Outpack

Rune Wolf #4

by Aimee Easterling

A wolf is only as strong as her pack.

As a sworn Council member, my neutrality is my prison. I'm forced to walk the line between my growing political power and the pack I’m forbidden to protect.

Then desert magic unravels and a teenager vanishes. The missing girl’s father threatens to annihilate my mate’s pack if she's not found quickly, while the Council dismisses the crisis as beneath their notice.

With time running out and tensions rising, I must rely on old skills of deception and misdirection to find the missing girl and deal with malfunctioning magic. Can I defy the Council’s decree and save the friends and mate who have claimed my heart?

The final book in the Rune Wolf series delivers high-stakes action, political intrigue, and a battle couple fighting for their future—where loyalty, love, and found family will be put to the ultimate test

Genres: Paranormal

317 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 4, 2025

About the author

Aimee Easterling is a USA Today Bestselling author writing on the boundary between urban fantasy and paranormal romance. She specializes in spunky shifters and invites you to dive into her werewolf world in the Wolf Rampant trilogy, the spinoff Bloodling serial, and her new Alpha Underground series.

Studying biology and working as a naturalist have both informed Aimee's writing, but she's quite willing to let reality slide in favor of a good story. When not writing, she loves to read and always keeps books by Robin McKinley, Patricia Briggs, and Elizabeth Peters on her shelf. You can learn more at www.aimeeeasterling.com.

Reviews

[Lorena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth and final novel in Aimee Easterling’s Rune Wolf series of contemporary paranormal romantic fantasy. I recommend reading the entire series in order, preferably starting with the adorable prequel short story, “Paws & Claus.”

This is an intense story filled with unexpected twists and plenty of action, intrigue, suspense, and magic. Once again, Elspeth ends up in one difficult situation after another, trying to understand what’s happening with the Outpack’s magic, conflicts between wolf packs, and the requirements of her oath. I like Elspeth and Orion, as well as many of their pack members, and I worried about how they could find a happy ending given everything that seemed to be going wrong. The ending surprised me, but in a satisfying way.

The audiobook is a fun way to experience this story. The production is excellent, and I enjoyed Heather Daniel’s narration. Her pacing is good, her pronunciation is clear, she creates voices that suit the characters, and she expresses appropriate moods and emotions.

I recommend this series for those who enjoy shifter stories and contemporary romantic fantasies with interesting magic systems.

I received an ARC of this ebook and an advanced listening copy of the audiobook from the author. I volunteered to provide an honest review.

[Laure · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elspeth knew that her new role as a member of the council would likely cause difficulties when it came to pack politics and her role as an alphas mate. But when a teenage girl goes missing and the rest of the council dismisses her concerns, she realizes that she will have to use all her tricks as a former council agent to prevent fighting in the packs. When the magic of the desert starts behaving strangely, and her bond with her mate is affected she knows that she will have to defy the council in order to save the packs, her found family, and repair the damage to the Outpack.
Wow, this is an action-packed conclusion to a fantastic series. Dirty politics, magic, some unexpected and surprising twists in the plot with a happily ever after, this a must read. Fascinating characters with compelling and intriguing personalities made it easy to become engrossed in their story. I recommend this book and series to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC that I received from the author.

[Jen T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outpack is the fourth and sadly, final, book in the Rune Wolf series. When the magic of the Outpack goes awry, Elspeth is torn between fulfilling her oath-bound Council duties and helping out Orion and her found family--the pack she's forbidden to be a part of.

I spent a lot of the book feeling really bad for Elspeth because that horrible oath kept pulling her away from where she really wanted to be and forcing her to specifically avoid people that she loved. I also felt bad for Orion who was similarly torn between his duties as the pack alpha and his desire to help his mate. One thing that I really liked about this book is that I didn't see how we were going to get to a happy ending, but the author definitely didn't disappoint!  I also loved how throughout this series the desert is a character in its own right. I'm always a little sad when a series comes to an end and that's definitely the case here, but I was happy with how things worked out and I enjoyed the peek into the author's next story.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic wrapup of the series! Elspeth is having a hard time staying away from her mate and her pack. Her work for the Council hasn't really changed that much, but working for Julien is chafing. He likes to call meetings at odd times and not notify her until the last second. He also knows just how to rile her, and misses no opportunity to do so. She does try to include Orien if she can, she has to have someone she trusts to have her back, but she keeps that on the down-low. Infiltrating a corporate enterprise that is working on a top secret project is unusual, but someone is powering said project with a piece of magical desert known as the outpack and they need to how and why.

This tale is all kinds of complicated. The question is: can Elspeth and Orien survive what is coming with their matebound intact? I'm not telling. I was given an advanced copy of this book by the author. My review is voluntary.

[Deb Barringer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outpack, by Aimee Easterling, is a fantastic finale for her awesome Rune Wolf Series. It manages to take all of the loose ends that have been floating around, give them a brand new twist, tie them up in a very imaginative way and deliver them with a sparkly pink bow. The storyline is fast-paced and well-written, packed full of adventure, danger, intrigue, subterfuge and paranormal activity. This author is well known for taking werewolf writing to the next level, and she went above and beyond in this novel. The characters are mostly well known from previous editions, but there are a few fresh faces to enjoy also. I especially liked the addition of Ruby. Her characteristics are so in tune with typical teenagers. Overall, Outpack is a great ending to a wonderful collection. I highly recommend it!

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been reading this author for quite a while, and this is probably my favorite series so far. I’m sad that it’s over, but this is a great series ender. Elspeth must keep her oath to her father by being on the Council, but she’s fighting with all she’s got. I am afraid of spoiling this book by saying too much, but I thought that the way this was all resolved was a very interesting ending, and I loved how we get a teeny, tiny glimpse of the next series at the end. Those who love this series will definitely love this last installment. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook: I enjoyed the fourth book in the series as much as the other three books. I was engaged by the story from the opening paragraphs until the end. My attention was riveted by the almost non-stop action. I felt for Elspeth as she was torn by her vow and her loyalty to her mate and his pack. I admired Elspeth's and Orion's support of one another. I was entertained by all the political maneuvering and the twists and turns. I enjoyed Heather Daniel's narration as her performance was easy to follow and a pleasure to hear. I was given a copy of the audiobook. I volunteered, without financial gain, to post this review which reflected my honest opinions regarding this audiobook.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars
Outpack wraps up the Rune Wolf series with high-stakes action, political tension, and plenty of emotional pull. I enjoyed the central conflict of loyalty versus love and the way the story raised the stakes with ancient magic, missing wolves, and fractured alliances. The bond between the main characters was a strong highlight, and I liked seeing how far they would go to protect both pack and family. That said, while it was a good and satisfying conclusion, it didn’t completely grip me the way I hoped. Still, fans of wolf shifter stories and battle-couple dynamics will find a lot to enjoy in this finale.

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an explosive ending to a very complicated and dramatic series. Imagine yourself a wolf shifter raised in the human world and brainwashed into thinking your "wolf" is nothing but an unthinking animal. You are trained to infiltrate shifter wolf packs and remove what you thought were Shifter Alphas using black magic. Suddenly, you discover almost everything you have been taught was a lie, and was actually harming your fellow shifters and your "Father" betrays you time and time again to forward his own agenda. This is a series well worth reading.

[Liza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elspeth has had to swear loyalty to the Council - but that has separated her from the pack and, in particular, Orion, her mate. The packs are having lots of issues and things are getting tense plus a pack princess has disappeared. Elspeth has her work cut out trying to solve all the problems while maintaining her connections. Great book.

ARC from author

[Sunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

GREAT FINISH TO AN INTERESTING SERIES
Once again, Aimee came through with a great finish to an interesting and unique take in the world of werewolves. If you haven't started this series, you are in for a treat. Thanks to the publisher for this ARC.

[Rachel Martinez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story: 3.75/5
Narrator: 4.5/5

I really enjoyed the book but it all happened too fast. I think this book could have been expanded and slowed down into two separate books. The series had so much hope to be similar to Mercy Thompson books but it falls a bit short. Definitely enjoyed though.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fulminanter Showdown
Elspeth und Orion müssen aufgrund von El's Schwur dem Rat gegenüber getrennte Wege gehen und zeitgleich das Outpack ins Gleichgewicht zurück bringen. Ruby und Celeste geraten dabei in Lebensgefahr, während Julius Orions Rudel dominiert und versucht die Macht an sich zu reißen. Werden Orion und Elspeth den Drahtseilakt schaffen, das Outpack und die Rudel zu besänftigen ohne sich selbst zu verlieren? Lest selbst wie Aimee Easterling es schafft den Leser in die Geschichte zu ziehen und mit unseren Freunden mitzufiebern.