bureaucratic tone. Stop talking to me like I'm some Alpha having a bad hair day."

He glanced at her quickly before nodding once. "You're right, I'll stop. I just wanted to apologize."

"What are you apologizing for? Kissing me or for liking it?"

Piper took his silence for an answer. She continued, "I know you meant what you said, so why are you taking it back?"

"Because it isn't right." his eyes pleaded with her to agree with him.

This was the moment, Piper realized. This was her moment to be honest, to open up. It wasn't something she did easily or without effort. The sheer idea was altogether frightening. But, she admitted, she was tired of pretending, tired of hiding how she felt. Besides, Piper was quite realistic that she may not survive this visit home. She didn't want to leave Aspen Creek without knowing.

With a large breath, she unleashed it, "But it is right, Bran. This, us, it feels right."

Piper wasn't sure if he knew how hard this was for her, but he stayed quite until she finished, glancing between her and the road as she spoke.

"We both know that something is here. Me and you..." she fought to find the right words, "We make sense. We're good for eachother. And-" another deep breath, "and i can't stop thinking about you either, not since that first day on those steps."

Somehow, by the time she had finished they had arrived at the tiny airport. Bran was quite for a few moments as he shifted the truck to park and leaned into the seat. He ran a hand over his closed eyes and up through his cropped blonde hair.

"Piper," he chose his words carefully, "A werewolf can only have one mate at a time."

The sentence wasn't entirly true, it was rare, but some wolves left their mates, Piper knew, that the idea was merely unnratural, but still it occured, she told Bran as much.

"Van and Alex are divorced. That doesn't make them not mates."

"But they're not. Van doesn't love her!" She tried to make him understand, but to her own ears she sounded pathetic, "I know you, Squints, You don't love her."

Piper watched in horror as his jaw clenched and he turned toward her. he looked at her sadly, and Piper felt pathetic, "You're wrong. I do love her."

The love bite popped into her mind. In a last attempt, Piper added, "Not the way you should, not the way that matters."

Bran took another deep breath. Suddenly, he looked much older than mid-twenties. She could tell he was gearing up to say something. Piper was practically vibrating from the anticipation, she knew where this was going, knew that this was going to hurt.

Finally, he said, "I wont leave her, Piper," She lost her breath, "I wont do that to her."

Piper nodded as if she understood, but with those words, she lost all understanding of the world. Her heart squeezed painfully. Breath did not come easily. Anna was right, Bran would never love her. Piper felt like a foolish girl.

With the last courage she could muster, Piper leaned across the cab and cupped his cheek. She smiled sadly at him, while grazing the stubble on his chin. "Goodbye Bran," she whispered, before opening the door and crawling out of the truck.

The walk toward the plane felt like a death march. Piper admitted that Bran would never be hers, and since Aspen Creek was Bran, the place would never be her home. And with a note of finality, Piper realized there was nothing left for her in Montana. This chapter was over. Piper boarded the plane without looking back.

Whoo. I hope this satisfied you...and made you wanting more :)