6. Cooper

Chapter 6

Cooper

I t was mid-afternoon when Miles and I stepped out of his car. The two of us had finally found the perfect venue for the car wash event.

After looking at a few prospective places, we ended up choosing the broad parking lot next to Miles' bookstore.

Despite it being last minute, we'd managed to secure this spot for the event. With Sawyer's steady recovery and Ben's impending discharge, things finally seemed to be looking up.

Even Miles seemed more upbeat. I watched Miles survey the area with a small smile on his lips.

I knew how much that bookstore meant to him, and to some extent, to Sawyer as well.

In a way, it was a legacy from their father. For Miles, it had become a labor of love, a tribute to his dad's memory, but love alone couldn't pay the bills.

The bookstore was struggling, and Sawyer's hospital expenses only added to the burden. And then there were Ryder's wolves, always lurking in the shadows, watching and waiting for any sign of weakness.

So we really needed this fundraiser to be a success. It was our chance to turn things around.

"Think this place will do the trick?" I asked, nudging Miles gently with my elbow.

He turned to me, his smile widening, and I was tempted to steal a kiss right then, but somehow managed to restrain myself.

"I think it just might," he replied. "If we get enough volunteers and customers, it could really help."

We walked the perimeter of the lot, discussing logistics and planning where the wash stations would go. As we talked, I couldn't help but notice the spark in Miles' eyes when he spoke.

His passion for the bookstore was obvious, and it was impossible not to get swept up in his excitement. I really hoped this car wash would be a success.

"This will take care of the water supply," I said, pointing to a nearby hydrant. "You've got the soap and sponges, right?"

Miles nodded, jotting down notes on a small notepad. "Yeah, I got a good deal from that supply store downtown. They even threw in some extra buckets," he said.

I chuckled, imagining Miles haggling for supplies. "Of course you did," I said.

Just then, the rumble of an approaching truck caught our attention. We turned to see old friends of my father, Lee and Hannah, pulling up in a large pickup loaded with equipment.

I had spoken to them when I returned to Pecan Pines. They owned the local hardware store, and when I reached out again to tell them about our fundraising idea, they generously offered to loan us whatever we needed.

Honestly, given how Ryder's wolves were constantly watching our movements, I didn't think Lee and Hannah would come through for us.

The risk was too high, and those who helped us might find themselves in danger, but here they were, proving that loyalty still existed.

Lee hopped out of the driver's seat, a wide grin on his face. "Got everything you asked for and then some," he called out, patting the side of the truck. "Pressure washers, hoses, vacuums—you name it."

Hannah followed suit, her arms already filled with buckets and brushes. "We even brought some canopies in case it gets too sunny," she added, setting the supplies down and giving Miles a quick hug. "We're all rooting for you, Miles."

"Thank you both so much. This means the world to me," Miles whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

Lee waved a hand dismissively. "Anything for you and your brother. Besides, what Ryder did to Ben and Sawyer doesn't sit well with us old-timers," Lee said.

A dark look crossed Lee's face, his eyes hardening at the memory. But then he changed his tone, a lighter note creeping into his voice. "Plus, we can't let your bookstore go under. Where else would we get our fix of mystery novels and rare finds?"

"Also, Miles, have you seen the updated sign-up sheet?" Hannah asked.

I'd almost forgotten that Miles had put up a sign-up sheet online for volunteers for the car wash.

"Not yet," Miles admitted, a hint of worry in his voice.

"That's understandable. You have so much on your plate," Hannah said, her tone reassuring. "But we have enough volunteers."

"Really?" Miles asked, his eyes widening with surprise and gratitude. "I need to find a way to thank everyone somehow."

"Nah, everyone's happy to help," Lee told him, clapping a hand on Miles' shoulder. "We're all in this together."

With everyone's help, the car wash was shaping up to be a real success.

Lee, Hannah, and the support of Miles' other pack mates were a reminder that despite the lurking threat of Ryder's wolves, we weren't alone in this fight.

After helping Lee and Hannah unload the truck, they left, leaving just Miles and me. We paused near the center of the lot, and Miles let out a deep breath.

"Things have been tough, but I really believe we can turn this around. With Sawyer's therapy progressing and Ben coming home... it's like a fresh start," Miles said.

I stepped closer, my hand finding his and giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"We've got this, Miles. We'll make it work," I assured him.

He looked up at me, and for a moment, the world around us seemed to fade away. The stress, the worry, the lurking danger from Ryder's wolves—it all melted into the background.

All that mattered was the way his hand fit in mine, the way his eyes lit up with hope, and the undeniable connection that had grown between us.

"I don't know what I'd do without you," he whispered, his voice barely audible, but the emotion behind it was unmistakable.

His eyes, usually so full of determination, were now softened by vulnerability, and it broke my heart to see him like that.

"You'll never have to find out," I replied, perhaps a little too recklessly.

The words slipped out before I could even think them through, but I didn't care. Maybe I had gotten a little too swept up in the moment, but it felt right.

All that mattered was making Miles happy. I swore to myself right then and there that I would do anything in my power to fix things.

Miles looked at me, his expression a mixture of surprise and something deeper—something that made my heart race. He squeezed my hand, and I squeezed back.

We stood there for a moment, and I thought about everything Miles had been through. Despite everything, Miles had never once wavered. He kept on going.

Miles was perfect. Our perfect mate, my wolf whispered, but I didn't want to think about that yet.

"Come on," I said, giving his hand a gentle tug. "We've still got a lot of work to do before the event."

He nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Yeah, we do."

"I don't understand what the problem is. We're just here to take Ben home," someone said. I recognized that voice—Noah.

"Well, our lead alpha just wants to have a word with Ben. That's all," said another familiar voice. Beefy, or rather, Garth.

I was on my way to bring Sawyer dinner after driving Miles back home when I heard voices coming from Ben's room.

For a moment, I debated intervening or simply letting Noah handle this, then realized there was nothing to think about. I peeked into Sawyer's room and saw that Griffin was there.

He had his headphones on and was sound asleep. No wonder he didn't hear the commotion in the corridor. Sawyer, too, was taking a nap.

On one hand, I could wake Griffin and let him handle this. In a way, this was a pack affair, and I was no longer part of the Pecan Pines pack, but shoving this task onto Griffin felt cowardly.

I couldn't just stand idly by either. I set Sawyer's food on a nearby table. Griffin didn't even notice my arrival. I planned to have a word with him later about being more vigilant.

Then, remembering that Griffin was probably also tired from helping keep an eye on Sawyer and Ben, I decided against it. Either way, Griffin was no slouch.

Miles assured me he was a pretty formidable fighter. If one of Ryder's wolves made a move on Sawyer, Griffin would wake up and confront him.

Leaving Griffin and Sawyer, I proceeded to Ben's room. As I approached, I could sense the tension in the air. Noah stood just outside Ben's door, his stance defensive, while Garth loomed over him, arms crossed and a smug expression on his face.

Another of Ryder's wolves hovered nearby, their eyes flicking between Noah and the door as if expecting trouble.

I didn't recognize this one. I took a deep breath and stepped forward.

I reminded myself I would handle this in a mature and peaceful manner. There was no use starting unnecessary fights if words would suffice.

"What's going on here?" I asked, keeping my voice calm but firm.

Noah glanced at me, relief flashing in his eyes. "Cooper, they're saying Ryder wants to have a word with Ben before he leaves," Noah said.

Garth smirked, his gaze shifting to me. "Cooper. You shouldn't interfere. This is a pack matter, and you're no longer a member of our pack," he reminded me.

"That's true," I replied evenly. "But that doesn't mean I'll stand by while you harass my friends."

"Harass?" Garth chuckled, a low, menacing sound. "We're just following orders. Ryder wants to talk to Ben. Nothing more."

"Ryder can wait until Ben is settled," I said, stepping between Garth and Noah. "Ben's been through enough. He doesn't need this right now."

Garth's eyes narrowed, his posture stiffening. "Are you challenging Ryder's authority?" Garth demanded.

He curled his hands into fists, and I could sense his wolf was on the verge of coming out.

That aggravated my own beast, but I held him back. In moments like this, diplomacy, not violence, was the answer.

"I'm protecting my friend," I shot back. "If Ryder wants to talk to Ben, he can arrange a proper meeting. But not here, and not now."

The air crackled with tension as Garth and I stared each other down. I could feel Noah's anxiety behind me, but I also sensed that he would back me up if it came to a fight—which I was still hoping to avoid.

Either way, we weren't going to back down. After a moment, Garth snorted and took a step back.

"Fine. But this isn't over. Ryder won't be happy," Garth told me.

"Let Ryder know he can reach out to arrange a meeting with Ben," I said, not breaking eye contact. "But until then, stay away from him."

Garth muttered something under his breath and turned away, motioning for the other wolf to follow. They retreated down the corridor, and once they were gone, it was easier to breathe.

My own wolf retreated, having decided Ben and Noah were no longer in danger. I turned to Noah, who let out a breath he'd been holding.

"Thanks, Cooper. I wasn't sure what to do," Noah admitted.

"You did fine," I assured him. "We need to stay vigilant. Ryder's wolves are looking for any excuse to push us."

Noah nodded, glancing toward Ben's door. "He's been through so much already," Noah said.

"I know," I said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "But we'll get him home safely. That's what matters."

With one last look down the corridor to ensure Garth and his lackey were gone, I opened the door to Ben's room.

Inside, Ben was sitting up in bed, his expression a mix of exhaustion and curiosity.

"What was that all about?" he asked, his voice hoarse.

"Just a little misunderstanding," I said, offering him a reassuring smile. "But it's all sorted now. Let's get you ready to go home."

I quickly informed Griffin and Sawyer that I was going to accompany Noah and Ben to Ben's home. Sawyer raised one eyebrow at me, clearly curious.

"I'll explain later," I told him, giving him a reassuring smile.

Noah and I accompanied Ben to the parking lot. Noah wanted to borrow a wheelchair, but Ben scoffed and said he didn't need it. The old wolf was as tough as I remembered him.

Noah was driving, and I was going to sit next to him, but Ben insisted I sit in the back with him. I had a sense he wanted to know what transpired earlier, so I told him.

As I finished recounting the encounter with Garth, Ben nodded, and there was a look of approval in his eyes.

"It's really good to have you back with us, Coop. I wish your father could see you now. Back then, when you challenged Ryder, you were so hotheaded and full of yourself. But you've grown," he said, his tone full of approval. "You didn't allow Garth to suck you into a fight."

"Of course not," I answered, still a little embarrassed by Ben's words. But it felt good hearing them, a warmth spreading through me that I hadn't felt in a long time.

"I've heard Noah, Griffin, Miles, and even Sawyer talking about some car wash. Tell me more about it," Ben asked, genuine curiosity in his voice.

So, I did. I told him everything, from the initial idea to the support we'd received.

I described how Lee and Hannah had loaned us the equipment, how Miles had set up an online sign-up sheet for volunteers, and how everyone was coming together to make it a success.

Ben listened intently, nodding along as I spoke. When I finished, he gave a small chuckle.

"Sounds like quite the operation. I'm proud of all of you for pulling together like this. The pack needs these moments, these reminders of what we stand for," Ben said.

"Yeah, it's been a rough road," I admitted, glancing out the window at the passing scenery. "But we're getting there."

Ben patted my shoulder, his grip strong and reassuring. "You're doing good, Coop. And I'm glad you're here," he said.

We pulled into Ben's driveway, and Noah assured me he'd keep an eye on the old wolf. The two of us helped Ben out of the car and into his home. I made sure he was settled before saying goodbye.

"Ben's right, you know. It's good to have you back," Noah told me before I left.

I didn't have the heart to remind him that my stay here was just temporary. I took a bus back to the hospital, my mood sober.