Moonbound: A Feral Fates Novel

by Alara Birch

If she runs from fate, it will chase her.

Doctor Willa Grey has been running for most of her life, from the truth of her past, from her feelings, from the feral creature that scrapes under her skin. So, when she finds herself running naked through a moonlit forest, with the wolf who just ignited her matebond nipping at her heels, it’s . . . well . . . on brand. But some believe shiftless wolves are unacceptable liabilities, and this time, she might just be running for her life. When she wakes in the infirmary the following morning, disoriented, concussed, very much alive, and with no mate in sight, she has lots of questions.

Her Fate.

Codrin Lupescu, the enigmatic, dominant Prince of Wolves, thought he’d accepted his cursed blood centuries ago, but when it makes him the most dangerous threat to the fated mate he has waited almost a millennium for, he has never hated it more. There’s a beast that lurks beneath Codrin’s cool facade, and it craves their mate, body, soul, and blood. Unable to claim her without risking her life, he is intent on keeping his distance, if only to keep her safe. The problem is, the willful and determined healer who possesses the other half of his soul is on the hunt for answers only he can give.

They can’t fight it.

When the powerful pull of their bond proves impossible to resist, the complicated pair finds themselves emotionally entangled and locked in a battle of wills that neither wants to lose, because the price the fates demand for them to complete their mating might just be everything .

Moonbound is a paranormal romance for readers who love when they're fated, but it's complicated, and who also enjoy: forced proximity, low fantasy, high stakes, dual POV, and a medium burn to high spice. Moonbound is BOOK ONE in a new series involving complicated fates, yearning romance, and impossible choices.

Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 2, 2026

About the author

Hi, I'm Alara!

I'm a paranormal and fantasy romance author who loves to write wildly bewitching stories where they're fated, but it's complicated.
I'm an avid reader, vivid daydreamer, and sometimes gardener who believes that whimsy shouldn’t be left in childhood. When I'm not getting lost in the stories in my head, I'm enjoying the day-to-day chaos that comes in the form of my husband, three children, and our plethora of pets, and, despite my best efforts, probably killing a houseplant or two.

Reviews

[Tamara Chubb · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

ARC review
The perfecr read for Autumn. The story was so engaging and the characters were so relatable.
This felt modern and classic at the same time and was nice to see a MMC that could hold her own.
Looking forward to what happens next.

[LunafloritaReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I completely ate this book up! I will love a werewolf fated-mates trope any day, and MoonBound absolutely delivered.

I think the author did a great job with the character development, which is especially important in a fated-mates story. When there isn’t enough character development, the romance can easily come across as insta-love or insta-lust, which can take away from the actual fated-mates aspect. I thought MoonBound found the perfect balance between that immediate pull toward your mate while still allowing the characters to genuinely develop feelings and fall in love with each other.


SPOILERS BELOW



The story follows MMC Codrin, aka the Prince of Wolves, and FMC Dr. Willa Grey. Willa has been living in the human world, getting her education and becoming a surgeon. Since the werewolves can no longer rely solely on magic, Willa hopes to use her medical skills to help her pack.

However, Willa is hiding a huge secret—one that could get her exiled or even killed. She is moonbound. Ever since the death of her family, Willa has been unable to shift and can no longer feel her wolf. Despite this, she returns to her pack and hides the truth from everyone.

When Willa arrives, it happens to be the full moon and the time of the Gathering, where all the packs come together to celebrate the Moon Goddess. Willa eventually runs off on her own, hoping to somehow make her wolf appear. Instead, she finds something—or rather, someone—else: her fated mate.

Enter Codrin.

Codrin is Willa’s fated mate, but he has secrets of his own that make it complicated for him to mark her and complete their bond. This part frustrated me at times because it felt like something that could have been addressed through communication rather than being kept secret from Willa. The lack of communication is probably what kept this from being a full 5-star read for me. HOWEVER, I do think this complication ultimately worked in the story’s favor.

Because Codrin couldn’t simply complete the bond with Willa, it created a lot of push and pull between them. It forced them into proximity and gave them the opportunity to actually get to know one another. As a reader, we got to see their relationship develop rather than having everything happen instantly just because they were fated mates. I really appreciated that.

It also gave Willa the opportunity to showcase just how strong she is. Willa struggles with feeling like she isn’t good enough for Codrin, especially because she can’t shift. Her insecurities and self-esteem issues made sense given everything she had been through, but I loved watching her find her strength. She isn’t afraid to stand up to Codrin, and she uses her skills as a surgeon to help others. That strength and compassion are also a huge part of why Codrin falls in love with her.

And I loved the side characters! Even Silas, Willa’s brother, who was absolutely hilarious but annoying at times. He truly loves Willa so much and it was great to see the brother sister dynamic! Honestly, I was a little sad that he wasn’t Blanca’s mate, but I’m really looking forward to seeing where their stories go and finding out who ends up mated to whom in the next book.

Overall, this was a great start to the series! I really enjoyed this book and absolutely flew through it—I literally read it in 24 hours. I’m definitely looking forward to continuing the series and seeing what comes next for these characters.

Thank you to NetGalley, Alara Birch, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op for the eARC!

[123_Romantasy · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
2.5🌶️

What a debut novel for this author! Thank you for the e-arc! I couldn’t put this one down!

If your love feral wolf shifters with all the tension of mate bonds, give this a try!

✅wolf shifters
✅she’s a shiftless wolf
✅he’s the Prince of wolves
✅possessive MMC
✅mate bonds
✅chase scenes
✅heat cycles
✅protective older brother
✅bodyguard best friend (his best friend)
✅he wants to claim her SOOO bad (but can’t)

Willa has spent the last 7 years in the human world working to become a surgeon. Finally though, she is called back home to her pack to put her skills to use to the reclusive society of wolf shifters. And the timing is perfect, with all the packs coming together for the Gathering. But Willa has a secret to hide: she can’t shift. She can feel her wolf beneath but can’t call her forward. She’s a liability in a society who casts out the shiftless. On top of that, one night a dark wolf saves her, and she knows he’s her mate. Just doesn’t know who he is. Until she sees him…Codrin…the Prince of Wolves 🐺

They both feel the bond calling to them but he keeps her at arms length, no matter how much it pains him. He has a secret he is hiding too and if he gives into the bond he’s so desperately wanted for centuries, it could kill her. A curse he bares for the sins of his father.

But Willa is not one to give up and she’s determined to get her mate. And while there are enemies gathering in the background that could bring centuries of peace crashing down.

This is definitely an insta-attraction/lust story make no mistake. However, in a story of wolf shifters culture with mates, claiming, heat cycles, etc. it fits. I love reading those types of stories too honestly. There is still SO much yearning in this story! There is so much holding both of them back and watching them both fight it or hide it from others was page turning.

This is a spicy 🌶️ world. Where wolves act on their primal instincts. There’s multiple scenes of spice ranging from 🌶️-🌶️🌶️🌶️ spread throughout. And even when it’s not spicy time, don’t get it twisted, their minds are always thinking of it 🤣 it’s only natural!

I loved Willa’s protective older brother, Silas ❤️ he’s this good balance of over protective but also “cover my ears, I don’t want to hear about it!” when it comes to his sister 🤣

Grigor 🤣🤣🤣 the trusty best friend he assigns to be her guardian. Love him. And there is definitely a shocking moment you have with him thinking “what? Oh no!” only for it not be what you expected (whew 😮‍💨). But you see him become a true friend to Willa as well, and kind of a big brother presence as well for her against Codrin.

We spend this book really building upon Willa and Cordin’s relationship with this underlying plot working in the background, only for it to shoot to the forefront at the end, which will definitely lead us into the next book to be our focus! I’m excited to read the next book when it comes out!

[Nicola Reynoldson (nics_timetoread) · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

First of all I would like to thank NetGalley for gifting me this ARC.

⭐⭐⭐⭐¼ 4.25 stars

I love a good fated mates story, and Moonbound by Alara Birch definitely kept me engaged!

This is a well-written wolf shifter romantasy that follows Willa Grey, a surgeon who has spent years in the human world and can no longer shift, leaving her “moonbound.” When she is called home to rejoin her pack, she literally runs into her fated mate, Codrin Lupescu, the Prince of Wolves. And from there, things get complicated pretty quickly!

I loved Willa as an FMC. She is strong-willed, determined, and definitely not a pushover. She stands her ground even when she’s hiding her nerves, and I enjoyed watching her push back against those around her rather than simply accepting what fate has supposedly decided for her. Codrin was equally intriguing, with his cool, commanding exterior hiding a much darker, more dangerous side. The tension between these two was so good!

This story explores how trauma can hold us back and how confronting it can ultimately set us free, all while weaving in the irresistible pull of a fated mate bond. Of course, their blossoming relationship is anything but straightforward, with past relationships, pack politics, secrets, and the threat of something truly evil standing in their way.

And let’s be honest, when fated mates are involved, can we really expect a slow burn? The push and pull between Willa and Codrin kept me invested, and I was desperate to see these two figure things out. The author does a great job of drawing readers into this world, balancing the romance with twists, turns, and enough intrigue to keep the pages turning. I also loved that Willa has her own history, struggles, and identity beyond simply being someone’s fated mate.

As a debut novel, this is a fantastic start! There were plenty of things to enjoy, and I found myself rooting for the characters and wanting them to get the happiness they deserved, even when fate seemed determined to make that as difficult as possible.

This is only book one, and I’m definitely interested to see where Alara Birch takes this story next. I need more of this world, more of these characters, and, of course, more Willa and Codrin!

If you love wolf shifters, fated mates, a strong FMC, a brooding wolf prince, and a romance packed with tension, danger, and supernatural politics, this one is definitely worth adding to your TBR!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly I would like to thank Alara Birch for allowing me to read her ARC of ‘Moon Bound’ A Feral Fates Novel. I gave this a 4.5 ⭐️ read.

I loved the way this book was written. It flowed smoothly and kept me engaged the whole way through. The characters were thoroughly engaging and kept me guessing. A couple of them had me wondering as to which way they would lean - were they good or bad?

The story begins in the past - which is what got me hooked on where this was leading. Dr Willa Grey is a wolf living among humans. She left her pack to study medicine and surgery. It is now time to go back home. However Willa has a problem. After living with humans for 7 years and repressing her wolf, her wolf is now ‘moon bound’. She can’t shift.

Willa returns home to the beginning of “The Gathering”. The Gathering only happens around every eighteen to nineteen years to coincide with the lunistice. All the Packs gather together to celebrate including the Prince of Wolves - Codrin Lupescu of the Pricolici.

Willa needs to navigate the politics and keep the secret of her inability to shift. Attend the Gathering and all the events that go with it. And just to throw another spanner in the works - Willa will meet her fated mate. This happens after she goes for a run hoping to be able to shift. While alone in woods hoping to coax her wolf out she feels her mate bond activate. She starts running, wanting the chase of her mate. Falling and concussing herself she is disorientated with a bleeding head wound. She is found by the largest wolf she has ever seen just before losing consciousness. Waking up in the infirmary with no idea who her mate is, who the wolf was.

Codrin is our Prince of Wolves. I really don’t know where to start with him. When Willa first lays eyes on our MMC he appears aloof and bored walking through the crowd at the first of the events at the Gathering. He is described as tall, broad, tawny with olive toned skin and thick midnight wavy hair. Codrin has secrets of his own. You know the saying - ‘It’s complicated’ - well, its very ‘Complicated’!

The story progresses and evolves from there and I could go on and on but please, do read this book! This book has dual POV, forced proximity, Wolf shifters and so much more.

[Blossom’s Bookshelf]

DNF after chapter 8.

I was enjoying the atmosphere, the heroine and the developing romance—until chapter 8 completely put me off.

Moonbound by Alara Birch drew me in with its complicated fated-mates premise, Willa’s medical background and the supernatural forest setting. The disturbing prologue immediately hooked me, particularly the girl’s confusion and horror, and the forest’s moonlight and underlying danger created an atmosphere I enjoyed.

Willa’s compassion and medical competence made me care about her early on, while the vulnerability beneath her stubbornness made her relatable. I was interested in her struggle between her human career and returning to the pack, and I understood the fear behind her secrecy even when her decisions were dangerous. Her friendship with Blanca also felt genuine, with affection, humour and room for justified anger.

Codrin’s practical care for Willa initially intrigued me because it revealed warmth beneath his secrecy and possessiveness. His viewpoint gave me a glimpse of the conflict she couldn’t see. Their first encounter had strong chemistry, and I was enjoying the connection beginning to develop beyond the physical pull of the bond.

Then the other-woman content in chapter 8 broke my investment in them.

I had read the author’s warning, which distinguishes this content from a cheating trope, so I expected something less directly comparable to cheating. For me, what happened felt like a betrayal of the bond, and I no longer wanted to root for Codrin as Willa’s romantic partner. Like, our girl deserves so much better.

I’m usually comfortable with other-woman drama, but this felt really jarring and out of place, especially when I had been enjoying how their relationship was developing. I can only speak for the first eight chapters, but this was enough for me to stop.

Thank you to Alara Birch and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Tawny Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moonbound!!!!

I have always considered myself a vampire girlie, but with books like Moonbound, I can confidently say that I’m fully in my wolf shifter era for LIFE.

I AM OBSESSED WITH THIS BOOK!!!! I usually steer clear of romantasy/fantasy books set in modern settings, but this world completely sucked me in, and I never stood a chance. This is SUCH an incredible read that, halfway through, I personally hunted down the author and begged her to tell me if there would be a second book (and YES, there will be!). That’s how deeply invested I am in Willa and Codrin.

THE BETRAYAL!! The YEARNING!!! The DEVOTION!! Did I mention the BETRAYAL?! Ugh, I wept, I laughed, I definitely blushed, and then I cried happy tears. AND THE SPICE… just trust me. Every woman needs a Codrin. He has firmly secured his place in my top five book boyfriends.

Willa (FMC) is complex but also exceptionally gentle. The side characters are incredible, the story never has a dull moment, and I was fully engaged from beginning to end. I genuinely cannot wait for the next book to drop!

Thank you, Alara Birch, for satisfying my book cravings with this WHOLE MEAL of a book. 🖤

And thank you NetGalley for providing a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Sarah Garvie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the premise of this book, however, the character building felt rushed and unpolished in parts. It was slow in the middle and some of the plot points felt like they were added in and not really fleshed out.

***spolier****

One of the main characters sleeps with someone else after finding their fated mate. This aspect didn’t really make sense to me and felt like drama for the sake of drama and how the betrayal was found out and handled later in the book felt dishonest and weirdly brushed under the carpet

***spolier over***

Overall I liked the idea book, I felt engaged in the book at times but at other times it was slow in some parts and I found myself skipping through some pages. I’m unsure if the this is the start of a future series but the ending also felt quite abrupt.

Overall I give the book 3 stars as the storyline was interesting and I was hooked enough to stay up late to finish it. I would recommend this book to those looking for an easy read in terms of world building and who aren’t too phased about in depth character building.

Thank you to Alara for allowing me to read this book in exchange for a honest review.

[Kliunaai · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

ARC Review 🌙🐺 | Moonbound by Alara Birch
Thank you to Alara Birch for the opportunity to read this ARC. This is my honest opinion, shared voluntarily. 🖤

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½

The perfect read for a cozy autumn weekend! Moonbound pulled me in with its mix of werewolves, fated mates, romance, danger, and just the right amount of spice. It felt both modern and classic, and I found myself completely invested in the story.

I especially loved Willa. She’s compassionate, strong, and vulnerable in a way that makes her feel genuinely human and relatable. She can hold her own, and her identity goes far beyond being someone’s fated mate. And Codrin… 🖤 The tension, yearning, and devotion between them had me hooked! I loved that their connection went beyond the immediate pull of the mate bond, allowing their feelings to grow into something deeper and more meaningful.

With plenty of action, secrets, pack politics, and characters who kept me guessing, the story held my attention from beginning to end. It’s such an addictive blend of paranormal romance and fantasy, and I’m already eager to find out what happens next for Willa & Codrin an all the other side characters!

[Francesca G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are you looking for a new book featuring handsome werewolves? Look no further! I’ll admit they’re my weakness too.

Willa is a young female werewolf who has spent many years among humans studying medicine so she can become a healer for her pack. However, due to a traumatic event in her past, she has lost the ability to shift. When she returns to her pack, she doesn’t have the courage to tell anyone, fearing the consequences. Codrin is the Prince of Wolves—powerful and feared, yet also disliked by many. Within him coexist not only the man and the wolf, but also another dangerous beast, of which few are aware. When Codrin discovers that Willa is his fated mate and realizes she can’t shift, he’ll have to try to keep his distance so as not to endanger her, not only because of his beast but also because of his countless enemies.

Beyond the love story and the steamy scenes, the plot is intriguing and well-developed. The story doesn’t end with the book, and I wonder if the next one will still feature Codrin and Willa or a different couple. Either way, I can’t wait for the sequel!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this wolf shifter novel. Willa is a badass doctor with some soft spots and she ends up mated to a PRINCE and he’s a perfect shifter book boyfriend despite some alphahole tendencies the stories works out in time. I found him to be a great balance of super experienced, over protective, and secretly so happy he’s found a mate after a thousand years. A lot of the conflict in this book is due to a lack of communication but I can understand the communication wasn’t forthcoming so I’m actually okay with it in this case.

On gripe, as much as I'm sure I’ll enjoy the next book I’m definitely getting fatigued by chasing after HEAs in a series of books, I was really hoping they would be happy and set in this first book…

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“…. Right here, right now, the Prince of Wolves belonged to - Me….”

I seriously finished this book within a 10 hour period. The whole flow was so finely tuned I could picture every scene, every feeling, the descriptions worded. Obviously, the fated mate trope will be a given. The build up of Willa’s character was *chefs kiss* well done.

I wish I had more to read, but the way the book ended made me both happy and sad. You’ll have to read it to see why. 🫣

Main tropes to expect:

✨ Fated mates
🐺Shifters
🧍🏻🧍🏻‍♂️Brother and sister bond
👀“Touch her and die” hero
👩🏻‍⚕️Healer heroine
🌶️🌶️🌶️ (and a half) spicyyyy

[Chelsea Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you @alara_birch_author for the opportunity to read this early!
Comes out November 2nd!

✨️✨️4/5 stars✨️✨️
To be frank I thought it was going to be a spice only trope heavy book... I was only partially right. There is a good amount of spice and the Alpha/mate tropes are present but everything else is fresh.
It feels like a real world outside of our main characters even if they are more focused on each other. I liked the tidbits about different packs and customs. The sexual freedom but knowledge about how people can be taken advantage of based on their biology was good. The mythology behind werewolves is interesting.
A little bit of a call out to myself but I love when both people are possessive of each other. Some of the urges and scenes reflect real life (though definitely a little exaggerated for story telling).

[Pola N · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not a common occurence but I don't know what to say more about this book than it is simply good.

Complicated characters, lot of action, a bit of pack politics and family history. Everything well balanced and enjoyable to read.

I will be waiting for sure for the next part of the series.

I got a free copy as an ARC reader and I am leaving this review voluntarily and honestly.

[Kathryn Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this copy as an ARC reader.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I loved the ideas and lore in this book, the history and world building was amazing! I immediately loved our girl Willa, you sympathize with her pain and root for her the whole time. She’s an amazing person and it’s hard not to love her along side our MMC.

SPOILERS!!!


I was a little bit disappointed in how the MMC was written. It didn’t feel quite real when he took another woman after the bind snapped in place. Made us as a reader not trust his instincts/intentions.

Speaking of Selene - he couldn’t scent her discontent to the degree it was happening? He seems to be able to detect all the other’s emotions and their degree of wanting to hurt others. Codrin can smell it on others- doesn’t make sense that he can’t detect the differences in Selene’s scent.


Alright, spoilers over!

Overall it was a great read and one I would be happy to pick up again. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series when it is released! Great work Alara Birch!

[L · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some people might enjoy & have fun reading it, but i really didnt..
It felt a bit wattpady & unserious, I wanted to like it but from the start I didnt feel connected to it.

[Jennifer Cheek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my George this was amazing. Kept me in the story to where I wanted more!!!!!