Cicely Oakes is drawn to investigate news of a scentless sigma shifter living on her pack's land. She quickly finds out why she's never met this mysterious wolf shifter.
He's been avoiding her for a very good reason.
She's his fated mate. And Jared Stone knew that if he set eyes on her, she'd be in danger. His wolf is not within his control. His wolf is a deadly super predator that wants to unleash massive teeth and claws on every being it meets.
Sigma is book 4.5 in the Savage Alpha Shifters series, a series about alpha male wolf shifters finding their fated mates. This is not standalone. These books need to be read in order for the richest reading experience.
This story biting, knotting, claiming, some dark supernatural themes, and a feral wolf shifter with violent tendencies. Further content information is on the author's website.
DD Prince -- author of dark, paranormal, contemporary, and mindf*ck romances. Creator of book boyfriends: Tommy Ferrano, Tristan Walker, Dario Ferrano, Deacon Valentine, Daxx Blackstar, Rider Valentine, Spencer Valentine, Alessandro Romero, Aiden Carmichael, Tyson Savage, Killian Coulter, and more.
Loves: alpha male book boyfriends, smutty books with substance, fancy pens, going for sushi, cooking, and cheesy zombie flicks. I have many stories and characters to share and love connecting with book lovers and other authors on social media.
Another banger from one of my auto-read authors, I adore anything they put out, and this series is definitely now a firm favourite of mine. Sigma is book 4.5 in the line-up and is a novella focusing on Jared and Cecely. But honestly, it's a decent size, clocking in at 279 pages, so realistically, it's more of a small novel. This series does need to be read in order, as even though each book focuses on a different couple, there's a lot of backstory and ongoing story threads running throughout.
We met Jared and Cecely both previously, and their journey to happiness is hardly straightforward. Jared is a sigma male and a wolf without a scent. He is also disconnected from his animal, a traumatic backstory and additional influences causing this split. He longs for his mate, but at the same time is also terrified of just what his feral wolf is capable of. Pushing Cecely away seems the only option for her safety.
Cecely, by comparison, is determined not to allow that to happen. She's a strong female and isn't going anywhere, and with the assistance of the pack sets out to find a way through all of this turbulence. There is no option for her other than claiming what fate has gifted her, a mate, despite Jared’s initial obvious rejection.
This was a great read. I love these two together and was rooting for them every step of the way. This had plenty of heart and sizzling chemistry, and I invested immediately. I'm always down for more Arcana Falls drama, and this delivered for me. I also appreciated the small easter eggs of Bailey and Jase, as that is a book I also have a massive anticipation for. Another easy winner for me, and I will recommend this series all day, every day, especially if paranormal shifter is your jam, it's a bloody banger.
It was sort of bittersweet that Link and Cicely didn’t end up together. They should have, honestly. I enjoyed this book , but disliked how Link was in the background antagonizing Jared the whole time. It just felt messy!
This book was everything I wanted and didn't know I needed! Fantastic storytelling, with a bit of drama, this book had me glued from beginning to end. Cicely is my favorite kind of FMC: strong, and brave and she never backs down. She was certainly the heroine Jared needed and deserved. A little dash of OM drama to spice things up. Great read all around and definitely going in my Best of 2025 pile! Can't wait to go back to Arcana Falls!
Jared and Cicely’s story was fabulous and gut wrenching. My heart broke for Jared and all that he has been through and continues to go through. I was cheering for him to find his HEA! And Cicely is such a strong, stubborn and determined woman. Her strength as she struggles to deal with her fated mate and his devastating past is admirable and gave this reader hope for this couple. I highly recommend this series and I can’t wait for more ❤️
When I discovered that the author DD Prince had written a novella story for Jared Stone and Cicely Oakes, I expected a great story, but the author gave us so much more! It was emotional, intense and hot! I loved every page. But be warned. If you think Tyson’s wolf was wild, Jared’s wolf is feral!
Cicely Oakes had always hoped that Lincoln would one day recognize her as his mate. They were friends and also a bit more. But she also knew that there was a good chance his mate would be someone else. What she never expected was to find her own mate while investigating a newcomer on her pack’s land. One moment she’s looking at him and, the next they are mating! When Cicely discovers that Jared and Lincoln knew that Jared was her fated mate but kept it a secret, she’s angry and confused. Until she learns the truth, Jared is not only scentless, but his wolf is also feral and extremely dangerous! There’s a good chance Jared’s wolf will hurt her. That’s why Jared didn’t want to claim his mate. But Cicely is not willing to let Jared go. She will fight for her mate and hopefully together with her pack find a solution. But now that she’s found her mate, Cicely will do everything in her power to keep him, even if it means risking her life.
I loved this story, it was intense and emotional. The main characters were Cicely and Jared, but their friendship (and Cicely’s past relationship) with Linc was also part of the story. Cicely was amazing, because from the moment she recognized her mate, she fought for him. She proved that she was a strong and stubborn alpha female, because no matter what, she had her mate’s back. And no one would tell her to leave Jared, not her father, and not even Jared himself. She was ready to fight for her mate. But luckily, she had a lot of support from her packmates. It was wonderful to see how each packmate, in their own way, tried to help Jared and his feral wolf. And Jared, poor Jared, he was so broken by his past and the fact that he had no connection with his wolf. The fact that his wolf was feral and felt the urge to attack everyone around him made Jared prefer to life as a lone wolf. His friendship with Lincoln slowly changed that and when he met his mate, his life changed forever. Jared tried to resist the mating bond but the bond and Cicely’s stubbornness were too strong to resist. Cicely made his broken and lonely heart hope for something special, a life with a mate and a pack that accepted him and his wolf. It was interesting to learn more about Jared’s past.
Lincoln also played a big role in the story. He was friends with both Jared and Cicely but he also had a past with Cicely. You could really feel him struggle with his feelings but he was and remained a loyal friend. But at times, you could also feel his pain over the loss of Cicely, and in some situations, his possessive nature was noticeable. But he never went too far. He respected the mating bond and did everything he could to help Jared and his wolf. He was a great friend to both of them.
But Lincoln wasn’t the only one helping Jared and Cicely. The entire Alpha Council was there to help and support the couple. (Well, except for Jason, who had other things on his mind, or should I say, someone else on his mind and we all know who!) The witches also helped in their magical way. Everyone stood unitedly behind Cicely and Jared. It was wonderful to feel the friendship and to see so many familiar faces back in the story.
The story was told from both POV’s. It had a good balance of everything. And even though it was a novella, it had everything I like in my stories. The sex scenes were hot! Jared know what he was doing in bed but his wolf was feral! (Don’t say I didn’t warn you, wink.) There was one scene at the end with Jared’s wolf that made me laugh, and I’m sure you’ll react the same way if you read it.
I really enjoyed this story. And after reading a little teaser at the end of the book about Lincoln, I’m now very curious about Jason and Lincoln’s story! Especially because I feel like we still have things to learn about Jared and his past or future.
I like Cicely and Jared, again the themes are getting a bit too serious and taking me out of the story, what do you mean he has to wear a gimp mask to not eat you alive and I’m not even going onto the shift happy relations towards the end that’s a bit much.
But also this crazy feral can’t be around people wolf shred his literal mate and Lincoln didn’t so much as have his nail broken. Do me a favour . . . if you’re presenting me feral please be actually feral like he shouldn’t want anyone around her. I want serious toxic shit. Please and thank you.
The build up for Jase and Bailey is leaving me a bit cold. Joel is obviously going to recognise his mate as his ex and have an alpha-off and Lincoln has found his mate on a quest for another alpha. So I think we will get shifter-shifter relationships which should be great, but given the last two I fear they might be a bit boring. I’m not feeling that interested in Jase and Bailey currently but happy to be proven wrong always. Still a fan of this author, the last two in this series just didn’t hit for me as much as the first three which were chef’s kiss.
'Emotion rises in me because we’re now connected. I have something I’ve never had. Something I swore I didn’t want. Who wants to live in fear of hurting yet another being you care about? But this connection is surreal, unlike anything I could’ve fathomed.'
Ohhh. My. Goodness! The shifter world that DD Prince has created is absolutely fantastic, and Sigma, a novella for Cicely Oakes and lone wolf, Jared Stone, is another brilliant addition to the series.
I really don't know how DD does it, but once again, I've completely fallen for this couple. I honestly could have read another few hundred pages of their story, though Sigma is definitely not lacking anything, I just love these two that much!
Sigma is packed with all the alpha's you could wish for as the Arcana Falls pack come together to help Jared and Cicely, after Cicely is drawn to her fated mate, despite Jared doing his best to avoid her due to his feral wolf, which he believes poses a danger to those he loves.
'This was him. My fated mate. Whether it was raw instinct, my wolf and me piecing together the facts, or something in his touch, I felt something right. Something real... I was created for Jared Stone. And when he was created, something in him was designed to know this, to act on it.'
But fate has other ideas, and our couple meet and mate... the primal spicy scenes are EPIC!! And do not get me started on the shift-f**king 🫠🥵 This book is hot, hot, hot!!
But Jared is used to staying on the periphery. This sigma alpha wolf avoids connections because of the danger his wolf poses, and he threatens to reject his mate to protect her. Thankfully, Cicely is one stubborn, strong-willed alpha female who refuses to give up on her mate.
This couple doesn't have the easiest of journeys, but it's so worth it.
My heart hurt for Jared for all he'd been through, and all he continues to go through, as I know we'll see more from these two.
Cicely's bravery and determination made me love her even more than I had from previously meeting her in the series.
“Your wolf is intelligent, Jared. He’s not just a mindless monster. He’s your protector. He just… he doesn’t know you’re safe now. He doesn’t know everyone around him isn’t out to hurt you.”
This novella is a great complement to the series and moves the story on for all of the shifters involved. I really loved that we got to know Lincoln much better in this book, and I'm BEYOND EXCITED for his turn to find his fated mate!
I had no idea how much I would love Sigma or Jared and Cicely, but this book is in my heart, and the series wouldn't be as complete without them.
“We’re in this together. We’re in everything together,” she tells me, once again knowing what I’m feeling.
“I love you, Cicely Stone.” Her eyes fill with emotion. I keep talking. “I love you more than I ever thought I could love anyone or anything. I wish I could sleep beside you tonight. Every night."
This series has been a pleasant surprise. I am not sure why, considering I have read her entire catalog. Regardless of the sub-genre, ranging from Mafia, vampires, contemporary, Halloween, MC, Sci-Fi, to now Shifters, there doesn't appear to be anything that she cannot write. Her books seem to sink their claws in and don't let go.
This series is slowly becoming one of my favorites, which is largely where my surprise comes in because I started with Mafia (that is my Favorite) and never thought I would see a world and a cast of characters that would encroach on that top spot. Was this book my favorite of this series? Not by a long shot. However, it did build the intrigue of a possible spinoff set in a different location. I enjoyed the cameo appearances in this book, but at the same time, I struggled because I felt that it was more telling than showing, and it focused less on the main characters. I can understand why they needed to be a part of it so that it could fill in the many unanswered questions about Jared and his past, but it was also a problem for me and made me want to just skim past until I was back in the moments between the main characters. That is weird for me to say, considering that I LOVE the previous characters and got excited seeing them again.
I loved the moments that were between Cicely and Jared and found myself wishing that the other characters would distract from their connection. I wanted more dialogue and banter between them, especially as Jared's backstory was heartbreaking. I loved how Cicely fought so hard for him. His fears were valid, as were hers, and the fact that she stood strong and fought for him was powerful. Knowing that he had never truly had that before made it that much more profound.
That being said, it was still a solid book, and didn't ruin anything about the next book that is coming, whose stories are happening at the same time as the timeline of this book. If anything, it made me even more curious about how that is going to come about. Interesting plot with some pretty crazy, steamy times made for a good addition to this series.
Congrats to this author for another book baby. I have loved every second of being on this ride with her.
{Small Spoilers} The Savage Alpha Shifter Series is such a GREAT series. Each book continues to get better and better. If you love Alpha Shifters who love their women so hard....This series is just for you. Sigma is Jared and Cicely's story.
Jared has had a hard life. He is a "scentless Sigma Shifter". He knows that Cicely is his Fated Mate and he is very worried that his wolf might hurt her. He feels that it is best for everyone in Arcana Falls if he leaves. However, before he can do that, he runs in to Cicely, and now leaving is not going to be so easy.
Cicely has gotten very close with Lincoln, another Alpha Shifter in her pack. Lincoln is her best friend and one night they give into the feelings and share a wonderful night together. After that night, Cicely notices that Lincoln is acting strange and avoiding her. While wondering why Lincoln is avoiding her, she is very intrigued by this "scentless Sigma Shifter". Jared has been avoiding Cicely at every turn and now she knows why. She is his Fated Mate. Cicely understands now why Lincoln has been distant. He knows that Jared is her fated mate.
This book was just...WOW!! I laughed. I cried. This book to me on an emotional roller coaster ride. I love how the author brought all of the past/future Alpha Shifters into this book. I just cannot rave enough about DD Prince. If you haven't read Book 1, Wild, please start there. Side note....I absolutely fell in Love with Lincoln in this book. My heart hurt for him and he was so so so good!! Looking forward to reading his book. Kudos DD!! You are so good at your craft.
Sigma gives us Jared and Cicely’s story, and it hits hard. Jared isn’t just any alpha…he’s an apex predator whose traumatic childhood forced his wolf to emerge far too early. Instead of the natural bond between man and wolf, Jared grew up completely disconnected. When his wolf takes over, Jared only remembers blackness… and the destruction left behind. He believes he’s a monster because he’s never truly met the other half of himself. Cecily is the perfect counterpart: a strong, unapologetic alpha female who can take care of herself, but still longs for a mate who will experience life with her, not for her. She wants adventure, partnership, and someone who can match her strength. When fate, a lunar moon, and maybe some witchy magic throw them together, Cecily becomes the only one brave enough to face the beast everyone fears. Instead of running, she stands her ground. She sees the man behind the monster and fights to bring him into the light. This story is emotional, intense, and surprisingly tender beneath all the teeth and violence. And let’s be clear: Spice Level = 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ There’s one scene in particular—Chapter 30—that is pure, scorching heat. ( you can thank me later because… whew.) This novella is about trust, healing, and letting love soften even the most feral heart. A powerful addition to the Savage Alpha Shifter world and a must-read for fans of fated mates, grumpy/feral alphas, and strong heroines who don’t back down. Loved it!
Listen. I waited for Jared’s story. I was ready. I was emotionally prepared. And then… it was over.
Sigma is a perfectly decent novella — if we’re grading on a normal scale. But in this series? She’s SHORT short. I kept settling in like, “Okay, here we go, we’re about to dive deep,” and instead I blinked and hit the last page.
To be clear, it’s entertaining. Jared’s story works. The tension is there. The chemistry is solid. The spice? Of course it delivers — that part is never in question with D.D. Prince. And I genuinely enjoyed getting more insight into Linc; those moments added some nice connective tissue to the larger world.
But it all felt… a little superficial. I wanted more emotional weight. More development. A stronger sense of resolution. Instead, it felt like the opening act of something bigger that never quite arrived. I didn’t walk away feeling fully satisfied — just… cut off mid-craving.
And now I need to scream into the void:
WHERE IS THE NEXT BOOK?
Because there isn’t even a release date.
You cannot give me a short installment, leave threads dangling, and not tell me when the next one is coming. I am frantic. I am refreshing pages. I am scanning for announcements like a conspiracy theorist with a corkboard.
So yes — Sigma was good. Fun. Spicy. Entertaining. But I am impatient, underfed, and emotionally pacing. Jared deserved more page time. I deserved more payoff.
Oh, my God! Where to start? My head is still a mess after reading this book! It’s no secret that I am a big fan of the series and I would have read anything related to it, but I definitely didn’t expect this one to hit me that hard. This was supposed to be a short novella between books (and it IS between books 4 and 5 (Claimed and Jilted), but I suppose the characters spoke to the author more, so she gave us this longer masterpiece instead! I knew from the start that it would be an action-packed rollercoaster – because this is the MO of the author – but I didn’t expect the emotional carnage it would inflict upon me. Cicely finds out that Jared (a “senseless Sigma Sifter”; hence the novel’s name) is her mate and that he knew about it, but he refused to act upon it because he was afraid that his almost-feral wolf would hurt her. But Cicely is more courageous, stubborn and determined than everyone thinks and risking her life for her absolute HEA is a given. Devastatingly emotional, our MCs navigate through anger, heartache, hidden hopes and determination in order to grow and find their HEA. It goes without saying that the hotness of this book is off the charts since this is the series hallmark. 5 non-negotiable stars from me!
A new book from me! Sigma - Savage Alpha Shifters 4.5 This is a novella, Jared and Cicely's story, and please read these books in order. Sigma takes place between Claimed and Jilted. Jilted is in-progress and will be coming in a few months. Happy reading Information / Trigger warnings at http://ddprince.com
Raw, emotional, and unexpectedly profound. Cicely and Jared’s story grabbed me from the first page.
I expected an intense novella from DD Prince, but she delivered so much more. Jared’s feral wolf, his trauma, and his belief that he’s too dangerous to love make this one of the most gripping fated-mate stories in the series. Cicely is incredible. She’s strong, loyal, stubborn in the best way and once she realizes Jared is her mate, she refuses to abandon him, even when everyone else fears for her safety.
What really elevates this novella is how it explores connection and belonging. Jared’s loneliness, his complicated bond with Lincoln, and the pack’s attempts to help him add real depth and heart. Cicely doesn’t just accept Jared; she chooses him, and watching that choice slowly heal him is beautiful.
Emotional, intense, and hot. This story stayed with me long after I finished. I loved every minute.
What the heck did I just read! WOW! This author knows how to write their stories so you get pulled in and feel the characters. Jared and Cicely are no different. We have met both characters in earlier books, but I was not prepared for EVERYTHING they would need to go through. Cicely is just like you would think. She is beautiful, strong, tenacious, and will do anything she can for her mate. I loved how she never wavered in her devotion and love. Jared ripped my heart to shreds. The horrific things he endured and needed to overcome shattered me. His wolf is strong and so protective. I want to spill more, but cannot without spoiling the story. Sigma is a fabulous addition to this series, and I cannot wait for more!
I really enjoyed this long novella and getting to know Jared. I’m looking forward to seeing his skills being used to further the plotlines of future books. I really liked Cecily in the other books and was curious about how her FWB arrangement with Linc would be resolved when she met her mate. I think this was handled well, avoiding a love triangle situation and leaving no hard feelings from either party. I also liked Jared’s over-the-top reaction to their former arrangement and felt it was done in a fun way while avoiding any OM drama or angst.
The story kept me interested throughout, and despite the length, I completely believed in the romance, relationship, and their HEA in the end. It worked really well.
I absolutely loved following Jared and Cicely on their journey — what an emotional and captivating ride! They are fated mates, bound by destiny but faced with enormous obstacles standing in the way of their love. The tension, passion, and heartache between them kept me turning the pages, and the story wraps up beautifully with a happy ending that feels so well deserved.
This book was supposed to be a novella, but it’s actually as long as a full novel — with many pages and plenty of depth! I’m so glad for that, because it gave the story and characters even more room to grow and breathe.
I can wholeheartedly recommend this book and cheer for the entire series — it’s just so good! Now I can’t wait to meet Bailey and Jason in D.D. Prince’s next book, Jilted.
Oh my gosh. This book was *so* good. It took me through so many emotions while reading it. I have to be vague here because I don't want to throw in any spoilers this early into release, but I promise, you can trust me. I read the entire book in a 5 hour period of time because once I started, I literally could not put it down. Jared and Cicely have such a unique dynamic and setup vs the other couples in the series and it was nice to see how that played out. The challenges they suffer [because when don't fated mates come with challenges?] really struck me in the heart. I loved learning more about Cicely and the way her mind works. Jared and his backstory also really intrigued me. You will absolutely enjoy reading this addition to the Savage Alphas series.
H: Jared Stone h: Cicely Oakes I just have to say I love this author so much and I patiently wait for these books from this series to come out. Jared is a sigma wolf, doesn't need a pack, doesn't have any scent. For him he is completely disconnected from his wolf. When he shifts to a wolf he pretty much turns into a monster, a predator who doesn't remember anything that happens when he shifts back to human. Cicely she is a force on her own, she knows something is going on and that Lincoln is hiding something and she is going to find out. When she meets Jared he almost kills her, in that process he bites her and they both know they are mates. Now they both have to fight for what they want, which is to be together . I love that in each story it gives us a little bit of what's to come in the future books which I can't wait!!!.
Amazing interlude between the ‘main’ council alpha books.
You can feel the pain from Jared. It’s palpable. You can tell he is so scared to live any kind of normal (for an alpha wolf haha) life.
Cicely is a powerhouse, I think she is absolutely brilliant as I can’t stand ‘pathetic’ FMC’s.
The spice between the main characters is scorching and even though this is a novella from DD, it’s a very well rounded and thought about story. It definitely takes a little of the longing out of wanting to be Arcana falls while waiting for the next book in the series.
Absolutely loved Sigma! Jared and Cicely’s story pulled me in from the very first page. They’re fated mates with massive obstacles keeping them apart, and watching them fight through everything for their love was so emotional and satisfying. The ending left me with a huge smile — totally worth the ride!
This was supposed to be a novella, but it’s actually as long as a full novel — lots of pages and so much depth! Honestly, I’m glad it turned out that way because I didn’t want their story to end.
I can highly recommend this one and the whole series — it’s just so, so good! Now I’m counting down the days until we get Bailey and Jason’s story in D.D. Prince’s next book, Jilted! 💕
I finished this in one sitting. As always with D.D. Prince, expect the perfect mix of angst, strong and likable heroines, and those possessive, over the top alphas! The sex is hot (I repeat, HOT) and the plot somehow still feels fresh even in such an overdone genre. I don’t know how D.D. Prince does it, but she does. This one has that fated mates / rejected mates vibe where the hero pushes the heroine away because he can’t control his beast "for reasons" and most of the story is about them fighting through that.
I love the alpha's DD Prince writes, she's magnificent doing so, my problem with this book and the past ones in this series is the plot, tons of explanations I don't care about, tons of names of characters, from the family of Jared, I really, really just wanted to end. The main characters are amazing with each other, but they spend a lot of time searching and giving explanations and all the stuff with the Supernatural Council, gosh, no, please no. Bottom line, great main characters, but I struggle with the plot in this series.
Cicely and Jared’s story is nothing short of unique and beautiful! I’m so glad Cicely found herself an alpha with all the fun “alpha mate” perks—Jared’s wolf was absolutely feral, and I couldn’t get enough of their intense chemistry. I absolutely loved their story!
This series continues to be a favorite of mine, and now I’m eagerly awaiting Jilted, Bailey and Jase’s story. Plus, we get a little teaser for Linc’s fated mate in this book, which has me so excited.
If you haven’t started this series yet, Wild is the perfect place to dive in. Trust me, you won’t regret it!
After the disappointment that was book 4, i was scared but...we're back in the game!! I already love the first three in the series and keeping my hopes up for Jilted after this.
A couple of things I didn't love hence the knocking off a couple stars: - No pet names and I'm not too keen on Jared referring to Cicely as 'Woman' - Linc and their whole will they won't they drama lingering in the background - Bailey still hasn't gotten off the floor (refer back to my last review) and she's about to pmo
Sigma is dark, emotional and completely addictive. D.D. Prince nails the balance between gritty intensity and heartfelt character growth. Sigma is a complex, tortured hero who steals the spotlight and the heroine’s strength and quiet resilience make their connection powerful and unforgettable.
Fast-paced, passionate and full of twists, another winner in this shifter world. Couldn’t put it down, read it in one sitting! Cannot wait for the next instalment.
DD Prince knocked it out of the ballpark, AGAIN! This was such a good book! I loved the Cicely stayed right with Jared even when he tried to push her away. She took no sh!t and no prisoners! If you're looking for 🔥 🔥🔥 this book was, whew 🥵 There were so many Easter eggs in this about the next books coming out that I am totally stoked and waiting is going to be hard!
This has to be my favorite shifter couple by DD Prince so far.
I was so intrigued by Jared in the previous books and I’m grateful we got his story. Cicely is so strong and stubborn which is exactly what he needs. They’re both so possessive and jealous.
Jared has gone through so much. I just wanted to hug the poor guy.