Wolf Pack by Crissy Smith

placed the dish on the nightstand before facing him again. She smiled as she looked into his eyes. “We might have another problem,” she whispered.
    Cole frowned. “What?”
    “I’m pretty sure that I’m halfway in love with you,” she confessed.
    “How’s that a problem?” he asked.
    “Well, it’s not,” she said. “Unless you don’t feel the same way.”
    “Oh,” he responded. “You’re right. We might have a problem.”
    That hurt. She drew her hands back and bit her lip. Cole grabbed her shoulders and yanked her into his lap. “Because I’m pretty sure that I’m fully in love with you.”
    “Cole!” she exclaimed.
    He kissed her and she returned it.

Chapter Seven
     
     
     
    Hours passed before all the rescued rogues had been debriefed and statements had been made. Exhaustion had his shoulders aching but Cole decided to stay with Kendra at the Alpha house for a little longer and to enjoy a hot meal. Taylor had worked with the Marshals and Coalition agents on placement for everyone. Cole was letting Jamie handle that part of the case.
    Inside the Alpha dining room, Trent was rushing around like a whirlwind.
    Cole grinned at Trent as the young man made a big show of serving them the dinner that he’d helped prepare. Roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob and fresh rolls filled their plates. The food smelled great and he was hungry, but Trent was like a teenage pup who only wanted to please his parents. Which made sense after the stories Trent had told them about how he’d grown up.
    Next to him Kendra was talking to her Alpha and laughing at something he’d said. She was beautiful but now that he’d confessed his love he was on the verge of freaking out. From across the table Zak kicked him. Cole glanced over to his friend.
    “Stop,” Zak mouthed. “Stop thinking.”
    There was no way that Zak could know what had happened between him and Kendra, but with Zak’s power of observation, Cole wasn’t surprised that Zak knew something was up with him.
    Cole nodded back at his friend.
    Trent finally sat down, and Taylor smiled at him. “Thank you, Trent,” Taylor said. “This all looks wonderful.”
    “It was my pleasure.” Trent looked around the table. “Our pleasure.”
    The dining table held twenty and every seat was full. The eight newly freed rogues, Trent, Taylor, Cole, Kendra, Zak, Abilene and six members of the Alpha’s inner circle. Cole wasn’t used to family meals like this.
    He’d made the decision to leave his family and pack when he was eighteen. For months Cole had fought with himself to stay in line with his Alpha’s rules and to not let anyone in on his secret. He’d tried hard to hide the fact that he was growing more powerful and dominant. Then one night, his Alpha had ordered him on a hunt and Cole hadn’t wanted to go. Cole had wanted to go to a party he’d been invited to instead. Fuck, he’d been young and arrogant. Instead of just giving in, Cole had challenged his Alpha’s order and they’d fought. If Cole’s dad hadn’t stopped them there was no telling what might have happened. Cole had left the next day.
    For the first time in years, Cole regretted the fact that he’d been a punk-ass kid and had ruined the rest of his life. He’d been alone for a really long time. Or he had been until Kendra had invited him into her world.
    Cole peered over at Taylor. It was obvious what a great Alpha Taylor was. Still, if Cole spent too much time under the man’s roof he’d start to feel the rebellion bubble up. His issues with authority had the potential to come between him and Kendra, but he could fight his urges so she could keep her pack.
    “You okay?” Kendra leaned over to ask in his ear.
    “Yes.” He slid his hand in hers under the table.
    “Good.”
    Cole pushed his thoughts away and picked up his fork. The first bite of chicken was moist and flavorful. “Oh yum!” he said before he shoved another piece in his mouth.
    Trent was