8. Cooper

Chapter 8

Cooper

I growled at Jake as he walked past the cashier. The other shifter jumped, looked at me with wary eyes, and then swiftly walked away.

That's right, keep walking; stay away from Miles, I thought with some satisfaction.

I had already extended my break time, and Miles seemed to have noticed, so I went back to work for a bit before deciding to hang out with Sawyer.

Miles had requested that I check in on Sawyer every now and then.

"What's with you?" Sawyer asked when I sat in the unoccupied plastic chair next to him. "Scaring off poor Jake like that? That's not the first time today. He stepped on your tail or something?" Sawyer joked, a smirk playing on his lips.

I thought of Jake making his move on my Miles and scowled.

Sure, Miles wasn't exactly mine yet, but Jake sure had some nerve approaching him like that.

"It's—" I hesitated, unsure of how much I should tell Sawyer about Miles and me.

Sawyer raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying my reluctance. "Come on, Coop. Spill it. What's going on?" Sawyer asked.

I'd forgotten how perceptive Sawyer could be sometimes. I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck.

Might as well get this conversation out in the open. Besides, I wasn't planning on keeping secrets from my best friend.

"It's just... Jake. He keeps hovering around Miles, and it's getting on my nerves," I admitted.

Sawyer's smirk widened. "Ah, so that's what this is about. You're jealous."

"I'm not jealous," I shot back a little too quickly, feeling my cheeks heat up. "I just don't trust him around Miles."

"Right," Sawyer drawled, leaning back against his chair. "Because Jake's a real threat and all."

I scowled at him. "You know what I mean. Miles deserves better than some guy who flirts with every shifter he meets," I pointed out.

After I scared him off, Jake had proceeded to flirt with the next single guy he could see.

Sawyer's expression softened, and he studied me for a moment. "You care about him, don't you? More than just as a friend," Sawyer said.

I looked away, feeling the weight of his words.

"Come on, Coop. I might've been bedridden the past few days, but I'm not blind. I saw the way you guys look at each other. The way Miles lights up whenever you're around," Sawyer said.

"Yeah, I care about Miles a lot. But it's complicated," I said.

"Complicated how?" Sawyer asked, scratching his head.

I sighed again, running a hand through my hair.

"I don't know. There's a lot going on right now with the bookstore, Ryder's wolves, and there are issues with my current pack. I don't want to stress him out," I said.

Then it struck me. Sawyer was being unexpectedly calm about this. Too calm.

I thought he'd be more pissed off that I was interested in his little brother.

"Sawyer, you're not angry?" I had to ask.

"To be honest, it didn't sit well with me at first," Sawyer confessed. "But then I kept watching the two of you and realized I was worried over nothing. It's actually kind of cute, watching you two fumble around, trying to sort your feelings out. And besides, it's you, Cooper. I'd rather you date my brother than some douchebag."

His words hit me like a ton of bricks, but in a good way. The tension I'd been carrying around started to melt.

"Really? You're okay with this?" I had to ask.

Sawyer nodded, his expression sincere. "Yeah. I've seen how you've stepped up, how you've been there for him. And I know you'll keep being there. You've got my blessing, Coop."

Sawyer didn't know how much those words meant to me and what a relief it was to hear them. I couldn't help the small smile that tugged at my lips.

"Thanks, Sawyer. That means a lot," I told him.

"Just don't screw it up," Sawyer added, his tone half-joking, half-serious. "Miles deserves the best, and you better give it to him."

"Trust me, I will," I promised, my voice firm.

"You two should really talk," Sawyer suggested. "Let him know how you feel. It might be just what he needs right now."

I considered his words, my mind racing. "You really think so?"

Sawyer nodded. "Yeah, I do. It's what I'd do if I were in your shoes," he said.

I nodded. My best friend did have a point.

"You mentioned your current pack. Are you truly happy there, Coop?" Sawyer questioned, his eyes searching mine.

I knew what Sawyer was getting at. He wanted to know if I'd be willing to leave my current pack for Miles, if it came to it.

At that moment, I was torn, and I had to make him understand how important my current pack was to me.

"Daniel's a good lead alpha, and I get along with the enforcers and other members," I said. "Sawyer, when I left Pecan Pines ten years ago, I was a mess. I felt lost, but Daniel gave me a fresh start, a new home."

Sawyer nodded, understanding flashing in his eyes. "I see what you mean when you said it was complicated. But Coop, sooner or later, you'll need to make a hard decision, especially if things with Miles really get serious."

"I get that," I told him. "But for now, I want to focus on the present."

"I don't envy being you," Sawyer said, shaking his head.

"Hey, how long are you two going to continue chatting? Everyone else is working hard," Miles called out as he approached us.

Dang, but he looked downright delicious, and I wanted to eat him right up. Some of my feelings must've shown on my face because Sawyer cleared his throat.

"Run, Coop. The enforcer is here," Sawyer joked.

Miles rolled his eyes and jabbed his elbow at Sawyer's shoulder.

"Sawyer and I are just clearing up some important matters," I told Miles, who gave us both suspicious looks.

"What important matters?" Miles asked.

"You don't need to know for now," I said. Then I was struck with the sudden urge to kiss him, so I leaned forward and kissed him briefly on the mouth.

Miles stared at me in shock, then anger, as if he was silently asking me why I had the guts to kiss him in front of his brother.

"Back to work, guys," Sawyer said, trying to defuse the tension.

Miles glared at me for a moment longer before his expression softened. "Alright, but don't think this conversation is over," he warned, pointing a finger at me.

"Wouldn't dream of it," I replied with a grin.

"Uh, Coop. One more thing," Miles said.

He began fidgeting with his hands and suddenly looked all awkward and adorable.

"Yeah?" I asked him, intrigued by his sudden shyness.

"Well, I was thinking of a way to thank you for helping me arrange the car wash."

"It's nothing," I told him, trying to downplay it.

"I'm not done," he said, and I waited for him to continue. "So, I thought maybe I could treat you to dinner sometime?"

Miles was asking me out on a real date, I realized with a rush of excitement.

"Yeah, dinner sounds nice," I told him, unable to keep the smile off my face.

"Great," he said, his own smile widening, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

As we turned to head back to work, I could feel the electricity in the air between Miles and me. The anticipation of that dinner date buzzed in my mind.

I might not have come to a decision regarding my current pack yet, but I did know one thing: Miles was worth it, and I was determined to prove to him that I was worth it as well.

As I walked back to my station, I couldn't help but glance back at Miles, who was already busying himself with some task.

Our eyes met, and he gave me a small, almost shy smile. My heart skipped a beat.

There was something incredibly sweet and genuine about that smile, and it warmed me from the inside out.

I turned back to my work, my mind racing with thoughts of our upcoming date. What would we talk about? What would I wear?

The excitement was almost too much to contain, and I found myself grinning like a fool. I felt like a teenager going on his first date again.

The rest of the day passed in a blur, my thoughts constantly drifting back to Miles.

The way he had looked at me, the way he had asked me out—it was all so perfect. I headed back to my motel room that evening, feeling optimistic.

I flopped onto my bed, staring up at the ceiling with a goofy smile plastered on my face. This was it. My chance to convince Miles I was born to be his mate.

So far, we'd only been meeting at the hospital. This was different. It would be our first real date.

My buzzing cellphone broke me away from my current train of thought. Seeing Daniel's name flashing across the screen, my mood dampened. I immediately answered his call.

"Cooper, I sincerely hope you're on your way back to Winter Valley," Daniel said.

I swallowed. "Did something happen?" I asked.

Daniel sighed, and I could hear the frustration in his voice. "We have an important meeting coming up with the Blue Fangs. They're trying to encroach on our territory again, and we need to settle this once and for all. I need my second there," Daniel said.

My heart sank. The Blue Fangs always employed aggressive tactics, and any meeting with them was bound to be tense. But my mind kept turning to my upcoming date with Miles.

The excitement I had felt moments ago was quickly being overshadowed by the weight of my responsibilities.

"Daniel, I understand the importance of the meeting," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "But I haven't managed to resolve matters here. Sawyer and Miles, they still have targets on their backs, and?—"

"Cooper," Daniel's tone was firm, almost fatherly. "I get that you have your personal commitments, but this isn't just about us. It's about the safety and stability of our pack. We've worked hard to establish Winter Valley as our territory. We can't let the Blue Fangs threaten that."

I closed my eyes, feeling conflicted. Daniel had always been there for me back when I had no one, and now he needed me.

"I know, Daniel. I owe you and the pack so much," I admitted. "But Miles and… Sawyer, they mean a lot to me."

There was a pause on the other end, and I could almost hear Daniel weighing my words. "Look, Coop, I'm not asking you to abandon your friends. But the timing of this meeting isn't negotiable. I need you to be there," he said.

I sighed, realizing Daniel wouldn't push unless it was important. "When is the meeting?" I asked.

"Tomorrow evening," Daniel replied. "I'll need you to leave tonight to make it back in time."

I thought of the car wash, the look on Miles' face when he asked me out to dinner, and the way he made me feel like I belonged.

Then I thought of everything Daniel had done for me, my duty towards my current pack, and the responsibility I had as the second-in-command.

"Alright, Daniel. I'll be there," I said.

"Good. I'll see you soon," Daniel said before hanging up.

I lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling once more, but my silly smile was gone. In case something happened to me in Winter Valley, I needed to tell Miles. I also needed to find a way to make this right.

I grabbed my phone and dialed Miles's number. He picked up after a few rings. "Hey, Coop. What's up?" Miles sounded warm and cheerful.

"Hey, Miles," I began, trying to keep my voice steady. "I need to talk to you about something."

"Sure, what is it?" he asked, a hint of concern creeping into his voice.

"I have to head back to Winter Valley tonight. There's an important meeting with a rival pack, and I need to be there," I explained.

There was a pause, and I could sense his disappointment through the phone. "I see. So you're canceling our date?" Miles asked.

"No, but I'm asking if we can push it to another night. I'm really sorry, Miles," I said, my heart aching. "I don't want to let you down. This is just something I have to do."

Miles was silent for a moment. "I understand. I know your pack is important to you," he said.

"I promise, I'll make it up to you," I said, hoping to convey how much he meant to me. "As soon as I get back, we'll have that dinner."

"Alright," he said softly. "Just… be careful, okay?"

"I will," I assured him. "And Miles? Thank you for understanding."

"No problem," he said, ending the call.