“When I left the pack, I thought I was leaving the lies and learning the truth. But neither of those things really happened, did they? Helena still monitors what I’m allowed to know and when, while Cola just gave me another Park-pack-approved story. The only thing leaving the pack did was make me a little less close to my family. And now Eli’s gone and I just—I don’t know.”

“He’s not gone,” Cooper said. “He’s in trouble, but we’re going to help him. He’s not gone.”

“You don’t know that,” Park protested, a little hotly. “He’s clearly in over his head. He could be killed. He could just go on the run and cut ties completely. With him not part of the pack anymore, I feel like...like he could slip away and I’d never see him again. I just feel like people keep...slipping away from me. All my life. Just in and out, and I never know, is this it? Is this going to be the last time I see them?”

Park was breathing a little quickly. “My parents, my grandfather, my uncles. They—they just keep disappearing. Now Eli. I don’t—don’t want to die like Arthur Crane. Cast out. Alone. A stranger to the only person in my life. So removed from my own kind that I—I won’t even be a wo—a wolf anymore.”

Cooper wrapped both arms around Park and squeezed him close. “I won’t let that happen,” he promised. “No matter what.”

Park took a deep breath and Cooper began to pet his hair, his back, murmuring soft comforts. Gradually Park relaxed under his touch and eventually fell asleep, body lax and heavy, the occasional nuzzles and sounds more senseless. But Cooper stayed awake for a long time after, thinking about promises he couldn’t keep, and ones he could.

The next morning, a scant few hours after he’d finally fallen asleep, Cooper decided he wanted to talk to Neil. to his surprise, Park immediately agreed.

“Why wouldn’t I think it was a good idea? He’s been spying on our victim for the last three months, having an affair with the victim’s wife, and was mysteriously absent at the time of the murder,” Park said, pouring them coffee in the kitchen. “I’m extremely curious as to what he has to say.

“Okay,” Cooper said, easily maneuvering around him to grab agave for Park, who liked his coffee sweet. “I was sort of thinking we’d just ask him what he knows about this blond makeup assistant and when she first started showing up, but if it turns into an interrogation, hey, I’m not going to stop you.”

Cooper turned to hand Park the syrup and found him standing right behind him. Before he could react, Park leaned down and kissed him, quick but exceedingly tender.