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SWAT Shifters #1

Wanted by the Wolf

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He’ll do anything to defend her. She can’t stay away from him. With sexual tension high and danger even higher, will desire lead to disaster?

Shapeshifter Cole Masters ferociously protects his community. Sent in to defuse an escalating hostage situation, he and his fellow SWAT members pull out all the stops to save the innocent victim from his brutal captors. But he’s shocked to scent his fated mate at the crime scene… standing on the side of the kidnappers.

Maya Danvers is desperate to talk some sense into her brother. After her attempt to right his wrongs lands her in an interrogation, she struggles to bury her attraction for the handsome operative demanding answers. Shouldn’t she have bigger concerns than the sexy agent?

Trying to keep his supernatural identity a secret, Cole fears that when they both come under fire, their explosive chemistry will shatter. But when Maya attracts the wrong kind of attention, there’s more at stake than hiding his nature.

There’s nothing he won’t do to protect his true mate.

151 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 27, 2021

877 people are currently reading
688 people want to read

About the author

Bella Drake

19 books21 followers

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5 stars
668 (39%)
4 stars
472 (27%)
3 stars
408 (24%)
2 stars
119 (7%)
1 star
28 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
Profile Image for Angie.
1,411 reviews234 followers
May 26, 2023
"I'll always protect you."

4.5 stars!

I honestly didn't know what to expect when I downloaded this book, but I absolutely LOVED Cole and Maya's story! It contained everything that I love in a shifter story--a protective hero, relatable heroine, steamy chemistry, and enough drama to keep the plot interesting. Cole's teammates were funny, and I loved their interactions. I will definitely be continuing this series as I'm excited to see the rest of the team find their mates🖤

Tropes: fated mates, alpha hero, heroine-in-danger, forced proximity, shifter/human pairing, instalust, STEAMY🔥
Profile Image for ReadToBreathe.
870 reviews32 followers
July 2, 2022
3 Stars
Reading this was a mistake. I used to love shifters books but now I don't like the insta lust and obsession. Meeting someone and sleeping with him on the same day is not my cup of tea. Nevertheless, the second book sounds interesting so I'm going to give it a try.
Profile Image for Ann Lorz.
1,709 reviews22 followers
September 22, 2022

I've been really enjoying finding new authors to try. This month I found Bella Drake. I've always loved shifters but in the last year or so I haven't been reading as much of them so finding a new author that I like that writes them was a happy happenstance.

I liked the whole idea of a group of shifters that work with the FBI. It brings in the suspense in the story. How Maya and Cole met was perfect. I liked how he didn't even understand that what he felt for her, in the beginning, was a mate bond. It makes it more natural.

You'll really enjoy both Maya and Cole. Both are good people. Maya is a sweet and hard-working person. She doesn't deserve the crap her family has dealt her. I'm so glad she found someone like Cole to be by her side. Someone to protect and cherish her.

I really enjoyed the story and all the interactions between the team. They really added to Cole and Maya's story. Yes, both Maya and Cole fall in love very quickly but anyone who reads shifters knows that when they find their mate that happens. I don't mind it because their story is more about how they get to know each other and learn to fit in each other's life.

As a whole, this was a fun story for me to read. I've already read the second book in the series and can't wait to read more of them.

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Profile Image for Rachael.
1,179 reviews1 follower
December 28, 2021
Enjoyable read featuring a hilarious SWAT team composed of various shifter types. As a fated mates romance, yeah the love is kinda insta, but there's a real connection that quickly forms and communication is treated as important. Looking forward to more in this series :)
410 reviews2 followers
September 4, 2022
Average shifter romance fare. Nothing special. Features the insta lust/love fated mates trope. Hero and heroine meet, fall in love, sleep together, and move in together within 12 hours of first setting eyes on each other. And we are supposed to believe they are deep in love with each other within one day of meeting. OK.
She has bad guys chasing her and he saves her. Not much to the plotline. Not much chemistry either. Very average fare.
Giving this one 2 stars. At the most.
Profile Image for TinyVenusAfterDark.
778 reviews25 followers
January 2, 2024
Promising Premise but Short on Development

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3 stars)

Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥 (3/5)



"Wanted by the Wolf" introduces readers to a captivating shifter romance world. Being the first in the SWAT Shifters series and my initial encounter with Bella Drake's work, it left me intrigued. The plot had potential for more depth, but the brevity of the story limited character development and exploration of the supernatural elements.

The synopsis promises an intense narrative, featuring SWAT shifter Cole Masters and his fated mate, Maya Danvers, caught in a high-stakes situation. While the premise is engaging, the short length of the novella leaves some aspects feeling rushed. The chemistry between the characters is evident, but it could have been more nuanced with a longer storyline.

In summary, "Wanted by the Wolf" is a quick and enjoyable read for those seeking a brief escape into the paranormal romance genre, but it falls short of fully realizing the potential complexity hinted at in the synopsis.
896 reviews1 follower
February 4, 2024
Special unit

A short sweet shifter story with some action involving guns and tracking down criminals. The story is really kinda basic but its good for a short story. There was one or two things I wish were expanded on a little... She doesn't really seem to care about her brother at all after she meets the shifter.... I would have thought she would at least get him a lawyer and ask her new boyfriend about what is going to happen to him... The other thing is if he's an Alpha shouldn't he have a pack... I guess he's like a lone wolf Alpha but he mentions his family so it seems there is a missing part of the story... But the story is pretty basic... Shifter scents mate, sniffes after her until she is willing to be his mate and then they are mates.... In this story her brother kidnapped someone, the SWAT team comes in and in questioning the suspects they figure out she isn't part of it. But the person behind it all is still after her... Her mate sorts it out. That's pretty much the story... Its a good short story.
Profile Image for Rebecca.
177 reviews1 follower
March 23, 2023
3-3.5 stars. This book is a quick read. Has lots of action and a somewhat plausible plot. The FBI has a squad of shifters that go in and do the dangerous work that humans wouldn't be sent in to do. Cole is a wolf shifter and he finds his mate in a hostage situation. Mia, is there to try to talk some sense into her brother and the two meet. This book is a insta-love book. The main female character goes from being arrested to a kidnapping attempt to in the bed with the main male character all in a day. So this book may not be for everyone. It is a novella so the author tries to cram in a lot of information within a 10 chapter book. The sex was about a two on the spice level out of five maybe I give it a three. It wasn't very descriptive but it was okay. I am interested in reading book two so we'll see how that goes. It's a pallet cleanser of a book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Cassy.
1,473 reviews57 followers
January 22, 2026
Honestly? Solid book considering it was free and short.

Cole is a wolf shifter and on the FBI SWAT team. All his teammates are shifters, but outside of the shifter community no one really knows about them.

He goes into a hostage situation and stumbles on his mate.

I also appreciate that he didn’t just dump the whole “shifters are real and we’re fated mates” thing on Maya. He attempted to get to know her, ease her into things. That kinda went to crap when she was attacked and accidentally revealed himself.

And even when she did see I appreciated that he took time to sit with her, explain, answer her questions. It made it more realistic.

The romance was a little rushed, and the plot a little flimsy, but it was still enjoyable, and done in Duet which I much prefer. Actually might try and find her other books to listen to if I can find them at the library.
Profile Image for Teresa .
1,929 reviews4 followers
March 3, 2022
Slow start

First time read from this author. this book is only 96 pages long so the price is shocking, lucky for me I'm on unlimited books but if I paid the price I would not be happy. For a short story it was very slow and the team should of had more banter for a short read series. I don't think I have read a FBI team of shifters before, bodyguards and ex military yes but not FBI, not in the supernatural world so a star for originality.(if I have I forgot, I read a lot) If your going to make your series short you need to fill it with action,information and banter not sex and slow story telling.they kissed it was morning there naked in each other's arms, move on we get it no need to waist time filling pages.this is worth the read but could of been better.
815 reviews
July 8, 2023
I saw this on amazon as a free to buy. I could not pass it up when I saw it was a shapeshifter SWAT Team. Plus I love finding new to me authors.
This was a quick read but I was not able to put it down. Cole had my attention from jump as well as the other SWAT Team members. To see Cole be brought to his knees when he realized Maya was his mate was amusing.
I enjoyed Maya just as much as Cole. She is a perfect match for him. I loved that Maya could hold her own when she needed to but would let Cole take over when she was in over her head. I cannot wait to see their relationship grow and see the other SWAT members find their mates.
I enjoyed this on so much I had to immediately down load Nash. I have a feeling Nash is going to fall all over himself when he meets his mate.
Profile Image for Annelies.
233 reviews3 followers
July 12, 2025
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Heat/Steam:🌶🌶🌶
Story/Plot: 📕📕📕
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Dual Narration
Listened to it on Everand/Scribed

I found this book to be okay overall. Knowing it was short, I expected some elements to be condensed, which did result in a rushed feel in certain parts. Despite that, the writing had its charm, though something felt slightly off to me. Overall, it was a decent read, even if it didn’t fully resonate. The ending was a mix of love and hate for me, especially with the lead into the next book. It left me wanting more, so I’ll definitely be continuing the series!
Profile Image for Alison Spear.
352 reviews2 followers
October 28, 2023
wanted by the wolf

Cute story
My only complaint is I didn’t realize how short it was. I feel like there coulda have been a little more build up before Cole had to tell Maya his secret
And then they “moved in” together after only a day. And mated after knowing each other less then 2 days, and I feel like he didn’t give her all the details of what mating entailed
“Good thing she likes surprises”
17 reviews
December 18, 2025
I was looking for something short and sweet to read after DNFing a pitch-black book. This hit the mark for me. It is a predictable love story. What I enjoyed the most was the prologue at the end, which serves as a preview for the next book. It alludes to two secrets, which could be interesting. I would say that if you are looking to take a break from duologies, trilogies, and beyond, slip this in for some freshness.
Profile Image for Eva.
755 reviews4 followers
September 5, 2022
"Get in, get the job done, then get out..." - Ha ha! Easier said than done when suddenly in the middle of an FBI SWAT team mission you smell the potent scent of your mate. It literally caught Cold off guard at the worst moment. LOL

This short story is written succinctly and to the point, without long-winded digressions. And of course the hero gets to save his heroine from the villain at a certain point.

If this is too loveless for you, you should keep your hands off this short story.
Profile Image for Courtney.
4,298 reviews
October 12, 2022
This story was slow to begin with, but became increasingly enticing to the point where I could not put it down. I feel like the ending was incomplete, I wanted- for lack of a better word- more. I wanted to know more than what I was told; it came to a point where I just couldn't put this book down. Over all, this novel deserves a high rating because it was deliciously good.
Profile Image for Shelley.
552 reviews5 followers
November 22, 2022
Great read

Cole discovers his mate at a takedown.
He's FBI and Maya was at the scene of a kidnapping.Lucky she was trying to talk her brother out of his actions.When questioned everyone on scene including the victim.Unfortunately the boss who planned the crime tries to kill Maya.He protects her while trying to find a way to explain shifters.Well written.
1,900 reviews5 followers
January 3, 2024
I like the premise of shifters in law enforcement and have read other series that feature it also. I don’t normally like instant love but get it in supernatural stories and enjoy the unstoppable bond with mates. I think it could have expanded more on the storyline and enriched the enjoyment of the book.
Profile Image for Robin Ann.
1,425 reviews3 followers
February 26, 2024
Wanted by the Wolf: A Gated Mate Shifter Romance (Seat Shifters Book 1)

What a cute story. Lots of danger, excitement, humor and romance. When you know, you know. Unfortunately it happens during a rescue mission. After he rescued her twice and finally gets her safe, they get their HEA. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
Profile Image for Natasha Leyva.
42 reviews
March 24, 2024
lowkey too fast paced for me, but it’s understandable.

I feel as though she could have reacted more to the news of him being a shifter

THERE WERE ALSO SOME REALLY STUPID MOMENTS. like girly was so naïve at some points and so clueless. it mad me rage cuz she was actin like the stereotypical damsel in distress.

pretty tame
Profile Image for Mrs R.
1,429 reviews19 followers
June 15, 2024
Maya was in the wrong place at the wrong time when she tries to talk to her brother. But it does mean she meets shapeshifter Cole.

I love how these two meet, the situation was certainly unique. Maya is hard working and Cole is part of a shifter task force and has protector instincts.

It may be short but as a fun read. I would be interesting in reading more in the series.
Profile Image for thaís.
110 reviews14 followers
July 25, 2024
I'll work on this review after because there are some quotes that I want to include here, but omg! What a very well done short story, great pacing and storyline.
I recommend this so much. God gosh, Cole is awesome and delicious.

I think I know what
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
18 reviews
March 11, 2025
Great short story

Normally, I don't like short stories as they tend to leave loose ends, questions linger, and the storyline seems rushed.

However, this book was actually refreshing. My opinion is that you are looking for a quick read that's an easy read with a good narrative, then give it a go.
88 reviews
February 11, 2022
Wolf: A Mated Shifter

This book was so enchanting that I couldn’t put it down. I read it in one setting. The author pulled me in and I couldn’t stop reading until it was done. Looking forward to the next book.
Profile Image for Midniteandwolves.
651 reviews1 follower
July 31, 2022
Love it

This story sucks you right in buy the time you realize it you finished it. It was funny how Maya and Cole met and it wasn’t in a good way. I really like the characters, the way it drawls you in. I can’t wait to read the others.


150 reviews
September 3, 2022
The characters are very likeable, but the story is lacking. What happened to Maya’s employee who sent a bad guys to Coles house and why was she getting sick? The Story was ok, but could have been so much better. Disappointed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Melody.
106 reviews
December 30, 2022
Here Wolfy

When trouble is right in front of you and it’s all do to your brother what’s a girl to do! You try to help him out even when that help causes you more trouble. But along came a Wolf and things were supposed to get better ...
Find out if they do.
Enjoy
Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews

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