Harboring His Mate: Taron & Onyx

Protected by the Pack #1

by Christa Wick

Onyx: I’m a city wolf—a damaged and injured one at that. Obviously, the absolute last place I should be when I’m in heat is in the middle of the woods with unmated male shifters in the wild able to scent me. But here I am, running for my life. I’m not used to anyone being nice to me, let alone helping me. Even being the daughter of a pack alpha doesn’t keep you safe when you’re the lone freak in your pack who can’t shift. I’m being hunted out here in the woods, and yet somehow I feel safe on the doorstep of the big, brusque stranger who offers me sanctuary. Taron isn’t like any of the shifters I grew up around. He’s a bear shifter for one—an alpha, no less—with a protective streak a mile wide…for me.

Taron: Not much to say. I knew from the moment Onyx found herself trying to escape her troubles in my woods. It hit me like a damn freight train. The she-wolf was my mate. Meaning she was mine to heal. And mine to protect at all costs.

Genres: Shapeshifters, Paranormal, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Audiobook, Fantasy, Werewolves

193 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Christa Wick has been hybrid publishing since 2012 (yep, she's one of the O.G. indie authors). She's written 50+ romances starring curvalicious heroines and alphalicious heroes whose stories span the spectrum of: steamy & sweet, steamy & emotional, steamy & suspenseful, steamy & paranormal, steamy & dark, and...well, you get the idea. Her darker, dirtier books are under C.M. Wick, and she also writes general fiction sci-fi thrillers and suspense novels under other pen names.

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Reviews

[D.L. Howe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I should probably stop reading shifter books because I always compare them to Cate C Well’s Five Packs series and I’m left wanting.

I liked Onyx, she’s the ultimate survivor. She ran from her family/pack where she surely would’ve died because she never went into heat.

Then she finds herself running from strange wolf shifters in the middle of the woods and guess what? She’s in heat. Fortunately she ran into Taron, a grizzly shifter. Who’s also this area’s pack alpha so he shoos those wolves away like annoying gnats.

I was amused by the honey/salmon comparisons with Onyx’s lady bits. Although I didn’t find it erotic. I will say the sex was steamy and there was plenty of it.

Otherwise the rest of this was completely forgettable. I looked forward to the downfall with Onyx’s family/pack and it felt rushed and laissez faire. The miscommunication between our mated lovebirds was annoying and magically forgotten/forgiven in no time.

I don’t know, maybe I’m being too hard on it. But damn, I have to wait five more months for the next Five Packs book. All I want is a shifter book that I love. Is that too much to ask for?!

[Vashti · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the title alone,I had to read this little number.
Verdict.....not bad,not bad at all.For some reason ,I pictured Joe Mangenilo (?)sp,as the grizzly bear MC Alpha hunk of manliness.

[Niki {Still a Widow but reading more} · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn't read a shifter novel in a while and this one hit the spot.

I love Christa Wick's writing and this was no different, it pulled me right in from the get go. Onyx, on the run from her brutal family and pack, was broken and made to feel worthless. She was treated as an outcast because she couldn't shift after an accident when she was 11. Being chased through the woods she stumbles upon Taron's cabin, and from their first meeting Taron knows she's what he's been waiting for.

Oh man and let me say this about Taron....RAWWRRR is right!! He is a sarcastic, sexy, and alpha as all get out. He knows knows Onyx is hurting and broken, but he's strong enough to be there for her even when she's lashing out. He helps heal her, and is there to give her strength no matter what she chooses. He was so sexy as he fought for her, protected her, and licked her all over!!

This is a great start to this series. I loved the take on the shifters and power they can harness. I'm really looking forward to Breaden's book next.

Even though this was an ARC, I will always shoot you straight.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not smutty enough.

[Vampress Bathory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really loved this one. Fast and full of interesting action. I think this start of a series got me hooked. Can't wait to read the next one. Short, light, steamy read.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second read through because I forgot I read it before. It was good but I wish there was more of a wrap up in the end

I loved the start of this series.

[Sydney M Neblett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sanctuary at last

What a fantastic first experience with this author! She kept the action high and brought a tear to my eye more than once. I love the characters and the way they connected almost immediately, and what an amazing support squad just waiting for their own books to get written. I enjoyed how, in the end, Onyx found the home she was always looking for. The getting their was just icing on the cake. This book opened up a whole new series for me, and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

[Ronel Olver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a suspenseful action packed shifter read with intense chemistry between Taron and Onyx. The storyline packs quite a punch about Onyx on the run from her family after her brother Eric tries to harm her, he hates her and he wants her dead. Onyx was injured as a child and was unable to shift after a blood transfusion that saved her life, she might be alive but she has been ostracized by her family and her pack and treated as a servant, nobody wants her. As she runs, she ends up being hunted in the woods after she goes into heat and ends up on Alpha pack leader Taron's doorstep where he steps in and protects her.

As he heals her, he learns more about her and realizes that she is his mate. We have some hot steamy shifter times and Onyx learns to trust and rely on Taron, but when trouble brews he steps back into Alpha Leader mode, picking his pack as all Alpha's do and in the process leaving Onyx to feel that again a man she loved fails her as his pack surround her calling her names and again start to ostracize her. My heart broke for Onyx but I loved the way Clover saves the day and I am excited to read her story. They do get a HEA and I loved that Onyx was sweet enough, to forgive Taron after he explains his reasoning he really needs to communicate better with her, considering he knows what she went through at her old packs hands. Great Read - highly recommended.

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

[Jessica Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oooo a nitty gritty in your face novel with action at every turn and a couple dashes of romance spread throughout. Wolves, bears and shifters oh my. This novel jumps right into the thick of the action and drama. It doesn't let up one bit. Till the very end. The main characters are great both alphas, but one is kinda broken and the other wants what's best for them both. Even if it means he can't keep her all to himself.
Onyx is the leper of her pack. Ever since that accident when she was eleven. Since then her pack has turned their back on her. Outing her at every turn like she would go to the humans and spill their secret. Her one goal in life is to get away from them and everyone else whose ever laid a hand on her to beat her up for being who she can't help to be. Will she find solance running away or will she go back to her pack with her tail tucked between her legs...

[Emily Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

It will hook you in the first scene

What an amazing story! I loved the intensity of the feeling conveyed. The depravity of Oynx's treatment by her family made me angry and as the real reason unfolded and became clear. I was hooked. Right from the start the characterizations were clear and strongly depicted. The storyline was powerful and compelling and the emotional connections throughout were fierce. I loved this book so much that I read it in one sitting without regret. Another excellent story by Christa Wick! Definitely worth losing sleep over.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where is my epilogue!? Yes, I know this is an ongoing series, but give me happily ever after damnit!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 audiobook for me. The narrators did a good job and the story wasn't bad but I was a fan of Onyx.

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️

[Annelies · Rating 4 out of 5]

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Heat/Steam:🌶🌶🌶
Story/Plot: 📕📕📕
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Dual Narration
Listened to it on Everand/Scribed

It was good but I needed more chapters from his point of view.

[Teeny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wish this was better then it was. I had so much hope and expectations that I felt really let down. I never really felt the love between the couples, the mating and offical mating was never really explained? (They had a wedding instead?), and the was the issues, all issues, were resolved was quick frankly unrealistic in the setting and situation that the author wrote at the start. Also, the one thing that I have to say bothered me the absolute most, was that this pack was supposed to be a pack of outcast, a pack that abandoned, unwanted, different, or loners could flock to. Yet, what we got instead was a pack of judgemental shifters that seemed to be fighting amongst themselves as well. Like how can they not offer sanctuary to women unless they are a mate or a sweetbutt (read - pack whore)? Its just disrespectful and there was only one too? And the conflict with her was never resolved either. They're just gonna let her stay after she disrespected the VP's sister and alphas mate (he claimed as mate to keep her safe since ya know the pack was basically like shes free game and all). And I know this is a stupid thing to think about when there was so much I didnt like about the book (for the author was trying to say one thing while presenting another with the actions performed) but how the hell are they gonna raise a bunch of kids in a studio sized cabin? I would have liked to see even just one sentence about how they need to add rooms or something, instead we just hear about him installing solar panels.... like wtf. I know it's stupid but I mean come on. Also, I never felt like the pack accepted her at all, they just found a better solution to solving a problem (sort of but not really and the whole exposing themselves was never wrapped up properly either but whatever) and then at the end were supposed to believe that the pack is all coming together to send love and well wishes and promises to protect her and her cubs? Like what happened to all the hate and shes an outsider crap? And what about axle and Mallory and Joshua who all hated her from the get (with axles kids the one trying to rape her)? Like were expected to believe that Joshua suddenly doesn't care and is playing the violin at their wedding while also sending out the love and good vibes to our MC's. Like.... dude. I stopped caring about the everyone at some point, if I ever cared, and started wishing for our girl to leave and start her damn pack and run it in a respectful way that offers true sanctuary to those like her or any who needed it because from what I understand of the backwards hilly Billy way all packs are run apparently, there would be a lot. Also, nothing is ever addressed properly with the pack, they dont try to change their horrible ways and even our main girl doesnt see anything wrong besides acknowledging that this new pack is the same as her last (which again shows proof that the Ending scene of serenity was bullcrap). She in her head believes shes the problem, not surprising given her horrible upbringing and constant brainwashing, but while understanding this pack is no different, she says oh no my guy will lose his prez position because of me... I better leave. Uhmm, for real? He should lose it because the whole club is crap and a disgrace to be quite frank. But hey, it's better then being beat and getting killed in her old pack. Still I'm going to give it 3 stars since I feel bad because I had such high expectations and because while it sucked completely and I lost all respect for all the characters except the VP's sister (cant remember name and I just finished reading the book seconds ago so that should say something), I still felt that the other wrote something different sort of and that there was so much potential that was left unexplored.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5* stars

This was a random purchase ( and if I'm honest, it was the title and the cover sealed the deal !!!) But I was pleasantry surprised and it turned into an enjoyable read.

Onyx is on the run from her controlling family. Her father is Alpha of a large city pack and he rules with an iron fist, including beliefs and laws they must abide by - very mafia'ish..... She is treated appalling after an accident and is put under a kind of house-arrest. After Onyx arrives at a small town motel and makes an error in trying a shortcut through the woods, she flees from three shifters (who don't have cordial introductions in mind.....) and stumbles across a cabin and seeks sanctuary.

Taron is an Alpha Bear and president of the local MC chapter, which consists of a wide variety of animal shifters. He offers Onyx his protection.....until events change.....

Onyx's view of the world is very restricted due to her upbringing, it was nice to see the steps to her attitude change. Her relationship with Taron is slow burn and there were no insta-mates/declarations - although it was a done deal for Taron, Onyx questioned everything and I wanted to slap her a couples of times....miscommunication drives me nut!!!!

The side characters Clover (Braden's sister) is full of sarcy comebacks and her humour was infectious! I loved the Firefly references.....and yes......Joss Whedon is a god!! Onyx's family characters were a bit patchy, I would've liked a better understanding of her brother's beta-status and his monstrous behaviour....was this because of her alpha status??

The big drama comes towards the end of the book and is fast paced, but I felt it lost itself in the chaos. The potential was there but with so much going on with so many characters, the flow of action was not realised and I needed to re-read to get it straight.

Overall, it was an entertaining read and it finishes on a strong HFN. I am now interested to see what happens with Braden in the next book.

[Readiculous 📚🖤👱🏼‍♀️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh, not my kind of shifter story. When I’m reading a shifter story I’m looking for fated mates, a super alpha H that goes crazy wanting to claim the h, honor, family (pack) and an exciting claiming scene. This book didn’t give me any of that. The H felt weak even though he was supposed to be a badass alpha grizzly. He keeps telling h she can leave. I would’ve liked to get his POV to get insight in his thought process and feelings. There is an OW situation (see safety) and he doesn’t defend her. Also doesn’t defend her to his pack. Sorry excuse of an alpha man in my book. The spice was lackluster and I couldn’t really detect any romance. No chemistry between MC’s. This was not for me.

Safety:
OW: a club ‘sweetbutt’ has her sights on the H. Taunts and attacks h. h fights back and discovers her strength. OW keeps being bitchy and claiming she will have H’s baby. No direct interest from H, but it bothered me he also doesn’t defend or fight for her against the OW. He needs to stand up for his woman and show the OW what’s what!
OM: none
No cheating
Separation / third act break up of a couple of days.

[Meagan Grauel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Blegh, if I hadn’t paid money to get this book, I wouldn’t have finished it. Unfortunately, I did buy it, and I regretted the purchase for the entirety of the book. The entire book was confusing as fuck and didn’t follow the general consensus that most shifter books seem to follow. The alpha of the MC’s doesn’t act like any alpha that I’ve read before; least alpha energy ever. He’s confusing and doesn’t display any typical alpha qualities - like being head strong, possessive, protective, or anything else. The FMC is wishy washy and doesn’t really communicate her wants in any way that would actually be helpful. Nor does the MMC, so the miscommunication is strong in this one.
Since the book doesn’t follow traditional alpha rules, it makes sense that the rules surrounding the MC’s don’t follow anything normal either.
If you’re read stories with shifters or MC’s before, they tend to follow the same general outline. So this story is frustratingly because it doesn’t follow any of that. On top of the miscommunication, I was just over it. The spicy scenes don’t really even make up for it. Mostly because the heat that she experiences isn’t how a shifter normally would have one.
The plot makes little to no sense, and their big plan to get the pack out of trouble was either stupid or too confusing for me to understand.

I would say that if you’ve been tempted to try this one, resist the urge. Seriously, what trash.

[MissClo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this story. I liked Taron and how much he was willing to give up for his mate.

There were some editing errors I.e your vs you’re etc but I could overlook it. Some plot holes were a little harder harder to overlook (why did her own pack never heal her?)

I will read the next book in the series. I’m intrigued enough to want to know what happens next.

[ChattyChik21 · Rating 5 out of 5]

So freaking good

This was more than a shifter romance there was MC shenangans and pack drama and political machinations and a broken girl with the strength of 20 it was so well done, i loved it

[Gina_M_N · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was intrigued when I read the intro, wasn't sure I would like the inter species mating but when I started reading I was drawn in I really liked the explanation as to how it works, all in all a good story.

[Hope Goss · Rating 4 out of 5]

For starters any book the quotes Firefly/Serenity gets extra points in my book.

She stubborn but comes around. I got a little chocked up at the end.
will be reading the rest of the series.

[Tisha Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

Taron loves Onyx unconditionally. He doesn’t see her flaws as a reason not to love her but a reason to love her more. This is story is about acceptance and unconditional love. A book to read for the open minded.

[Amanda Murch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

I loved this book, I’ve read lots of shifter books but this one is up there as one of the best for me. The storyline was great and intriguing and the way it was written kept me page turning. The character were awesome. I can’t wait to read more in this series x

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eh

I gave this 3 stars as I did finish it. That said...this one didn't really hit it for me. I did not like onyx at all and the antagonist was anticlimactic to say the least.

[Bavanpreet Kaur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty sweet. It's a feel good one with dark topics.

[Camille Newman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent story

I like really good shifter stories. I believe the story could of also been told from the mpov. I will continue to read the rest.

[Chalice · Rating 3 out of 5]

The couple: Taron and Onyx

Romance trope: shifter
Series: Protected by the Pack
Length: 193 pages

Plot: Onyx is on the run, leaving her abusive family behind. Even though she is damaged and barely a wolf at all, she knows they'll be coming for her, so she's taking precautions. She doesn't count on Taron though. When a few wolves come after her, he rescues her. But bears and wolves don't mix, right? Insecurities might keep them from communicating but mates are forever and Taron is playing for keeps.

Commentary: This was really a story of internal conflicts more than anything. Onyx seemed to have resigned herself to a fate of danger where she would need to keep running from her family. She was their whipping girl, it seems. But the bigger portion of the story is the way that the couple couldn't seem to communicate. Taron seemed to think that he could just sex her up and she would realize he was in love with her and she was his forever mate. But she was damaged from the trauma her family had caused and expecting that someone would love her without reservation was a foreign concept. She needed him to show it and say it. And she needed to tell him when she didn't trust or believe in their connection. They spent most of the book not communicating and that was annoying. Once or twice, fine. But Taron wanted her to come to him on her own, and while normally that would be acceptable, in this case, I really feel like she needed a little more support. The thing with letting his people talk about harming her? She got enough of that at home. She needed to explain that to him so that he could make up for it. That should never have happened.

Next book in the series: Woodsman Resisting His Mate: Braeden & Paisley

[The Darling Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fated-ish Mates & Fumbled POVs
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
🌶️ Spice: 2/5
🎧 Narration: 4/5

Wolf shifter romance? Check.
Fated mates? Ehhh... not quite.

So listen — the back of the book had me thinking we were getting a classic “mine at first scent” moment, and I was ready to eat that up. But in the story? The whole fated mate thing felt more like a loose suggestion than a magical, unbreakable bond. Which, okay, choice is cool — but if you’re gonna sell me fated mates, I want drama, yearning, and destiny. Not, “Oh, you think I’m your mate? Okay?” Her reaction was so chill I started to second-guess if I’d missed a chapter.

I grabbed this one because it was short, included with my Audible subscription, and appeared to be dual narrated (a win in my book). But plot twist: the MMC’s POV only shows up at the very end for the epilogue. Rude. I really think his perspective throughout could’ve helped strengthen the fated-mate vibe and added some emotional weight. Major missed opportunity.

Both narrators did a great job, though — no complaints on performance. And overall, it was an enjoyable listen with a solid plot... BUT the miscommunication trope was alive and thriving, and I just cannot with that. If these two had just sat down and had a 5-minute adult conversation, we could’ve saved half the frustration.

It’s a quick read, decent spice (but nothing steamy enough to revisit), and while I probably won’t relisten, it wasn’t a waste of time either.

Would’ve howled louder if fate actually showed up.

[Bethany Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a thoroughly enjoyable, quick read. The FMC was a spitfire despite being abused and bullied most of her adult life by her family and pack. The MMC was, well, a grizzly – fierce and protective while also being caring and nurturing. I loved their chemistry and banter and watching him coax her out of her self-preservation defenses.

However, I wish we would’ve been given more of an explanation as to WHY her family/pack refused to help heal her (hello, magic?) after her childhood accident. I understand that the transfusion of so much human blood would wreak some havoc on the internals of a young shifter, but if the pack alpha (aka her FATHER) was able to magically influence the healing, why did he not even attempt it? Yes, her pack had some bass-ackwards gender roles so obviously they didn’t want to preserve her alpha genes as a future leader, but she still would’ve been a valuable asset in terms of a mate alliance (as made apparent when the alpha of a larger pack wants her for himself later in the book). This just seems like such a big plot hole that we’re never given a satisfactory explanation for. A complete stranger can smell her alpha potential from the moment he smells her, but her own family can’t in 10 years? Suss.

I also wasn’t a huge fan of some of the language used to describe the steamy scenes – a female orgasm should never be compared to a milk machine imo – but that’s just my personal preference and didn’t overly take away from the story.