Neil nodded and took a few steps toward the door. There he hesitated, as if reluctant to walk too closely past Park, but after a moment trudged forward. Cooper walked after him and sensed Park following behind, though for the life of him he couldn’t hear his footsteps.

When Neil opened the front door and turned on the stoop, he’d regained a little bit of his usual confidence. “You know the thing I remember most about that Stevens case?” he said, and Cooper tensed. “That night was when I first realized you were better at the game than I was. You’ve been playing it a lot longer. Pretending to be something you’re not, pretending to know less than you do, that you’re not the one in control all along. You and Genevieve are a lot alike in that way. That’s why I was with her in the fish room.”

Neil looked around the foyer of the house and then up and down Cooper one last time. “I meant what I said. When you’re ready for my help, you know where to find me.”

Without another word, he spun and walked lightly down the path.

Cooper watched him get into his car, turn over the engine and drive down the long driveway. When he turned, he saw Park and Eli having some sort of silent conversation. He owed Dean an apology. Of course, wolves had their own way of communicating. If Cooper were any kind of mate, he’d have understood that. Understood what they were saying so intently now. After a moment, Eli stood and padded lazily out of the house and then broke into a brisk trot, disappearing into the woods parallel to the direction the car had gone.

“Where’s he going?” Cooper asked.

“Making sure your visitor makes it back to the main road without any detours.” Park reached past Cooper, closed the door and locked it. He took a step forward, putting Cooper very suddenly in the position of being backed up against the door between Park’s arms. It felt...odd to be so formally dressed while Park was more than half naked and dripping, the heat of the shower still radiating off of him.

“Did you hear any of that?” Cooper asked.

“No,” Park said. Paused. “Except for the part where he said he’s been in love with you all these years and wants you back.”

“That’s not what he said and you know it.” Cooper frowned, thinking. “I don’t know what he was saying, really. It was like we were having two different conversations. Typical Neil. Still trying to put me off my game.”

Park traced Cooper’s lapel along the same line that Neil had. “Are you okay?”

“Course. Why wouldn’t I be?” Cooper asked.