Cola narrowed her eyes at him, and then glanced briefly at Park, who had gone very still and watchful. “I see. All right, Dayton. You’ve made your point. I can let Helena know we need to...lock down information pathways. Security concerns. But I can’t stop every agent in the Trust from reporting back to their own packs.”

“No, but it’s a start,” Cooper said. “Thank you.”

She nodded at him. He wasn’t sure if he could one hundred percent trust Cola. But if the Trust was ever going to be the impartial resource wolves could turn to outside the three factions, they’d need her on their side. Cooper wanted her on their side. He respected Cola. Liked her a hell of a lot, too. But tradition and long-standing loyalties were old and rusty bonds to break. Only time would tell.

Cola’s phone buzzed and she checked it. “Lawyer’s here,” she said. “I’m off to collect him. You two better leave if you’re going to make that appointment.”

“Appointment?” Park asked, but Cola was already bustling out of the room, holding her phone to her ear, speaking in hushed tones. He turned to Cooper. “Does this have anything to do with your mysterious business at court? Don’t tell me you’ve taken on another freelance case already.”

“I think I’ll have my hands full reconstituting the Trust,” Cooper said. “No more freelance cases for a while, I hope.”

“On that we can agree,” Park said with a smile. “Speaking of. I couldn’t help but notice you’re having a productive day. Building a pack for me. Finding a way to shield me from my grandmother.”

“Oh, well,” Cooper said. “I want to make sure I come up to snuff at our next power couple check-in. How am I doing?”

Park’s smile cracked into a sharp-toothed grin. “Wonderfully. I haven’t felt this optimistic in years. Aside from the whole being on the brink of a civil war thing, of course.”

It was true. Park did look refreshed and joyful despite a long few days by anyone’s definition. The paralytic was completely processed out of his body—he was back to his old werewolf self and couldn’t seem to stop playing. Slipping his claws, eyes, teeth, scenting the air every five minutes, bouncing up on to the balls of his feet...like he was so happy to be him. More in love with himself and appreciative of who he was than Cooper had ever seen him.

“What about you?” Park asked. “You’re spoiling me and I’m slacking. What do you want most in the world? I’ll fetch it.”

“Marry me,” Cooper said. “Please.”

Park laughed. “Haven’t we done this bit already?”

“I mean right now. Let’s go get married. We can walk right into the courthouse. You can self-officiate in DC, I checked.”

“Are you serious?” Park asked.