Wolf Pack

Page

Wolf Pack

ISBN # 978-1-78651-003-7

©Copyright Crissy Smith 2016

Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright February 2016

Edited by Sarah Smeaton

Totally Bound Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Totally Bound Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing. Unauthorized or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2016 by Totally Bound Publishing, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN

Totally Bound Publishing is a subsidiary of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

Warning:

This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a heat rating of Totally Sizzling and a Sexometer of 3.

Shifter Chronicles

WOLF PACK

Crissy Smith

Book five in the Shifter Chronicles series

He’s a lone wolf no longer.

Wolf Shifter Cole Babcock is now the leader of a unit within the Shifter Coalition. As a lone wolf he’s working hard to handle his new duties and working with a team. He doesn’t mind working hard and it’s not like he has anyone to go home to.

Kendra Brown, a US Marshal, is tracking a missing witness and needs the help of the Coalition. Her first meeting with the team leader reveals that they’ve met before. In one explosive night of passion.

Things are changing fast for the two shifters. The case that brought them together runs into complication after complication. There are rogues being held hostage, Kendra’s witness is in danger, and Cole’s been offered a chance of a lifetime. The Alpha of the local wolf pack wants Cole to take over the position from him.

Cole begins to rely on Kendra for everything from closing the case to speaking with the Alpha. As they grow closer, Cole realizes how strong his feelings for Kendra are. He isn’t alone anymore.

With their lives in danger, only the love they share will get them through the week.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my sweet baby Belle. You were gone too soon but you’ll always be in our heart.

Trademarks Acknowledgement

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

Keurig: Keurig Green Mountain

Excel: Microsoft Corporation

Chapter One

Loud, echoing footsteps bounced off the small stairway as Kendra Brown’s adrenaline pulsed through her body. Sweat dripped down her neck as the tactical vest overheated her. She gripped her weapon tighter and smiled. It was time. Kendra followed behind the Lake Worth SWAT team as they led the way up the back stairway to the fifth floor of the old, run-down motel. Uniformed police were watching the front as well as surrounding the outside completely.

Her office had gotten a tip that the missing witness she’d been searching for was holed up in room five-eleven.

That was her mission today. She needed to bring in Trent Compton and protect him, even if it was against himself. Trent’s life had changed forever when he’d seen his boss kill two men. He’d done the right thing and called the police after he’d gotten away. An investigation had followed and the Marshals had set Trent up in a safe house with protection.

The plan had worked until two days ago, when the two Marshals assigned to Trent had been killed and Trent had disappeared. One of the agents had managed to send an emergency text to their superiors asking for help, but by the time local officers had arrived at the safe house it had been too late for them.

She gripped her weapon harder as she paused behind the officer who had stopped on the stair above her. The SWAT leader was at the door to the hall, holding up five fingers. Silently he counted down, one finger falling at a time, until he held up only a fist. At that, another officer threw open the door and they filed in, fast and efficient.

Kendra followed at their heels but made sure to remain out of the way. She braced her shoulders against the far wall. One officer held up a battering ram and with his feet braced apart he swung it back then hit the door to the motel room. It broke open, splintering, and wood flew in all different directions. She flinched away as the SWAT team rushed forward into the room. They moved quietly, and Kendra felt disappointment course through her when she didn’t hear any orders to get down.

Since the Marshal’s office didn’t run the same way that most law-enforcement agencies did, Kendra had learned early in her career to work with others. When something like breaching an entrance was needed, she had to join a joint task force. She didn’t mind—unlike some federal and local badges. Most other agencies treated the Marshals like they were less but for the most part Kendra had teamed with really good agents and officers who wanted to catch the bad guys. And that was what Kendra did best—witness protection and finding people on the run.

She pushed herself off the wall before she slowly made her way to the entry. She held up her weapon and peeked around the splintered frame. The team were glancing around and searching the bathroom and closet, but Kendra already knew that the place was empty.

The manager of the motel had confirmed that he’d rented a room to Trent but he hadn’t been able to say when the last time was that he’d spotted him. Kendra had wanted to wait until she’d confirmed that he was still inside but she’d been overruled by the local captain. Captain Villa, the SWAT boss, had been in charge of this particular operation and was one of the cops who had a problem working with the Marshals. Because of the man’s prejudice against her agency, Kendra had lost her best lead on Trent.

Fuck, she spat but walked through the old dirty space. There were empty pizza boxes, beer bottles and other trash. She didn’t spot any clothes, though. She strolled over to the drawers and yanked them open. Empty. She left them hanging open before stomping to the bathroom. It was filthy, but she didn’t feel any moisture in the air, so it must have been a while since it’d been used.

When she walked back into the bedroom she wasn’t surprised that most of the team had moved to the hallway and only the SWAT leader remained.

I’m sorry, Sergeant Matthews told her.

She could hear the sincerity in his voice. While his captain had been a complete ass, Matthews seemed like a solid officer and had been willing to listen to her when she’d wanted to wait to verify that Trent was still inside.

Now they’d lost the only connection to Trent.

Kendra shrugged before she rolled her neck around, trying to let go of her aggravation. It wouldn’t be easy to track down Trent again but she was good at her job. Can you give me a minute?

Sure. He nodded before he left the room.

She didn’t really mind if anyone was in the room with her as she let a little of her animal side out, so the sergeant could have stayed, but she didn’t want any other scents distracting her. She’d mastered bringing the wolf to the edge without fully shifting. It did freak some people out but Kendra didn’t give a shit. Humans could either accept her or get out of her way. Her kind had been hidden for way too long.

When all of the shifter species had united and decided to announce their presence, Kendra had been thrilled. She’d hated hiding who and what she was. Her parents had lived in fear for almost all their lives. They hadn’t known what to do with such a headstrong, independent daughter.

Luck had been on her side when her parents had reached out to the Alpha and he’d taken her under his wing. She owed him so much, and he was one of the reasons that it was so important that Trent was found and all the attacks stopped. She had to get answers.

Kendra stepped closer to the unmade bed. She breathed in deeply as she dropped to her knees. Through the sweat, old food and stale beer, she could pick up on the scent that was unique to Trent. His clothing had been provided in an evidence bag with his file so she could determine that Trent had been in the room. He had been, but the scent was at least twenty-four hours old. The foul aroma of fear was heavy in the room. Something had made Trent flee from this room, and Kendra didn’t believe it was her search for him. No, Trent had some bad people after him and if Kendra didn’t find him first there was a good chance she wouldn’t get to see him alive.

Once she was she was sure she had all she could get from the scene, she stiffened her shoulders and turned to stroll out of the door.

Matthews was leaning against the wall with his ankles crossed while texting on his phone. He glanced up when she joined him.

I have a buddy that works for the Shifter Coalition. I asked him if I could give you his contact information and he said sure. I know this sting was fucked up and I feel real bad about that, Matthews told her.

She nodded. I appreciate that. Too bad your captain doesn’t feel the same.

Matthews sighed before he slipped his phone into his pocket. He doesn’t like feds, and the fact that you’re a shifter? Matthews scoffed. There was no way that he’d listen to you.

Kendra wasn’t surprised anymore about how people acted but it still pissed her off. I’ll deal with him now.

The smile that spread across Matthews’ face was evil. Can I watch?

She laughed. As much as Kendra wished she could shift and teach the captain a real lesson, her Alpha wouldn’t approve. But she could give the captain a piece of her mind. She only played nice for so long. Captain Villa was about to find out why she was the best Marshal in the area.

* * * *

Cole Babcock swung his bat and connected with the ball, sending it flying into the net. A few seconds later another ball was launched right into the sweet spot and Cole hit that one too.

The night was cool but even so Cole had his shirt off and stood in only his jeans and boots inside the batting cage. He wasn’t wearing the mandatory helmet either. He figured if he took a ball to the head it could only improve his thinking. Because what in the hell had he been doing when he’d accepted the position of heading the Wolf Shifter Division of the Coalition?

Even with his doubt, the two reasons he’d taken the job still existed. He enjoyed working with other shifters and not having to put up with the bullshit in the FBI any longer. The second reason was that he knew his partner Jade could really excel with the Coalition. Jade was brilliant and had some great ideas when it came to building a solid training program for shifters going into the military or law enforcement.

Jade had been the only person on his side in the last year. When he’d been partnered up with Jade, he’d figured she wouldn’t last long. Humans didn’t want to work with him. But Jade hadn’t been like anyone he’d ever met or worked with before. Jade had been determined to become friends with him, and when the others in the office had made snide comments or degrading remarks, she’d stuck up for him. He’d told her not to bother, but Jade had only rolled her eyes and would scorch the offender with her own words. Little by little she’d gotten under his skin until he’d looked at her as one of the best friends he’d ever had.

So after the temporary assignment at the Coalition had finished and had brought down some high-powered people in the FBI for targeting shifters, Cole had known he would never be able to return to the organization. With no plans for what he’d do instead, and not wanting to leave Jade, the request from Commander Green to head up the Wolf Shifter Division had come at the perfect time. His decision had also kept Jade close to the coyote shifter she was falling in love with. Jade would remain his partner and they could still fight to protect others. All in all, he’d had a good reason to accept the position. He just wasn’t sure what the hell he was supposed to do with his new unit.

Cole wasn’t used to leading an entire team. He worked by himself or with one partner. The Coalition did things so differently that he was still trying to figure out how to be the boss. There were three cases that his group was currently working on, so that was keeping Cole busy, but there was still something missing.

A quiet bark caught his attention and he stepped out of the batter’s box, glancing back at where his two Labrador retrievers lying outside the chain-link fence. Cocoa, the big seventy-five pound chocolate male, had raised his head at the approaching figure. The smaller, fifty pound, black female Chloe hadn’t even bothered to move. She knew that her two males would take care of her. Another ball launched from the machine but Cole was out of range and in no danger of being hit.

Cole recognized the man strolling toward him in long confident strides. Zak Lewis had become a good friend in the past few weeks, and out of everyone Cole had met in the Coalition he’d felt an instant connection to the tiger shifter. They were both more loner types than the others and Cole had a feeling a lot of things in Zak’s past that would give Cole’s own history a run for its money.

Hey, man, Cole greeted before he walked over to the control box and hit the stop button of the ball machine, then dropped his bat on top of the bag he’d brought along.

Hey, Jade said I could probably find you here if you weren’t at your house, Zak said.

Yeah, he agreed. Jade knew his routines.

Zak leaned down and rubbed his large hands over the dogs’ heads, so Cole picked up his faded-gray T-shirt and pulled it on. He liked to take the dogs for a ride in his old truck and let them hang out at the park while he worked off some of his energy by hitting some balls. He’d played a little college baseball in Texas before he’d gone into the FBI academy. He kept his gaze on Zak as he hefted his bag, wondering what the agent wanted.

So what’s up? he asked Zak.

I needed to talk to you and I wanted to do it away from the office, Zak said.

Cole nodded. Sure. He pushed the metal gate open and let it smack closed behind him as he walked over to Zak.

Cocoa, who had been leaning heavily against Zak, perked up and came to his master. Cole held back a smile. The lab was pushing ten years and had gray hair sprinkled throughout his thick coat but he was the most loyal dog Cole had ever had. He patted the male’s head a few times before gesturing for Zak to head toward his truck, which was sitting in the parking lot. Chloe was slower getting to her feet but it wasn’t so much due to age but the fact that Chloe didn’t move fast unless it was because she wanted to. The seven year old didn’t seem to think much was