Trouble's on the Way

Outcasts #2

by C.L. Mustafic

After leaving the Outcast pack, Clay Anderson and Damian Macoon head to Alabama where they’ve both secured a job with the construction company that employs Damian. Their new relationship is off to a good but not too harmonious start in no small part due to Clay still holding a grudge against Damian for turning him into a werewolf. So when they walk into the office trailer parked on the job site and Clay realizes that their boss is none other than Damian’s fated mate, things get even more tense between the two.

Billy Ray Hicks was raised believing he was going to find his mate and be a cherished member of whatever pack he ended up in, but those dreams came crashing down when his bonded mate ran away and disappeared from his life before the mate bond was completed. Billy Ray always figured he’d run into Damian again but never suspected his mate would have a boyfriend when he did.

With tensions mounting between Clay and Damian, Billy Ray becomes the focal point of their ire. Damian ends up in the middle of two men—one he wants and one he needs—who both want him. Now he needs to convince them that they all belong together before he loses both.

Genres: Shapeshifters, M M Romance, Dark

185 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 20, 2018

About the author

CL Mustafic is a born and bred American mid-westerner who mysteriously ended up living in a tiny Eastern European country. Left with too much time on her hands – let’s be honest here it was the lack of television channels in her native language – and too many voices in her head trying to fill the silence, she decided to give her life-long dream of writing a novel a shot. So now between shuttling kids back and forth from various activities, risking her life on the insanely narrow, busy streets of her new home town, she loses herself in her own made up world where love always wins.

Reviews

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I requested this title because I was curious to see how the story evolved after the events of the first book. Unfortunately this book didn't really work for me. There are still a lot of questions left unanswered, why can't someone explain all there is to know about werewolves to Clay? Every time something new gets added to the mix and this is kind of frustrating.
I appreciated the representation in this book, it was nice to see a bigender character in the story.
The thing I couldn't excuse was Clay's behaviour, he was really mean and sometimes just to make Damian mad.
I expected more answers and I'm sad to say I was disappointed.

[Trio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trouble’s on the Way is the second book in Outcasts, CL Mustafic’s paranormal romance series. The must read prequel, Bad Moon Arising, pulled me right in with the unusual characters and clever twists. This is not your typical shifter story, but then, nothing I’ve read by this creative author can be considered typical… and that’s a wonderful thing!

Life after the hook-up from hell will never be the same for Clay. Becoming an “infected” (one who contracts lycanthropy, rather than being born a wolf) is more than he ever bargained for. While he admits he’s got strong feelings for Damian, their relationship is fraught with issues. Between discounting his attraction to Damian as simply due to his beast, and blaming Damien for infecting him in the first place, Clay is having a tough time getting past all this.

Dragging Clay home to Alabama might not be the smartest move for them, but Damian knows they need the protection of a pack - and he’s got some unfinished business as well. Billy Ray is Damian’s true mate and he’s been waiting patiently for Damian to return so they can consummate their bond. There are some very interesting issues which led to Damian moving away in the first place, and his reemergence changes everything for the three men.

Mustafic puts her characteristic touch on this shifter romance and there’s a darker edge to Trouble’s on the Way as the series moves forward. All three of the main characters are dealing with some intense issues; they’re all keeping secrets, and playing their cards close to their vests.

This is a wonderfully creative shifter world. Leave it to CL Mustafic to explore areas of this society I would never have even considered. There’s so much involved in the phenomenon of a mated pair: what it means for the pack, the ways it affects both wolves, and how both partners deal with it. Even more intriguing is what’s involved in becoming an infected, watching Clay’s wolf evolve is so interesting to see.

I don’t want to give anything away, but this is one of the most original shifter stories I’ve read and I’m enjoying the hell out of it. I have a feeling there are quite a few surprises yet to come, and I’m sure whichever way Outcasts plays out, I’ll enjoy it. Bring on the next episode!

[Book Gannet · Rating 1 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first book in this series (Bad Moon Arising). It was cute but left a lot of unanswered questions at the end, so I jumped at the chance to read the follow up.

I wish I hadn’t now, because Clay is the absolute worst. He wasn’t great in the first book, but I let it go because of the stressful circumstances. Yet after everything, he’s somehow come out of it even more of an asshole than before (and no, it doesn’t make it better if he knows he’s being an asshole!). He’s moody, irritating and incredibly childish, and the way he treats Damian is awful. I cannot for the life of me see what Damian sees in him, except for the whole messed up alpha wolf thing.

Not that Billy Ray is any better. At first I was really happy to see a bigender character blending so seamlessly into this world, but then I realised it was all mixed up with the whole fated-mates stuff (with a hint towards a possible m-preg in the future, which NOPE!) and it became too contrived for me. A lot of this is because I hate fated-mate stories. It’s why I don’t read much paranormal romance these days, even though I love shifter stories. I picked up the first book because it clearly didn’t have anything to do with fate or destiny, so to have it jump up here and slap me in the face was at first annoying and then pretty disappointing. I know it’s in the blurb, so it wasn’t a surprise, but I thought the relationship would progress into a triad, but it doesn’t, it just messes everything up because this is more of a serial than a series – which is another thing I hate, especially when it happens without warning.

And can everyone stop manipulating Damian for two minutes please, and quit laying on the guilt-trips so damn thick? No, he isn’t perfect here, thanks to a nice bit of uncharacteristic behaviour, but with the way everyone is treating him, I just wanted him to say fuck it, pack up his cats and trailer and drive off into the sunset, leaving the rest of them to sort themselves out. It’s a clusterfuck of a mess and I really hated the way the fated-mate stuff seemed to work. It’s not something I like at the best of times, so this snarled up emotional mess was never going to be for me.

Worst of all there is no progress. Damian and Clay finished the last book in a tentative relationship, heading somewhere new because of a big ol’ mess they left behind. They end this book in a tentative relationship, about to head somewhere new because of a big ol’ mess they left behind. Yes, they have the added complication of Billy Ray now, but everything else is basically the same. Clay is still resentful of something Damian did, Damian is still apologising for existing and too many questions remain unanswered (like what happened in the Outcast pack to make it okay for them to go back).

I’m disappointed. This series has turned into a serial, nothing is really happening relationship-wise and we’re in a fated-mate situation with a possible m-preg looming in the future. I’m done. Turns out these wolves are not for me and I’m sad because I’d hoped for so much more.

(ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley)

[mrs sarah frost · Rating 4 out of 5]

Troubles on the Way
So Clay was indeed infected by Damien and as Clay continues to find out more about being a werewolf Damien falls deeper in love with him. Clays wolf wants Damien but his human form still hasn't forgiven him for kidnapping him. They leave the pack for work and run into Billy Ray who's Damiens bonded mate. Damien needs Billy Ray but he loves Clay. This is when Clay finally realised he loves Damien but can he share him?
There is some funny parts with Clay in his puppy form and some when they need their heads banging together. It will be interesting to see if Billy Ray gets pregnant as she bigender!

[Natosha Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, Just Wow is all I can say. Book one in this series was good but his book left me wanting more and by the way it ended, I can only imagine what is to come next. The question is how is everyone involved going to handle what is to come.

But back to this book, C.L. Mustafic blew me away with everything that happened in this book. Clay and Damian are back again. In this book they have left the Outcast pack in order to keep them both safe after everything that happened in book one. They are heading to Alabama to work. Unfortunately that also puts Damian back to the place that he never ever really wanted to be again, back by his families pack.

When Damian left his families pack, he not only left behind his family but he also left behind a bonded mate as well. He never fulfilled the bond with Billy Ray and he never intends to because his family has their own motives as to wanting this mating to take place. But nevertheless, Damian does not intend on seeing his family or anyone else that is associated with them. But as we all know, fate has a way of screwing up our best laid plans.

When Clay and Damian reach their new job, they are in for a shock. The boss is none other than Billy Ray. And of course Billy Ray still wants Damian. Both Clay and Damian know this.Damian claims that he does not want Billy Ray but Vlay can tell that is not true. When Clay and Damian have a bad argument, things are said and actions are taken that will affect both Vlay and Damian from that moment on. The only question is can they survive what is about to happen to not only them but the people they know and may even love as well.

This book was so good. I can honestly say that I did not know what direction C.L. Mustafic was going to go with this book. And I can honestly say that there is still a lot of questions that will have to be answered in the next book. I cannot wait for it to come out. I am really looking forward to what is to come next.

Was given this galley copy for free for an open and honest review

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of Trouble’s on the Way from Nine Star Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book picked up immediately after the ending of BAD MOON ARISING and has Clay and Damian getting a job with Billy Ray, Damian’s fated mate. This causes drama and contention because Clay is (unwillingly) falling in love with Damian, and Damian already knows he loves Clay and has reasons for not mating with Billy Ray in the past.

I’m honestly not sure how I feel about this book. There is some interesting world building (fated mates have their mates eye until the bond is completed) and some stuff that makes me questionable (Billy Ray is bigender and not sure if that’s because he’s omega, or if he’s omega because he’s bigender). In some ways I don’t feel like there was much relationship development and it’s very pre-relationship, especially regarding Billy Ray’s place in the dynamic. Still curious, especially because there’s been a few things that make me think Billy Ray can get pregnant.

Overall, I’m just not sure how to feel about this book. I still wanna see the continuation of their relationship and figuring out how all three of them fit and work together. I also like some of the casual queerness that came up (as I said, Billy Ray is bigender and one of the side characters is asexual). But in other ways this book doesn’t seem to have had much happen?

Content notes:

🐾 on page sex
🐾 attempted rape
🐾 cheating
🐾 using sex as incentive
🐾 misogyny
🐾 casual ableism
🐾 alcohol consumption
🐾 inebriation
🐾 physical violence
🐾 abduction
🐾 broken bone
🐾 blood, injury, beating
🐾 death, accidental manslaughter

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5-3 stars

The first book in the Outcasts series piqued my interest with the different takes on shifters and left me with a good amount of questions. With the future of Clay and Damian’s relationship being the primary unresolved plot thread from Bad Moon Arising, I was excited to start Trouble’s on the Way. Unfortunately, I had trouble staying invested in the second book and found myself stopping and restarting the story multiple times.

In the first book, Clay came across as closed off and rather brusque. Disappointedly that didn’t change much in the second novella and the reader doesn’t get very far past Clay’s walls until the end of the book. Additionally, the relationship between Clay and Damian really stalled out, adding more pieces to the puzzle rather than solving much of it and diminishing my interest in this couple. I did appreciate there was more background on Damian and why he left his pack and bonded mate behind for the Outcast pack, but that too led to plenty more unanswered questions. Although the author’s creativity and different approaches to shifter packs, their structure, and behaviors was once again noteworthy, I expected much more character and relationship development by the end of Trouble’s on the Way. Instead, I found myself less interested in Clay, Damian, and now Billy Ray than I was after the first novella. That combined with the foreshadowing of an MPreg storyline in the future leaves me thinking this is where I’ll stop. I think if you are really into shifter books that involve pack dynamics, alphas, and omegas- the Outcasts series may be a better fit for you than it was for me.

*eARC received via Netgalley. The author and publisher had no influence over this review*

[Deli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the "Outcasts" series and follow of to "Bad moon Arising".

Clay and Damian are on their way to a job which brings them near Damians hometown and old pack. Thought Damian has a lot of unfinished business lying here, he didnt expect to run into his fated mate first thing after their arrival.

I liked this book. It was very intriguing. Damian and Clay still have a lot to work out between them. Thought they formed an emotional bond and obviously are attracted to each other, Clay cant really let go of his bitterness and often lets it out on Damian who find it increasingly hard to heal with Clays outlashes. Then theres the unknown of Damians futur mate and jealousy added to the mix. Its not a light read, but i really liked it and was kinda faszinated buy how all played out.

The end left me really wondering about book 3. I really hope some things will settle themselfes, my heart is kinda fragil ;)



A little warning at the end:
Damians fated mate is bigender and will sometimes be adressed as "she" or "her" when i fist read about it in the book i was a bit thrown off. Thought it was well integrated in the book, i believe a short warning beforhand is nice about such a thing.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book two of a really interesting series, and you definitely need to read the first book before diving into this one. The two main characters, Clay and Damian, are both jerks most of the time, lashing out and hurting each other's feelings. Other times, they make me laugh - or sometimes want to hug them. Basically, they are perfect for each other. This book brings in Damian's fated mate Billy Ray, who I love. He (or sometimes she) deserves so much more than Damian and Clay offer, so I really hope they pull their heads out in the next installment. This story has me totally sucked in and I can't stop reading, even when I'm angry at one of the men. It isn't like any other shifter story I've read, and I find it fascinating. I love the idea that the "infected" or made wolf is more than most pack members think. I am looking forward to seeing what happens next with our almost-threesome in the next book!

[LOLA · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part two. Should not be read as stand alone. You will miss to much.
Clay and Damian are now taking a job near Damian 's old pack near Alabama. Of course being this close they would eventually run into someone from the old pack.
Just so happens to be Billy Ray. Which also happens to be the one that Damian left behind. Apparently there was a potential for a mate bond years ago. For many reasons things didn't happen the way things were suppose to.
The relationship between Clay and Damian takes a weird turn when Billy Ray is introduced.
I was really enjoying the story in till we learn about a two gendered wolf. Why is there a two gendered wolf?
Fits a narrative. Seems like political stuff inserted into a story.
The story is interesting, but don't care for this new turn of stupid events. Does not fit well. But then again maybe future
events will work out.
(Given a copy for an honest review) (NetGalley)

[Sherry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, this book didn’t work as well for me as the first in the series.

The thing that I really liked about the first book was the way the author played with the conventions of werewolf stories, like having the newly bitten transform into a puppy rather than a scary monster. However, this one worked against some of that unconventionality. Yes, Clay becomes a puppy when he wholly shifts, but he also can shift into something like the traditional man-wolf werewolf. That felt like a copout to me.

I’m also not entirely on board with the fated mates aspect of the story. I like Clay and Damian together, and adding a third member to their relationship in the form of Damian’s mate Billy Ray didn’t thrill me, even if the purpose seems to be in part to set up some sort of special destiny for the three of them. I did appreciate the fact that Billy Ray is gender fluid, though.

Then add to that the fact that a lot of the conflict in this book was built around the fact that people just wouldn’t TALK to each other like reasonable adults. That’s always frustrating.

So, yeah, not as good as the first. But I’m up for reading the next in the series, simply because I want to know what happens to Clay and Damian.

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

[Joscelyn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clay and Damian are back, book 1 ended with them on the road having left the Outcasts pack because it failed them in their time of need. Book 2 picks up with them on their way to Alabama for work and lo and behold the last person Damian expected to see is their new supervisor. Billy Ray is one of the reasons Damian left his home pack and to say things are awkward between all three of them is an understatement of epic proportions. At the end I am once again left wanting more but not in a cliff-hanger type of way. The overall story arc was complete, I just can't wait to see where this unconventional three-way relationship headed. Also I just know there has to be more to Billy Ray.

[Nicole Diskin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Troubles on the way was a great sequel to Bad moon rising and continue the story of Clay and Damian in a fantastic way! it was a quick sweet and steamy read but not just that so much more! I loved the interesting dynamic that Billy Ray added to the story and just him/her as a character and Dante and some of the most messed up family dynamics that I have ever seen also added some amazing layers to the story that I just loved and couldn't put down! Overall a great addition to the Outcasts series I can't wait to see whats next! Great Job CL. Mustafic!!

[Kirstin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was given this ARC by NetGalley and NineStar Press, LLC in exchange for an honest review.

This honestly wasn't my bag. I wanted to love it, but I felt the writing and the story to be choppy. I found that when there were problems with the storyline a character did something completely uncharacteristic to make the piece fit. It didn't flow and the story really didn't resolve itself well in my opinion.

This just wasn't a book that got me, unfortunately.

[Doreen Frantz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this second instalment. Still find this take on Alpha/Omega dynamic. Very unique and refreshing. Clay can be so frustrating but so amusing, and poor Damian, in love but still atoning. In this instalment they go back to Damian's territory which results in violence but also and extension to the union of Damian and Clay. A good enjoyable read.

[Bran Zesti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy .....!!!!!!! The first book it took me a bit to get in to it, but this one got me at the begin and wouldn't let me go. If there another book I can't wait for it!!!!!

[MariF · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the writing style and the unusual plot. Author goes on my auto-buy list.

[Nina]

Fuck no.

I've been so looking forward to the sequel but now that I read the blurb I know I'll never read it. :( Polyamory will just never be my cup of tea...

[Jess Gabriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes! I just KNEW book one was setting up something amazing, and book two didn't disappoint. I literally read this in one sitting and stayed up until 4am to finish. Something about this really worked for me. I loved the possessiveness, Clay's alpha behavior, and especially the lovely plot twist. Sometimes, with trilogies, I don't feel the need to keep reading successive books because I'm perfectly happy with the way the original book(s) ended, but this author has a way of providing an HFN while leaving plenty of extra room for development in the next book. I'll be snapping up book three as soon as it's released!

*Provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.