Dude, I am so glad I discovered Alexis Calder, the Royal Mates series is the best. Shifter Fated is the second book in the series and it was so freaking awesome, loved every single moment of it. Skylar, Xander, and Elias are still trying to destroy the moonstone, while dealing with rogue vampires, enforcers, and a league of others, including David, Elias's brother. Let's just say things don't go smoothly and a larger conspiracy is uncovered and things get even more complicated than they were before.
Skylar went from being a lone wolf (pun intended, haha) to working with not one but two alpha male mates. Skylar is strong, smart, and feisty and after her dad died, Skylar has only ever counted on herself, now she is learning to work with and sometimes depend on her mates. It's a big change for her but she is willing to try things out with them, to work with them on figuring out how to destroy the moonstone, and in turn, is steadily growing closer to them. She still the strong, kick-butt female she was she just has the help and trust of her mates.
Speaking of her mates, I adore Xander and Elias and I love getting to know them more in this book. Each of them had a little bit of their past revealed and it gives better insight into who they are. Xander is an alpha wolf shifter who sees Skylar as an equal and is willing to follow her lead. While Elias is very protective but knows Skylar can handle herself. They both are great for her, she's not alone anymore. However, it becomes obvious that Elias and Xander need to work on their relationship with each other. They both love Skylar and are willing to do anything for her including put up with the other and while they are not at each other's throat, they aren't friends either, more like acquaintances and no way that's gonna work long term.
I found the first book plot to be interesting and Alexis upped her game with Shifter Fated, it was complex and interesting, all the while being quick and fun. To be fair the quick part could be because I loved the book so much I couldn't help but devour it. So we know that the moonstone is power and no one should have that kind of power but there seem to be several events pointing to a bigger conspiracy surrounding the stone. Not only that but there was a plot twist that makes things a lot more complicated and has Skylar and the guys questioning everything. They start to put the pieces together but they still don't have any solutions. Other supernaturals come into play and a lot more supernatural politics come into play which I loved. I would love more information on the mages and while they had a smaller part in this book I think they might come in handy in the final book.
I loved Shifter Fated, the story was so entertaining, the action, steam, conspiracies, magic, surprises, and plot twists were great. Something happened toward the end of the book that validated a theory I formed in the first book and shockingly enough I'm happy about it which I did not see coming. A character pleasantly surprised me and gave me some key information that has my mind running through the possibilities. Things most definitely got more difficult at the end of the story, war is looming, a powerful enemy has been revealed and things for Skylar just got more complicated including figuring out who her mother was. I think Royal Mates is just a trilogy and if it is I am so beyond excited to see how the story ends and if not I'm ready for the story to continue, up next, Shifter Rising.