Page 27 of Sawyer

“I’ve got everything under control,” I reassured him.

I ushered him out the pack house front door with a confident smile.

Benny, ever the loyal companion, trotted beside me, his little legs working double-time to keep up.

“Don’t keep Miles waiting,” I reminded him.

“Alright then,” Cooper finally conceded, but not before giving me one last scrutinizing look, as if to double-check that he could truly entrust me with this responsibility.

I guided him to his truck and stood there, watching as it rolled down the driveway and out towards the compound gates.

Although I’d told him there was nothing to worry about, my stomach was a tangle of nerves, twisting tighter with each passing second.

This wasn’t just a routine night—it was the first time Cooper had entrusted me with such a heavy responsibility as his second.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to go wrong.

All I needed to do was keep a close eye on the pack tonight. Simple, right? If a problem cropped up, I’d handle it.

I didn’t want to disturb Cooper on his date night with Miles, not when they so rarely got time alone together.

I could do this. I had to do this. Turning away from the now empty driveway, I headed back inside the pack house.

The familiar sounds of laughter and conversation guided me to the dining hall, where the pack members who lived here had gathered for dinner.

The warm, homey smell of cooked meat and fresh bread greeted me as I stepped inside.

I grabbed a plate, my eyes scanning the room as I moved through the line.

I greeted pack members, asking how they were, doing my best to mimic the way Cooper always checked in on everyone.

He had a way of making people feel seen, and I wanted to ensure that they knew I was just as approachable, just as ready to listen to their problems if their lead alpha wasn’t around.

Benny was a real help. Every pack member I spoke to couldn’t seem to resist bending down to pet him or tell him what a good boy he was.

The little guy was like a magnet for affection, and I was grateful for the distraction he provided, allowing me to relax just a bit.

“Hey, how’s it going?” Griffin asked as he joined my table, sliding onto the bench across from me.

Benny, who was lying contentedly next to me, perked up and gave Griffin a bark of greeting.

Griffin grinned, reaching down to rub Benny’s ear.

“Fine,” I answered, then narrowed my eyes at him. “What are you doing here? I thought you had a date?”

To be honest, I was relieved Griffin was around.

It wasn’t that I wasn’t confident in my duties, but having reliable backup in case of an emergency never hurt.

“Well, my date canceled on me, and Tom’s handling the bar for now. I figured I’d get some dinner here before going back,” Griffin said, his tone casual, though I could sense a bit of disappointment beneath the surface.

As I finished my meal, the tension that had been coiled tight in my gut began to unwind. Maybe I was worried over nothing.

Everything was calm, the pack members were in good spirits, and there hadn’t been so much as a peep of trouble.

“I’d better return to the bar,” Griffin said after we’d had a couple of beers. He stood up, stretching before grabbing his jacket. “Text me if you need me.”

“Will do,” I said, watching as he made his way out of the dining hall.