Out Cold: An MM Shifter Mpreg Romance

by Lorelei M. Hart, Colbie Dunbar

My den left me out in the cold as a cub, hoping I’d never return. That didn’t work out too well for them.

As the firstborn son of the most powerful Alpha our den has ever known, I should’ve had everything. Respect. Protection. A future. Instead, my stepfather tosses me out into the freezing cold, left to face the elements before my first shift, and leaves me there to die.

My polar bear refuses to give up, pushing my shift early and saving my life. He keeps me alive. Keeps me fighting. Helps me find safety in the embrace of a small wolf pack.

While the den forgets me, I prepare. I study business management, train in mixed martial arts, and learn to survive among humans. I wait for the right time to return and take back what’s mine.

When I hear about a human scientist coming north to tag and track polar bears and examine why we settled so far away from most of our kind, my timeline shifts. It doesn’t matter if I’m ready or not, my den doesn’t understand how dangerous humans can be. Despite my past, protecting them is my duty… even if they never wanted me.

I don’t expect the scientist to be a hot nerd with a heart filled with kindness and a true desire to help wildlife. And I certainly don’t expect my bear to scent him as mine.

Now I have to find a way to save my kind without losing the one person fate put on this planet just for me.

Out Cold is the first book in the highly anticipated new MM Mpreg bears shifter romance series Bramble Woods by the best-selling writing duo, Colbie Dunbar and Lorelei M. Hart. Out Cold features an alpha polar bear destined for power, the family who betrayed him, a human omega attempting to help the bears he’d always been drawn to in the least helpful way possible, true love, fated mates, forbidden lovers, discovering that not all villains are easy to spot, found family, and unusual alliance, an adorable baby, and a guaranteed happy ever after. If you love your alphas hawt, your omegas strong, and your mpreg with heart, download your copy today.

126 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 22, 2026

About the author

Lorelei M. Hart is the cowriting team of USA Today Bestselling Authors Kate Richards and Ever Coming. Friends for years, the duo decided to come together and write one of their favorite guilty pleasures: Mpreg.

Reviews

[S Paschal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weston has always felt an affinity with polar bears. His entire life has been spent preparing to study them in the wild and help put conservation measures in place to protect the majestic animals. He finally gets his chance when he receives the funds he needs to start a study in the small town of Bramble Woods. When he arrives ahead of his research team to set up the study, he feels rejected by many in the town but doesn't understand why. Bramble Woods is unique in that polar bears should not live in the region but do, so it's the perfect opportunity for him and his coworkers to understand why the bears are there.

Asher, driven from his polar bear den as a child, has been raised by the neighboring wolf pack. He has remained hidden from his birth pack, but when he hears of a research team coming to town to study the bears, he knows he must protect the bear den. What he doesn't expect is that the human scientist is his mate.

Asher and Weston tumble into bed together, but Asher's anxiety turns to panic as he tries to figure out what to do - he's torn between the wolves and the bears and now he has a human mate that both groups believe is out to disrupt their ways of life.

As the romance between Asher and Weston develops, danger from the duplicitous bear den omega as well as distrust from the wolves and other bears draws danger to the couple. Both Asher and Weston will have to adjust their perceptions of the other to make a long-term bond work. Both are committed to finding a way to their happily ever after.

Asher, while a bit distrustful and anxiety-ridden at the outset, learns his place in the world and how to open up to his mate. Weston is introduced to a world he never knew existed and embraces it fully. Both of these men are willing to work for what they want and are truly good and caring souls.

Four stars for this omegaverse romance.

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

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so hooked by what Asher went through as a young cub, I had to make sure he got a well deserved HEA! He was a gentle and empathetic soul, even when young. Weston, a human, was obsessed with polar bears from a young age and devoted his life to making sure they were treated compassionately and fairly. These two are perfect for eachother! When Weston goes to the area populated by the bears he wants to study, he meets Asher and gets slightly sidetracked - oops!😉🥰 There's still the hurdle of Asher being a shifter - the very shifter type Weston plans to study - standing between them. Of all the ways to reveal himself, Asher never imagined this one!!
This story touches on several sensitive topics: family dynamics with step parents, found families, and facing mistakes and regrets to name a few. It was easy to get invested in this couple and be rooting for them. I was all in for Asher to get a HEA from the start- however he wants it to look. My only issue was that I would have liked to see his dad step up a bit more. Oh well, it was still a moving and heartwarming story.

I was gifted a copy of this book and voluntarily provided this review. Happy Reading Y'all 📚

[Sharon L]

"How many animals had I passed over the years that went home and lived a boring human life most of the time?"

This is book one in a new series, Bramble Woods, by Colbie Dunbar and the writing duo of Lorelei M Hart. When I saw this one pop-up on Booksprout I grabbed it up. I love these authors and always enjoy reading their stories.

What a great start to a new bear shifter series. It had a little bit of everything packed into this 126 page story. Book 2 will be out in June and I can't wait. I'm hoping to find out more about the missing brother of Weston's research investor Frank.

Fated mates, human/shifter, a lifelong obsession with polar bears, it started with a trip to the zoo and a stuffie, inexperienced, raised by wolves, an abhorrent stepfather, kidnapping, mpreg

[Charline Saint-Victor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weston has devoted his life to studying and protecting polar bears, so when he secures funding to research an unusual population in Bramble Woods, it feels like a dream come true, despite the town’s chilly reception. What he doesn’t know is that Asher, a polar bear shifter raised by wolves, is determined to protect his hidden den from the incoming scientists. Their unexpected mate bond complicates everything, leaving Asher torn between two packs and a human who challenges everything he thought he knew. As danger and distrust close in, both men must confront their fears and choose love if they want a future together.

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

[Meli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the story and characters. Weston was so cute from the beginning with his polar bear stuffie. His love for polar bears was unmatched. Even with him wanting to study them he wanted to study them to help them not keep them captive. Asher made me cry in the beginning. He just wanted to be love and even with what happened he still cared for his former den as an adult. Weston and Asher where the perfect match in helping start bridge the gap between humans and shifters. Honestly I was happy that Asher had a happy ending. Only thing I wished that was added was more about Asher's time as a cub being part of a wolf pack. I was also left wondering where was Kipp's child if he indeed was pregnant years ago.

[PalenMisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was pretty fast paced with low stakes (which is pretty standard for this writing duo) so I got what I was expecting out of it. Asher and Weston were cute together, though they did the fated mates insta-lust thing so most of the getting to know each other wasn't really covered (there was a pretty good time skip from finding out about the pregnancy to giving birth). If you're in the mood for something feel good with a fluffy story that somehow doesn't get angsty even though it felt like it should, this is worth checking out.

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

[Latecia Jennings · Rating 3 out of 5]

New series and I'm excited for it. I love shifter romances and this one started with so much promise. I love Weston love of the polar bears and the coincidence that he is ultimately fated to one. This is a novella and normally I don't feel like the stories be rushed....much...but this one I felt was rushed and the great romance this could have been fell just a little flat. Too much was going on at one time. I still enjoyed Weston and Asher love story but I was kind of disappointed how rush their journey was. I hoping the next book i will not feel the same and enjoy it more.

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

[Cynthia M Brow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out Cold is the first book in the Bramble Woods series. This is the story of Asher an alpha polar bear and Weston a human omega. I loved this book so much. I wanted to take andhug Asher for what he went through as a child. This book captured me from the beginning. The characters and world building are done so well but I would expect nothing else from Colbie Dunbar and Lorelei M. Hart. The plot kept the story interesting and I wanted to see how it would end. I can't wait for the next book in the series. I would definitely recommend this book.
received a free review copy

[Bianca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Asher and Weston story was sweet with a bit of danger and adrenaline, as well as a little heartache thanks to a little misunderstanding and a bit of panic.
It had some interesting concepts, a polar bear and a human pairing, a traumatic past, and a blooming love that has some challenges ahead.
After the little mishaps I really liked their communication, the trust they developed, the changes in their lives, and the bundle of joy that made them complete.
I liked the story, and I’m hoping to see more of the characters.

[Jocelyn Whaley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out Cold is the first book in the Bramble Woods series by Colbie Dunbar and Lorelei M. Hart. Weston has always loved polar bears. When he gets a chance to study them, he hurries down to Bramble Woods. Asher, disowned by his pack, finds himself in a pickle when he must protect the pack that disowned him and navigate his relationship with the mate he never expected to find.

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

[K-Me · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cannot resist alpha/omega series by this writing duo. They write fated fluffy goodness with guys you want all the good things for. Asher our polar bear was left to fend for himself. I had so much respect for him because despite it all he still cared for the pack that rejected him. I adored his nerdy human mate, Weston!

[Debbie Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I liked how things worked out for Weston and Asher thanks to a benefactor. The truth of Asher's separation from his den came out and was dealt with. Weston proves to be a perfect mate. I liked that Weston marked Asher first. Asher is reunited with his father and den but his love for Weston still comes first.

[Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good!!

Weston didn't know that he was being called by his mate when he decided to venture out for science!! Asher was ready and waiting on him. This was such a good story!! Hope Stevenson finds his mate too!!

[Ash · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 29%