Loving the wolf, p.1
Loving the Wolf, page 1
Also By Paige Tyler
STAT: SPECIAL THREAT ASSESSMENT TEAM
Wolf Under Fire
Undercover Wolf
True Wolf
X-OPS
Her Perfect Mate
Her Lone Wolf
Her Secret Agent (novella)
Her Wild Hero
Her Fierce Warrior
Her Rogue Alpha
Her True Match
Her Dark Half
X-Ops Exposed
SWAT: SPECIAL WOLF ALPHA TEAM
Hungry Like the Wolf
Wolf Trouble
In the Company of Wolves
To Love a Wolf
Wolf Unleashed
Wolf Hunt
Wolf Hunger
Wolf Rising
Wolf Instinct
Wolf Rebel
Wolf Untamed
Rogue Wolf
The Wolf Is Mine
Thank you for downloading this Sourcebooks eBook!
You are just one click away from…
Being the first to hear about author happenings
VIP deals and steals
Exclusive giveaways
Free bonus content
Early access to interactive activities
Sneak peeks at our newest titles
Happy reading!
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
Books. Change. Lives.
Copyright © 2023 by Paige Tyler
Cover and internal design © 2023 by Sourcebooks
Cover design by Patrick Kang
Cover image by Don Dean, Drobot/Shuttershock
Sourcebooks and the colophon are registered trademarks of Sourcebooks.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without permission in writing from its publisher, Sourcebooks.
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
All brand names and product names used in this book are trademarks, registered trademarks, or trade names of their respective holders. Sourcebooks is not associated with any product or vendor in this book.
Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks
P.O. Box 4410, Naperville, Illinois 60567–4410
(630) 961-3900
sourcebooks.com
Contents
Front Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Back Cover
With special thanks to my extremely patient and understanding husband. Without your help and support, I couldn’t have pursued my dream job of becoming a writer. You’re my sounding board, my idea man, my critique partner, and the absolute best research assistant a girl could ask for. Love you!
CHAPTER 1
Senior Corporal Trevor McCall stood in front of the three-floor industrial building in the heart of Burbank, California, comparing it to the address on his phone, not quite sure if he was in the right place. This was supposed to be Jenna Malone’s apartment, but on the outside, it looked more like a warehouse than a residential complex. Then again, this was Los Angeles. Maybe this was what passed for an apartment building out here.
Before he could step inside and find out one way or the other, the phone in his hand rang, making him almost drop the damn thing. He checked the screen, prepared to let the call go to voicemail, until he realized it was Hale Delaney, his SWAT teammate from back in Dallas. Hale was also his fellow conspirator in this wild scheme to sneak out to southern California so Trevor could spend some quality time alone with Jenna—the sister of one of his best friends, Connor, who also happened to be a member of Dallas SWAT team. And a werewolf. Just like Trevor and everyone else on the team.
Trevor thumbed the green button, then held the phone to his ear. “Hey. What’s up?”
“Not much. Just calling to make sure your flight arrived okay,” Hale said. “And to let you know that the plan worked. Everyone in the Pack thinks you’re in Richmond, Virginia, visiting family, exactly like you said you were doing. No one suspects a thing.”
“Excellent. Thanks for covering for me,” Trevor said. “I owe you big for this. I hate asking you to lie to the Pack—hell, I hate lying to them, too—but they’ve been so damn nosy lately.”
“Well, you have to admit that asking for vacation time out of the blue to visit a family you’ve barely spoken to since joining SWAT five years ago is a little suspicious.” Hale chuckled. “Then there’s also all the time you and Jenna spent hanging out at the barbecue when she was here a few weeks ago. Trust me, your interest in her definitely didn’t go unnoticed.”
Trevor tensed, grip tightening on his phone. “Do you think Connor was one of those people who noticed? I mean, if there’s one way this whole thing is going to blow up in my face, it’s if Jenna’s brother decides to follow me out here.”
“I don’t think you have to worry about that,” Hale assured him. “I’ve been keeping a close eye on him, and it doesn’t seem like he’s suspicious. To be honest, he’s been so focused on Kat, I don’t even think he knows you left.”
He let out a sigh of relief. “Thank God for soul mates.” If Kat was simply some woman who Connor was dating instead of The One for him, the guy would probably be all up in Trevor’s business. “I don’t want to have to deal with him—not until I know if there’s anything real between Jenna and me.”
Trevor had only vaguely been aware Connor even had a “baby” sister and that she had witnessed the kidnapping of their other sister a decade ago. Connor refused to talk about what had happened but said that it had left Jenna mentally and emotionally scarred. Then, a few weeks ago, Jenna had shown up in Dallas to visit Connor. Trevor had been attracted to her on the spot. Like…seriously attracted. Unfortunately, he’d barely said two words to her before Connor lost his damn mind, telling Trevor to stay away from his sister because she was too “fragile” to handle any kind of relationship with someone after everything that had happened to her. Connor hadn’t said it out loud, but Trevor was pretty sure there was also a certain amount of that you-aren’t-good-enough-for-my-sister crap going on as well.
Considering the fact that Connor had been acting like a complete jackass, it wasn’t shocking Jenna had gotten into an argument with her brother. What was surprising was that instead of going to a hotel, she’d asked Trevor if she could stay with him while she was in Dallas. He didn’t have to think twice about agreeing.
“So,” Hale’s deep voice came through the phone, startling Trevor out of his reveries. “Have you given any thought to what you’re going to do if Jenna is The One for you—or how you’ll break it to Connor?”
Trevor’s mouth curved as he thought of how much fun he’d had hanging out with Jenna back in Dallas. They’d spent hours talking and laughing about the silliest things. And while it would have been easy to do a lot more than that together, he knew that in some ways, Connor was right. Jenna might put on a good face, but she was still dealing with the trauma of seeing whatever had happened to her sister. Trevor hadn’t wanted to rush her into anything, but the whole time they’d been together, he couldn’t stop himself from thinking about what could be…if they had time to explore it.
Which was why he’d jumped at the chance to come out to LA when Jenna had asked.
He stared at the warehouse building in front of him. “If Jenna is my soul mate, then I’ll worry about telling Connor. Until then, I’m not going to think about him.”
He expected pushback on that, waited for Hale to tell him he was being stupid…silly even. But his teammate, his pack mate, and his friend didn’t do any of that.
“I wish you all the luck in the world then,” Hale said. “And don’t worry about Connor finding out before you’re ready to tell him. I’ve got your back.”
Trevor still wasn’t sure how Hale had figured out he had a thing for Jenna or that she’d been staying at his place. He knew it wasn’t because Hale had picked up her scent because, seriously, the guy had the worst nose in the Pack. But somehow, Hale had, and Trevor would be forever grateful. Coming out here to California to woo the woman who might be his soul mate was nerve-racking as hell. It helped to know he had someone on his side.
“I’ll call you later and let you know how things go,” Trevor said.
It was time to stop talking and do this.
Shoving his phone in the pocket of his jeans, Trevor took a deep breath, trying to psych himself up. He didn’t know why he was so damn nervous. But talking to Jenna a few times a week since she’d left Dallas—even FaceTiming now and then when they got t
Well, ready or not, he was here.
Tightening his hold on the handle of the weekender bag in his hand, Trevor opened the door, walked inside, and headed for the steps.
The interior of the building was a lot nicer than the exterior, but it still had a decidedly industrial feel, with lots of exposed concrete and steel support beams. There was some splashy, colorful modern art on the walls here and there, which wasn’t exactly Trevor’s thing, but it all came together in a way that seemed to work.
Jenna’s delectable scent hit him the moment he reached the second floor. Then again, he supposed there was always a chance someone was simply burning candles in their apartment. That could explain the heavenly scent of honeysuckles filling the air. When he finally reached Jenna’s door at the end of the hallway and breathed in the flowery fragrance wafting gently out from underneath it, he knew for a fact it could only be Jenna’s scent. In all honesty, he’d already known that because it was the very same one that had enveloped him since he’d first met her back in Dallas. There was no mistaking it.
Heart beating faster, he rapped his knuckles on the door. It opened a few seconds later to reveal the most beautiful woman in the world he’d ever set eyes on. Maybe it was simply the fact that he’d been waiting for weeks to see her in person again, but she was even more gorgeous than she’d been the last time he’d seen her.
Slender and graceful, with perfect skin, soft pink lips, a button nose, and hazel eyes gazing out from under graceful arching brows, she looked like an elf who’d just stepped out of a Lord of the Rings movie. While in Dallas, she’d usually worn her hair up in a high ponytail, but now, her honey-blonde hair was loose around her shoulders, the silky waves hanging down to her waist. It was all he could do to not reach out and run his fingers through it and feel its softness. Hell, what he really wanted to do was bury his face in those tresses and breathe her in. The only urge stronger than that was the one demanding he sweep her into his arms and kiss her until they were both out of breath.
Crap. He’d been standing in front of Jenna for who knew how long, neither of them saying a word, and he was already about to lose it. Damn, he was in so much trouble.
Before he could open his mouth, Jenna rushed forward and threw her arms around him, squeezing him so tightly it practically choked the air out of him. Strangely, it was still the best hug he’d ever gotten. Not that he was like a big hugger or anything. But if he were, her hug would have been award winning. Easily two thumbs up and five stars.
The air was electric between them when Jenna finally stepped back, gazing up at him with expressive eyes that were filled with innocence and fire at the same time. His lips were tingling with the desire to bend his head and kiss her, even as it seemed she might do the same thing at any second.
But then the moment passed, and Jenna took a step back, a brilliant smile lighting up her face as he fought for the ability to breathe again. Yup, she would almost certainly be the death of him.
“I’m guessing your flight was horrible?” she asked, glancing over her shoulder as she led him into her apartment. “I saw on the airline website that your takeoff was delayed multiple times. They didn’t give any details though.”
Closing the door behind him, Trevor followed her into the living room and set his bag down beside the comfortable-looking couch, then took a look around. Jenna’s apartment continued with the industrial feel he’d taken note of in the lobby, but there was a warmth to it that had been missing downstairs. That was probably thanks to the old movie posters and soft wall hangings. They softened the otherwise harsh tone of the place. Her taste in decor had turned the apartment from cold to cozy. He could definitely get used to it, that was for sure.
Not that I’m assuming I’ll have the chance to get used to it, he quickly told himself. Just, you know, if things go that way.
He was about to answer Jenna’s earlier question about the delayed flight when a petite red-haired woman walked into the room from the kitchen, a glass of wine in her hand. It struck him then that he’d been so focused on Jenna that he hadn’t even paused to check to see if there was anyone else in the apartment with her. Not to mention so wrapped up in Jenna’s scent that he hadn’t been able to smell anyone else.
Yet another indication that his inner werewolf had it as bad for Jenna as he did.
“Oh, I almost forgot.” Jenna said, laughing as she pointed at the redhead. “This is my next-door neighbor—and very best friend—Madeleine Waller. She’s been keeping me company while I waited for you to get here.”
“Nice to meet you,” Madeleine said with a smile, reaching out with her free hand to shake his. “Jenna has told me a lot about you. Honestly, that’s the biggest reason I’m here. I had to see if you lived up to all the hype.”
“Hype?” he questioned, throwing a quick look at Jenna, who seemed to be blushing a bit at the moment.
It was Madeleine’s turn to laugh. “Don’t worry about it. Just girl talk,” she said with a wave of her hand before draining the last of her wine, then moving into the open kitchen to set the glass on the counter. “But now that you’re here, I’ll be on my way and give you two some time to catch up.”
Jenna tried to get her friend to stay, saying something about dinner, but Madeleine simply waved her hand again as she headed for the door. “You know what they say about three being a crowd.” She grinned. “I’ll check in with you tomorrow so you can fill me in on your reunion.”
It was impossible to miss the innuendo in Madeleine’s tone, not to mention the sly look she gave Jenna as she left. Something told him that Jenna and Madeleine were the kind of friends who confided in each other about everything. Trevor had to admit that he wondered what they’d said about him.
“You never did answer my question about your flight,” Jenna said, walking into the kitchen. Opening the oven, she reached inside to take something out. Something that smelled awesome.
How the hell had he missed the aroma of tomatoes, garlic, and cheese? Had this attraction to Jenna completely broken his nose?
“Yeah,” he finally managed. “We were delayed on the tarmac because one of the planes ahead of us had mechanical issues. It ended up turning a three-and-a-half -hour flight into seven.”
She set the casserole on the table, then glanced over her shoulder at him as she walked over to the fridge. “Ugh. That sounds dreadful.”
His mouth edged up. “It was worth it.”
He thought she might have blushed a little at that, but she ducked into the fridge before he could be sure. A moment later, she turned back around, holding up a bottle of beer in one hand and wine in the other, a brow raised in his direction. He pointed at the beer.
“This is the part where I’m supposed to say that you didn’t need to go to the trouble to make me something to eat,” he said. “But to be honest, it’s been a long day, and I’m starving.”
“It wasn’t any trouble,” Jenna said with a smile, handing him the beer, then pouring some wine into a glass for herself. “I thought you might be hungry after the flight, so I’d already planned to have a big dish of baked ziti ready for you. Grab a seat while I get everything set out.”
“Can I do anything to help?” he asked.
He wasn’t going to be on MasterChef anytime soon, that was for sure, but he could find his way around a kitchen okay when he had to.
“I’m good,” she said. “Sit.”
Trevor opened his mouth to make the offer again, but Jenna was already shooing him over to the glass-topped table. He pulled out a chair and sat down, watching as she moved around the kitchen. A big bowl of salad and basket of garlic bread joined the table with the baked ziti, their combined aromas making his mouth water. He couldn’t remember the last time someone had cooked dinner for him. Even if there was nothing serious going on between them—yet—it still made him feel good.
“Did my pain-in-the-ass brother give you a lot of grief about coming out here to see me?” Jenna asked as she slipped into the chair opposite him.
Trevor was too busy enjoying his first bite of the pasta, meat, and cheese combination to answer right away. To say it was delicious was an understatement. If he wasn’t so focused on maintaining his cool, manly exterior, he might have groaned out loud.
