I huffed a soft laugh. “Yeah. That part too.”
Something in his expression eased.
When we stepped inside, the familiar scent of pack wrapped around us, warm and grounding. A few packmates glanced up from where they were gathered near the entrance.
I didn’t miss the way Mason’s shoulders tensed beside me.
“Morning,” I called casually.
“Morning, Levi.”
“Hey.”
I nodded toward Mason.
“This is Mason. He’s a guest for a few days,” I said.
That one word, guest, worked like a charm. I felt the exact moment Mason relaxed beside me.
We moved down the hall toward Cooper’s office, the sounds of the pack fading behind us. The closer we got to the door, the more Mason’s energy tightened again.
By the time we stopped outside Cooper’s office, he was fidgeting with the hem of his sleeve. I turned toward him.
“Just be yourself,” I said.
His gaze lifted to mine, uncertain but trusting enough that something in my chest pulled tight. I knocked.
“Come in,” Cooper called.
I opened the door and gestured Mason inside.
Cooper sat behind his desk, looking exactly like I expected. He always seemed calm and steady, but I didn’t miss the sharp focus in his eyes when they landed on Mason.
Cooper was in assessment mode. My wolf stirred, low and uneasy. Calm down, I told him silently.He’s just doing his job.
“Levi. Mason,” Cooper said, voice warm. “Have a seat.”
We sat. I felt the weight of Cooper’s stare.
My alpha wasn’t being aggressive, nor was he pushing dominance. But I could tell Cooper was absolutely taking Mason’s measure, piece by careful piece.
My wolf did not like that one bit. A quiet growl threatened in my chest before I forced it down. I told him to knock it off.
Cooper needed to know whether Mason was a risk. That was part of being alpha, and part of protecting the pack. Still, it didn’t mean my instincts had to enjoy it.
Cooper leaned back slightly.
“I understand you’ve already spoken with Levi and Gino,” Cooper said to Mason.
Mason nodded. “Yes, sir.”
He said sir, I thought with some amusement. Cooper’s mouth twitched faintly.
“Mind walking me through it again?” Cooper asked.
Mason didn’t hesitate.
He gave the same account. Same steady timeline, and the same careful details about the deer shifters. I watched him closely while he spoke, and detected no scent of deception.
