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Forgiving Levi: A Dark Paranormal Romance

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Her scent was his obsession; his bite became her lifeline. Levi
As the Alpha of my pack, I never expected to lose control when I found my fated mate. But one whiff of Nia's scent and my world tilted on its axis. I claimed her against her will, stealing her choices and her future. Now I'll do anything to earn back her trust and her heart. Even if it means breaking the rules of my kind. She's everything I never knew I needed, and I won't let anyone or anything come between us again.

Nia
When the sexy and intimidating Levi claimed me as his fated mate, he took away my freedom and ripped me from my dying grandmother's side. At first all I felt was hatred toward the shifter who turned my world upside down. But as time passes, Levi shows me kindness and patience I never expected. If I open myself to him, will I finally find the happiness that's eluded me for so long? Or will the demons from my past destroy what we're trying so hard to build?


A quick note to my Forgiving Levi is filled with raw emotions and doesn’t really have a traditional happy ending. It’s more of an explanation for why Kane was so overbearing in Taming Kane—because Nia’s story is heartbreaking. At best, it’s a "happy for now," and even that feels uncertain.
The second part of their story, which I’ll start working on this weekend, will bring their happy ending. I’ll include a list of content warnings, and as always, I encourage you to protect your peace while reading. This is a slow burn.

If you're new to the series, this book is a prequel to Taming Kane, part of the Fated Mates Series. Nia is not fully introduced until Claiming Gabriel, the second book in the series.

This book has dark themes. Please take heed to the content warnings at the beginning of the book. Protect your peace!

This is just the first part of their story. The second part, Redeeming Nia , will follow their journey of redemption, second-chance romance, and a heartfelt happy ending.

400 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 11, 2025

186 people are currently reading
116 people want to read

About the author

Tessa Stone

17 books337 followers
Hello, readers! I rarely visit this space, but if you’d like to connect, you can find me on my blog or social media, where I’m most active. Thank you for your support, and happy reading!

Socials: Facebook, TikTok, Instagram: @authortessastone

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5 stars
237 (59%)
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118 (29%)
3 stars
36 (9%)
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7 (1%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
Profile Image for Taees_Cozy_Corner.
809 reviews1 follower
May 23, 2025
This was a bit confusing and has a lot of plot holes. I didn’t give a really good read and honestly it was too long. She spent 78% of the books mad with him and he was barely trying to make her less angry. Then the whole bully aspect of the book to me was weird and felt unnecessary. Plus she was a terrible communicator. You’re mad he’s not standing up for you but you haven’t when told the man what’s really going on with you? Seriously?? Then shes so bitter, she names her child after the arch nemesis of her mates people??? Like for real? She seemed really stupid to me. Idk this one was a no for me.
Profile Image for Via Jay.
76 reviews
April 17, 2025
really great book. levi was wrong in the beginning, extremely,he really did try to redeem himself. Nia has gone through a lot, I feel for her. however she is unhinged. I can't wait for her and Olivia to hash it out, and hopefully Nia gets some help. they're not teenagers any more, all these women have suffered.
Profile Image for Rhina M. Finley.
1,306 reviews19 followers
November 19, 2025
Nia’s Story!

Forgiving Levi was an intense read! But I loved it just as must as the other stories in the series! There was much depth, emotions, and adjustments! The power orientations, grief, and building of love was intriguing. Nia is such feisty and head strong character that she becomes memorable in Wintermoon!
40 reviews
April 21, 2025
not a fan of Nia

I’m not sure if this book was suppose to make me like/resonate with Nia but it didn’t. She seems like the type to always find misery in a situation. Yes, Levi was wrong for his initial approach. However, she just kept finding reasons to be miserable. Comparing herself to Skyler. Purposely setting her daughter up to be traumatized by her name, purely out of spite. Did you get to say goodbye to your grandma? No. Did everyone make sure her final days were peaceful? Yes. But she only saw the negative.

Very self centered and unlikable.

Wishing to have a fated mate and an easier life, only to reject it once you have it at every makes no sense.
Profile Image for Nell_reads.
13 reviews2 followers
April 13, 2025
from Patreon to Amazon

I read this book chapter by chapter as it was released on Patreon and Nia was/is so misunderstood but I enjoyed reading this book and hearing her story and of course Levi’s…I look forward to the rest of their story and as well as stories from this author
Profile Image for LaTanya Wright.
705 reviews
April 15, 2025
Bumpy Start

So happy Nia's story is being told. I didn't like her feelings being pushed aside in the previous books basically making her the bad guy. Can't wait for the second book so that she and Levi can truly get their happily ever after.
Profile Image for Cindy LouWhooo.
51 reviews
April 13, 2025
I loooooved the cautionary tale! One of my favorite installments of Wintermoon regardless of the rollercoaster of emotions. Nia is so much stronger than she thinks. I can’t wait for her soft girl era in the second installment. She deserves redemption. ❤️

And as for Levi… baby you better keep some chapstick for all the 🍑 kissing you need to be doing!
1 review
August 31, 2025
Bitter Nia

Ugh I didnt like Nia from the other books and this one DID NOT help my view of her one bit! Hell I dislike her even more! She is bitter and wears her victimhood like a badge of honor. It’s infuriating how she makes everyone pay for things that have happened to her. Especially Levi. “Promise we will both continue to fight for each other.” When has she ever fought for him??!! She has done absolutely nothing to heal or grow! No effort. She expects everyone else to do everything.

“I love you but I hate you.” I love you but I don’t want to forgive you.” I hate how she treats him. She is a horrible mate. He was wrong for claiming her against her will. 100%. But she said she forgave him. You don’t get to forgive someone and then hold what they did over their heads every freaking second. Forgive and let go. Don’t brandish it as a weapon every time things don’t go your way.

Just bitter as hell.

And I’m definitely not reading the second book. Levi had done enough groveling. Nia’s pathetic as hell and now she’s dragging the kids into her mess.

This book did not make her a likable character. I hate bullies yet Olivia redeemed herself. Nia didn’t redeem herself her and definitely doesn’t sound like she will redeem herself in the second book. No thanks✌🏾
391 reviews3 followers
April 24, 2025
This book was much needed earlier in the series because we all just hated Nia since we didn't understand why she acted the way she did. All we got was some vague references to her having a hard time when she joined. Does this book make me like Nia? NOPE! However, I understand where she comes from. Naming her daughter Aya was vindictive, and she feels like kids are going to make fun of her when she grows up.

This book reinforces what I thought for a while that Levi ain't shit. I knew for a long time he was a bad Alpha and not a great leader for the pack. Micah made sure to put it in the history he was the first of his bloodline to hurt their mate. He should be ashamed of himself a million times. He couldn't control his wolf and give her time to adjust to the reality. Give Nia a chance to say goodbye to her grandmother. It just goes to show his lack of control and selfishness. It was all about what he wanted and not about what would make his mate happy and what she needed.

I expect he will be replaced as Alpha soon by Jacob. He says in this book he never wanted to be alpha, only did it because his brother needed him. It was always supposed to be his cousin, Jacob's brother. Then Amirs comment in Anora's book cements that it will happen.

I really like that we got to see more of Skylar and Micah in this book. We got more of their story and their dynamics with the rest of the pack.
Profile Image for Georgena Walker.
28 reviews1 follower
June 13, 2025
Closet Bully, playing the Victim.

I don't like that Nia became a bully. Whenever things didn't go hey way she bullied Levi. She claimed she forgave him off making her. But when her grandmother died she blamed him again, said it was his fault she couldn't say goodbye. She decided to wait 5 months to tell her grandmother she was pregnant. Then she blamed Levi because she died before she got to tell her. She lied to Levi, then wanted to blame him for not backing her hatred of Olive. Now that she's Luna Olivia is going to pay. Basically, Nia is a whiny B!TCH!!!!!!.
Profile Image for Alicia J..
Author 12 books38 followers
May 28, 2025
Third book I read of this author and this is the lowest I’ve ever gave. I came in with high hopes but their storyline just didn’t cut it for me. The typos and grammar errors don’t deflect from the story but Micah and Skylar’s story over shined Nia and Levi IMO. Their natural reactions to things didn’t make sense to me and to be a long book, I felt like there was a lot of fluff to make the book long. I rather this have been Micah’s book with some of Levi’s story etched in it.
Profile Image for Kay.
11 reviews
January 24, 2026
DNF; Ran to ChatGPT for…

I’m sorry…I am SO, SO, SOOOOO sorry. This book wasn’t it at all. I mean no disrespect, because I was SO EXCITED to read this book after just a few nights ago, I discovered Tessa Stone via an Instagram ad featuring the SEXY Black male lead character of what I found out was her NEWEST book, “Surviving Josiah.”

I took a deep dive onto her profile, onto her website and found out that Wintermoon is an ENTIRE series with an ENTIRE universe full of connected characters and their respective stories. I read a sample of “Surviving Josiah” and was HOOKED. But seeing the proper order the Wintermoon books were in on Tessa’s Catalog list, I FORCED myself to calm down and just read through all the books in the proper order.

That being said, “Forgiving Levi” was a terrible let-down. The pacing, the glaring typos, the inconsistency of characters and their behaviors. Nia, for one, had the most unrealistic behavior in the whole book. To have been disrespected, “underpaid and overwhelmed; overworked and overwhelmed” (YES, I’m quoting Beyoncé lyrics here!) through her whole life to being found as the fated mate of the Alpha of a wolf pack, to being VIOLATED by said Alpha…HOW, in the matter of a few days to a month does she manage to bypass ALL that trauma just for the sake of succumbing to a “fated mate bond?” It doesn’t make sense! She literally been ripped from her family…her ailing grandmother, I just don’t get it. The Levi, who’s supposed to be the ALPHA MALE, is left scrounging and scrambling for forgiveness that Nia keeps going back and forth inside herself about whether or not she wants to offer said forgiveness to him or not. It just…does NOT track at all.

The pacing was bad. I went NINETEEN CHAPTERS into the story and literally NOTHING of any significance had happened YET. The writing was so boring, certain things kept being dragged out, repeated, and unimportant details were drawn out. I couldn’t take it anymore. I started Tuesday night, but NOW on Friday night, I just gave up. It was too boring, too horribly written, too unbelievable (and not in a good way). I LITERALLY went to ChatGPT and asked it give me the DETAILED, SPOILER-HEAVY summary of what happened in the book because I just couldn’t stand to read anymore. And even then, I STILL went back to the book and tried reading some more. I skimmed the “pages” and things just does NOT get better for Nia at ALL, and she seems to be pretty resigned to her fate, even with her attempt to get her lick back by naming her firstborn baby AYA.

I feel so bad because I CRAVE stories like this for Black folks. We LITERALLY do NOT get enough representation in any kind of paranormal, supernatural, magical, fantasy, romance genres AT ALL. So, I DO love supporting my own, and that’s why I still tried. And I give this a 2-star and not a 1-star or a 3, 4, 5 star because…I REALLY LOVE the *CONCEPT* behind this story and what appears to be the basis of this entire Wintermoon universe, but it just wasn’t executed in the best way here. I’m not sure of the publishing order but…the sample I read from “Surviving Josiah” was LIGHTYEARS better than THIS book by FAR.

This left a not-so-great taste in my mouth, so now I’m contemplating whether or not I even want to attempt to read any of the other books in this series in order, or if I should just skip to Josiah’s story since that pulled me in and is written much better….?

I just really hoped for more.
Profile Image for Serena Buffaloe.
659 reviews12 followers
April 22, 2025
Just a few items that were totally wrong, but still a great read !!!

Ok, these books for me ate 5 star and beyond kind of reads. But , this time , these were quite a few discrepancies that were hard to ignore. I don't want to ruin anything for anyone, but i had a hard time telling who was speaking and a difference of characteristics of the brothers ,, but I will just say that, even with those typos, it was a phenomenal read !! Reading Nia's POV was enlightening. When I heard that Nia was getting her own book, I was like, ok. Great. But reading her journey, helps me to understand her better. Which, I'm sure the writer intended.


Nia is a young woman who is the main caretaker to her terminal grandmother. Her brother helps, but not really. Consequently, Nia is often late , mostly because her brother is late relieving her shift. Nia's boss is just the worst !!!
So , on this particular night , Nia is being asked to work later, because she was late coming in. But she cant, because her brother WILL leave her grandmother alone. He has done it before. But before Nia and her boss can get into it about her shift, there is two humongous shifters in the diner.
And they are there for her !!!!
Levi , the alpha of their small pack of brothers, and his brother Kane have left their home in Wintermoon, to do some deliveries in Detroit. On the way home, Levi ," smells" , his destiny.
As him and Kane enter the diner, he realizes that this beautiful woman in front if him is his one true mate !!! He gas finally found her , after 1,000 years !!!!
Finally !!!!
These two have it extremely difficult right from the beginning. His expectations are definitely outdated . And hers are not at all what he was expecting. She knows nothing about his culture , and that will come back to bite him in the bum !!!
But, all in all , A very well written story . I believe that there is more to Nia's story and I am looking forward to reading it !!!
Profile Image for Amanda (The Literary Hoarders).
346 reviews6 followers
May 2, 2025
Always errors!

I enjoy these books but someone has to do a better job of editing! Repeated paragraphs, wrong characters names written, its takes you out the story and quite irritating that this is a common occurrence with the series.
Now as for the story, honeeyyyy when I tell you they say I would have burned down Wintermoon... I honestly don't understand how some reviews are saying its still on sight for Now like did we not read the same book?! She is justified in EVERY action she make and every messy feeling. It's the one thing I don't like about the mate bonds, there should be a freedom in choosing, where you live, what you do with your own time like I'm your mate and now I'm nothing but a housewife and baby producer. These women need to have their own life, jobs if they want, go out without their mates crashing the spa day.
Now did she have to say what she did after Tami was hurt in Jacob and Angie story, no but that's all I'm holding against sis cause I would've crashed out day 1.
I'm hoping Nia gets to heal after all she's been through and they don't make her the bad guy in order to make Olivia shine cause after reading what she did, she lucky Nia didn't punch as soon as she saw her.
The only shining moment for me in this book is Skylar and Micah lol who knew Skylar was a big ole freak!
Profile Image for Samone Webber-Blount.
37 reviews1 follower
April 24, 2025
This is my first 4⭐️ for Ms.Tessa BUT it’s only because the story was so much more emotional & painful. We relived some critical moments from the Fated Mates series & I really enjoyed more in depth visuals on how things went down earlier in the Wintermoon universe. Seeing Skyler & Micah more helped me not see them as strangers which I appreciate. This book felt more like side dishes when the Fated Mates series is the MEAT & GRAVY if you know what I mean lol! I’m sure it’s meant to feel like that, but considering I didn’t like Nia at all before this book helped me empathize more with her character. I still don’t like her 100% but I can see where the bitterness came from, BUT naming her daughter Aya is something I can’t let go✋🏽 like come tf on! She deserves all the criticism for that & then to pull the “take my voice & make me change her name” card was weird to me. Like girl, PLEASE!🤦🏽‍♀️😂
445 reviews5 followers
May 1, 2025
Emotional Rollercoaster

I definitely have a better understanding of why Nia is the way she is. She had a rough life and then here comes Levi disrupting her norm by force. While he was remorseful, the damage was done. Nia was carrying heavy burdens that weighed her down and trauma from her childhood that still lingered. The insecurities, constant expectations, and feeling unheard were just too much.

I did grow to like Levi, but I was upset with him for a while. I will say that by the end, I didn’t care for Nia much, but again she had too much happening internally to be rational. The naming, the bitterness towards the others for their happiness, and the darn grudge against Olivia—though understandable—was just a lot. However, I’m hoping her redemption story ties it all together for me.
Profile Image for Creatively Asha Ashley.
79 reviews
January 25, 2026
This One Was Okay

I felt so sorry for Levi. I also wanted to ring Levi’s neck for the poor choices. And Nia made me want to scream, however, I understood it. Getting snatched away from your world and being left with no choices, bitterness is to be expected.

Overall good story. I wanted more of Levi’s personality, but I loved getting a peek into the pack’s dynamic. Also, Skylar!? I didn’t know you had it in you, girl! Haha! Poor Micah. That boy didn’t catch a break.

I think something that Author Tessa Stone nailed in this story is that not everyone that comes to Wintermoon is happy for that change. Not bad. Nia didn’t let her wonderment for the magical world immediately toss out her feelings about getting snatched away. Not bad
Profile Image for Breanna.
158 reviews10 followers
April 20, 2025
An Emotional Read

This was such an emotional read. I felt so bad for Nia. She was taken against her will, forced to live on Wintermoon, her body starts to betray her when she starts connecting to Levi, and just when things seem to be going her way, her grandmother dies and then Olivia (who deserves to get her behind whooped) enters her world again. She just couldn’t catch a break. My biggest thing is: Kade and Levi saw how much Nia was struggling, so why didn’t they get her some help? Do psychiatric services not exist for supernaturals?

Overall, I really enjoyed this and can’t wait until Part 2. 4.5 ⭐️
16 reviews
April 24, 2025
I bought the paperback and listened on Kindle. I have a better understanding of Nia. Still can't get over her naming baby girl Aya, but we do things out of pain sometimes. Nia was physically and emotionally drained before Levi absconded with her. So, of course her world went from slowly falling apart with work life taking care of grandma balance to completely crashing down on her. She was tired and then being told she is Luna. Come on! One stressed and grieved woman can take so much. Levi was dead wrong for taking her away especially from Grandma. He did his bed to redeem himself. I love their story. I love Wintermoon. Thank you Tessa Stone for another wonderful read!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Bonnets-N-Books.
31 reviews
April 30, 2025
This was a cautionary tale of what it can be like on the other side of a fated mate’s relationship when you have no say or a chance to adjust. I liked that about the story and it helped me understand Nia a lot more although I still don’t like her. Levi was wrong in a lot of ways, but I felt like he more than earned Nia’s forgiveness. I will say Olivia got some serious work to do in order for her and Nia to ever be cool.
Overall I don’t think this story was meant to make us as the readers like Nia but understand her. Also I loved Skylar and Micah getting more back story also… they are spicy IYKYK 😂
Profile Image for Capri Ellis-Love.
84 reviews2 followers
June 18, 2025
love is strong and have a pull

This was a really good read, even though I had to come all the back and read this one #lol I see now why Nia was so mad at Olivia and why she felt the way she did for Levi. It’s always a back story that needed to be told. Now I can finish up the rest. This is a must read before you read the rest. I must say, Nia should have told Levi everything that was going on with her in the human world maybe he would have had a better approach. I would have stand on business and let Olivia know I’m the Luna, but I would have never allow my pack to fall apart because what went on in the human world. This a totally different ball game.
Profile Image for Jess (Jess.Keep.Reading).
189 reviews17 followers
May 5, 2025
Tessa’s writing is always a 5⭐️ what a tumultuous story that’s still ongoing. It does make me want to revisit Kane, Gabriel and Jacob’s stories to see Levi and Nia’s dynamic mature over time. This book also helps to understand timing and how new their relationship was still in other stories. They may have officially been the first mated couple but only by days (hours?). I still can’t believe the justification on naming her daughter Aya. The equivalent of naming their kid Hitler… looking forward to Nias redemption
Profile Image for Benita Cleaves.
434 reviews2 followers
May 19, 2025
Interesting.. But Nia needs therapy

Good story. His experienced some troubling things, but the way she chose to react seemed childish IMO. House of Zorah welcomed her and showed nothing but kindness. Levi as lame as he is worked for forgiveness forever. She never took accountability for her decisions, especially around seeing her grandmother. All the crying about not having a voice..your LUNA which gave her the power to use her voice. Naming her child that was just wrong and inconsiderate. Least liked character (couple).
Profile Image for Phaze.
286 reviews1 follower
April 28, 2025
Nia

I was always interested in Nia's story. Always curious about her "why."
She had every right to feel alllll if her feelings. Tears were always present while reading her story. Her trauma was not in the physical sense, but she spiralled and there was no professional on hand to help her through her losses. She had to keep pulling herself out this rough spots

I cant wait to read the follow up book, to see what finally lead to her leaving.
Profile Image for Lateasha Barnes.
10 reviews
June 24, 2025
The biggest pothole was why couldn’t Kade teleport her to see her grandma for 5-10mins to say goodbye? Why did they wait 6 months to see her terminally ill grandmother when she had up to a month to live. I understand why she is bitter with Levi, he did everything wrong in the beginning to get her to Wintermoon and then towards the end when her grandmother died, he sadly was the reason she couldn’t see her. Wish we would have got a glimpse into why she left Levi to go live in the community lands. Over a good story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
1 review
Read
July 9, 2025
Nia was a bitter person she did things out of spite such as naming her daughter Aya and dared anyone to make her change the name which she later regrets giving her daughter that name. As for her feelings for Olivia who's the mean girl now. Didn't like Nia to much maybe in Redeeming Nia she will get her act together as being Luna and stop flip flopping. Levi is really trying to give her Heaven and Earth on Wintermoon.
2,403 reviews3 followers
September 22, 2025
Loved this!

I understand Nia being upset about Levi claiming her the way he did, but the life he was offering her compared to the one she was suffering through, should have made up for it. Nia has a lot of issues and got on all my nerves. I hope in the coming books that she gets the help she needs to heal. Levi has shown time and time again, his regret for the way they started out and also his love and willingness to make it up her. I loved this book, but so not feeling Nia!!
1 review
September 27, 2025
Greatness

I loved everything about this book. I can't wait to continue the series. It literally only took me 3 days to read this I was so engaged. The ups and downs dealing with Nia and Levi's relationship took me on a personal journey of healing for myself. Finding forgiveness through love is a journey within itself Tessa Stone really captured the tedious process of it in this book.
Profile Image for Bri Hicks.
120 reviews1 follower
April 22, 2025
I have mixed feelings on this book. On the one hand I love how strong the fmc is and the journey you see her through but on the other hand I feel like the mmc was lacking in sooooo many elements. Like do more sir. The redemption arc imo was not deserved. Besides that the story overall was nice. It was good to have a break from the immediate attraction that all the other books have.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
575 reviews
April 30, 2025
Wow

This was the one we needed!!!! So much backstory on Nia and Levi!!! Man I can really understand her now. I mean realllllllly understand. She went through so much!!!!

I cried!!!!!! But hoping she can really forgive Levi.
And Olivia too. 😭

Wintermoon is everything. Get into this series!!!!!
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