Healer and black wolf shifter Zander Cole has survived horrors that would have broken a weaker man. But when a battle leaves him deaf and his powers dimmed, Zan is devastated. Believing himself to be a burden to his team, he sees only one option: leave the Pack forever.
White wolf shifter Selene Westfall knows pain—she is certain her father was responsible for her mother’s death. And she lives to exact revenge. So when she is challenged by a savage black wolf, she puts up a vicious fight—only to become the black wolf’s Bondmate as a result of his bite.
Two damaged souls—one filled with hatred and one who’s lost his reason for living—are forced together as they come to terms with their unlikely, turbulent bond. A love neither expected may be all that stands between them and a killer trying desperately to keep the past dead and buried...
Comment: This is the 5th installment in the Alpha Pack series by author JD Tyler. The books haven't been crazy amazing but so far all stories have managed to be entertaining and I hoped this one would be as well. Thankfully, I was proven right..at least my opinion is a positive one.
In this book we have Zander Cole's story, he is another element of the team that was attacked in Afghanistan and later on included in the Alpha team because of the powers they got by being bitten by werewolves. Zander is the healer of the group, he can help mend broken bones and other health issues as long as he arrives on time. In the previous books Zander was affected in one of the several battles and now suffers hearing problems. As it is expected, he can't fix himself.
The team is now fixing some issues here and there although they still look for the guilty person or persons who engendered their change in Afghanistan. In just another step towards that goal they now have a real werewolf looking after their leader Nick, something related to what happened in the previous book.
In an attempt to help Nick, Zander follows him and the other wolf and while trying to protect him, he bites the unknown wolf not realizing he just met his bond mate, meaning the wolf is actual a female now bonded with Zander for life...
This is a PNR series quite focused on the adventures of the characters. I guess what makes me like this series the most is precisely the interaction between characters. I like when they behave not only as a tea but mostly as a group of friends. Often authors just focus on one couple and the other characters are just props and so on but in this series this aspect is well done in my opinion. I like the feeling I get they are more friends than just co workers and this helps me to empathize with them.
In this particular book, the romance developed between Zander and Selene, a new character who brings quite the secrets. I don't usually mind the insta-relationship that authors use as a tool to make the connection quicker than what one would accept because I always hope that connection develops with time.Sadly, what most authors do is to use that connection ss an excuse for sex which is meant to make the protagonists accelerate their emotional relationship. Most times, this doesn't really work and the romance feels flat or lacking development, feelings, emotional ties... in this book, I think this was what happened as I got the feeling their relationship went too fast from attraction to love but at the same time, it wasn't as bad as other books out there because the protagonists talked and neither behaved as a silly or possessive person (outside the expected in a mating pair).
The plot isn't complicated, I actually felt it run very smoothly but since most problems are solved, it kind of looks obvious each new installment brings new issues so the plot can move forward. But, like I said, I like the characters, it doesn't feel the author didn't think about this. What obviously comes to mind now is that this is a series that one must read in order to fully appreciate. Although every book can be read as stand alone in terms of structure, the issues mentioned are often related to previous stuff and that can make the reader feel there's information missing.
I don't have much to add unless I summarize plot scenes, so I can simply say I liked this installment, the romance wasn't the best but I can, personally, put that aside and just appreciate the world. In this regard, this was a book I liked more than some of the others.
Grade: 7/10
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