In the Company of Wolves(87)

Beside her, Eric smiled.

Jayna kept talking even after Alex had the bullet out and Trey announced that Megan was getting stronger by the second. Jayna had so many things to say that she couldn’t stop talking. Jayna told Megan how important she was to the pack and to her especially.

When Jayna stopped to a take a breath, she realized that both Eric and Megan were looking at her with tears in their eyes and smiles on their faces. Everyone else, including Moe, Chris, and Joseph, had moved away, giving them privacy.

“Wow,” Megan said softly. “I don’t think I’ve heard you talk that much since I’ve known you. When you get going, you don’t stop, do you?”

Jayna bent and kissed her on the forehead. “I guess I don’t.”

“We’re really going to stay here in Dallas, right?” Megan asked. “You weren’t just saying that, were you?”

Jayna glanced at Eric to see him grinning at her, even though he looked like complete hell. He was still bleeding from nearly every part of his body. But he looked happy.

“We’re staying if Eric still wants me to,” she said softly.

He leaned close to kiss her. “Of course I want you to stay. I love you, remember?”

Jayna smiled. “That’s good because I never want to leave. It took me a while to figure it out. I had a little help from my friends.” She glanced at Megan. “But I finally realized that I love you too. So much it scares the hell out of me. But I’m ready to face that fear and be with you—to be The One for you. Because you’re The One for me.”

He kissed her again. “Good. And before you even say anything, I know you and your pack are a package deal. And I’m okay with that.”

“Does that mean you’re okay living with us too?” she asked. “Joseph really does snore a lot. And Chris listens to the most godawful country music.”

Eric chuckled. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Jayna felt the weight of the world lift from her shoulders. Loving her was one thing. Loving her pack was another. She was glad Eric was up for the challenge.

She pulled him in for another kiss, but Megan interrupted.

“Guys, maybe that should wait until Trey and Alex get a look at Eric. He’s bleeding all over me.”





Chapter 16


“You guys throw these things year-round, even when the weather is this cold?” Jayna asked as she and Eric cuddled together on one of the picnic benches at the SWAT compound, watching Cooper work the grill.

“Year-round,” Trey answered from beside Max on one of the other nearby benches. Alex was sitting opposite them, devouring a burger. “If it gets really cold, we move most of the party inside. Except for the grill, of course. Whoever’s cooking gets stuck outside for most of the day.”

Jayna shook her head. Yep, these SWAT guys were officially crazy. It had to be fifty degrees out here and most of them were in shorts and T-shirts. Heck, Cooper wasn’t even wearing a shirt as he stood over the grill flipping chicken and ribs. But she had to admit, while he might be crazy, the man knew how to cook. The food was amazing! And watching Cooper run around with his shirt off didn’t make her complain either. She was totally and insanely in love with Eric, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t appreciate a fine specimen of manliness when she had the chance to gawk.

She wasn’t the only one. Tuffie, the pit bull mix and pack’s resident mascot, was glued to Cooper’s side as he cooked. Okay, the occasional piece of food the SWAT cop tossed her way may have had something to do with it, but Jayna was pretty sure the pooch didn’t mind admiring those rippling abs of Cooper’s. The girl was practically grinning, she looked so happy to be standing beside the hunky guy.

Eric had been planning to man the grill for the day, but Cooper had volunteered to do it instead, so Eric could spend most of his time with her and her pack. Even if Cooper was Eric’s best friend, it was still a nice thing for him to do.

It had only been two weeks since that night at the Stones’ place, but she and the rest of her pack already felt at home in Dallas—and at the SWAT compound. Mostly because everyone had gone out of their way to make them feel so welcome. In fact, Sergeant Dixon—Gage—had put on this cookout especially in their honor to officially welcome her pack to the area. If there was one way to win over her pack, Jayna knew it was with free food. The fact that the food was so good only made it that much better.

“So, how did the session with Internal Affairs go?” Xander asked as he and his girlfriend, Khaki, sat down at the table with them.

Both SWAT officers had their plates piled high with food, mostly of the meat variety. Jayna could understand why. Since becoming an alpha, she’d noticed a desperate hunger for meat more than anything else. But her body was stronger and faster than it had ever been, her senses were sharper, and her natural werewolf weapons—claws and fangs—were still filling out to their full size. She guessed all those changes took a lot of protein.