Tough chick?
All Ariana has known for last decade is fighting. Her owner has her in the pits tearing through opponents. Other unlucky snatches or slaves or debtors; it doesn't matter. The only rules she has known are: stay to the back of the cage and kill or die. So when her rescue comes about and she's told that her new life involves being a peacemaker, yeah, there's a lot of panic. What does she know about peace? And holding together 4 clans of very different shifters doesn't sound fun at all. No matter that her wolf is shouting that the alpha of each are her mates.
Spoilers ahead.
Ok, this started off decent. Ari is tough, she's held it together for a decade plus in the pits. Although, we're never really given an age on her. Anyways, my issues started right after her rescue. Knowing that she's lived in a cage, when she acts out (how quickly they forget her last taste of freedom was as a child) they toss her in a cage?? Wtf? My vote was for her to ditch, or bury him in a ditch, her would-be mate right then and there. Prisoners get cages. Terrified and traumatized mates should not. Knowing all she knows is fighting, he's an ass. Making her angry again and again. He's arrogant, and I don't care if he's an alpha or not, arrogance without compassion is just a jerk in charge, not a leader. His second is no better. She goes from treating Ari like a wounded pup to belittling her. When the other leaders show up after learning that the Silver Shifter is there, at least they are upset over how she's treated. But then Ari goes from tough chick to TSTL. Running away when she's not even sure where she is, no plan on supporting herself other than hunting and hiding, and instead of keeping her head down and learning things she's living like a 15yo ditching her parents. She may kick butt in a fight but when she keeps getting swarmed by hordes of vampires maybe running off alone, or with only 1 guy and no guards, isn't such a good idea. The numbers are just against her. And communication is a zero. She forgives Max, way too quickly in my opinion, and agrees she's his mate and bonds. Nothing more than a kiss with some fangs but seals the bond between them. Ok. But after recognizing that the other three are her mates, does not inform Max of this. In fact, she goes off on a tryst with Cash, after a heavy petting session with Owen, and Max and Owen find out (about Cash, and each other) when she returns and only after she's confronted. I get RH themes. But that's just an open relationship, only half of the couple doesn't realize it. Poor Jett is odd man out at this point, but after watching what's been going on around him with his friends, I have to say he may be the smart one by not getting involved with that madness. So, needless to say Ari's character has me questioning if I want to continue on when the next is released in April. I'm all for RH, I'm all for going after what you want and sexual liberation. But when you commit to one, and know that the mate bonds formed are 1-1 and that's what the other assumes will be, then there needs to be discussions if things are different. Back to that communication thing again.