His eyes found Park again.

“Eli mentioned you know Daisy Boudillion,” Cooper said, hoping to move the conversation away from any more Moon talk.

“Yes. We met the same time she lost her mate. She became something of a mother to me.” He couldn’t help but wince, which Alice clearly saw and could guess the direction of his thoughts. “She worries about her children, too, you know. But they’re Park pack. Daisy is WIP. Some relationships work best as a memory.”

“Oliver isn’t Park pack,” Cooper said quietly. He wasn’t sure if this was overstepping or even the healthiest path to take, but god, would it really hurt to send one single email? “There’s nothing stopping her from contacting him. He wants her to contact him.”

“But he’s still a pack wolf, isn’t he?” she said impatiently, barely making it a question.

Cooper frowned. “He’s—as opposed to what? I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“WIP, pack, rebels. Our world has always been divided into these three, under one name or another. Or, that’s how it’s been until now,” she added, giving Cooper a sudden contemplative look he didn’t quite like.

“Oliver’s a pack wolf,” Cooper said firmly. It’s what he wanted to be anyway, and Cooper would make sure he got it.

Alice just shrugged. “Many wolves have watched and waited to see what direction the Shepherd would go on his own, unleashed. If they were to discover he was in contact with Daisy, many might assume he was WIP as well and consider his choice made.”

“So, what, she ignored him to keep him safe?” Cooper asked skeptically. “Or did she just think she was protecting him and was really protecting herself from telling the truth?” he added, throwing Alice’s own words back at her.

“Mmm.” Alice eyed him. “Perhaps I’ll tell her that. Whatever her reasons, she’ll be relieved to hear her child has the protection of the Moon now.”

“I don’t want Daisy to know that part,” Cooper said hurriedly, and Alice grinned, flashing a mouthful of very animal-like teeth.

“As you wish, Moon,” she said primly. When he shot her a deeply annoyed look, Alice let out a sort of barking yelp of pure amusement and delight. “As mercurial as the legends say. Just remember, this is not a secret you can hide forever. Wolves have watched the Shepherd for years. Now they’ll watch you. It is only a matter of time before they see it for themselves. And then”—she shrugged—”the WIP will answer your call whenever the Moon chooses to rise.”

“Don’t wait by the phone,” Cooper said. “I’m a late riser.”