In the Company of Wolves (SWAT, #3)(27)

He grabbed a cup of coffee and found a table in the corner where he could put his back to the wall and keep an eye on the door. In between, he surfed the net on his phone and skimmed his fake IDs so he’d be familiar with his alter ego. He was so busy trying to memorize the address on his driver’s license—some rural trailer park near Waco—that he didn’t notice Jayna had walked in and was coming his way until her intoxicating scent nearly knocked him out of his chair.

He looked up to see her backlit by the midmorning sun pouring through the open door, silhouetting her curvy figure and gorgeous mane of dark blond hair. When she caught sight of him looking at her, a smile tilted up the corners of her beautiful lips, and just like that, the tension he hadn’t even known was there left his body.

Jayna motioned that she was going to get a drink. A few minutes later, she slipped into the seat opposite him, a venti latte in her hand. She looked pleased to see him—or maybe that was just his imagination.

“I’m glad you could come,” he said. “I wasn’t sure if you’d be able to get away again so soon.”

“Me either. But there weren’t many people hanging around the loft this morning.” She sipped her latte. “Besides, you said you might have a plan on how to get my pack out of this mess. I’m willing to take any risk if it helps them.”

He gave her a hurt look. “And here I was thinking you were meeting me because of my scintillating conversational skills.”

She laughed, and Becker couldn’t get over the effect that sound had on him. It was like an extension cord plugged straight into his heart. Damn, he had it bad for this woman.

“Nope,” she said. “I’m just here for the latte and the plan.”

He grinned. “Well, if that’s the case, I guess I should probably tell you I’ve come up with one.”

Jayna leaned forward, bringing that delicious scent of hers even closer. “You did? What is it?”

While she might be eager to hear what he had to say, Becker got the feeling she was a little cautious too. He supposed he couldn’t blame her.

“The only way I can help you and your pack is if I’m on the inside—as an omega,” he said. “So I’m going back to the loft with you.”

She stared at him, speechless. “Are you serious? That’s your big plan? You’re just going to waltz in and say you heard through the grapevine that some Albanian mobsters are looking to hire werewolves off the street to be enforcers?”

Becker had to admit, the plan didn’t sound nearly as good when she put it that way. But it was the only one he had, so they were going to have to make it work. It was either that or go back to his raiding-the-loft idea, and Jayna had already made it clear that wasn’t an option.

“You said Liam has been recruiting every omega he can find,” Becker pointed out. “Why wouldn’t he take me in?”

“Because you don’t look like an omega.”

“What does an omega look like?”

Jayna frowned. “They’re big, strong, and aggressive. And more often than not, they’re cocky and arrogant too.”

“So far you’re describing my entire pack and me to a tee.”

She thought about that. “Maybe so, but it still won’t work.”

“Why not?”

“Because omegas aren’t so hot.”

Well, damn. Becker grinned as a blush colored her cheeks. “Are you saying I’m too hot to be an omega?”

“No!” she said quickly.

“No, I’m not too hot to be an omega? Or no, I’m not hot at all?”

He couldn’t help teasing her despite how serious the situation was. It was too much fun watching her get flustered.

She ignored his question. “Omegas have control issues—everybody knows that. But nobody is going to believe you’ve ever had a problem staying in control of yourself.”

Becker probably should have left that one alone, but he couldn’t. It was just too good to pass up. “I’ve never had a woman complain about my lack of self-control, but I really don’t see what that has to do with getting people to believe I’m an omega.”

Jayna looked confused for a moment; then she blushed even deeper than she had before. “Stop it, Eric! I’m serious. Why would you even consider walking into that place of your own free will? It’s insanity.”

His smile melted away. “Why would I go in there? Because it’s the only way I can think of to keep you safe. You’ve made it clear you won’t leave without your pack mates, and they aren’t ready to walk away from your so-called alpha. I don’t have a choice. If you won’t come out, I have to go in.”

Jayna regarded him thoughtfully. He hoped she wouldn’t ask him again why he was doing this. Because he really didn’t think it would be a good idea for him to tell her that he thought she was The One for him.

“Okay,” she finally said. “I appreciate what you’re doing, but I still think you’re insane. Just don’t expect Liam to welcome you with open arms. I don’t care if you do call yourself an omega—one look at you, and he’s going to view you as a threat to his leadership of the pack. You scream dominant male. He’s going to want you gone—fast.”

Okay, he’d concede that was definitely a flaw in the plan he and Cooper had come up with, but maybe not a fatal flaw. He frowned as something struck him.