19. Cooper

Chapter 19

Cooper

1 Week Later

W e drove up to our new apartment building, and as I found a parking spot, Miles turned to me. "Do you think Sawyer will be fine on his own?" he asked.

I reached across the console for Miles's fingers and gave them a reassuring squeeze.

"He will be," I assured him. "Besides, if he's ever lonely, he can ring either of us up, and we'll invite him over for dinner all the time."

It had been a busy week, with me officially being reinstated as the Pecan Pines pack lead alpha.

A lot of pack reorganization had to be done. Ryder really had no idea how to manage a pack.

He ruled by fear, relying on intimidation and brute force to keep everyone in line. It was a short-sighted approach that left the pack fractured and demoralized.

He mismanaged the pack's resources, using them to maintain his power rather than to support and improve the community. The main pack house and training grounds were in disrepair.

Our emergency supplies were poorly maintained, and the younger wolves lacked proper guidance and education. Everything was a mess, and we had to start from scratch.

The first step was to rebuild trust within the pack. I had the support of the older pack members, especially those who knew my father.

The newer pack members still hadn't decided what they thought of me, but my future actions would speak for themselves.

Most of Ryder's supporters had left the pack, but some, like Garth, had stayed and pleaded if he could remain on a trial basis.

After hearing his story and realizing that he had no place to go, I reluctantly agreed. I believed in second chances, but if Garth and the others crossed a line, they would immediately be exiled.

Miles suggested we organize community meetings where I could listen to the grievances and concerns of fellow pack members. We would also have to rewrite some of the pack rules Ryder had altered to his advantage.

It was a slow process, but after just a week, I could already see the pack beginning to heal and unite. Honestly, I didn't know how I would have survived the week if it hadn't been for my mate.

In the present, we exited the car, and I started to unload the boxes from the trunk, but Miles grabbed my hand.

"Not yet. I want you to see the place I picked out for us," Miles said, his tone infectious with excitement.

I smiled and let him lead me to the unit. We walked through the entrance and up the stairs, the building having a welcoming, homey feel.

Miles stopped at a door on the third floor and pulled out a key, grinning as he unlocked it.

"Welcome home," he said, pushing the door open.

The apartment was spacious and bright, with large windows letting in plenty of natural light. The living room was cozy, with a leather couch and a coffee table already in place.

To the left, an open kitchen with modern appliances and a small dining area. The walls were painted a warm light blue color, and the hardwood floors added a touch of elegance.

Miles led me down the hallway to the bedroom. It was equally impressive, with a large bed that looked incredibly comfortable and a window overlooking a small park.

The bathroom was sleek and modern, and there was even a little nook that Miles had set up as a reading corner, complete with a comfy chair and a small bookshelf.

Miles turned to me, his eyes searching my face for a reaction. "Do you like it?" he asked, a hint of nervousness in his voice.

I pulled him into a hug, feeling the stress of the past week melt away.

"I love it," I said. "I can picture us living here together, making it our home."

Miles beamed at me, his earlier nervousness replaced with joy. "I'm so glad. I wanted it to be perfect for us," he told me.

"It is perfect," I said.

I tipped his chin and kissed him, deep and true.

"Forget the boxes for a little while longer," Miles said and I grinned, knowing what he was thinking about.

We shed our clothes and ended up on our new bed. I spoiled my mate with kisses, taking my time worshiping his body.

We hardly had time for each other the past few days so I wanted to take advantage of this moment.

Miles groaned when I reached his dick. I licked and sucked, making sure he enjoyed himself.

When he was close to bursting, I slid off the bed, grabbed the lube in the pocket of my jeans before returning to him.

After prepping Miles, I moved between his legs and entered him. Miles moaned as I pumped in and out of his ass. In moments, we were both sweaty and on the cusp of climax.

The next time I thrusted into him, Miles gasped, screaming out my name as I filled him with my seed. I came, seconds later. Collapsing next to him in our bed, I pulled him close.

Miles looked content, sleepy almost, but he smiled when I kissed his neck. I nuzzled his neck, feeling his pulse quicken under my lips.

"I love you, Miles," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion.

"I love you too," he murmured, his eyes half-closed as he relaxed into my embrace.

I bit down gently on his neck, marking him as mine. Miles gasped softly, his body shivering at the sensation. He quickly recovered and left his own bite mark on my shoulder.

The bond between us flared to life, a powerful, shifter magic weaving our life forces and souls together. I could feel the connection deepening, growing stronger with each passing second.

Miles sighed contentedly, his hand finding mine and squeezing it.

"We're bound now," he whispered, a smile playing on his lips.

"Forever," I agreed.

As we lay there, the bond between us pulsing with a gentle warmth, I couldn't imagine anyone else being my mate. Miles was my everything.

The challenges of my new role as lead alpha were daunting, but with Miles by my side, they seemed manageable. I held him close, our breathing syncing as we drifted towards sleep.

"Thank you, Miles," I whispered.

"For what?" he asked, his voice drowsy.

"For being mine," I replied, kissing his neck where I had marked him. "And for making everything worth it."

Miles smiled, his eyes closing as he nestled closer.

"Do I look okay?" Miles asked worriedly, looking down at his shirt and jeans. "Maybe I should've worn a jacket."

"You look great. What are you worried about? We're just here to meet Daniel," I pointed out.

Miles bit his lower lip. "I know he's like a father figure to you, Coop, but to the rest of us, he's a visiting leader of another pack. I wanted to make a good impression."

Of course, I hadn't thought about it that way and suddenly understood why Miles was so worried. I kissed him gently and squeezed his hand.

"Just relax. It'll be fine," I said.

After helping Daniel find my replacement, he suggested we establish a friendly relationship between our packs.

I liked the idea immediately, especially since, right now, as we were rebuilding, my pack wasn't at its strongest.

We entered the diner, the familiar smell of coffee and pancakes wafting through the air.

I spotted Daniel sitting at a corner booth, his eyes lighting up when he saw us. I led Miles over and made the introductions.

"Daniel, this is Miles," I said, gesturing to my mate.

Daniel stood up and shook Miles' hand, giving him an appraising look.

"So you're the wolf Cooper left our pack for," Daniel said sternly.

I rolled my eyes. Daniel was just joking around, but Miles didn't know that.

"I am," Miles said, shaking Daniel's offered hand firmly.

"I see you've finally sealed the deal," Daniel said, eyeing the mate mark on Miles' neck. Then he smiled warmly, the expression transforming his face completely. "Congratulations are in order, I believe."

Miles visibly relaxed at that. "Thank you, Daniel."

"Come, let's sit down and talk," Daniel said, motioning for us to take our seats.

We slid into the booth, and a waitress promptly came over to take our orders. Once she left, Daniel turned his attention back to us.

"So, how are things going with the pack?" he asked, his tone shifting to a more serious one.

"We're making progress," I said. "There's still a lot of work to do, but having Miles by my side makes things a lot easier."

Daniel nodded, glancing at Miles with approval. "That's good to know. A strong partnership can make all the difference," he said.

Miles smiled, squeezing my hand under the table. "We're doing our best."

As we continued to talk, I could see Miles growing more comfortable. Daniel had a way of making people feel at ease, and it was clear that he recognized the strength of our bond.

It was a good start to what I hoped would be a strong alliance between our packs.

When our food arrived, the conversation shifted to lighter topics, and I found myself enjoying the meal and the company.

Daniel shared stories from Winter Valley, and Miles and I talked about our plans for Pecan Pines.

By the time we left the diner, I could tell that Miles felt much better about the meeting. As we walked back to the car, he turned to me with a smile. "That went well, don't you think?"

I nodded, feeling a sense of contentment wash over me. "Yeah, it did," I said, leaning in for a quick kiss. "Why don't we go home and, you know, continue enjoying our new bed?"

"We can't. We're supposed to meet Sawyer, Griffin, and Noah at the pack house. Remember? Uncle Ben will also be there, wanting an update about our meeting with Daniel," Miles reminded me.

I groaned but nodded. "After that, then."

"After," Miles agreed with a grin.