The Recruit

By Julia Talbot

When Alpha Ops team leader Tuck’s last mission goes terribly wrong, he and his team are put on hiatus until they can get their proverbial stuff together. His guys are starting to get restless, and a bear shifter, a couple of predatory birds, and a fox can be pretty impatient when they’re bored. When their benefactor decides a new team member will be their salvation, Tuck has no choice but to accept.

Jayden isn’t interested in working with a team who really wants nothing more than to kick his butt. As a cougar shifter, he’s perfectly happy to work alone. So why does Tuck make him want to stay? The two of them have to find a way to work out their issues, or the team may never get another job. Good thing they have enough attraction to keep them going, even when everything else is going off the tracks.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Changeling Press
• Release date: Dec 28, 2018

Book preview

tracks.

Chapter One

God damn it, Trip, move your ass! Tuck shoved his brother over the wall they were scaling, knowing that a hail of bullets could hit them at any moment.

The mission was compromised, and they had to extract themselves and hit the rendezvous with the rest of the team. No pressure. He landed on his feet next to Trip, panting.

North, he snapped.

Trip nodded but didn’t answer, just started moving, beating feet beside him. The only sound was their harsh breathing until the inevitable shots rang out.

Don’t stop. We’re almost out, bro, Trip shouted.

Almost out.

They had to make it to the helipad. That was all. Five hundred yards.

Hawk was there, the bird’s blades whirring, the big blond waving to them to hurry.

Go, go! Trip shoved him, growling low, the wolf sound warning Tuck that something was wrong. Trip pushed him up and over the skid, and he slid across the bottom of the bird.

Damn it, Trip!

Trip made it halfway in, his hand leaving a smear of blood. Go, Hawk! Go. They’re too close to your backside.

Tuck lunged over, claws digging into Trip’s shoulders and dragging him up. Go! Go! All in! Go!

Hawk lifted the helo off, bullets pinging off the undercarriage. They spun in a sickening arc, he and Trip both sliding. He flailed, hand searching wildly for any purchase.

He caught a strap on the side of the door, yanking them both back inside. Close that damn door, Trip!

Trip slammed the door shut, then slid to one side, a dark streak coating the metal.

Trip? He yanked his brother toward him. Trip, where are you hit? Hawk, where’s the med-kit?

Tuck. The word was firm, low. It don’t matter.

What? He leaned down to hear. What, bro?

It don’t matter now. Don’t waste the supplies.

He looked at Trip, trying to assess him like he would any other team member. As wolf shifters, they could heal fast, but they could only lose so much blood. Let me see.

Brother. Trip took his hand, squeezed it. It was the best, to run with you.

Trip, no. He yanked off Trip’s helmet, then lifted Trip up to hold him, cradling him. No, we can fix this.

He could feel hot slickness pouring out, the huge heartbeat beginning to slow. Tuck felt automatically for the holes, trying to apply pressure, but there were too many. Trip had taken a whole volley in the back. Even a werewolf couldn’t recover from that.

Jesus. Trip. I love you, you hear me? You’ll always be with me.

Always. Trip stared into him. Always, brother. I will be with you, under the moon.

Tuck watched the light fade from Trip’s golden eyes, watched the color fade from his skin as his blood ran out. This wasn’t part of the plan. This wasn’t how it worked.

Hawk glanced back. Boss? Boss, what the fuck?

Just get us out of here, man. Trip was gone. Tuck felt his brother’s last breath rustle out.

Heavy and still, the body that had been with him as long as he’d been alive was… gone. Well, the soul inside it was gone, anyway. He blinked, his eyes burning, and he wanted to beg Trip not to leave him but it was too late. Too damn late. That had been their problem this whole fucked up mission.

Somewhere down inside him, he could hear generations of wolves howling, deep in his soul.

His brother was gone. There had never been a worse mission failure.

* * *

Tuck! Tuck, are we ever going to work again? Ichabod stared at him, eyes black as pitch, hair even darker. Like, ever? Do I need to find another crew? Band of merry men?

Shut up, will you? God, there was nothing worse than a bunch of bored mercenaries. And they were bored. Really. It was like the big boss Daniel wasn’t going to give them another job since they lost Trip.

Ichabod leaned hard on Travis, the huge bear growling deep at the contact with the raven shifter. I’m bored, y’all. Bone deep.

Tuck spread his hands. So am I, boys. He looked at each member of his team in turn. All good men. All spoiling for a fight. Five guys, all top in their fields, all sitting here rotting. Tuck was supposed to be their team leader, damn it. He tugged out his cell, intent on calling Daniel’s PA. The man himself never talked to anyone but Lucien, but his assistant Gregori could pass on the message.

What?

You’re not very pleasant, Gregori.

Fuck off. What do you want?

A job. Tuck blew out a frustrated breath.

Daniel says you’re not ready. Gregori couldn’t really drawl with his clipped accent, but he did try.

Oh, fuck him. What does he know? The boys are about to go AWOL.

Lucien would never.

No, he’s your good little bottom boy. Tuck achieved a far better sarcastic tone.

Lucien never looked up from his video game when he flipped Tuck off.

Poor puppy, are you jealous? No one could make that taunt like a tiger. No one. Accent be damned.

No. Kitty is not my flavor of choice and you bite too hard. I want a job.

I’ll speak to the boss, but he’s not convinced.

Convince him. God damn it.

That’s your job, my dear. Gregori drawled out the words. Get off your ass. Run training. Do drills. Work out. Shave, for fuck’s sake. You think Daniel isn’t watching?

Do you have us surveilled?

Not me. I wouldn’t waste my time on your skanky ass.

Fuck you, you pussy.

Meow. God, that single word held a wealth of pure fury. He had a feeling Gregori would be a hell of a fuck.

Tuck grinned at the very idea. Tell the boss I’ll prove it. We’re ready.

"I’ll pass on the message. Tell