Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: The Defiant Alpha

SERIES: West Coast Wolves #2

AUTHOR: Susi Hawke

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 158 pages

RELEASE DATE: December 28, 2020

BLURB:

“Between the thick fur and my own nerves, it took longer than it should’ve to find the fluttering proof of his heartbeat. I’d known he was alive since he didn’t smell like death. No… he smelled like… home. Like my home. The one place where I would always belong. ”

Lucian Smith, unwanted at birth, is a defiant alpha who’d not only dare anyone to call him unclaimed, he’d proudly display the proof. He doesn’t want or need a pack other than the family he’s built with his crew—The West Coast Wolves. For so long, it was just them… an unlikely pack of alphas who took to the open road and helped where they could, doing random acts of kindness and expecting nothing in return.

Until the first of one of them stepped up when duty called and took his own pack to rule. This ended the brothers-in-arms’ days of riding wherever the road took them when fate conspired to give each of the brothers a pack to rule. Even Lucian… the unlikely defiant Alpha who would not only dare anyone to call him unclaimed, he’d proudly display the proof.

While out on a night’s ride, Lucian comes across a half-dead dog on the side of the road. After stopping to help, he discovers it’s no dog, it’s a shifter—an omega wolf. The true mate Lucian never dared hoped for is now in his arms, if he can just rescue him first. Little does he know there are a dozen more omegas who need saving, his mate is just the start.

With a secret over twenty years old and millions of dollars at stake, the people who stole innocent babies with plans for the ultimate payday won’t let go of them easily. Except… even omegas have hidden strength and their own ways to fight back. With the help of his crew, Lucian is in a unique position to help these lost young men and set right to old wrongs.

This is the second book about finding joy in a hard world, building a 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. Note: possible trigger warning for mentions of stillbirth, medical abuse, and child abduction. 

REVIEW:

First and foremost, please take note of the trigger warnings in the blurb. If you have issues as far as child abduction and things of that nature, this will be a hard one for you. If you are like me and love Susi’s books, this is another hit for you to read. I hated how Lucian and his omega had to meet but am glad they got to do so.

With Lucian never being marked or claimed as a baby, it’s something he’s had to live with all his life. Like a part of him was missing. And my heart broke for him. Because Lucian is one of the sweetest alphas you will ever meet. And I honestly can’t blame him for not wanting his own pack. I can’t blame him for almost wanting to stay on his motorcycle and keep driving past the little town where his new pack was. But then he would have missed his omega. And that story is heartbreaking in itself. 

But with Susi’s story comes some angst and it’s well worth it in the end. Because not only did Lucian find the mate that was perfect for him in soooo many ways, things worked out for others that had happened to his mate as well. And I loved how everyone was so accepting right off the bat. They all knew what had happened was wrong. They didn’t shame the boys, they just enfolded them in their arms and took them right in. And even with them starting to spread out, it’s still a family with them.

But not only do I love Lucian and his mate, and seeing Matt and Eli again, the backbone of this story will be Esse. And I will argue that point with anyone anytime. She is the one everyone calls Mama for a reason. And I love her. She’s perfect with everyone. She knows when someone needs an easy hand and when someone needs a kick in the pants. And it’s all done with love. And she’s one of those that loves with food as well and I adore her and did from the moment Lucian set eyes on her. She takes no crap off anyone and puts up with no bull, but she’s the best.

I love this story. I love this series. And with the way it’s ended, I’m curious to see who’s next and how things are going to turn out for everyone. You’ll see what I mean.

RATING:

BUY LINK: 

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