Page 77 of Noah

His lips were soft against mine. I pulled him closer, deepening the kiss, and for that moment, nothing else existed but the two of us.

I didn’t want to break the kiss, but the moment was interrupted by a soft clearing of the throat.

I pulled back reluctantly, my eyes meeting Noah’s for a brief second before we turned to see who had interrupted us.

It was Cooper. The door to his office had opened silently, and he stood in the doorway, watching us with a raised brow.

His expression wasn’t surprised, though. It was almost like he had been expecting us. I cleared my throat, trying to regain some semblance of composure.

“See you later?” I asked Noah.

“Yeah,” he replied softly. “You’ve got this.”

Noah gave me one last lingering look before turning and walking away, leaving me standing there with Cooper, who stepped aside to let me into his office.

I took a deep breath, wiping my palms against my jeans as I entered the office.

The door clicked shut behind me, and I stood there for a moment, staring at the alpha before me.

He was sitting at his desk, his posture relaxed, but his eyes sharp as ever.

“I was expecting you,” Cooper said, his voice steady but welcoming.

I raised an eyebrow. “You were?” I asked, a little surprised.

I hadn’t exactly given him a heads-up about when I would be coming.

Cooper gave a small nod, his lips curling into a slight smile. “Yes. You’ve been thinking about this for a while now.”

He wasn’t wrong. I had spent countless nights going over everything in my head—what I wanted, what Noah needed, and what would be best for both of us.

But I still wasn’t sure how to ask.

I stood up straighter, trying to shake off the last of my nerves.

“I want to move into the Pecan Pines pack,” I said, my voice more steady than I had expected. “I want to be with Noah.”

Cooper’s gaze didn’t waver, and there was no hesitation in his response.

“I’ve seen the way you two are together,” he said, his voice low but serious. “You belong with him. And he belongs with you.”

I felt a rush of relief wash over me, but I didn’t let myself relax just yet. This was only the first hurdle.

“I... I’ve written down a list of ways I can be an asset to the pack,” I began, taking a deep breath. “I know I’m coming from another pack, and I don’t want to take anything for granted.”

Cooper waved a hand dismissively, a small smile tugging at his lips.

“You don’t need to explain. I already know what you can offer.” Cooper leaned back in his chair, folding his hands in front of him. “I know you’re loyal and you’re strong, and that you care about Noah. That’s all I need to know.”

I stood there for a moment, trying to process his words. It felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off my shoulders.

“So… it’s okay?” I asked, unable to hide the relief in my voice.

Cooper stood up and walked around his desk, coming toward me. “It’s more than okay, Jackson. You’re welcome here. You and Noah both. Just take care of him. That’s all I ask.”

I couldn’t help but smile, my chest swelling with pride.

“Noah’s my everything,” I said, my voice soft but firm. “I’ll do everything I can to make him happy.”

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