12. Sawyer

Chapter 12

Sawyer

C asey glanced at me with a soft smile that didn't reach his eyes. Maybe he was still thinking about Garth.

"Sounds great. I know a pet-friendly restaurant nearby," he said.

It didn't take long for us to reach the place. The restaurant was a quaint little spot. It was cozy and welcoming, with a few other customers sitting with their pets.

We found a table under the shade of a large umbrella.

Benny settled down at our feet, occasionally glancing up as if to make sure we hadn't forgotten about him.

His presence was calming, grounding me in the moment as I watched Casey scan the menu.

"This place is nice," I commented, taking in the surroundings.

The air was filled with the smell of fresh coffee and pastries. The sound of soft chatter and the occasional bark of a dog created a relaxing ambiance.

"Yeah, it's one of my favorite spots," Casey replied, still focused on the menu.

After a moment, we placed our orders—Casey going for a sandwich and iced tea, while I opted for a burger and a cold beer.

Benny even got a treat from the staff, which he accepted with an eager wag of his tail.

I couldn't help but smile at how happy the little guy seemed.

As we waited for our food, I found my mind wandering back to what Casey had mentioned earlier about Garth raising the rent on his store.

It was a move that reeked of spite, not business.

The thought of Garth making life difficult for Casey made my blood simmer, but I forced myself to push it aside.

Casey had insisted he would handle it, and I needed to respect that—for now, at least.

"So," I said, shifting the conversation to something lighter, "are you and your brother close?"

Casey looked up, his expression softening at the mention of his brother. "We are. He's my best friend."

I nodded, genuinely interested. "What does he do?"

"He's a popular streamer," Casey said with a hint of pride in his voice. "He started off just playing games for fun, but it grew into something bigger. Now he's got a pretty big following."

"That's impressive," I replied, imagining the kind of dedication that took.

The conversation flowed easily as we talked about his brother's streaming career.

Casey's eyes lit up when he spoke about it, and it was clear how much he admired his brother.

It was nice getting to know more about Casey's life—seeing the people and things that mattered to him.

Our food arrived, and we ate leisurely, enjoying the pleasant evening.

Benny was content, munching on his treat and occasionally peeking up at us with those big, curious eyes.

The restaurant's laid-back vibe was perfect, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of peace settle over me.

As we ate, I kept stealing glances at Casey, watching the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled and the way his fingers absentmindedly played with the edge of his napkin.

There was something so natural, so easy about being with him.

It wasn't just the attraction—though that was definitely there—but something deeper.

I started picturing him as part of my life, part of the pack.

I could see him at the pack gatherings, saw him fitting into my world seamlessly, like he was meant to be there all along.

Of course, in my fantasy, Garth was out of the picture.

That bastard had caused enough trouble already, and the thought of him trying to worm his way into Casey's life made my blood boil.

I'd always been protective of those I cared about, but with Casey, it was different.

The thought of anyone or anything hurting him was unbearable.

"So, what about you?" Casey asked, interrupting my thoughts. "What was it like growing up with your pack?"

I leaned back in my chair, trying to figure out how to sum up the complicated history of our pack in a way that wouldn't paint everything in black and white.

"Things were good when Cooper's father was the lead alpha," I began, my gaze drifting out the window for a moment as I thought back to those earlier days. "He was fair. Everyone respected him. There was this sense of unity, like we were all in it together, no matter what came our way. The pack was a family, you know?"

Casey nodded.

"But when Ryder became the leader…" I hesitated, the memory of those dark times creeping back into my mind. "Things went south pretty quickly. Ryder was… ruthless. He ruled by fear, and a lot of pack members either fell in line or got out of his way. Garth was one of Ryder's supporters."

Casey winced, a flicker of understanding crossing his face.

"I guess that explains why Garth is the way he is. But why is he still in the pack?" Casey asked.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair.

"Cooper believes in second chances," I explained. "When Cooper took over, he wanted to give everyone a clean slate, a chance to start fresh. Garth promised him he'd do better, that he'd turn over a new leaf, but…" I trailed off, shaking my head.

"It doesn't seem that way. He's still holding onto those old habits, those old grudges," I added.

Casey frowned, his brows knitting together in concern.

"Do you think Cooper's decision was the right one?" Casey asked.

I paused, considering my answer carefully.

"I think Cooper's heart was in the right place. He wanted to bring the pack together, to heal the wounds that Ryder left behind. But Garth… he's a different story. Some people don't change, no matter how many chances you give them. And Garth, he's always been more interested in power and control than in what's best for the pack," I said.

The frustration I felt toward Garth simmered beneath the surface, threatening to spill over.

Every time I saw him, I had to remind myself to keep my cool, to not let him get under my skin.

But it wasn't easy, especially now that he was targeting Casey.

"Garth is a problem," I continued, my voice lower now, tinged with the anger I was trying to keep in check. "He's been pushing boundaries, testing how far he can go without getting kicked out. And with the way he's been acting lately… I'm not sure how much longer we can let him stay."

Casey reached across the table, his hand brushing against mine.

"I'm sorry you have to deal with all of that. It must be hard trying to balance everything," Casey said.

I gave him a small smile, grateful for his understanding.

"It's not easy, but it's part of the job. Protecting the pack means making tough decisions, even when it comes to people you've known your whole life," I said.

"And what about you?" Casey asked softly. "Do you think you can keep Garth in line?"

I met his gaze, the determination in his eyes bolstering my own resolve.

"I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe, Casey. You and the pack," I told him.

Casey's lips curved into a small, reassuring smile. "I know you will. Just remember, I'm here, too."

His words hit me harder than I expected. It was strange having someone outside the pack offer their support so freely, so sincerely.

I wasn't used to it, but I couldn't deny how much it meant to me.

"Thank you," I said, my voice thick with emotion. "That means a lot."

Casey squeezed my hand gently before letting go, leaning back in his chair.

"So," he said, his tone lightening, "you never did tell me what you were like growing up. Were you always this serious?"

I chuckled, the tension easing out of my shoulders.

"I guess I had to be, especially after Ryder took over. But before that… yeah, I had my moments of goofing around. Cooper and I used to get into all kinds of trouble as kids," I said.

"Really? You, trouble? I find that hard to believe," Casey teased, a playful glint in his eyes.

"Oh, trust me. We'd sneak out at night, shift, and race through the woods, trying to see who could catch the biggest rabbit or who could run the fastest. Cooper usually won, but I held my own."

I grinned at the memory, feeling a pang of nostalgia for those simpler times.

Casey laughed, the sound warm and infectious.

"I would've loved to see that. You, chasing after rabbits," Casey said.

"Hey, don't knock it till you've tried it," I said, pretending to be offended. "It's tougher than it sounds."

He shook his head, still chuckling. "I'll take your word for it."

As we prepared to leave the restaurant, a commotion outside on the sidewalk caught my attention.

I looked out the window and saw Garth, arguing and stabbing his fingers at a frightened-looking human.

Casey followed my gaze and blurted, "Aaron!"

Just as I was about to decide whether to break up the argument, not wanting things to escalate, Griffin arrived.

He tried to intervene, but Garth shoved him hard in the chest, eliciting a growl from Griffin.

"This is bad, isn't it?" Casey asked, his voice tinged with worry.

"Stay here," I told Casey, my tone firm. "Watch Benny for me."

I rushed out of the restaurant toward Garth, Aaron, and Griffin, my leg screaming in protest.

Not the time for this , I thought in irritation.

I heard footsteps behind me, followed by Casey's unmistakable scent and Benny's familiar barking.

I should've known Casey wouldn't just sit tight when someone he knew was in trouble.

At the very least, I trusted Casey to keep his distance. To my dismay, the situation had escalated quickly.

Aaron looked pale, cornered, and momentarily forgotten while Garth and Griffin started throwing punches.

I knew it wouldn't be long before they shifted and started tearing into each other with fangs and claws.

I pushed through the small crowd that had gathered and pried them apart, using every ounce of strength I had.

"What's going on here?" I demanded, glaring at Garth.

"He started it," Griffin spat, his chest heaving with anger.

"I know," I said, not taking my eyes off Garth. "Garth, why are you harassing Aaron?"

"Did you know about this town meeting where these humans have the nerve to talk shit about the pack?" Garth demanded, his yellow gaze locked onto mine.

He sneered when he looked over my shoulder and spotted Casey and Benny.

"Are you a part of this meeting too, Casey?" Garth asked with a snarl.

I whipped my head around to see Casey freeze like a deer caught in the headlights.

He started trembling, and I didn't like that one bit. Garth was like a shark that smelled blood in the water—or in this case, Casey's fear—and he edged closer toward him.

Pissed, I got between them and growled in warning.

"That's close enough," I warned, my voice low and dangerous.

Griffin stepped closer to me, and that gave Garth pause.

I knew the coward would think twice about his odds now that he was outnumbered.

Casey cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention.

"Yes, I'm going to the meeting. Aaron invited me, and it's not what you think, Garth. We're not looking to start anything with the pack," Casey said, his voice steady despite the fear I knew he was feeling.

I was proud of Casey in that moment for standing up to Garth, especially given the incident with his shifter ex.

"This town went to shit ever since Cooper took over the pack," Garth said, his glare fixed on me. "Things were better before."

"Better for who?" I snapped, my temper flaring. "You? Ryder? The pack was falling apart, and you know it. The humans were right to be afraid because Ryder and his lackeys were out of control. But that's not the way things are anymore."

Garth scoffed. "You think you're better than Ryder? You think Cooper's better? You're all weak, bending over backward to please the humans. We should be ruling over them, not playing nice," Garth pointed out.

I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to punch him.

"We're not tyrants, Garth. We're supposed to protect our pack and work together with the humans, not terrorize them," I reminded him.

"Maybe you're just too soft," Garth sneered, taking a step closer to me.

My wolf bristled at the challenge, and I felt a low growl rumble in my chest.

"Try me," I warned, letting Garth see the full force of my anger.

For a moment, it seemed like he might take the bait. His eyes flicked between mine and Griffin's, calculating his chances.

But then he glanced over at Casey and Benny, and a twisted smile spread across his face.

"Fine," Garth said, his tone mocking. "You want to play the good little wolf, go ahead. But don't come crying to me when the humans turn on you."

I didn't respond, knowing anything I said would only provoke him further.

Instead, I watched as he turned and stalked away, his shoulders tense with barely restrained anger.

Griffin let out a low sigh of relief once Garth was out of earshot.

"Thanks for stepping in," he said, his tone genuine. "I was worried I'd have to take him down right here."

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that," I said, though I wasn't sure I believed my own words.

Garth was becoming a bigger problem by the day, and I knew it was only a matter of time before things came to a head.

Casey approached cautiously, Benny at his side, and I could see the worry etched on his face.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft.

"Yeah," I said, forcing a smile.

Casey didn't look convinced, but he didn't push the issue. Instead, he reached out and took my hand, squeezing it gently.

"I'm glad you were here," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Me too," I replied, pulling him into a hug.

As I held him close, I couldn't help but think about how much he meant to me and how far I'd go to protect him.

"Come on," I said, releasing Casey and taking his hand again. "Let's get out of here."

As I walked Casey back to his store, I couldn't shake a sense of foreboding.