In the Company of Wolves Read online

  Jayna jumped up and hugged her friend. “I’m so glad you felt up to coming out today.”

  “Dr. Saunders said it would be good for me to get out in the cold air for a bit.” Megan grinned. “Even if he hadn’t, I would have come anyway. There was no way I was going to miss this cookout, not after Zak told me how much fun they are.”

  Saunders was a doctor Gage had developed a friendship with over the years. As crazy as it seemed, Gage had actually told Saunders they were werewolves, figuring they would need a doctor they trusted in case he or any of his pack ever needed serious medical attention. Jayna was already starting to realize the alpha of the SWAT pack was light-years ahead of her when it came to thinking of all the different ways to take care of your pack. She looked forward to learning from him.

  “Sit,” Zak said to Megan. “I’ll go grab us some food.”

  Eyes twinkling behind his glasses, he flashed her a grin, then jogged over to where Cooper was working the grill.

  “Seriously, Megan,” Max said. “What’s Zak got that we don’t?”

  Megan blushed but didn’t say anything.

  “A brain,” Khaki said, and everyone laughed.

  “Maybe it’s as simple as Zak being The One for Megan,” Eric said.

  Megan’s color deepened even more at that, but luckily Zak came back just then and saved her from any more embarrassment.

  “One what?” he asked, setting down two plates on the table, then sitting down beside Megan.

  “I’ll tell you later,” she said softly.

  Jayna caught the flash of green in Megan’s eyes as she hastily took the can of soda Zak held out. She hoped Eric was right and that Zak was The One for Megan. It would be like icing on the cake if her best friend could find the same kind of love she’d been lucky enough to stumble on with Eric.

  “Hey!” Moe called from over by the volleyball net. “We’re starting another game. Any of you guys want in?”

  Trey downed the rest of his burger in one bite and eagerly headed over to play, along with Xander, Khaki, Max, and Alex.

  Jayna looked at Eric. “Aren’t you going to play?”

  He leaned over and kissed her. “Nah. I’d rather make out with you instead.”

  She laughed, not sure how much making out they’d be doing with his pack and hers barely twenty yards away, not to mention Megan and Zak sitting at the other end of the picnic table. Although they were so into each other, they probably wouldn’t have noticed what she and Eric were doing.

  Jayna was the one who leaned in to give him a kiss this time. “Thank you.”

  “For what?” he asked.

  She gestured with her hand. “For all this. I don’t even like to think where my pack and I would be if you hadn’t gotten us out of the mess we were in.”

  Eric brushed her hair back from her face with a gentle hand. “You would have gotten them out all by yourself. That’s what an alpha does.”

  Jayna wasn’t sure about that, but it made her feel all warm inside to know that Eric thought so. She might be her pack’s alpha, but Eric was hers. He saw things in her that she never would have seen for herself. But she guessed that’s what happened when you found The One. They made you better than you could ever be on your own.

  Order Paige Tyler's fourth book

  in the X-Ops series

  Her Fierce Warrior

  On sale March 2016

  Click here!

  Order Paige Tyler's fourth book

  in the X-Ops series

  Her Fierce Warrior

  On sale March 2016

  Click here!

  Here’s a sneak peek at book four in Paige Tyler’s sizzling SWAT series

  To Love a Wolf

  It must be payday. Either that, or God hated him. As Cooper strode across the bank’s lobby and got in line behind the twenty other people already there, he wasn’t sure which.

  He’d been so exhausted after work he hadn’t even bothered to shower off and change into civvies at the SWAT compound like he usually did. Instead, he’d come straight to the bank in his combat boots, military cargo pants, and a dark blue T-shirt with the Dallas PD emblem and the word SWAT on the left side of his chest. He couldn’t wait to get home and throw everything in the wash so he could grab something to eat and fall into bed.

  He bit back a growl as the man at the front of the line plunked a cardboard box full of rolled coins down on the counter and started lining the different denominations in front of the teller.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me,” he muttered.

  A tall, slender woman with long, golden-brown hair a few people ahead gave him a quick, understanding smile over her shoulder. He smiled back, but she’d already turned around. He waited, hoping she’d glance his way again, but she didn’t.

  He hated going to the bank, but his SWAT teammate had finally paid off the bet they’d made months ago about whether his squad leader and the newest member of the team would end up being a couple. Instead of giving Cooper the hundred bucks in cash like a normal person, Brooks had given him a frigging check.

  When Officer Khaki Blake had walked into the training room for the first time, every pair of eyes in the room immediately locked on her—except for Cooper’s. Oh, he’d noticed she was attractive. But he’d been more interested in watching how the rest of the SWAT team reacted. While most of the guys had checked her out with open curiosity, none of their hearts had pounded as hard as his squad leader’s, Corporal Xander Riggs. Cooper had immediately pegged Khaki as The One for Xander, and vice versa.

  But just because Cooper accepted the concept of The One didn’t mean he bought into the idea that there were women in the world for him and the other remaining thirteen single members of the Pack. Cooper wasn’t jaded when it came to love, but he wasn’t naive, either.

  The two people ahead of Cooper finally got fed up and walked away. He quickly stepped forward and found himself behind the attractive woman who’d smiled earlier. He couldn’t help noticing that she looked exceptionally good in a pair of jeans. Or that her long, silky hair had the most intriguing gold highlights when the light caught it just right. She smelled so delicious he had to fight the urge to bury his nose in her neck. Damn, he must be more tired than he thought. If he wasn’t careful he’d be humping her leg next.

  He opened his mouth to say something charming, but all that came out was a yawn big enough to make his jaw crack. The woman in front of him must have heard it too, because she turned around.

  “And I thought I’d been waiting in line a long time,” she said, giving him a smile so breathtaking it damn near made his heart stop. “You look like you’re ready to fall asleep on your feet.”

  Cooper knew he should reply, but he was so mesmerized by her perfect skin, clear green eyes, and soft lips that he couldn’t do anything but stare. He felt like a teenager back in high school again.

  “Um, yeah. Long day,” he finally managed.

  What the hell was wrong with him?

  Acknowledgments

  I hope you had as much fun reading Becker and Jayna’s story as I had writing it! When hubby and I met with Jayna over a dinner of spicy chicken at P.F. Chang’s, we knew we needed to pair her up with a SWAT hunk who was the sensitive type. She had some issues to work through and needed the right alpha werewolf to help her do it. Becker immediately came to mind because he has this boyish quality about him we thought would be perfect for her. And when we found out how many pairs of yoga pants she owns, that sealed the deal. Because we all know how much Becker loves a woman in yoga pants. Luckily, Jayna and Becker fell hard and fast for each other from the moment we introduced them!

  In addition to another big thank-you to my hubby, I want to also thank my agent, Bob Mecoy, for believing in me and encouraging me and being there when I need to talk, not to mention always having such great ideas; my editor, Cat Clyne, for loving this series and hot guys in tactical gear as much as I do; and all the other amazing people at Sourcebooks, including my publicist, Amelia
, and their crazy-talented art department. I’m still drooling over this cover!

  I also want to give a big thank-you to the men, women, and working dogs who protect and serve in police departments everywhere, as well as their families.

  And because I could never leave my readers out, a huge thank-you to everyone who has read my books and Snoopy Danced right along with me with every new release. That includes the fantastic girls and guys on my Street Team and my FB Groupies. You rock!

  Hope you look forward to reading the other books in the SWAT series as much as I look forward to sharing them with you. Be sure to look for Cooper’s book, To Love a Wolf, coming summer 2016!

  Happy Reading!

  About the Author

  Paige Tyler is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sexy romantic suspense and paranormal romance. She and her very own military hero (also known as her husband!) live on the beautiful Florida coast with their adorable fur baby (also known as their dog!). Paige graduated with a degree in education, but decided to pursue her passion and write books about hunky alpha males and the kick-butt heroines who fall in love with them.

  Visit Paige at her website at www.paigetylertheauthor.com, where you can also sign up for her newsletter.

  She’s also on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, tsu, Wattpad, and Pinterest.

  Thank you for reading!

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