In the Company of Wolves (SWAT, #3)(5)

He took a breath, then another and another, until he was almost hyperventilating. Shit. He could barely hold up his weapon.

Becker shook his head, trying to clear it as he rounded the corner, and came face-to-face with a female werewolf so beautiful that all he could do was stop and stare. She stared back, her blue eyes as wide as saucers. Her heart beat a hundred miles an hour and there was blood splattered on the tactical vest she wore. Becker’s heart lurched at the thought of her being hurt. But one sniff confirmed the blood wasn’t hers. It belonged to one of the other werewolves with her.

He opened his mouth to order her to drop the MP5 she had aimed at him, but nothing would come out. It was like she’d robbed him of the ability to speak. But he had to get the weapon away from her. If she pulled the trigger, he’d be dead. Shooting her wasn’t an option though, and the idea of arresting her didn’t make him feel any better.

Becker didn’t consider whether what he was about to do was smart but simply lowered his weapon and took his finger off the trigger, letting his M4 hang loosely against his chest by the strap over his shoulder. Then he slowly lifted both hands as if in surrender.

He’d done it to put her at ease, but her heart pounded even harder. Her eyes darted left and right, her ponytail swinging from side to side. And while she kept her weapon trained on him, at least her finger wasn’t wrapped around the trigger now.

Becker pulled up the black ski mask hiding his face, then switched off his mic. When he finally managed to find his voice, he didn’t want his teammates listening in.

“Relax and put down the gun,” he said, keeping his voice soft and calm even though gunfire echoed in the rest of the warehouse. “We can work this out. No one else has to get hurt.”

She didn’t say anything or lower her weapon. She didn’t run either. That was progress, he supposed.

He was wondering if he should try a different tack when Xander’s voice came across loud and clear over the radio in his ear. “They’re bolting, so be careful. The few left are going to fight like caged rats.”

Becker didn’t have to ask if the woman heard what Xander said. She was a werewolf like him, which meant she had the same exceptional hearing. If he needed further confirmation, the look of terror on her face would have been it. He couldn’t blame her; her pack had just abandoned her.

Off to the right, the sounds of gunfire increased, and so did the howls. Boots thudded on the concrete floor, heading in their direction.

She looked around again, trying to see every direction at once. Her grip on her weapon tightened, and she swung it at whoever was coming their way.

Oh hell, she’s going to start shooting.

Swearing under his breath, Becker closed the distance between them and ripped the MP5 out of her hands, tossing it aside. She bared her fangs in a snarl, but before she could get the sound out, he slapped a hand over her mouth.

“Trust me,” he said in her ear.

Wrapping his free arm around her, he picked her up and half carried, half dragged her over to the nearest crate. Ignoring her struggles, he ripped the top off the crate, praying there’d be enough room inside. It was empty except for a rolled up painting.

“Thank you, Lord,” he breathed.

Taking his hand away from her mouth, he swung her up in his arms and dumped her inside as gently as he could. She hit the bottom of the crate with an oomph, then immediately sat up.

“What are you doing?” she demanded in a voice so soft and silky it almost brought him to his knees.

He shook off the hold her voice had on him and reached for the top to the crate. “Stay here until it’s safe to leave.”

Ignoring her startled look, he pushed her down with one hand and pulled the lid into place with the other.

Shit, that was close.

Blowing out a breath, he turned to find Cooper standing there staring at him like he’d lost his ever-loving mind.

Cooper switched off his mic with a flick of his thumb before shoving up his ski mask, a scowl on his face. “What the f*ck are you doing?”

Becker’s mind whirled like an out-of-control windmill. How the hell could he explain what Cooper had seen?

He couldn’t. He only hoped his friend would give him the benefit of the doubt. “Trust me. I have to do this.”

Cooper opened his mouth, then closed it again. His dark eyes went to the crate, his jaw flexing. Becker tensed, ready to stop his friend if it looked like he was going to rip off the lid. But instead, Cooper gave him a long, thoughtful look, then turned and walked over to another stack of boxes.

Becker frowned as Cooper picked up one of the cardboard boxes and carried it back over to the crate where the female werewolf was hiding. Cooper ripped open the box and pulled out a big fancy decanter of what looked like whiskey. Taking off the top, he dumped the whole thing over the crate before reaching for another and doing the same thing. Becker couldn’t miss the overpowering smell of jasmine and buttercups.

Not whiskey. Perfume.

Cooper was covering her scent. Why the hell hadn’t he thought of that?

Becker grabbed two more bottles and poured it on the crate. When they were done, Cooper shoved the box of empty perfume bottles out of the way, then glared at Becker.

“You better know what the hell you’re doing,” he muttered before striding off.

Giving the crate one more quick look, Becker slung his weapon off his shoulder and hurried to catch up to Cooper. They reached the end of the aisle just in time to see Xander finishing off an enemy werewolf.