The Alpha's Second Chance Mate

by Sadie Sears

He never knew she was carrying his child.
Now she’s back—and this time, she’s his to claim.

Avery never expected to return to Harbor Mills—or to face the alpha who once broke her heart. But with her son’s life on the line, she has no choice but to turn to the only man who can help.

Cole didn’t know he had a son. He never stopped loving Avery—and now that fate has brought her back, nothing will keep him from protecting what’s his.

The pack is dangerous. The threats are real. But this time, Cole won’t let anything—or anyone—stand between him and his mate.

Perfect for fans of fated mates, second chances, protective alpha wolves, and small-town shifter heat.This edition includes both parts of the duology—over 800 pages of steamy, emotional, fated-mates goodness.

No cliffhangers. No waiting. Just one deliciously chunky book you can devour in a single sitting (or several very late nights).

Genres: Shapeshifters, Romance, Fantasy, Second Chance, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Werewolves

852 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 9, 2025

About the author

A team of authors who love to write paranormal shifter romance!

Reviews

[Zen · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.75 stats

So much to unpack with this book. This is one that shows that longer is not always better. This book could have used a content editor because there was no way it needed to be as long as it was. Some of the reactions seemed very calculated by the author to fit a particular narrative. I know that's writing, but the best analogy I can come up with is square pegs in round holes. They don't fit, but sometimes, if the sizes are adjusted to make them go together, there's all this unnecessary empty space that makes it not quite right. Their actions and reactions didn't always make sense or seem natural, so it made the story feel clunky and the dialogue stilted. Overall, I think there was just too much going on, and there felt like too much manufactured angst and conflict, which drew the story out unnecessarily.

[Nole4Life · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. I mad it 12% through but I just didn’t care. The characters are kind of bland. If it would have been a 300 page book then I may have stuck with it. However, there is no way that I was going to read 80-900 pages about these people.

[ZoeyHart♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just....couldn't. I got halfway and I think im done. when we finally get to the cavalry coming in to help, I was like ok bet, we have maybe a few chapters left? nope...I was like at 49% I was like wtf???? the story dragged on waaaaaaaaay to long. Both Avery and Cole pissed me off with their whining and moaning. He's an alpha? he sounded like a beta at the high end.... like sweet jesus my guy get OVER yourself. and avery....idk something about her just gave me the ick. I was no longer rooting for them, I just wanted the story to end. This will be my very first DNF.. I just cant waste anymore time.

[Brynette Turner · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was entirely too long (847 pages!) and not what it was advertised to be. The first half is the "second chance" romance trope and was decent only if the reader ignores the contradicting details of wolf shifters' enhanced abilities, an immature Alpha with zero knowledge of his pack, and shallow relationship details for every main character.

The second half is a poorly written, clichéd, wannabe gangster drama with an ill-conceived kidnapping and extortion plot, ridiculous inconsistent characters, and repetitive dialogs. This waste of time feels like two different story ideas that were poorly merged. DNF at 66%.

[Jacqueline · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 47%

I couldn’t do it anymore. As many reviews state, this is just abhorrently long.

Cole? Holy heck I’ve never read such a whiny, pathetic “alpha” character. He seems to be wholly incapable of controlling his (very juvenile) emotions, he can’t make decisions, and him and his sister have a ridiculously stupid amount of loyalty to a brother who appears to hate them and literally KIDNAPS THE MMC AND FMCS SON.

Btw that’s the point where I said f this. I’m sorry, if someone kidnapped my child, and my child’s father tried to defend the one who did the kidnapping? No. We’re done.

Avery was… ok. As a parent I understand some of her responses, but she sure jumped in fast for having such a big heartbreak… only to bounce back after the first day of non-perfect behaviour. I was getting whiplash a bit with their relationship.

For me, there was no saving this one. Im sure there’s more but I am just done with this one.

[SilentSpectra · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 43%

I really wanted to make it through the first book but man, I what a snooze fest. The original "issues" that "caused" Cole to run were so juvenile that it made it hard to keep reading but I pushed my annoyance aside with the hope of better things to come.

Better things did not come. The pack debt and loan issue is what comes up and I thought my brain was going to explode. In any other shifter book, when a mate is threatened, the one doing the threatening is quickly unalived; so, to read a shifter book where the alpha doesn't entertain the immediate demise of the threat to his family and pack was more than I could take. Seriously, get the f*** out here with that noise.

[Gina · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 8%. MMC was a walking contradiction from the beginning. His dad tells him he can’t be with a human so he takes off and abandons her? Wow, that sure showed your dad you were serious about her. I don’t care how young or old the character is, that’s just asinine. That beginning coupled with being an 800+ page book made it a no for me fast.

[Vicki Mckeegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous read I want to the book that will tell me Langdon’s and Stormy’s story.
I was also hoping for some action between the two Tech wizards 😝

[crissy davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

slow

Decent story. Slow going and hard to get into. For someone to be an alpha an a leader, this one was wishy washy about everything until push come to shove at the very end of the book.

[Lauren]

I’m not leaving a rating since I DNFed this book on page 493. The fact that I can make it that far and just not care to finish it says a lot about my feelings for this book.
The main characters are unlikable and are terrible parents. SPOILERS AHEAD.

1- Avery constantly makes disparaging/ “joking” comments about how much food her shifter son is eating during puberty. She even mentions the extra cost of feeding him multiple times TO HIM like it’s something he could control. This is how parents foster disordered eating.
2- Their son is going to have his first shift some time within the week and they go out of town for a date weekend and of course miss it.
3- Their lives have been threatened and Avery lets her son walk completely unchaperoned to his dad’s house to talk to him. Then she lets him go to the park (with a chaperone this time) where he is kidnapped. You are supposed to be fleeing for your life not making it easy to get to you.
4-Now that their son has been kidnapped by a murderer who has threatened to kill him they decide they really need to bang while he is likely being abused and is terrified.
5- Avery’s friends comes to help them get Ashton back and instead of being grateful Cole is a dick to him bc he thinks one of the men is after his girl and that his BFF likes him more. Like dude- he’s just trying to help rescue your son.
6- The group had to wait on Cole to finish having his menty b about Avery having hot friends before they could go rescue their son

Overall I was forcing myself to read this daily and just not making progress because I didn’t enjoy it. The side characters are good - but them being good just makes the main characters look even worse.

[Loco Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars. God, that was waaaaaay too long! Somehow, with all those pages, there was very little actual relationship development. The FMC wasn't very likeable. We're told she's so in love with Cole (The MMC) but man, you really don't see it at all. She seems angry that she likes him. Which, okay I guess that makes sense for the first 400 pages or so (🙄), but 600 pages in and she's still bitter and bitchy? It just gets old. Cole was also a weird character. Really great at first, withstood all Avery's BS, seemed brave and strong and then just buckled! He never had a really great idea how to handle anything and seemed a hot mess. I felt like I was hearing a story about a side character, the fact that he was a main character was mind boggling. Did I mention this was just way too long? Ashton, the son, was honestly the best character and I feel like this whole 800+ pages was just a prologue to his story. Which I doubt I'll read. I'm lucky I finished this one.

[Shanny · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 30% chapter 17, of over 800 pages.

I’m concerned about parts of this book being plagiarized. The first several chapters read exactly like another book I’ve read called Her Dragon Daddy by Roxie Ray (which was published well before this book). I’m up to chapter 17 and everything is familiar. Not everything matches the above named book but it’s all too familiar and not just in this tropes typical way. I do not recommend.

[Madeleine Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Avery and Cole. Its a slow read but worth reading. There is no cliffhanger and ends with a HEA. Cole is the interim alpha of the Harbor Mills pack and doesn't know he is a father . He has a lot of growing up to do. Avery and her son return to Harbor Mills and live in her grandma's house. Avery thinks he abandoned her son. It is a very emotional story and there are trigger warnings. Bad guy is totally crazy. The book is part one and part two.

[Shelley G · Rating 5 out of 5]

new author for me this is an excellent book however having 2 parts like 2 bks in 1, its very long which made the reading a bit hard. otherwise, its very well written, with events lining up well in the timeline. the character development was amazing the author bringing them very much too life and making them feel like real ppl with real emotions, thoughts, fears, insecurities, friendships, jealousies, and more which really affected how how they handled things that happened thru out the story. there were plenty of plot twists u didn't see coming that kept the story remarkable and exciting. the shifter pack dynamics and hierarchy was richly detailed as well as shifters living amongst and beside regular humans and how law enforcement interacted with the shifter world. Cole was quite the mess from living with such childhood trauma and a difficult father. his problems carried over from his teens to his adult years affecting every decision he made and leading him to basically ruin his life when he ran away from his responsibilities and left avery his mate behind pregnant and alone. unable to reject her both lived a kind of half life never able to truly move on with someone new until fate one day caused them both to return individually to their home town and they run into each other. cole then finds out he has a teen son he never knew about and has to deal with the fall out of his running away years ago, missing his son's entire childhood, still loving his human mate avery, and cleaning up the mess his dead alpha father made of the pack he never wanted to lead and ran to escape. but life put him right back into the position of alpha and he has to either lead or see his entire pack and town destroyed by an evil unhinged dangerous shifter who has his own plans for the town. avery moves home after catching her bf cheating and finds out her ex cole never knew he had a son and didnt purposely abandon her pregnant like she thought. she's had to be strong for 15 yrs and isn't about to just let cole walk back into her heart now and drag her thru that hell again but she does want her son to finally have his dad. somehow she must navigate letting her son get to know his father with her unresolved feelings for the mate who left her behind when she needed him most.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Alpha rises to the challenge.
Cole, the young Alpha leaves his pack at Harbor Mills unaware he was to become a father. Avery is a human, Cole’s fated mate, leaves the town pregnant, and brought up her son Ashton on her own. Fifteen years later they both find themselves back at Harbor Mills for different reasons.
Cole a a young man, was to me quite weak for an Alpha, leaving the pack as he couldn’t deal with the arguments with his father any more, not wanting to take over the helm from his dad. Leaving his fated mate, the woman he loved, without considering her feelings.
Avery, a human, on the other hand proved to be stronger and was able to bring up her son, while studying and then maintaining a career. She had gone through so much, yet still survived and her son was a well balanced young man, their relationship something to be proud of. She was the true hero of this book. The book has two parts, the first part in the main surrounding Ashton, their son finding himself as a shifter, and Cole and Avery overcoming their past. The second and most intriguing part, was full of mystery and angst.
What happened in the past having serious impact on the present and the future, which when Cole found out, his and his packs’ new reality, had him showing his deep alpha qualities to lead to pack to a brighter future.
There was a lot of action, people not being whom they seemed to be. An evil alpha who wanted to take over the world. Sensual scenes between Avery and Cole, along with all the stress, no parent would ever want to deal with.
Cole was so protective of his family, he had to put in a lot of work, both physically and mentally to get there, to be the strong and respected alpha of his pack.
I really enjoyed this book, how the fated mates got back together, the ups and downs that they had, I particularly liked all the action and intrigue, that had Cole and the other shifters at a loss for much of the time. This book showed the importance of friends and family, blood related or otherwise, being there to provide support and back up despite the immense challenge it brought.
The story itself was well thought out, well written, with the characters being real. (In a shifter world).

[Shifter Haven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed at Shifter Haven

The Alpha’s Second Chance Mate is a duology (a 2-in-1) that makes a long, detailed, and intense story of reunited mates, a pack on the edge of collapse because of a very bad Alpha, and a complete psycho shifter with delusions of grandeur of world dominance in his evil, twisted mind. Buckle up, buttercup, it’s going to be a wild ride.

I, frankly, cannot come up with any safe way to talk about Avery’s and Cole’s journey without giving away possible spoilers, and I try very hard not to do that. The safest thing I could say is that this couple are fated mates who were separated by one stupid decision, and they both paid for that choice. The rest are complications of an alpha who made bad choices that left his pack vulnerable to the actions of a madman… leaving his returning son to pick up the pieces. Their story is beyond intense, full of action, danger, passion, and a love that is strong enough to survive what has been dealt to this couple… but not without consequences.

I really hope that there will be more stories, or at least one more, because within the secondary characters, a mate relationship between Langston and Stormy was more than hinted at… and I want to know more. I could see possibilities with other secondary characters as well. And there is one loose thread that needs to be tied in a pretty bow. I’d like more, whether I’ll have that wish granted is up in the air.

In all, The Alpha’s Second Chance Mate by Sadie Sears and Roxie Ray is intense, a long story, but well worth the time spent in this world. If you enjoy a well-written, dangerous, passionate story with twists and turns that will take you by surprise, and one vile villain you cannot help but loathe, then you’d enjoy this one for certain.

I read this title through my Kindle Unlimited subscription.

[AuDHD_Anxiety_Smurf · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just like rereading Her Dragon Daddy by Roxie Ray. It was different enough in the details that it couldn’t be accused of plagiarism, but alike enough in the overall story arc that it kept giving me deja vu. Girl gets left by her young alpha-heir shifter (wolf in this book, dragon in Roxie’s book) before he knew she was pregnant. Fast forward a decade and a half, she returns to her hometown and lo and behold, her baby daddy is now alpha and he finds out he’s a father. He helps his son prepare for and get through his first shift and determines to win back the heart of his mate and first love. She is dealing with the pain of years of perceived betrayal and is reluctant. There is drama and violence. Then they live happily ever after and he claims her with a bite. All of this is exactly parallel to Her Dragon Daddy. The drama, danger and violence is difference in specifics, and the alpha in this book is far more of an immature, whiny little bitch than Mav in Her Dragon Daddy. It was Ashton, his son, who gets kidnapped in this book, when it’s Mav’s mate in Roxie’s book who gets snatched.

Honestly, deja vu aside, it was hard to read this book. Everybody loves to hate the bad guys in a book, but it’s tough going when you want to throat punch the hero. Also, there were some glaring typos and errors that made me grind my teeth. I’m actually tempted to go back and reread Her Dragon Daddy again, just for comparison.

[MzAnn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started Out Well...

But took a turn for the...I'll be nice and say "improbable."

Kyle Alexander comes out of nowhere as this threat to Cole Garrett's pack. (I've forgotten the name already...was it Harbor Mills?) It looks like Cole's late father had screwed up the pack's finances and left them vulnerable to Kyle's machinations. To add insult to injury, Cole's half-brother, Dallas (the result of an affair their father had) seems to be working for the enemy.

Avery, Cole's ex, returns to Harbor Mills (?) with their teenaged son on the verge of his first shift. Knowing he'd need the help of shifters, she goes back hoping the boy's estranged grandfather would help...but instead she finds Cole...who never knew his son existed.

Dun-dun-duuunnn....

All of that made for some pretty good drama starting out...especially when you throw in the fact that Kyle seems obsessed with Avery, Cole's fated mate.

Are you wondering the same thing that I was wondering? Why was Kyle so obsessed with this pack and taking over? Why was he SO intent on having Avery? You'd think there was something...some deep, dark secret...something g really good...causing all of this, wouldn't you?

I'll leave off here, saying "That's what I thought, too."

I just skimmed through the second part of the book. I grew to dislike Avery and her Super Bitch ways.

For the most part, I like the way it ended...mostly. It wasn't e ought to make up for the middle part, though.

[Erin]

DNF ~30%. Therefore I won't leave a rating.

This started off cute, but around 300 pages of an 800+ page book, I got bored and while the characters had potential. I felt no attachment to them.

The dead dad's gambling debt just wasn't enough action for me. It would have been cooler if they just let Trent kill Kyle when he offered. *maybe he eventually does, but I just didn't have it in me to read 500 more pages to find out.

Also I get the weird alpha power was explained. It just was weird. And the 15 years later. I know the second chance trope is popular. I just always spend so much time thinking about that time in between. Since I didn't connect with Avery or Cole, part of me thought if they shouldn't have gotten back together. I didn't like excuses Cole gave. I really didn't like the fact that when Farrah ran into and had a conversation with Avery and Ashton at the grocery store,she continued the lie even though she no longer needed to. Fine she's caught off guard, but go directly to your brother and tell him right now. 🤬🤬🤬. So many little things added up to major annoyances before I said thanks but I'm okay not to finish.

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A second chance that actually feels earned.

This one got its claws in and did not let go. I told myself I’d just start it—and suddenly the chapter read "epilogue".

Avery is fierce, stubborn, and doing everything she can to protect her kid. Cole is that perfect blend of broody alpha and “you are mine and I will burn the world” energy. Their chemistry is undeniable, but it’s the emotional tension that really hit me—this isn’t just about steamy scenes (you absolutely get those though), it’s about history, heartbreak, and the hard parts of coming back.

There’s weight here. Family wounds, pack pressure, and some genuinely heavy stuff—so definitely read the trigger warnings. It’s not dark romance, but it does go deep. If you want something fluffy and light, this probably isn’t it. But if you’re into second chances that feel messy and real, protective wolves, and that moment when everything clicks again—this delivers.

[CJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Was a very pleasant and exciting roller coaster ride! The twists and turns of their back and forth with Kyle. The up and down of Dallas’s part, even the fated hart strings between Avery and Cole. It had me clutching my pearls, getting squeamish and rooting for love and adoring Ashton. I like that Avery wasn’t a pushover and did what was needed for her son and even more that Ashton was genuinely a good kid and protective of his mom. He didn’t rush to decisions or choices but thought them through and paid attention where it counted. Wasn’t expecting certain shock and awe moments, but they were oh so good! And Stormy was a hoot with her unawareness lol sure hope to find out more about that duo! Definitely recommend this for shifter lovers that like a little Alpha with their love!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Megan Shelton · Rating 2 out of 5]

From GR reviewer @Zen that I couldn't agree more with:
"So much to unpack with this book. This is one that shows that longer is not always better. This book could have used a content editor because there was no way it needed to be as long as it was. Some of the reactions seemed very calculated by the author to fit a particular narrative. I know that's writing, but the best analogy I can come up with is square pegs in round holes. They don't fit, but sometimes, if the sizes are adjusted to make them go together, there's all this unnecessary empty space that makes it not quite right. Their actions and reactions didn't always make sense or seem natural, so it made the story feel clunky and the dialogue stilted. Overall, I think there was just too much going on, and there felt like too much manufactured angst and conflict, which drew the story out unnecessarily."

[Book Junkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do enjoy a good shifter romance. I listened to this one rather than reading which was a change for me. The first half of this story is about Cole and Avery, they are high school sweethearts who break up when Cole takes off out of the blue unknowingly leaving Avery pregnant and alone. We then pick up 14 years later when Avery returns to the pack to see if they can help her son Ashton as he is about to shift for the first time. Cole is also back after the death of his father and completely clueless that he has a son. Cole's reasons for leaving while they made sense they didn't align with his feelings for Avery. If he loved her that much I doubt he would have left, teenager or not! The reason for him staying away however felt more plausible! The second half of the book is the trouble the pack are in and the apparent takeover by Kyle. All in all it was a good read!

[Chenoa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great read! The story progression maintains a steady pace and makes it a page turner. I enjoyed the characters. They are mature and realistic. They show mature emotions, relationship struggles, good/bad decision making, and how circumstances can make even the best fall short…without being demonized. I rooted for the main characters; I hoped for the best for the brother. If you want a heroine who is not some silly, weak female and hero who’s not some overbearing, brute, then I think you would thoroughly enjoy and appreciate this book, the storyline, and the characters. You will laugh, feel some sorrow, have compassion, get angry, and cheer. Not in that order and more than once. A little suspense and some romance to round it all out and this book will keep you engaged until the final page.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Joque Bookreviewer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is really hard for me to rate. There's action, drama, kidnapping, arguments, spice, danger, suspense, & much more. I got so pissed at some parts of the book (such as all their indecisiveness while their son was k*napped, the dumb thing she did to get napped, whining) but that also showed me how invested I was in the characters. Any book that can make me feel that strong of emotions is doing something right.There were a few spots that drug, but I'm not sure if that's due to the length of the book or actual slow spots that woulda benefited from some cutting or revising. I stayed up way too long reading this, so hopefully my review is making sense lol.
Can standalone with a HEA for the couple.

Life's short, read whatever makes you happy fellow book lovers! Then tell me about it lol.

[Bree McNamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5/5 Stars, rounded to 4)

This book had me hooked at the beginning—fated mates, a messy past, an angsty reunion, and a protective alpha trying to claim what’s his. The setup was strong, and I loved the emotional stakes with Avery fighting to protect her son while Cole comes back to face everything he left behind. The villain drama was wild (Kyle is truly unhinged), and there were definitely moments that kept me flipping pages.

That said, this story was way too long and drawn out. At times, the tension circled around the same conversations and angst without really moving forward. For an alpha, Cole often came off whiny and indecisive, which made it harder to root for him, and Avery’s bitterness dragged on past the point of believability.

[Kai · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was so unnecessarily long. They just kept adding plot flips and characters and none of it actually Moved. The. Story. Along. I don’t think they knew what kind of story they wanted to write and the pacing suffered for it. I was skimming by 50% through. I get that it’s a duology, but even for two books it is too long - as in no plot movement, no relationship growth, immature characters, weak connections. Everything felt stalled. Honestly, having read the co-authors before I’m wondering if the inability to craft complex characters and character growth is why they feel the need to do these 180’s halfway through twisting the books into a badly written made for t.v. “action” movie. You’re left with an ending that doesn’t feel like it paid off or was worth your time.

[Krystle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The very definition of hindsight being 20/20

I've read books by Roxie before and I loved them, so I knew that this wouldn't be any different. This did not disappoint. From frustration and angst to second chances and finding found families, this story ran the gamut of emotions.

I'll be honest, I think my favorite characters were the side characters, with Trent leading the way. He's a good friend to Avery and Cole, and he knows what his best friend needs, even when he doesn't know himself. I also liked the Des Moines guys as they were a good contrast to those from Harbor Mills.

I do hope we get a follow up story at some point to see how things play out for Ashton, Langston, Stormy, and Avery and Cole's newest addition.

[I’m a Paula too… Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cole and Avery…

Okay, the really important thing to know is that there is a guy named Kyle who is batshit crazy. He will cause all of the problems and most of the deaths. He’s truly evil and completely corrupt.

The romance is actually kind of secondary in my opinion. The main plot with Kyle as the villain really was excellent. I liked the main couple, along with their son.

Points off because Cole just ghosted her and as far as I can tell, never looked for her. She’s his fated mate so I don’t know how that worked for him. The son is 14 so was Cole celibate all that time? She wasn’t.

KU read. Better than average read and I liked it a lot.

[MsRoman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Alpha's Second Chance Mate By: Sadie Sears and Roxie Ray. Wow , amazing Avery Carlisle and son Ashton had to leave and return to Avery grandmother home everything changes when open wounds need to heal. Cole Garett return home after his father death to deal with a big mess and he will find out the truth. Kyle Alexander is the evil greedy person who will do anything to control every pact until he is the Alpha with all the Power. Unfortunately, he takes the wrong person and that is when Langston Meadows comes into the story. It’s a story with nonstop emotion, love , strength. I can’t wait to read the big Alpha Langston Meadows story with Stormy.