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Hidden Wolves #8
Unmasked
Trent
Halloween has always been a night I take for myself. On that one night, I cut loose with a mask hiding my face, and head to the gay bars. I can dance and flirt and maybe get laid, just one guy in a crowd of guys like me. They don’t know I’m a werewolf. My pack doesn’t know I’m gay. Every year, I grab onto my night of freedom and enjoy it hard.
Until this year, when my Alpha tells me I have to shift into wolf fur and go trick-or-treating with the pack kids. I’m supposed to wag my tail and charm the humans with “Operation Werewolves Make Good Neighbors.”
This was not how I wanted to spend my Halloween, but I’m just pack Fifth. When Alpha says “Hop,” I ask “How high?” So here I am, out with the kids, playing a happy, furry Warg, when I hear a little girl crying. And in saving her, I set a chain of events in motion that will upend my entire life. When Halloween is over, I’ll have to figure out who I want to be, in a world not made for gay werewolves.
Unmasked is a stand-alone story in the Hidden Wolves universe, set thirteen years after the main series, as werewolves and humans are learning to live side by side.
Halloween has always been a night I take for myself. On that one night, I cut loose with a mask hiding my face, and head to the gay bars. I can dance and flirt and maybe get laid, just one guy in a crowd of guys like me. They don’t know I’m a werewolf. My pack doesn’t know I’m gay. Every year, I grab onto my night of freedom and enjoy it hard.
Until this year, when my Alpha tells me I have to shift into wolf fur and go trick-or-treating with the pack kids. I’m supposed to wag my tail and charm the humans with “Operation Werewolves Make Good Neighbors.”
This was not how I wanted to spend my Halloween, but I’m just pack Fifth. When Alpha says “Hop,” I ask “How high?” So here I am, out with the kids, playing a happy, furry Warg, when I hear a little girl crying. And in saving her, I set a chain of events in motion that will upend my entire life. When Halloween is over, I’ll have to figure out who I want to be, in a world not made for gay werewolves.
Unmasked is a stand-alone story in the Hidden Wolves universe, set thirteen years after the main series, as werewolves and humans are learning to live side by side.
120 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 15, 2024
7 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Kaje Harper
91 books2,730 followersI get asked about my name a lot. It's not something exotic, though. “Kaje” is pronounced just like “cage” – it’s an old nickname, and my pronouns are she/her/hers.
I was born in Montreal but have lived for 30 years in Minnesota, where the two seasons are Snow-removal and Road-repair, where the mosquito is the state bird, and where winter can be breathtakingly beautiful. Minnesota’s a kind, quiet (if sometimes chilly) place and it’s home.
I’ve been writing far longer than I care to admit (*whispers – fifty years*), mostly for my own entertainment, usually M/M romance (with added mystery, fantasy, historical, SciFi…) I also have a few Young Adult stories (some released under the pen name Kira Harp.)
My husband finally convinced me that after all the years of writing for fun, I really should submit something, somewhere. My first professionally published book, Life Lessons, came out from MLR Press in May 2011. I have a weakness for closeted cops with honest hearts, and teachers who speak their minds, and I had fun writing four novels and three freebie short stories in that series. I was delighted and encouraged by the reception Mac and Tony received.
I now have a good-sized backlist in ebooks and print, both free and professionally published. A complete list with links can be found on my website "Books" page at https://kajeharper.com/.
You can find me and my book reviews on my author page here on Goodreads - I hang out on Goodreads a lot because I moderate the Goodreads YA LGBT Books group. I also post free short YA stories on that group, more than 50 of them so far.
You can also find me on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/KajeHarper
I was born in Montreal but have lived for 30 years in Minnesota, where the two seasons are Snow-removal and Road-repair, where the mosquito is the state bird, and where winter can be breathtakingly beautiful. Minnesota’s a kind, quiet (if sometimes chilly) place and it’s home.
I’ve been writing far longer than I care to admit (*whispers – fifty years*), mostly for my own entertainment, usually M/M romance (with added mystery, fantasy, historical, SciFi…) I also have a few Young Adult stories (some released under the pen name Kira Harp.)
My husband finally convinced me that after all the years of writing for fun, I really should submit something, somewhere. My first professionally published book, Life Lessons, came out from MLR Press in May 2011. I have a weakness for closeted cops with honest hearts, and teachers who speak their minds, and I had fun writing four novels and three freebie short stories in that series. I was delighted and encouraged by the reception Mac and Tony received.
I now have a good-sized backlist in ebooks and print, both free and professionally published. A complete list with links can be found on my website "Books" page at https://kajeharper.com/.
You can find me and my book reviews on my author page here on Goodreads - I hang out on Goodreads a lot because I moderate the Goodreads YA LGBT Books group. I also post free short YA stories on that group, more than 50 of them so far.
You can also find me on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/KajeHarper
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 2, 2025
Way way, way too short, but I have no choice, but to stan this very hard. I love this series and reading this book. Push me to start the series over from the beginning again.
Read
November 17, 2024This Halloween novella is now available for sale wide - note, if you got the free version that was briefly available as a Halloween promotion, this has a new cover (I do love this guy, versus my freebie cover) but it is the same story.
November 28, 2024
3.5 stars
This was pretty well-rounded for a short story and I liked how it managed to pack so much while still feeling light and easy. Trent’s character was the one we get to know more of the two MCs, not surprisingly, since the story’s told in his POV. I loved seeing how things are going 13 years after at the end of the main series and especially seeing it from a member of a new-to-me pack. Trent’s thoughts about how so many things have changed and how many are still the same felt pretty realistic, as was his reluctance to
The length of this book didn’t allow for a lot of relationship development, but even so Trent and Kendrick felt in a solid place at the end of the story. I liked how the author played with the Speaking of which, Kaje Harper must have some witchcraft tools in her writing arsenal, she’s one of the (very) few authors who manage to make me like stories with kids. (Just to be accurate, the kid doesn’t have a ton of page time, but I wouldn’t have minded more and that’s saying a lot coming from me)
This was pretty well-rounded for a short story and I liked how it managed to pack so much while still feeling light and easy. Trent’s character was the one we get to know more of the two MCs, not surprisingly, since the story’s told in his POV. I loved seeing how things are going 13 years after at the end of the main series and especially seeing it from a member of a new-to-me pack. Trent’s thoughts about how so many things have changed and how many are still the same felt pretty realistic, as was his reluctance to
The length of this book didn’t allow for a lot of relationship development, but even so Trent and Kendrick felt in a solid place at the end of the story. I liked how the author played with the Speaking of which, Kaje Harper must have some witchcraft tools in her writing arsenal, she’s one of the (very) few authors who manage to make me like stories with kids. (Just to be accurate, the kid doesn’t have a ton of page time, but I wouldn’t have minded more and that’s saying a lot coming from me)
February 13, 2025
3.5 Stars
November 24, 2024
Apparently, even 13 years after the wolves are no longer Hidden, things are still not going smooth-sailing for him. Trent, the Fifth in this pack, is still in the closet when this story starts. Although once Trent meets the father of a little lost girl AND he also realizes that the younger werewolves on his pack could get better treatment from a more homophobic wolves, Trent steps up.
The romance is mild because Trent and Kendrick (despite meeting for the first time a decade ago, but it was "club" meet and it didn't continue) just reconnect again. And this one ends with Happy-For-Now. Still, I always love this universe!
The romance is mild because Trent and Kendrick (despite meeting for the first time a decade ago, but it was "club" meet and it didn't continue) just reconnect again. And this one ends with Happy-For-Now. Still, I always love this universe!
November 27, 2024
This was cute. Trent and Kendrick were good together despite this being too short to really have a feeling about things. That said, I liked to see some glimpses about how things are going in this world after the main series.
January 8, 2025
I wanted more!
November 17, 2024
I loved this sweet Halloween based romance. Ordered to take place in his packs Halloween trick or treat in wolf form as a HR stunt instead of doing his own thing a somewhat resentful closeted gay wolf complies with his Apha’s ‘request’. While out trick or treating he rescues a young human girl from a pair of teenage bullies only to discover her father is a former hookup from ten years earlier. This ultimately tests his courage as to coming out to his pack. Is he brave enough? More than anything else, it is an emotional ride and compelling reading.
November 17, 2025
I will always, always read any and all books in this 'verse because it's my favorite shifters 'verse. And this book, taking place 13 years after the last one, didn't disappoint. I loved being able to see where the werewolves were now after revealing themselves to humans.
Can we hope for more books in the future? *fingers crossed*
Can we hope for more books in the future? *fingers crossed*
November 18, 2024
A new Hidden Wolves story!
I admit I’m new to Kaje’s Hidden Wolves world, but I’m slowly being drawn in. Kaje is such an amazing storyteller.
Okay, so Trent. Has his Halloween all planned out – mask, gay bar, hookup, hot sex and…
Nope. His alpha informs him that he’s going to shift into wolf form and accompany the pack kids around the neighborhood for trick or treating. Show the humans that werewolves can be nice and harmless.
Not certain I, as a human, would believe that. But an animal I can pet? Count me in.
Except nothing is simple for Trent. He encounters a child in distress. A young girl in need of assistance. Naturally he’s going to help – all the while understanding this is a precarious situation. He can’t speak, of course. Nor can he shift and become a naked guy. Yeah, that doesn’t work either.
He finds, in a way only Trent can, to help the young girl.
Then he meets the girl’s father. Which sends his life spinning in a new direction.
Now, I LOVED this story. I love simplicity. I love kids and pets (although werewolves aren’t pets) and I love love. So, needless to say, I loved this book.
I admit I’m new to Kaje’s Hidden Wolves world, but I’m slowly being drawn in. Kaje is such an amazing storyteller.
Okay, so Trent. Has his Halloween all planned out – mask, gay bar, hookup, hot sex and…
Nope. His alpha informs him that he’s going to shift into wolf form and accompany the pack kids around the neighborhood for trick or treating. Show the humans that werewolves can be nice and harmless.
Not certain I, as a human, would believe that. But an animal I can pet? Count me in.
Except nothing is simple for Trent. He encounters a child in distress. A young girl in need of assistance. Naturally he’s going to help – all the while understanding this is a precarious situation. He can’t speak, of course. Nor can he shift and become a naked guy. Yeah, that doesn’t work either.
He finds, in a way only Trent can, to help the young girl.
Then he meets the girl’s father. Which sends his life spinning in a new direction.
Now, I LOVED this story. I love simplicity. I love kids and pets (although werewolves aren’t pets) and I love love. So, needless to say, I loved this book.
November 22, 2024
**********Contains Spoilers**********
I really liked this Halloween based novella and being able to dive back into the Hidden Wolves World that Kaje Harper has created. This novella is set just over a decade after the end of the Hidden Wolves Series. Trent, is gay but hasn’t told his pack and spends Halloween cutting loose with a mask hiding his face and hitting the gay bars. He’s planning to do the same this year but then he’s ordered by his Alpha to shift and go trick or treating with the pack kids, to show the humans that Werewolves make good neighbours.
Not long after they’ve started Trent ends up saving a human little girl from some drunken teenagers trying to take her candy. Trent ends up scaring them away and after hearing that she’s scared and lost, he follows her scent trail to her house. Little does he know that her dad is actually a guy that he hooked up with about a decade ago. This is the start of what looks like an amazing and permanent relationship. I’m looking forward to reading more books by Kaje Harper in the future. I’d recommend this novella, series and author to others.
I really liked this Halloween based novella and being able to dive back into the Hidden Wolves World that Kaje Harper has created. This novella is set just over a decade after the end of the Hidden Wolves Series. Trent, is gay but hasn’t told his pack and spends Halloween cutting loose with a mask hiding his face and hitting the gay bars. He’s planning to do the same this year but then he’s ordered by his Alpha to shift and go trick or treating with the pack kids, to show the humans that Werewolves make good neighbours.
Not long after they’ve started Trent ends up saving a human little girl from some drunken teenagers trying to take her candy. Trent ends up scaring them away and after hearing that she’s scared and lost, he follows her scent trail to her house. Little does he know that her dad is actually a guy that he hooked up with about a decade ago. This is the start of what looks like an amazing and permanent relationship. I’m looking forward to reading more books by Kaje Harper in the future. I’d recommend this novella, series and author to others.
September 18, 2025
A really romantic meet cute, for a lonely wolf and a single dad
When a wolf finds a little girl being bullied on Halloween, he makes his wolf presence known. Off the boys run dropping their own candy as they flee… but what does a wolf now do with a little girl who says she is lost, to the big doggy that found her?? Well he follows her scent back to her home and meets her daddy, who is way to familiar smelling and looking! No spoilers! Will they workout any differences? Will they find their own HEA?? Oh, did I fail to mention the lonely wolf isn’t out of the closet with his pack yet?? This meet cute is in the Hidden Wolves Universe! It is an Excellent series and I highly recommend it!!
When a wolf finds a little girl being bullied on Halloween, he makes his wolf presence known. Off the boys run dropping their own candy as they flee… but what does a wolf now do with a little girl who says she is lost, to the big doggy that found her?? Well he follows her scent back to her home and meets her daddy, who is way to familiar smelling and looking! No spoilers! Will they workout any differences? Will they find their own HEA?? Oh, did I fail to mention the lonely wolf isn’t out of the closet with his pack yet?? This meet cute is in the Hidden Wolves Universe! It is an Excellent series and I highly recommend it!!
November 27, 2024
Entertaining short story whose only flow was that I desperately wanted it to continue. A gay werewolf is not out to his pack as gay, and not out as a werewolf when he picks up guys in bars for anonymous sex.
A good deed leads him to encounter a past hookup, who now has a young daughter, and his wolf is screaming "mate!"
That was basically the end.
A good deed leads him to encounter a past hookup, who now has a young daughter, and his wolf is screaming "mate!"
That was basically the end.
December 1, 2024
A BRIEF FULFILLING GLIMPSE
This is a HIDDEN WOLVES Novella. It's a complete standalone but such a KAJE HARPER Book. These two reconnect on a Halloween fluke. But the reconnection opened up a whole new world for both. I loved this Book. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND THE HIDDEN WOLVES SERIES!!!!!!!!!!
This is a HIDDEN WOLVES Novella. It's a complete standalone but such a KAJE HARPER Book. These two reconnect on a Halloween fluke. But the reconnection opened up a whole new world for both. I loved this Book. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND THE HIDDEN WOLVES SERIES!!!!!!!!!!
December 27, 2024
A little bit too much pack politics/structure for me, but otherwise very cute.
December 29, 2024
It was a good read, even if a bit undeveloped and short.
January 3, 2025
3.25 stars
This was a pretty cute story with some nice world building but it ended much too soon! this could very well have been a nice slowburn romance.
This was a pretty cute story with some nice world building but it ended much too soon! this could very well have been a nice slowburn romance.
January 17, 2025
I keep thinking this series is over and keep being delighted when I'm wrong.
March 21, 2025
Kaje keeps weaving magic with the Hidden Wolves novellas❤️ this ending way too soon. I wanted more of Trent and Kendrick. I wanted Larissa’s doggie back ride🤗🥰
So much wonderful love in this novella
So much wonderful love in this novella
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2025
I wish this were longer, but I understand it's really just a little peek at the world in 2024 to show how far the packs have come in the past 13 years. Maybe someday we'll get more. I can hope!
June 14, 2025
A fun short read.
October 7, 2025
Lovely to revisit one of my favorite worlds and see how the wolves are doing thirteen years after their big reveal to humans. Also a sweet romance.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews