Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt & Giveaway: Susi Hawke – The
Reluctant Alpha (West Coast Wolves #1)
Excerpt & Giveaway:
The Reluctant Alpha by Susi Hawke
West Coast Wolves, Book One
Matthias Longclaw is happy living his life on the back of his beloved Harley with his five best friends and brothers-in-arms at his side. The West Coast Wolves are a rare pack of alphas, made up of unwanted orphans and second-born sons. The packs they were born to may not have wanted them, but they’ve built a solid family of their own. They help where they can, doing random acts of kindness and expecting nothing in return, just helping to build a world they want to live in.
Then Matt gets a call from an old childhood buddy. He’s being called back—begged to return—to reclaim his birthright and save a life in the process. The problem is… to do it, he will have to take a mate. And if he refuses? The omega will die.
Torn between his duty to help others and his resentment of his old pack, Matt never expects for Elisha Whitetail to tilt his world and change everything. Can Matt and Elisha rebuild a broken pack while tending to a new love and a growing family while dealing with outside threats from neighboring packs?
They’re wolves. Strong, proud, and willing to do what it takes when their community needs them… whatever it takes.
This is the first in a new mpreg series about finding joy in a hard world, building family, and discovering that life can surprise a person when they least expect it. Although this world has harsher themes than my previous books, it still has the same heart you’d expect. Plus a dose of my irreverent humor and all the naughty, knotty heat that comes with true mates. It wouldn’t be a Susi Hawke book without it. Be sure to read the author’s note at the beginning for possible trigger warnings.
Universal Link
Speaking of my sex angel… I took a deep breath and opened my eyes before slowly turning my head to see if he was as gorgeous as I remembered. When I met his whiskey-brown gaze, my breath came out in a whoosh.
Holy moly. He was even better than I remembered.
As a smile slowly spread across his face, the corners of his eyes crinkled. “Hello again, Elisha. How much of last night do you recall?”
I didn’t know whether it was the crinkles—too human a feature for any angel, of the sex type or not—or the worry I saw in his eyes. Or the heady scent that had my wolf ready to roll over and offer his belly. Or the familiar X scar of our people over his left nipple. Maybe all the above? Whatever it was, I finally accepted this very real man was not simply my dream lover, but an alpha I could trust not to hurt me. At least, my gut was telling me so, and it was never wrong.
Words fell out of my mouth before I could censor them. “You’re really real and not a dream lover or a sex angel. You’re an actual alpha, and… you saved me.” Blinking rapidly now, my brain made more connections, and my elusive lost memory clicked into place.
My voice was breathy, probably because I was completely awestruck. “You’re my mate. My new alpha. Not only because you claimed me, but for real. My true mate, like, fated and stuff.” As I sucked in another breath, my eyes widened. “That’s why you smell so good.”
He studied me before a loud laugh rumbled from his throat. “Although I like the idea of being your ultimate fantasy, I’m sorry to admit I’m a real person. And yes, I’m your mate now. I’d prefer for you to think of me as your mate rather than your alpha. I’d never planned on taking a mate, but I always swore if I did, it would be an equal partnership.”
Now I was the one laughing. “Are you sure I’m not dead, and this isn’t heaven? Because I’m pretty sure no alpha worth his salt would ever say something so ridiculous. Especially to an omega.”
He rolled his eyes. “Then those alphas need to find new salt.” He hesitated, then lifted an arm. “Is it okay if we cuddle? My wolf needs physical contact, and I want to hold you again. I didn’t dare while you slept because it was bad enough to claim you without consent. I wasn’t going to force any further physical contact without your knowledge.”
I practically flung myself into his arms, wrapping my arms around his neck as I snuggled in close. “Okay, so maybe you’re real, but now I’m starting to wonder if I should question your sanity. As for the lack of consent, consider it given, and backdate it to whatever point in time will absolve you of any guilt. You literally saved my life. But even if you hadn’t, you’ve already treated me with more kindness than any alpha ever has.”
As those impulsive words poured out of my mouth, my heart started to pound again. Calling him crazy was a good way to press the limits of said kindness.
Wrapping his arms around me, he held me tight. His gentle touch calmed me as quickly as his softly spoken words. “Easy now, little wolf. I don’t know what has you quietly freaking out, but I promise you have nothing to fear with me. I know it’ll take time for you to completely trust me, but for now I’d appreciate it if you’d take me at my word. And though I’ve claimed you, I want to wait for anything more physical than this until you feel completely safe. When you’re ready, you can initiate our intimacy.”
What? Who was this alpha? He wasn’t going to hit me or force me into sex? And he meant every word, or my wolf would’ve scented the smoothest of lies. Gulping, I slowly leaned my head back to see into his eyes. “Okay. I’ll try. I’m sorry I called you crazy, though. I shouldn’t have been so disrespectful.”
He scoffed, looking at me like I was the crazy one. “Why the hell not? I told you I want us to be equals, didn’t I? True equality means you can feel free to say anything you want to me. Never mind if it’s something you don’t think I want to hear. I want to start our relationship off well, which means honesty, even when it’s ugly.”
I bit my lip as I considered his words. “Okay. Hmm. Then in the spirit of honesty, I have to say your idea sounded both totally weird and completely awesome. Also, can you tell me your name? It seems kinda slutty to be naked cuddling and bonded without knowing what to call you. It’s like a country song about waking up married after getting blackout drunk.”
As if startled, he barked out a laugh. “Well, damn. Then I guess you’re feeling kinda awkward right about now, aren’t you?” I must have been feeling braver than I thought because I giggled and shoved his chest. He merely laughed more. “I like you, little wolf. Allow me to introduce myself.”
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