Cooper knew he didn’t deserve it. Not after he’d dodged so many previous invitations, olive branches and built bridges. When his family had needed to practically drag him out of the house yesterday just to spend time with them. For the years of his life when he wasn’t out to them, that protective distance had made sense, and he couldn’t say he regretted it.

But now that they knew about him, about Park—hell, even about werewolves—and Cooper was still holding that distance...? Well. Part of it was out of habit. But part of it was Cooper simply liked his space. He’d never been one to crave a big, close family always in each other’s business or, you know, the presence of others in general, as his attempted guest list last night had more than demonstrated. That just wasn’t him.

Park, on the other hand, more than wanted love and connection. He needed it. Whether that was a wolf thing or if it had something to do with his early abandonment, the conditional affections of the grandparents who raised him, or the fact that most of his own kind were terrified of him and his past as the Shepherd, was a question best theorized by the likes of Dr. Ripodi. But what Cooper did know was that for someone who so yearned for easy, plentiful affection, Park had certainly managed to hitch his heart to the wrong horse.

That didn’t mean Cooper had any doubts about the relationship. Park was a grown-up and had shown time and time again that he wanted to be with Cooper. Who the fuck was Cooper to tell him he was wrong?

What he did wonder, though, was as a partner, as a fiancé, as a husband, what was his responsibility in stepping out of his own comfortable habits and healing some of that hurt? What about as Park’s supposed alpha? As far as building a pack went, Cooper had contributed Boogie, and though she certainly doted on Park, that wasn’t exactly the same thing, was it?

“There’s Sophie,” Park said, breaking Cooper out of his thoughts. He turned to greet his sister-in-law.

“Hey! You made it!” she said, waving as she approached. “I was surprised to get your call.”

“Surprise does seem to be de rigueur this season. I really appreciate you agreeing to show us around,” Cooper said.

“Are you kidding? I practically had to lock Dean in the bathroom to keep him from coming along, too. He’s been whining about being voted off the quest all day. Although I’m not clear exactly on what you expect to find.”

“Information, mostly,” Park said. “How long James has been working here, if he has an office, where he spends the majority of his time.”