Alpha Bound

Evenfall #1

by Claire Cullen

After five years of searching, Thane, the eldest of his brothers, has given up on ever finding his mate. So when he goes to confront a trespasser on his land, he's surprised to discover an Omega wolf covered in Wiccan symbols and barely clinging to life. He's even more shocked when he realizes this pitiful creature is his mate.

Fionn, rejected by his first mate for failing to conceive a child, is barely tolerated by his family. After a local Coven curses him, he escapes death at the hands of his Pack and flees across the river. He wakes in the company of a gruff bear shifter who declares Fionn to be his mate despite the curse that's slowly killing him. As Thane cares for him, Fionn gradually begins to trust his intentions.

When Thane comes up with a plan to save Fionn, with the help of another Coven, it leads them on a path neither had expected but that they seem fated to follow. But both Fionn and Thane are hiding secrets from one another, secrets that threaten the fragile relationship they've begun to build.

Alpha Bound is 43,000-word paranormal romance with a happy ending and no major cliffhangers. It contains some language and scenes not suitable for readers under the age of eighteen. It contains mpreg.

Genres: Paranormal, M M Romance, Shapeshifters, Romance, Abuse, Fantasy, Omegaverse

139 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 20, 2017

About the author

Claire Cullen is an author and aspiring baker. Since she was a toddler, she has loved making up stories. Getting them down on paper proved a challenge in the early years when her preferred medium was finger puppets. She moved on to pen and paper, and later to keyboards, and hasn't looked back since, except for occasional bouts of nostalgia.

Reviews

[Elise ✘ a.k.a Ryder's Pet ✘ · Rating 3 out of 5]

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Not too bad*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

Well... this wasn't all that bad. The characters were alright, the story interesting and heartbreaking... However, it could've been so much better. It had a big potential. Because even though the story was interesting, it was still missing... something.

It was soothing, the Alpha's voice as it rolled across him, the Alpha’s hands as they stroked his body. His tears ebbed and slowed as he gave in to the comfort of Thane’s arms.

Alpha bear shifter Thane Evenfall (?) (how old?) finally finds his mate. However, his mate is broken, in pain and dying. Omega wolf Fionn (26? How old?) has been through hell. He terrified, in gruesome pain, and doesn't wanna let his mate down. He's so scared of being a disappointed, something he's been his whole life. Of course, to not be a disappointment, he has to survive first...

Before Fionn could protest, he swung the Omega into his arms. Another shy smile spread across Fionn’s face.
“You did this in my dream,” he murmured.
Thane laughed, shaking his head. “Well, you’re not dreaming now.”

Overall, I kinda liked. Something was missing, to make the book more whole but still, I didn't wanna stop reading until I was done with it (I just had to go to sleep at some point) and the writing wasn't all that bad either. But I did like Claire Cullen's ‘Falling Together’ better. I'm though, uncertain if I am to continue with the series as I'm not sure I liked Thane's brothers much. Although, we didn't get to know them all that well, so I might.

“You’re mine,” he breathed. “Mine.”

Quick basic facts:
Genre: - (Adult) Paranormal Romance (M/M)
Series: - Series (Standalone?), Book One.
Love triangle? - No.
Cheating? - No.
HEA? - Yes.
Favorite character? - Thane Evenfall.
Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Unure.
Would I recommend this book/series? - Sure.
Will I read this again in the future? - No.
Rating - 2.5 stars.

[Shin Mon Thway · Rating 3 out of 5]

Discovering an older series of Claire Cullen is such a delight because I love her writing and I usually devour all her shifter books. And this one was no exception. 😌

The heat is extremely low in this one and the action happened only at 90% mark which is almost at the end of this book. But I love the world building and the background story in it. It was fascinating. I was quite fed up with Fiona the Omega in the middle because of his stupidity. 🙄🤷‍♀️ However it was a minor flaw. I really enjoyed this one and read it in one sitting. I’ll definitely check out the next book in the series because I’m excited about Cal’s story. 😉


3.5 Even fates mates have to fight for love stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

[Steph ☀️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

So...

Well it started off decently but as I read on it slowly started to get boring :/ No chemistry between the two MCs, which didn’t help that they spent more time apart than together. Oh and the ending fell not only flat but short. So sad :(

[Xiomara · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.0

There was a lot happening in this story and it was also switching from first person to third person through the whole story. It was a little confusing at times because of all the switching and different plots. I personally feel if there was less going on at the same time it would had been a good story.

[Misty · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up.
This was good book, very low on heat, but still interesting.
1st of a trilogy. Left on a slight cliffhanger.

[Rachel Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that this was a great start for a new series from this author! I loved the mix of wolf and bear shifters, how magic and covens are involved, the world building and history of the area, and of course, I LOVED Fionn. I just wanted to give him a big hug and take care of him.

There is a lot of emotion in this one, Fionn especially has a lot of emotional healing and mending to do before he can really find peace, but I know that Thane is the perfect person to help him get there. Although this book is kinda low of the steam factor, I didn't find myself missing it, because the emotional connection between the two was so wonderful to read about and Fionn needed that time to heal.

Being that this is a trilogy, I assume the other two books with be for Thane's brothers, Cal and Orion, so I hope that means we will continue to see more of Fionn and Thane in the other books too, because I really just loved them...and gotta know what will happen with them next, too!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Zuzu · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot and loved the two MC's. However, there wasn't any real romance until the 83% mark. The majority of the book was shifter and Wiccan lore as well as background, so I was disappointed that we didn't get more relationship with Fionn and Thane. I'm debating about going on to book 2. Each book is about one of the bear shifter brothers - Thane, Callix and Orion.

[Coco.V]

💝 FREE on Amazon today (12/29/2017)! 💝

[Leaundra · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4..

[Macky · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️3.5⭐️

[ᗰ.ᑕ. ♡ O͎L͎D͎E͎R͎ ͎&͎ ͎W͎I͎S͎E͎R͎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

(October 2020)

2.5 stars

👎 No descriptions of anything or anyone.

👎 Little to no romance. It was lackluster without genuine feelings. There are only a few bits of sexy stuff (like kissing), before the 80% point. When the MCs finally mated, it was a dud. Blink and you miss it.

It's short and interesting enough to finish. That's the best I can say for it.

[~nikki the recovering book addict · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good start to the series

I expected the same old tropes but surprisingly, there were some unexpected events that does make it a somewhat unique take on the typically over-explored shifter storyline.

[Monique · Rating 3 out of 5]

** 3.5 stars **

[Vivi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars!

Fionn is a 25 year old Omega Wolf shifter who has been deemed infertile and returned to his family by his mate, Bruce.

Fionn is Looked down by his family as someone who has no purpose or use in the pack...

And things only get worse when Cory, Fionn's Alpha brother bites a Wiccan girl and causes her death!

The girl's family and Coven, determined to revenge her death, but afraid to take action against an Alpha, decides to punish Fionn (the Omega brother) instead.

Ence, Fionn is punished by the Coven's magic with large magical simbols that are etched into his skin, drain his shifter powers and burn.

Weak, full of pain and with no way of stopping the marks and magic in his body, Fionn tries to get back home...

...only to be offered mercy (death) by his pack.

Afraid, Fionn runs to the other side of the river, where he is sure his pack won't follow him, because that is Bear shifter's territory.

But, Fionn is caught by Thane, an Alpha Bear Shifter, and he is certain that he's gonna get killed for invading the Bear's territory...

...Or is he?!

What happens when the Bear shifter tells Fionn that he is his True mate?



“True mates are something peculiar to bear shifters. We only have a single mate in our lifetime.”

“You’re a bear and I’m a wolf. I can’t be your true mate.”

“I knew the moment I set eyes on you and caught your scent. There is no question. You’re mine.”


Is Fionn really Thane's true mate?

And if he is, Can they make a relationship between 2 different species work?

Will Fionn find a way to erase the pain, burns and magic in his body?

Read the book to find out ;)

**********************************

I enjoyed this book way more than I was expecting!

I really liked the magic and shifter mix in this book and that the MCs were 2 different kinds of shifters from 2 very different backgrounds.

I loved Thane and Fionn together! Thane is everything that sweet, hurt, shy Fionn needs. Thane is pacient, loving, sweet and always puts Fionn's feelings and well-being first.

I also loved how the story and plot developed. It's not a very complex story; it's a light, quick, but still, pretty enjoyable read.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit and I am curious to see how things will progress in the next book. This is a series that I definitely want to continue reading.

The story continues on book#2: Bound By Fate, which is Callix (Thane's brother)'s story.

[Chrissie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve really been enjoying this authors work so far, all of the books have been 4+. This one however, really sucked for me.

First of all, the mated main characters? Mate bond? Connection? Any kind of semblance of a relationship? Hello?
There was major distance between these two, i was a little shocked. I believe, but could be wrong, that in total they spent 4 months apart in this book. 4 months. Not forced, totally could have stayed together. The biggest time apart was 3 months and this was down to the fact that Fionn (the little fuck) was hurt that Thane hadn’t checked the pack Fionn was in when he was searching for his mate, and he could have saved Fionn a lot of pain and abuse by doing so. He stormed away and stayed with the coven for 3 months, no contact with his mate whatsoever. I understand being upset but I thought this was an overreaction, a little selfish and it also didn’t translate on page all that well either, as in, it didn’t seem fitting to the story. The other month seemed entirely about Thane being able to return home to ‘a surprise’.

Even when these two were together -hell- even when they were having sex I couldn’t see a connection between them, the whole relationship was a total dud in my eyes. The characters as individuals weren’t all that likeable either. I found myself having little patience with them, I won’t list a whole bunch of negative attributes, I just didn’t like them. The secondary characters didn’t intrigue me either, I had no desire to know them more, especially Leona for some reason i had bad vibes from her all throughout.

I won’t drag this review on, I’ve really been enjoying this authors work so I’m surprised to have hit this bump in the road and I’m really hoping I haven’t read all the good stuff and all that’s left are the.. less good books(?). I’d really recommend the “Ties that bind” series, or Forbidden. Both really good books IMO from this author, much much different quality to this one.

[Sierra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good start to new series for Cullen and a step out of the solely wolf world we've had in her other books. I really liked both characters from the start. Fionn has lived a loveless life and yet fights to live when he's cursed by wiccans then hunted by his own pack. Thane is taken by surprise at finding his mate in the last place he expected, after having searched five years. Their meeting doesn't suddenly solve each's problems. Fionn is still barely alive and dying from the curse as well as emotionally scarred from his past, nowhere close to being able to complete a mating. I kept expecting to get some wild sexy heat(s) and lots of steamy scenes but this is much more a book about emotions and destinies. The worldbuilding includes a lot of magic and wicca in addition to the shifter parts and that was really interesting and well thought out. There was a bit of the bear shifter lore, something I think we'll learn more about in the other brothers' stories. It's a bit of a cheat to call this an mpreg book because we just get the barest bit of a pregnancy. I can only hope that we get more of this couple's story and the pregnancy in the next book. I would have loved this one to be longer, not just for the pregnancy, but to show us the two of them getting to know each other, letting us get to know them. Other than that, it was a good solid read.

[Mikki James - Peters · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fionn is captured by a Wiccan group after his brother had bite one of their members and she died. Cast aside with curses and thrown onto forbidden land he is found by bear-shifter Thane. Thane is intrigued by the man and puzzled, because he knows with certainity that Fionn is his fated mate. But Fionn is barely hanging on as the magical curses run through his body. Thane must do whatever it takes to save his mate before it is too late.

I enjoyed this novel. The concept of the alpha/omega dynamics was a bit different here. I thought it was interesting how the pack interacted with the witches and that if one was bitten they would die. I was horrified for what was done to Fionn as a punishment when he was an innocent in the whole matter. I was hoping for some more chemistry between Fionn and Thane, there was a good portion of the story where they went their separate ways as Fionn had to learn about the curse that was binding him. Overall it was still an enjoyable read!

[Nora · Rating 4 out of 5]

It definitely has a happy ending but there's some subject matter that's hard to deal with-such as being forced to have his body used by many, knowing it all could have been avoided if assumptions weren't made, but knowing at the same time fate deemed only one path-the painful path, for these two, but especially Fionn. Loved the relationship between the two though, love how they met and their interactions, hated the angst between them and the time they were estranged. I hate that Fionn was punished for his brothers crimes, but I love that there are people who realized this and supported him and were on his side. Wish the road wasn't so angsty, but it was a lovely story anyway!

[Fran · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have been loving Claire Cullen lately and so someone told me to read this trilogy. (I have been reading newer stuff of hers like omega's gamble). This has to be earlier on in her career because the writing is very basic compared to her newer stuff. It's not complex, the characters are not very likable or relatable. I had no positive emotions for Thane for the first 55-60% of the book. Fionn deserved better than everyone in this book, I did like Leona too. Other than that I was indifferent to the characters. The lack of description was not a good thing either. there was barely any scene-setting.

[Sue Milkovich · Rating 5 out of 5]

TERRIFIC NEW TRILOGY

This is a terrific introduction to a new Bear Shifter Trilogy. This story is between Thane, a Alpha Bear and Fionn an Omega Wolf. I know, how can this be?? But wait, there is also witchcraft in the mix. I thought it all came together to make a interesting, magnificently written, beautiful story. Thane is a beautiful character, Fionn was fantastic, strong, but still soft and sweet. I'm looking forward to seeing them grow. I HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!!!

[P Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one - it was emotional, disturbing, heartbreaking yet sweet.

My heart broke for Fionn; his traumatic ordeal leaves him emotionally and physically scarred. His own failed to protect him - he's broken, damaged and worthless. He crosses the river to save his life - what he finds across the river is something he never expected. Can a broken omega be healed with love?

This was an amazing read - the author captured Fionn's inner turmoil, pain and fear very powerfully throughout. An emotionally gripping story that will literally bring tears to your eyes.

[TRL · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strange book. It started off great, with danger and a rescue, but the author tried to pack too much world building into a very short book. There’s a confusing data dump about halfway through, and from then on it takes this predestiny route that robs the characters of agency. Around the same time, the omega MC’s actions and emotions stop making sense completely. It felt like the author tried to cram two stories together, maybe? I did like the alpha’s brothers, so I’ll probably check out their stories to see if they are better.

[Mim Crenshaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read

This was a wonderfully written book. I hated what Fioon went thru his father and the coven, and I hated how it made him think throughout the book. Some of his a tions irked me, but I could see his growth in who and what he was. I just wished that he had talked to Thane more, so he could understand. But it was a well written book with characters that the author beautifully developed.

[Nessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was interesting and very imaginative. It's the first time I've read about a shifter also being part Wiccan. The writing was excellent and I enjoyed the relationship between Fionn and the Sable Coven (like family). I felt as though Thane and Fionn had spent so much time apart but I guess a lot of it had to do with Fionn having to deal with the Wiccan part of himself. I enjoyed the story and the ending was sweet. Looking forward to reading the next addition of the series.

[... · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was... not great. As with so many if this author's earlier works, it showcases her fantastic imagination for coming up with plot ideas and world building. but completely lacks the writing skill to make me actually feel things for the characters. Sigh. I'm not sure if I care enough to co tune the series. even though it left off - as with all her series - with the overarching series plot in progress. Probably a 2.5☆ read for me.

[Lauralee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This felt like a good draft for a solid book, but not like a finished product.
I couldn't fully connect with the story and the characters, because I was missing details and depth. There is some great potential for world building, but the romance was seriously lacking in my opinion - and let's face it, that's mostly what I came for. But I just didn't feel it.

[Flavia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ler depois de só ter dormido 1h30 não foi uma jogada de gênio. Tava sem paciência nenhuma pra ele culpando o outro por coisas fora do controle dele. Depois q eu dormir um pouco e li a outra metade do livro, foi melhor. Achei muito introdutório, não se aprofunda em nada, só dá início, porém dá vontade de ler os outros.

[jennifer Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I enjoyed reading the story of Thane and Fionn. There was a well developed plot with plenty of twists. Although some horrible things happened, the Alpha was strong and honorable and the couple got their HEA. I can't wait to read the next book in the trilogy.

[AllAboutThoseBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Earlier Work

Her more recent writing is more mature, but the hurt/comfort is there, as is the complex world building. The book end with a HFN, and the larger story unresolved. It must be read as part of the series rather than a stand alone.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

pacing

Rushes from scene to scene without pausing: a lot of deprogramming needed to overcome a pretty neglectful upbringing. In the end, good get rewarded, bad get punished, and alpha gets his omega.