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Five Packs #1
The Tyrant Alpha's Rejected Mate
He rejected me, and then he realized I’m the center of his world. Bummer.
Una
I keep my head down. In this backwards pack, females rank low, and my bad leg makes me damaged goods. It doesn’t help that I’ve never shifted. I don’t mind the late twenties single life, though. No one’s paying any attention as I build an illicit farmer’s market empire.
My roomies and I are doing it for ourselves, and if life under Killian Kelly is stifling, at least it’s predictable. We can deal.
But when biology finally kicks in, I lose my mind. I claim our alpha as my mate. And he rejects me in front of the whole pack.
It’s all good. It only hurts when I breathe. I’ll survive. That’s what I do.
Who wants an arrogant jerk for a mate, anyway? I’ve got a business to run.
Killian
To lead this pack out of the dark ages, I’ve had to be hard. Merciless. I don’t flinch, and I don’t make mistakes.
Una Hayes isn’t my mate.
My wolf might have some kind of strange infatuation, but if she were mine, I’d know it. And I can walk away, can’t I?
And if I keep coming back? If she starts living in my head?
I’m the strongest male in five generations. My pack scrambles to do my bidding. I can bring one quiet female back in line. No one can possibly be as stubborn as I am.
There’s no way I’ve ruined the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
I’m the Quarry pack alpha. I don’t lose.
The Tyrant Alpha’s Rejected Mate is a full-grown shifter romance. No cheating. HEA guaranteed. Intended for adult readers only.
Una
I keep my head down. In this backwards pack, females rank low, and my bad leg makes me damaged goods. It doesn’t help that I’ve never shifted. I don’t mind the late twenties single life, though. No one’s paying any attention as I build an illicit farmer’s market empire.
My roomies and I are doing it for ourselves, and if life under Killian Kelly is stifling, at least it’s predictable. We can deal.
But when biology finally kicks in, I lose my mind. I claim our alpha as my mate. And he rejects me in front of the whole pack.
It’s all good. It only hurts when I breathe. I’ll survive. That’s what I do.
Who wants an arrogant jerk for a mate, anyway? I’ve got a business to run.
Killian
To lead this pack out of the dark ages, I’ve had to be hard. Merciless. I don’t flinch, and I don’t make mistakes.
Una Hayes isn’t my mate.
My wolf might have some kind of strange infatuation, but if she were mine, I’d know it. And I can walk away, can’t I?
And if I keep coming back? If she starts living in my head?
I’m the strongest male in five generations. My pack scrambles to do my bidding. I can bring one quiet female back in line. No one can possibly be as stubborn as I am.
There’s no way I’ve ruined the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
I’m the Quarry pack alpha. I don’t lose.
The Tyrant Alpha’s Rejected Mate is a full-grown shifter romance. No cheating. HEA guaranteed. Intended for adult readers only.
382 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 12, 2021
5135 people are currently reading
13873 people want to read
About the author
Cate C. Wells
27 books2,899 followersCATE C. WELLS writes gut-wrenching paranormal and contemporary romance. Whatever the world, readers can expect character-driven stories that are raw, real, and emotionally satisfying. Cate's into messy love, flaws, long roads to redemption, grace, and happy ever after, in fiction and in life.
As well as books, Cate has collected a husband, children, and cat along the way. She lives in Baltimore when she’s not out exploring with the family.
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As well as books, Cate has collected a husband, children, and cat along the way. She lives in Baltimore when she’s not out exploring with the family.
Want a heads up on new releases and bonus content? Sign up for Cate's newsletter at catecwells.com
Facebook: @catecwells
IG: @authorcatecwells
TT: @authorcatecwells
Threads: @authorcatecwells
Bookbub: @catecwells
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,252 reviews
October 15, 2024
4.5⭐️ This is truly ice planet barbarians level romance and it SLAYED hahahahahahha
March 26, 2023
Re-read: 3/24/23…because I love this shit.
3 StarsUpgraded to 4 Smut Scale Stars
12/26/22: After reading and enjoying book three, I really hit my stride with this series and this world and decided to come back and revisit this. And I really enjoyed it this time. I think I originally read this on the heels of another Wells read (Run Posy Run) and that really offset my expectations in a weird way. Regardless, really enjoyed this the second time around and can see myself re-reading it often.
Original Review
If you follow my reviews, you might know that I love shifter romance, fated mates, and angst. Based on the title and blurb, this book promised to be all the things upon which Val dreams are made. As such, I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited several months ago; however, it didn't really grab me straight off, so I returned it after reading less than probably 5%.
Enter Run Posy Run. After reading it and loving it, I immediately went to see what else this author had available. Color me surprised when I realized this book was also by Wells. Thus, I figured maybe I just hadn't given it a fair shake or simply had bad timing the first time around.
Sadly, this only turned out to be a just above okay read for me.
The tone of this book was completely different than I expected. The steam was super low. And, perhaps most importantly, the "rejected" premise was not what I erroneously inferred from the blurb.
That said, take this review with a grain of salt. As I read this, I couldn't help the comparisons between it and Posy flashing constantly in the background of my mind, which doesn't really make for a clean reading experience. Which isn't really fair to the book. In fact, maybe I will like this one more after some time and a re-read.
In short, don't let my review deter you from reading this if the blurb interests you.
12/26/22: After reading and enjoying book three, I really hit my stride with this series and this world and decided to come back and revisit this. And I really enjoyed it this time. I think I originally read this on the heels of another Wells read (Run Posy Run) and that really offset my expectations in a weird way. Regardless, really enjoyed this the second time around and can see myself re-reading it often.
Original Review
If you follow my reviews, you might know that I love shifter romance, fated mates, and angst. Based on the title and blurb, this book promised to be all the things upon which Val dreams are made. As such, I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited several months ago; however, it didn't really grab me straight off, so I returned it after reading less than probably 5%.
Enter Run Posy Run. After reading it and loving it, I immediately went to see what else this author had available. Color me surprised when I realized this book was also by Wells. Thus, I figured maybe I just hadn't given it a fair shake or simply had bad timing the first time around.
Sadly, this only turned out to be a just above okay read for me.
The tone of this book was completely different than I expected. The steam was super low. And, perhaps most importantly, the "rejected" premise was not what I erroneously inferred from the blurb.
That said, take this review with a grain of salt. As I read this, I couldn't help the comparisons between it and Posy flashing constantly in the background of my mind, which doesn't really make for a clean reading experience. Which isn't really fair to the book. In fact, maybe I will like this one more after some time and a re-read.
In short, don't let my review deter you from reading this if the blurb interests you.
January 29, 2022
4.5 stars
I feel like this is the kind of book where I can list all the reasons why it shouldn’t have worked for me and why it would have been annoying and frustrating (especially the sh*t about the she wolves not having rights - I swear even in paranormal reads we can’t escape misogyny and the general patriarchy) BUT I ended up having a pretty good time.
Killian is the kind of hero who can be forgiven for being a d***. That’s the best way to describe this. When I read rejection stories it’s hard for me to find any amount grovelling good enough to warrant forgiveness. In my mind there is a line and when crossed you can’t come back from it. I’m a petty bitch like that 😅
Anyway, in this story Killian just needed to have someone tell him and show him where his reasoning is wrong. I feel like we can blame someone for a lot of things but if they didn’t know better it’s easier to forgive them. No one ever argued with him or tried to make him reconsider some things so the man went on believing he was doing God’s work (not really, but he did think that he made everyone’s life so much better). In his own way he was actually likeable.
Una, I loved her. She just didn’t give a shit. Did her thing, chased her independence and cared for her friends while pretending to follow the archaic rules of the pack. She was smart and resourceful and in her eventual relationship with Killian she never accepted the bare minimum. Loved her.
Cate C Well has a way of writing that’s so freaking engaging and I can’t wait for more in this series. I’m really hoping to get Kennedys story soon.
I feel like this is the kind of book where I can list all the reasons why it shouldn’t have worked for me and why it would have been annoying and frustrating (especially the sh*t about the she wolves not having rights - I swear even in paranormal reads we can’t escape misogyny and the general patriarchy) BUT I ended up having a pretty good time.
Killian is the kind of hero who can be forgiven for being a d***. That’s the best way to describe this. When I read rejection stories it’s hard for me to find any amount grovelling good enough to warrant forgiveness. In my mind there is a line and when crossed you can’t come back from it. I’m a petty bitch like that 😅
Anyway, in this story Killian just needed to have someone tell him and show him where his reasoning is wrong. I feel like we can blame someone for a lot of things but if they didn’t know better it’s easier to forgive them. No one ever argued with him or tried to make him reconsider some things so the man went on believing he was doing God’s work (not really, but he did think that he made everyone’s life so much better). In his own way he was actually likeable.
Una, I loved her. She just didn’t give a shit. Did her thing, chased her independence and cared for her friends while pretending to follow the archaic rules of the pack. She was smart and resourceful and in her eventual relationship with Killian she never accepted the bare minimum. Loved her.
Cate C Well has a way of writing that’s so freaking engaging and I can’t wait for more in this series. I’m really hoping to get Kennedys story soon.
March 14, 2022
you know what? I wanted to rate this book and hide this update like a dirty little secret, but my brain won’t let me, cause the title, the cover and the book overall needs to be acknowledged as my newest ✨guilty pleasure✨.
after reading Rejected, I was craving a good rejected mate novel where the Hero rejects the heroine in front of everyone and has to spend the rest of book groveling and winning her back and The Tyrant Alpha's Rejected Mate (even writing the title is exhausting) DELIVERED on that premise. The plot of TTARM is pretty much all about Killian (H) getting back into Una’s (h) good grades and that it’s, but I love to see men being in pain, so this was a delight.
– UNA HAYES –
Una is a survivor. She’s been an outcast in her pack since an incident that almost left her dead and with a bad limp. What I liked about Una’s character the most was her silent resilience. Una made Killian work for her affection and she didn’t back down. She and her wolf might be weak outside, but she finds other things to excel in. I’m pretty sure Una is richer than her alpha mate by the end of this book with her farm shop and selling these mushrooms to humans. I can’t help but stan an entrepreneurial queen. 💅
– KILLIAN KELLY –
okay ngl, this guy is kinda ... dense 🤣 I couldn’t even hate him for rejecting and humiliating Una at the beginning of this book, when he didn’t recognize her as his mate, because oh boy, he is so emotionally stunned that he didn’t know. He went all his life thinking he has no mate. But unconsciously he knew all along and even stayed a VIRGIN for his mate 🥺 i can’t believe Cate C. Wells pulled a Broken Knight and Angry God move on us where it seems like the guy is such a manwhore and sleeping around, all the while he is only getting blowjobs and the girl is more experienced. 🤣
– THIS IS TRASH, BUT IT’S MY TRASH –
the reason why I call this book my guilty pleasure is because I thought the writing was cringe at times. I can understand why ppl didn’t like this book, cause the second hand embarrassment with these characters can sometimes be a bit much, but I felt so attached to them that I choose to be ignorant to all of the cringe. 😂
Even tho I’ve read a lot more paranormal romances in the last year, the concept of these shifter is still lowkey weird to me. The way these characters argue with their wolf makes me feel like I’m reading about characters having a midlife crisis and/or having a personality disorder. Maybe it's both.
Read this, look me in the eyes and tell me that this man right here doesn’t have a midlife crisis right now? You can’t. What is this whole talk about the man and wolf being one being.. help mom pick me up I’m scared. 🤚
｡･ﾟﾟ･ Conclusion ･ﾟﾟ･｡
Killian’s folding chair a.k.a. the throne you wish you had at home.
┍━━━━━━━━»•» «•«━┑
FIVE PACKS SERIES
#1 The Tyrant Alpha’s Rejected Mate – 3.5 stars
#2 The Heir Apparent's Rejected Mate – tbr
#3 The Lone Alpha's Rejected Mate – tbr
┕━»•» «•«━━━━━━━━┙
after reading Rejected, I was craving a good rejected mate novel where the Hero rejects the heroine in front of everyone and has to spend the rest of book groveling and winning her back and The Tyrant Alpha's Rejected Mate (even writing the title is exhausting) DELIVERED on that premise. The plot of TTARM is pretty much all about Killian (H) getting back into Una’s (h) good grades and that it’s, but I love to see men being in pain, so this was a delight.
I need her to smile at me. I need not to have fucked up the best thing that’s ever happened in my life before it even happened.
– UNA HAYES –
Una is a survivor. She’s been an outcast in her pack since an incident that almost left her dead and with a bad limp. What I liked about Una’s character the most was her silent resilience. Una made Killian work for her affection and she didn’t back down. She and her wolf might be weak outside, but she finds other things to excel in. I’m pretty sure Una is richer than her alpha mate by the end of this book with her farm shop and selling these mushrooms to humans. I can’t help but stan an entrepreneurial queen. 💅
I get knocked down a lot. I always get back up.
– KILLIAN KELLY –
okay ngl, this guy is kinda ... dense 🤣 I couldn’t even hate him for rejecting and humiliating Una at the beginning of this book, when he didn’t recognize her as his mate, because oh boy, he is so emotionally stunned that he didn’t know. He went all his life thinking he has no mate. But unconsciously he knew all along and even stayed a VIRGIN for his mate 🥺 i can’t believe Cate C. Wells pulled a Broken Knight and Angry God move on us where it seems like the guy is such a manwhore and sleeping around, all the while he is only getting blowjobs and the girl is more experienced. 🤣
Killian bends forward in his metal folding chair, bracing his forearms on his thick thighs. It might as well be a throne. The huge fireplace at his back frames him in stone and fire, and no one dares approach unless he gives them the nod.
– THIS IS TRASH, BUT IT’S MY TRASH –
the reason why I call this book my guilty pleasure is because I thought the writing was cringe at times. I can understand why ppl didn’t like this book, cause the second hand embarrassment with these characters can sometimes be a bit much, but I felt so attached to them that I choose to be ignorant to all of the cringe. 😂
Even tho I’ve read a lot more paranormal romances in the last year, the concept of these shifter is still lowkey weird to me. The way these characters argue with their wolf makes me feel like I’m reading about characters having a midlife crisis and/or having a personality disorder. Maybe it's both.
I like big hair, big tits, a little effort. High heels and shit. I’m not into, like, homesteader chicks. But my wolf digs this female.
Mate.
It’s not possible. The wolf and the man are one. If the wolf has a mate, so does the man.
Mate.
Read this, look me in the eyes and tell me that this man right here doesn’t have a midlife crisis right now? You can’t. What is this whole talk about the man and wolf being one being.. help mom pick me up I’m scared. 🤚
｡･ﾟﾟ･ Conclusion ･ﾟﾟ･｡
Killian’s folding chair a.k.a. the throne you wish you had at home.
┍━━━━━━━━»•» «•«━┑
FIVE PACKS SERIES
#1 The Tyrant Alpha’s Rejected Mate – 3.5 stars
#2 The Heir Apparent's Rejected Mate – tbr
#3 The Lone Alpha's Rejected Mate – tbr
┕━»•» «•«━━━━━━━━┙
November 25, 2024
4.5 Dance Between Raindrops Stars ⭐
~Second Read and it was better than I remembered!~
The Tyrant Alpha's Rejected Mate was one of the most engrossing and nail-biting shifter romances I've read in a long while. In a world where Alpha Males rule and the woman are slotted in a misogynist pecking order, there are many emotions to contend with. If I wasn't a little overwhelmed with Pack politics, it would have been perfect.
"You have no claim over something you so carelessly threw away."
Una Hayes is the perfect heroine. Dealing with unjust circumstances and a defect, she remains brave and wilful. Well beyond the age of shifting, Una's wolf couldn't have awakened at the worst time or place. And to fuck herself royally, her sassy wolf has selected the leader Alpha as her mate. The biggest joke in pack history.
I need not to have fucked up the best thing that’s ever happened in my life before it even happened.
With his head buried up his ass, Killian has long dismissed fated mates for himself. With Una publicly claiming to be his, humiliation is inevitable. How could an Alpha be mated to a loner female with a deformed leg? It's beneath him. Except what happens when you're wrong and there's no undoing your fuck up?
My wolf kind of checks out what’s going on behind her, and then she sits, careful of her bad back leg. She doesn’t cower or run. The happy idiot plops down on her rump and begins to lick herself.
I like her. We’re gonna die, but she does not care. She’s not gonna let Killian’s wolf see her sweat.
I can't even explain the anguish I felt over the worst rejection ever. There's no coming back from that or so I thought. Watching the truth unfold for Killian was karma but dealing with Una's constant struggles was outright demeaning.
This story was slow burn, horrid in parts but with great dialogue that provided much needed lightness. The highlight was the Una vs Killian standoffs that were sensational. And seriously, Una's wolf was a riot. Scrawny yet perfect at inciting a reaction. Although I wish this romance was steamier, the great storyline left me appeased.
~Second Read and it was better than I remembered!~
The Tyrant Alpha's Rejected Mate was one of the most engrossing and nail-biting shifter romances I've read in a long while. In a world where Alpha Males rule and the woman are slotted in a misogynist pecking order, there are many emotions to contend with. If I wasn't a little overwhelmed with Pack politics, it would have been perfect.
"You have no claim over something you so carelessly threw away."
Una Hayes is the perfect heroine. Dealing with unjust circumstances and a defect, she remains brave and wilful. Well beyond the age of shifting, Una's wolf couldn't have awakened at the worst time or place. And to fuck herself royally, her sassy wolf has selected the leader Alpha as her mate. The biggest joke in pack history.
I need not to have fucked up the best thing that’s ever happened in my life before it even happened.
With his head buried up his ass, Killian has long dismissed fated mates for himself. With Una publicly claiming to be his, humiliation is inevitable. How could an Alpha be mated to a loner female with a deformed leg? It's beneath him. Except what happens when you're wrong and there's no undoing your fuck up?
My wolf kind of checks out what’s going on behind her, and then she sits, careful of her bad back leg. She doesn’t cower or run. The happy idiot plops down on her rump and begins to lick herself.
I like her. We’re gonna die, but she does not care. She’s not gonna let Killian’s wolf see her sweat.
I can't even explain the anguish I felt over the worst rejection ever. There's no coming back from that or so I thought. Watching the truth unfold for Killian was karma but dealing with Una's constant struggles was outright demeaning.
This story was slow burn, horrid in parts but with great dialogue that provided much needed lightness. The highlight was the Una vs Killian standoffs that were sensational. And seriously, Una's wolf was a riot. Scrawny yet perfect at inciting a reaction. Although I wish this romance was steamier, the great storyline left me appeased.
January 19, 2022
I’ve reconsidered and decided I can afford to round it up to 3 stars. this may be because I read somewhere that rain is tiny ocean kisses and it gave me enough happiness to be a better person for today is because new year, new me.
***
14/11/21.
the book was almost as bad as the title. here i was, little old me, just in search for some grovel, for some male suffering if you will, some bloody angst, and what i got was . . . well, in short, a JOKE.
let me give it to you in a few words.
version (1) pre whipped alpha era:
- girl experiences first heat
- claims some big pile of wolf shit (AKA the alpha) as her mate
- The Big Bad Wolf rejects her (as one does, because this is just that kind of book.)
- girl leaves, defeated and in pain. almost dies. doesn't. is saved. then turns indifferent (as much as she can anyway).
- guy continues to act like a major dickhole, because that's what alphas do!
version (2) post whipped alpha era:
- guy realises he made a mistake. realises she's his actual mate.
- is suddenly, unexpected, in love with her now.
- selfishly wants his mate back (who he rejected!! WHAT A JOKE!!)
- basically forces her to spend time with him.
- cue the body betraying syndrome.
- cue the groveling (except don't, because man never actually apologised properly, he kept sitting around like a dog waiting for her to forgive him whilst repeatedly saying “I made a mistake. I'm sorry.” like . . . care to elaborate, you moron? you absolute shithead? but it's not like i cared after a while anyway.)
- some bullshit argument about him freaking out because she wasn't a virgin while he was. dude didn't understand that it's about choice and it wasn't like he wasn't busy being a manslut getting his dick sucked by any woman who offered. just because penetration didn't happen doesn't mean he's innocent, so fuck right off. he was physically rough with her and it was chalked up as “his wolf being outraged and possessive.” oh yeah, because that's what will happen when you end up killing her in a fit of rage, too! blame the animal, because of course you have no brains! the author tried to fix this thing after by making him apologise and whatever but for me, it was a major red flag, so no thanks.
- couple gets together, because this is your average romance book and things always end this way. a pity.
other reasons this book was absolute shit:
#1. when the hero says his “type” is big tits, big hair, and high heels, and i was like:
because that is disrespectful in so many ways and he was using this excuse to compare Una (h) to all his other women and reassuring himself that she wasn’t his type, blah, blah, blah. like shut up, you overgrown pile of wolf shit. nobody CARES!
#2. the betraying body syndrome. it gave me. a fucking. headache. whenever she succumbed to his “touch” or relented to his “scent”, i was just there questioning my life choices like:
because this chick did not stick to her choices one bit. she kept giving him hope! never told him straight up to fuck right off, no sir. one second she was telling him to leave her alone and the next she was curious about his taste. i know this is a werewolf book and i have read enough of my share but the mate thing was a pathetic excuse to mask this.
#3. the utter stupidity that was the mating bond. because the whole point of wolf mates is that they can't stand being with anyone else after they find each other, but in this book the debauchery was ghastly. there was some “strictly for heat” bullshit going on that allowed all mated folks to just fuck other people like no tomorrow. that made this whole charade amount to NOTHING, and it gave the (h) an excuse to leave the (H) behind, but that didn't happen because obviously it didn't.
#4. the stale sex, my biggest complaint yet.
why, you ask? well, because werewolf books are famous for their A Grade smut since the heat and rut cycles give the author a brilliant excuse to give us some sort of smutfest, but here she was trying so hard to cover up the H's bullshit that we were left to suffer with stale scraps. there was no foreplay either which leads me to believe the h was most likely pretending to enjoy it so that sounds like fun! just what you need with the partner you're spending the rest of your life with! hoo-fucking-ray.
me when he was busy doing stupid shit and making up excuses for his behaviour all the while never leaving her alone:
me throughout the book:
i’m sure there are plenty other reasons to hate this thing, but honestly it wasn't even that bad. there were some good moments and I didn't completely hate it, but the behaviour of the characters was Camp Stupidity and they deserved to be crowned Best Couple (Derogatory) and the drama in it was unnecessary but it wasn't that bad. i guess you can read it if you have nothing else to do or need a book to complete your reading challenge with. or, you know, a book you want to diss. just sayin'.
and with that, it is time i take my leave. remind me again to never touch books with titles like that! but in all honesty, i will probably end up reading the next book when it comes out. because i am stupid (self diagnosed)
tbr review
LISTEN DONT LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT IM JUST DOING IT FOR EXPECTED GROVELING AND MALE SUFFERING
(update: it didn't serve. boo.)
***
14/11/21.
the book was almost as bad as the title. here i was, little old me, just in search for some grovel, for some male suffering if you will, some bloody angst, and what i got was . . . well, in short, a JOKE.
let me give it to you in a few words.
version (1) pre whipped alpha era:
- girl experiences first heat
- claims some big pile of wolf shit (AKA the alpha) as her mate
- The Big Bad Wolf rejects her (as one does, because this is just that kind of book.)
- girl leaves, defeated and in pain. almost dies. doesn't. is saved. then turns indifferent (as much as she can anyway).
- guy continues to act like a major dickhole, because that's what alphas do!
version (2) post whipped alpha era:
- guy realises he made a mistake. realises she's his actual mate.
- is suddenly, unexpected, in love with her now.
- selfishly wants his mate back (who he rejected!! WHAT A JOKE!!)
- basically forces her to spend time with him.
- cue the body betraying syndrome.
- cue the groveling (except don't, because man never actually apologised properly, he kept sitting around like a dog waiting for her to forgive him whilst repeatedly saying “I made a mistake. I'm sorry.” like . . . care to elaborate, you moron? you absolute shithead? but it's not like i cared after a while anyway.)
- some bullshit argument about him freaking out because she wasn't a virgin while he was. dude didn't understand that it's about choice and it wasn't like he wasn't busy being a manslut getting his dick sucked by any woman who offered. just because penetration didn't happen doesn't mean he's innocent, so fuck right off. he was physically rough with her and it was chalked up as “his wolf being outraged and possessive.” oh yeah, because that's what will happen when you end up killing her in a fit of rage, too! blame the animal, because of course you have no brains! the author tried to fix this thing after by making him apologise and whatever but for me, it was a major red flag, so no thanks.
- couple gets together, because this is your average romance book and things always end this way. a pity.
other reasons this book was absolute shit:
#1. when the hero says his “type” is big tits, big hair, and high heels, and i was like:
because that is disrespectful in so many ways and he was using this excuse to compare Una (h) to all his other women and reassuring himself that she wasn’t his type, blah, blah, blah. like shut up, you overgrown pile of wolf shit. nobody CARES!
#2. the betraying body syndrome. it gave me. a fucking. headache. whenever she succumbed to his “touch” or relented to his “scent”, i was just there questioning my life choices like:
because this chick did not stick to her choices one bit. she kept giving him hope! never told him straight up to fuck right off, no sir. one second she was telling him to leave her alone and the next she was curious about his taste. i know this is a werewolf book and i have read enough of my share but the mate thing was a pathetic excuse to mask this.
#3. the utter stupidity that was the mating bond. because the whole point of wolf mates is that they can't stand being with anyone else after they find each other, but in this book the debauchery was ghastly. there was some “strictly for heat” bullshit going on that allowed all mated folks to just fuck other people like no tomorrow. that made this whole charade amount to NOTHING, and it gave the (h) an excuse to leave the (H) behind, but that didn't happen because obviously it didn't.
#4. the stale sex, my biggest complaint yet.
why, you ask? well, because werewolf books are famous for their A Grade smut since the heat and rut cycles give the author a brilliant excuse to give us some sort of smutfest, but here she was trying so hard to cover up the H's bullshit that we were left to suffer with stale scraps. there was no foreplay either which leads me to believe the h was most likely pretending to enjoy it so that sounds like fun! just what you need with the partner you're spending the rest of your life with! hoo-fucking-ray.
me when he was busy doing stupid shit and making up excuses for his behaviour all the while never leaving her alone:
me throughout the book:
i’m sure there are plenty other reasons to hate this thing, but honestly it wasn't even that bad. there were some good moments and I didn't completely hate it, but the behaviour of the characters was Camp Stupidity and they deserved to be crowned Best Couple (Derogatory) and the drama in it was unnecessary but it wasn't that bad. i guess you can read it if you have nothing else to do or need a book to complete your reading challenge with. or, you know, a book you want to diss. just sayin'.
and with that, it is time i take my leave. remind me again to never touch books with titles like that! but in all honesty, i will probably end up reading the next book when it comes out. because i am stupid (self diagnosed)
tbr review
LISTEN DONT LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT IM JUST DOING IT FOR EXPECTED GROVELING AND MALE SUFFERING
(update: it didn't serve. boo.)
Currently reading
November 20, 2025For Buket 🙂↕️ (gonna binge it today cuz I got free from my exams)
(She can't say anything to me cuz I added this hideous cover on my cr)
(She can't say anything to me cuz I added this hideous cover on my cr)
February 11, 2022
everytime I see a folding chair, I'm gonna think of this book
![Profile Image for Namera [The Literary Invertebrate].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1647896333i%2F31792110._UX200_CR0%2C96%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
January 10, 2025
⤅ This is the only 'rejected mate' book I've actually enjoyed so far.
When I was younger (about 13 or so) I remember reading a VERY popular Wattpad romance specifically about a rejected werewolf mate. Actually, there were quite a few in that vein (though my favourite werewolf romance was one called 'The Alpha Meets the Rogue' by xXdemolitionloverXx). I'm totally unsurprised that - about ten years later - there's a real trend of 'rejected mate' books making the rounds. As with any trope (bully romance, prison-setting romance, academy romance) the majority will be dross, some will be gold.
This book definitely inches closer to the 'gold' end of the spectrum.
29-year-old Killian Kelly is the pack alpha, responsible for dragging it out of the Dark Ages where women were constantly raped and 'men were men'. Now they're just somewhere in the Tudor era, so the women still don't have a great time, but can at least hope for general safety. Pack life is pretty brutal - to stay on top, you have to be the strongest - but luckily for him, he's the best fighter.
Una Hayes can't say the same. She has a limp that makes her unable to walk properly, and she's pretty much at the bottom of the pack hierarchy. When her wolf recognises Killian as her mate, he reacts with bafflement - he doesn't feel any connection, and tells her so. Humiliated and in heat, she flees.
For his part, Killian can't work out why he can't stop thinking about her, and pretty soon he realises that she is his mate. Cue a book of him striving to prove he'll always be there for her from now on, while she hesitates.
There are a lot of thing to like about this book - the writing, for one, which is crisp and no-nonsense. For another, Killian is actually a virgin - because he wanted to save himself for his mate! Aww. (Una isn't, for the record). I also enjoyed how this book manifested my favourite elements of the omegaverse genre (nesting and knotting) without the distasteful 'omegas are absolutely under the control of alphas' bit.
Killian's actions are both understandable and forgivable; he's not a cruel person by any stretch of the imagination. There are a host of side characters with EXTREMELY interesting backstories, and I'm keen for the next book in the series.
When I was younger (about 13 or so) I remember reading a VERY popular Wattpad romance specifically about a rejected werewolf mate. Actually, there were quite a few in that vein (though my favourite werewolf romance was one called 'The Alpha Meets the Rogue' by xXdemolitionloverXx). I'm totally unsurprised that - about ten years later - there's a real trend of 'rejected mate' books making the rounds. As with any trope (bully romance, prison-setting romance, academy romance) the majority will be dross, some will be gold.
This book definitely inches closer to the 'gold' end of the spectrum.
29-year-old Killian Kelly is the pack alpha, responsible for dragging it out of the Dark Ages where women were constantly raped and 'men were men'. Now they're just somewhere in the Tudor era, so the women still don't have a great time, but can at least hope for general safety. Pack life is pretty brutal - to stay on top, you have to be the strongest - but luckily for him, he's the best fighter.
Una Hayes can't say the same. She has a limp that makes her unable to walk properly, and she's pretty much at the bottom of the pack hierarchy. When her wolf recognises Killian as her mate, he reacts with bafflement - he doesn't feel any connection, and tells her so. Humiliated and in heat, she flees.
For his part, Killian can't work out why he can't stop thinking about her, and pretty soon he realises that she is his mate. Cue a book of him striving to prove he'll always be there for her from now on, while she hesitates.
There are a lot of thing to like about this book - the writing, for one, which is crisp and no-nonsense. For another, Killian is actually a virgin - because he wanted to save himself for his mate! Aww. (Una isn't, for the record). I also enjoyed how this book manifested my favourite elements of the omegaverse genre (nesting and knotting) without the distasteful 'omegas are absolutely under the control of alphas' bit.
Killian's actions are both understandable and forgivable; he's not a cruel person by any stretch of the imagination. There are a host of side characters with EXTREMELY interesting backstories, and I'm keen for the next book in the series.
December 26, 2022
✩ 𝟱
did i just rate a book titled, the tyrant alpha's rejected mate five whole stars? yes i fucking did and i'm not even a little bit sorry. in all honesty i blame twilight. it is truly my villain origin story.
full rtc
(if i can gather my thoughts enough …)
.
.
.
i need to state, for the record, how hilarious i find it that the cover has killian sitting on hisfolding chair throne.
❝you don’t need to win an alpha challenge. an alpha belongs to you.❞
did i just rate a book titled, the tyrant alpha's rejected mate five whole stars? yes i fucking did and i'm not even a little bit sorry. in all honesty i blame twilight. it is truly my villain origin story.
full rtc
(if i can gather my thoughts enough …)
.
.
.
i need to state, for the record, how hilarious i find it that the cover has killian sitting on his
March 5, 2022
This is the loveliest book, I’m so relieved that it lived up to the hype.
It feels like a new take on a werewolf story but still holds everything you love about the old ones. It definitely reminds me of Patricia Briggs, who in my humble opinion is the queen of werewolf romance, in the best possible way.
This is a book led by a vast array of colorful characters. From Abertha the old crone, to Una’s lone females to the most misogynistic male shifters. There’s plenty to love but just as many to downright loath. This is a world I’ll be happy to lose myself in future books.
But the highlight of this is Killian, both the man and the wolf. His character is complex, hard when needed but soft with Una once he pulls his head out. He’s the perfect cinnamon roll and I loved every second I got of him.
Plus the build of steam between these two was spot on so I didn’t mind waiting for them to eventually surrender to their fate. Although I would’ve like maybe a little bit more.
So, Killian and his wolf are polar opposites which I am loving. His wolf is freaking adorable!
Una’s wolf is so sassy, I love when she plays hard to get with Killian’s wolf.
It’s interesting that when he first rejected her he asked what she had done for the pack, what she had to offer to deserve the distinction of being the alpha’s mate. As time progresses you watch Killian change. With Una as his mate she’s makes him a better man, a better shifter, a better alpha.
As their past unfolds I grow more and more in love with this couple. I loved everything about this one and I hated to see it end. I hope to hear more about them in future books.
It feels like a new take on a werewolf story but still holds everything you love about the old ones. It definitely reminds me of Patricia Briggs, who in my humble opinion is the queen of werewolf romance, in the best possible way.
This is a book led by a vast array of colorful characters. From Abertha the old crone, to Una’s lone females to the most misogynistic male shifters. There’s plenty to love but just as many to downright loath. This is a world I’ll be happy to lose myself in future books.
But the highlight of this is Killian, both the man and the wolf. His character is complex, hard when needed but soft with Una once he pulls his head out. He’s the perfect cinnamon roll and I loved every second I got of him.
Plus the build of steam between these two was spot on so I didn’t mind waiting for them to eventually surrender to their fate. Although I would’ve like maybe a little bit more.
So, Killian and his wolf are polar opposites which I am loving. His wolf is freaking adorable!
Una’s wolf is so sassy, I love when she plays hard to get with Killian’s wolf.
It’s interesting that when he first rejected her he asked what she had done for the pack, what she had to offer to deserve the distinction of being the alpha’s mate. As time progresses you watch Killian change. With Una as his mate she’s makes him a better man, a better shifter, a better alpha.
As their past unfolds I grow more and more in love with this couple. I loved everything about this one and I hated to see it end. I hope to hear more about them in future books.
June 28, 2023
ya let me reject this book cuz it’s giving trash 🚮
November 30, 2021
I had no idea what to expect from this (I’ve never read a rejected mates romance before but there are sooo many of them out there) but omg…. It was so good. It’s been a while since I found a new groveling romance I wanted to reread over and over but this one is it. I loved how tortured the hero was over the heroine in the second half of the book - he was the biggest asshole in the beginning and I loved how she made him work for it. He doesn’t want her? Fine, she’ll just get someone to take out their mating bond. She’s 100% NOT a heroine who pines over a hero who doesn’t want her.
The shifter aspect was… interesting. It’s different and unique, though a little cringey at times with how they treated packmates like the heroine.
Anyway, I already can’t wait for book 2!!! I’m so intrigued by the next couple 👀
The shifter aspect was… interesting. It’s different and unique, though a little cringey at times with how they treated packmates like the heroine.
Anyway, I already can’t wait for book 2!!! I’m so intrigued by the next couple 👀
February 20, 2022
4.5 STARS
Say it with me: Book. Crack. Where has this author been all my life and why am I only discovering her now? I'm obsessed!
After seeing a friend talk about this book on Instagram, it took only three words to hook me immediately: rejected mate & grovel. Yep. The magic words and formula. I'm a sucker for the rejected mate trope, but a good one is impossible to find. See I love the rejected mate trope but when the MMC is doing the rejecting. Because the grovel that's surely to come is the most delicious thing about it. And oh my god, the grovel here was just GAH.
Killian is this fascinating combination of fierce and cinnamon roll. Because while his strength is unmatched as an alpha, when he realizes how badly he screwed up, this man does everything to get back in his female's good graces.
Killian is the alpha of the pack with a unique ability to flip shift at will. His strength is unmatched and his ferocity unquestionable. He's made peace with the fact that as he's gone this long without finding his mate, he doesn't have one. So when the runt of the pack who he's known his whole life announces she's his mate, his response is swift and cruel.
Una is the black sheep of the pack. An grossly injury from her youth never having healed properly has impacted her wolf, and she's never been able to shift. Denounced to the bottom of the totem pole of her pack, she's made peace with this. Until suddenly the mating bond activates and her mate rejects her. Hurting, desperate, and heartbroken she barely escapes the humiliation of the night. And when she's offered to remove the mating bond, she jumps at the chance. Then, the true deliciousness kicks in, because her mate comes to his senses and realizes what he did. While he didn't feel the bond before, he feels it now, but it's a little too late. And oh the way he tries to get back into her good graces. Half the book is his grovel, and I was so here for it. There was just the right touch of spice to make this even more satisfying. I loved the slow burn of it and I loved watching Una grow into the fierce she wolf, her injury aside. I am absolutely hooked. HOOKED on this series. I'm already dying for book two!!
Find me on:
I need not to have fucked up the best thing that’s ever happened in my life before it even happened.
Say it with me: Book. Crack. Where has this author been all my life and why am I only discovering her now? I'm obsessed!
After seeing a friend talk about this book on Instagram, it took only three words to hook me immediately: rejected mate & grovel. Yep. The magic words and formula. I'm a sucker for the rejected mate trope, but a good one is impossible to find. See I love the rejected mate trope but when the MMC is doing the rejecting. Because the grovel that's surely to come is the most delicious thing about it. And oh my god, the grovel here was just GAH.
Killian is this fascinating combination of fierce and cinnamon roll. Because while his strength is unmatched as an alpha, when he realizes how badly he screwed up, this man does everything to get back in his female's good graces.
Killian is the alpha of the pack with a unique ability to flip shift at will. His strength is unmatched and his ferocity unquestionable. He's made peace with the fact that as he's gone this long without finding his mate, he doesn't have one. So when the runt of the pack who he's known his whole life announces she's his mate, his response is swift and cruel.
Una is the black sheep of the pack. An grossly injury from her youth never having healed properly has impacted her wolf, and she's never been able to shift. Denounced to the bottom of the totem pole of her pack, she's made peace with this. Until suddenly the mating bond activates and her mate rejects her. Hurting, desperate, and heartbroken she barely escapes the humiliation of the night. And when she's offered to remove the mating bond, she jumps at the chance. Then, the true deliciousness kicks in, because her mate comes to his senses and realizes what he did. While he didn't feel the bond before, he feels it now, but it's a little too late. And oh the way he tries to get back into her good graces. Half the book is his grovel, and I was so here for it. There was just the right touch of spice to make this even more satisfying. I loved the slow burn of it and I loved watching Una grow into the fierce she wolf, her injury aside. I am absolutely hooked. HOOKED on this series. I'm already dying for book two!!
Find me on:
February 16, 2022
Una's wolf is the baddest bitch on the block. I aspire to be her.
April 30, 2022
I enjoyed this IMMENSELY. This book has probably one of the best groveling heroes I've ever read!
February 21, 2025
this is my biggest hear me out …
February 23, 2023
okay back in my wattpad days i LOVED a good rejected mates story (probably something psychologically i should work out here) so i had to read it one time for the one time, this was fun. it bought back so much nostalgia and what i liked about these stories back in high school. was it good? no, did it make sense? also no but i had fun!
April 1, 2022
*4.5* Why did I love this so much? Because of this.
Half star taken off because this book needed another 100 pages or a sequel. I needed more of this couple, and the slow burn was Zapata-like, so I needed more intimate scenes with them.
Asshole warning for our hero in the beginning of the story. Push past it, I promise it gets better!
He whispers in my ear, “Everything I’ve ever done, I’ve done for you, Una Hayes.”If you enjoy pnr, fated mates, a mystery, a glorious redemption arc, some of the best groveling I've ever read, and an alpha male who exudes strength but is a gentle giant when it counts, this is the book for you.
Half star taken off because this book needed another 100 pages or a sequel. I needed more of this couple, and the slow burn was Zapata-like, so I needed more intimate scenes with them.
Asshole warning for our hero in the beginning of the story. Push past it, I promise it gets better!
June 16, 2025
The Tyrant Alpha's Rejected Mate is another book that I found on a must-read list of paranormal romances.
The heroine, Una Hayes, is a werewolf who hasn’t yet transformed into a wolf. The pack sidelines her, along with other females, due to this. Una walks with a limp from an attack that nearly killed her as a child. Though she appears weak, she’s far from it. Una is intelligent and resourceful. She won’t apologize for taking actions to improve her life and those of her loved ones, even without her Alpha’s knowledge.
Everything changes when biology kicks in, and Una realizes the alpha, Killian Kelly, is her mate. What follows nearly destroys her: he rejects her in front of the entire pack.
Killian never believed he had a mate, having abandoned that dream long ago. He’s devoted his life to leading the pack and fixing his father’s failures. No one is more shocked than Killian when Una claims him as her mate. It can’t be true—or can it?
I love Una! What a fantastic female character. She’s tough and determined, giving Killian a run for his money. Forgiving Killian was easy once you understood why he rejected her.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
The heroine, Una Hayes, is a werewolf who hasn’t yet transformed into a wolf. The pack sidelines her, along with other females, due to this. Una walks with a limp from an attack that nearly killed her as a child. Though she appears weak, she’s far from it. Una is intelligent and resourceful. She won’t apologize for taking actions to improve her life and those of her loved ones, even without her Alpha’s knowledge.
Everything changes when biology kicks in, and Una realizes the alpha, Killian Kelly, is her mate. What follows nearly destroys her: he rejects her in front of the entire pack.
Killian never believed he had a mate, having abandoned that dream long ago. He’s devoted his life to leading the pack and fixing his father’s failures. No one is more shocked than Killian when Una claims him as her mate. It can’t be true—or can it?
I love Una! What a fantastic female character. She’s tough and determined, giving Killian a run for his money. Forgiving Killian was easy once you understood why he rejected her.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
September 9, 2025
*(Reread 9/9/25 I think I summed it up nicely the first time.)
Nothing like a wap upside the head to open a male's eyes to the truth!!
I really liked this one. I could care less about shifters, but my 'crack' is vicious alphas that have a sweet soft spot for their mates and don't give a fuck who sees it or if he gets any flack for it.
He'll burn the world down for her, and lay their corpses at her feet.
Nothing like a wap upside the head to open a male's eyes to the truth!!
I really liked this one. I could care less about shifters, but my 'crack' is vicious alphas that have a sweet soft spot for their mates and don't give a fuck who sees it or if he gets any flack for it.
He'll burn the world down for her, and lay their corpses at her feet.
January 1, 2023
🐕 too long imo that it sometimes got tedious but all the ott wolves shit brought me back to my wattpad days
now my notes :
killian’s flip switch thingy reminded me of this dude
She shoves him back, her fingers slipping into his thick fur. “Oh. Wow. You’re so soft.”
I’m not. If I were in human form, my cock would be hard as a rock. As it is—I try not to think about it.
She plunges her fingers deeper into my pelt and scritches. My wolf’s tongue lolls, and he stops messing around, resting his muzzle on her upper thigh so he can sniff her pussy. He’s so damn happy.”
”You’re not scary at all, are you?” she says.
She’s a hundred percent wrong. My wolf and I have more kills than any alpha in North America. We’ve taken on a pack of ferals alone and left their drained carcasses in a heap. The sun-bleached pile of their bones still sits on the border of the southwest quadrant as a warning. The male pups dare each other to go there and steal a bone. It’s become a rite of passage.
I am a once-in-a-hundred-years flip-shifter, alpha at eighteen, bigger and stronger than any competitor I’ve faced on the circuit. My wolf and I show no mercy to those who threaten the pack. We rule with an iron fist.
And my wolf is drooling through this female’s jean skirt, luxuriating in the scent of her ripe pussy.
’I wake up hours later in the pitch black, panting. I know immediately where I am. Killian’s bed. He’s beside me. Closer. Awake.
I’m wet. Aching. My bra is twisted under my shirt, and my skirt’s hiked, making an uncomfortable lump under my butt. The waistline digs into the flesh above my hip bones. And I’m wearing my socks. I hate wearing socks to bed. My feet are hot. Everything’s hot.
And there’s something lodged in my chest. Between my breasts. It’s not my heart, but it pulses. Slow. Steady. Insistent.’
why did i think it was his dick between her breasts 🥲
a main problem : killian’s sudden change of behavior/mind. boy really vanish his assholeness in a snap of a finger it was absurd. i dont have anything against mate trope but these kind of things make me believe their love is just.. less. coz its biology yk and unless it was done unknowingly like rhysand-feyre (in feyre part) its hard to trust their ‘love’. is it genuine or just for the peer pressure of the bond? wdk. at least hes a virgin tho. (sorta) but him worshiping the ground she walked on the last half def helped his case
March 15, 2022
4 stars. This book was better than I expected, but there were portions that really pissed me off. I really liked the story telling/writing style. I loved the heroine and how much of a backbone she had. I liked the hero after he pulled his head out of his ass - but I didn’t like him at all initially. He was absolutely BRUTAL to the heroine in the beginning, my heart hurt for her.
I think my biggest beef with this book is that the hero and heroine live in a fairly small group of shifters and they never even looked at each other with any interest in all of those years. There are some mystical elements that explain away most of this. But… I can’t quite get over it completely. It feels wrong to me that the heroine lived right under the hero’s nose the whole time and he didn’t even look at her or feel the slightest attraction.
I can definitely see myself reading the next book in this series if it’s similar.
Safe w/ Exceptions: hero and heroine have known each other all their lives, and both are with OP before they feel their mating bond, the hero is a manwhore virgin - meaning he receives and gives oral to any willing female, but still hasn’t actually gone all the way with any of them. Personally, I don’t see how oral sex is in any way less intimate. The heroine had sex with two men but I got the impression that it had been a while for her. No actual cheating, but the hero does let OW sit on his lap and grind against him (in front of the heroine) even after he starts to believe that the heroine might be his mate. There’s OW drama, no OM drama besides some irrational jealousy. No scenes with OM/OW.
I think my biggest beef with this book is that the hero and heroine live in a fairly small group of shifters and they never even looked at each other with any interest in all of those years. There are some mystical elements that explain away most of this. But… I can’t quite get over it completely. It feels wrong to me that the heroine lived right under the hero’s nose the whole time and he didn’t even look at her or feel the slightest attraction.
I can definitely see myself reading the next book in this series if it’s similar.
Safe w/ Exceptions: hero and heroine have known each other all their lives, and both are with OP before they feel their mating bond, the hero is a manwhore virgin - meaning he receives and gives oral to any willing female, but still hasn’t actually gone all the way with any of them. Personally, I don’t see how oral sex is in any way less intimate. The heroine had sex with two men but I got the impression that it had been a while for her. No actual cheating, but the hero does let OW sit on his lap and grind against him (in front of the heroine) even after he starts to believe that the heroine might be his mate. There’s OW drama, no OM drama besides some irrational jealousy. No scenes with OM/OW.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2022
3.25
abertha, an icon
loved the forgotten memories aspect of this
abertha, an icon
loved the forgotten memories aspect of this
March 3, 2022
Good grief, that title. It's like the author borrowed the HP title generator and set it on "paranormal."
This was unexpectedly entertaining. I'm not particularly familiar with the niche shifter romance subgenre of rejected fated mates, but I recognize a few standard elements in the set-up: the heroine -- orphaned, unable to shift to her wolf form, and with a bad leg that never fully recovered from a childhood injury -- goes into an unexpected heat one evening while serving meals in the pack's communal dining hall. Her wolf immediately recognizes the pack's young alpha as her mate, challenges the stronger woman who is hanging all over him, and is brutally defeated. The alpha disavows that they're mates and has her removed from the dining hall before more violence ensues because she isn't in her right mind. (His lieutenant dumps her out back by the trash.)
She is, in fact, crazed from her heat and spends an agonizing night alone in a blackberry thicket before crawling off to the pack's aged healer in the morning. At this point it gets spoilery, so I won't recap further.
What I enjoyed:
• The author earnestly leaned into all the shifter romance clichés and shamelessly embraced a sentimental backstory to explain the rejection.
• The worldbuilding was handled well, explaining the pack's history and its relationship to human society and other packs without awkward info-dumps.
• The wolves were playful and had a lot of personality independent of their human side.
• But above all: the heroine wasn't a mopey martyr (at least, not once we get out of the thicket). She and the other "lone females" in the pack have formed their own supportive family focused on thriving within the arcane pack structure.
What I didn't like:
• The mating bond was poorly explained. From what I understand, only mates can breed (which makes no sense, but whatever) and half the pack appears to be mated "just for heats" while the rest of the time they're off happily having sex with partners other than their supposed mates. So I expected to hear why the protagonists' mating bond was so intense and special, and never got an explanation.
• In a later scene, the heroine has another confrontation with the OW from the dining hall. Her wolf challenges again, but this time the hero's wolf joins her. In the first scene, the OW fairly defeated the weaker heroine in a one-on-one fight. Here, it's two against one...how is that admirable or noble? This scene is supposed to be a corrective for the hero's failure to support the heroine in the opening scene, but I'm stuck on the imbalance. If you can't win your own fights, don't fight.
•
This was unexpectedly entertaining. I'm not particularly familiar with the niche shifter romance subgenre of rejected fated mates, but I recognize a few standard elements in the set-up: the heroine -- orphaned, unable to shift to her wolf form, and with a bad leg that never fully recovered from a childhood injury -- goes into an unexpected heat one evening while serving meals in the pack's communal dining hall. Her wolf immediately recognizes the pack's young alpha as her mate, challenges the stronger woman who is hanging all over him, and is brutally defeated. The alpha disavows that they're mates and has her removed from the dining hall before more violence ensues because she isn't in her right mind. (His lieutenant dumps her out back by the trash.)
She is, in fact, crazed from her heat and spends an agonizing night alone in a blackberry thicket before crawling off to the pack's aged healer in the morning. At this point it gets spoilery, so I won't recap further.
What I enjoyed:
• The author earnestly leaned into all the shifter romance clichés and shamelessly embraced a sentimental backstory to explain the rejection.
• The worldbuilding was handled well, explaining the pack's history and its relationship to human society and other packs without awkward info-dumps.
• The wolves were playful and had a lot of personality independent of their human side.
• But above all: the heroine wasn't a mopey martyr (at least, not once we get out of the thicket). She and the other "lone females" in the pack have formed their own supportive family focused on thriving within the arcane pack structure.
What I didn't like:
• The mating bond was poorly explained. From what I understand, only mates can breed (which makes no sense, but whatever) and half the pack appears to be mated "just for heats" while the rest of the time they're off happily having sex with partners other than their supposed mates. So I expected to hear why the protagonists' mating bond was so intense and special, and never got an explanation.
• In a later scene, the heroine has another confrontation with the OW from the dining hall. Her wolf challenges again, but this time the hero's wolf joins her. In the first scene, the OW fairly defeated the weaker heroine in a one-on-one fight. Here, it's two against one...how is that admirable or noble? This scene is supposed to be a corrective for the hero's failure to support the heroine in the opening scene, but I'm stuck on the imbalance. If you can't win your own fights, don't fight.
•
May 10, 2022
This was fab and very engaging it’s a rejected mate shifter romance and easily managed to capture my attention. The Quarry pack seems stuck in the dark ages though it’s a lot better than it was when the former Alpha Killian Kellys father was in charge. Now Killian leads the pack and though he has implemented some changes it’s still very much a pack of hierarchy and being both female and then having a bust leg puts Una firmly at the bottom.
After years of her wolf hiding Una suddenly goes into her first heat and shift in the middle of a communal dinner she instantly recognises her mate in the pack Alpha Killian but he not only then publicly rejects her but also manages to humiliate her.
In pain alone and rejected Una allows the pack crone to yank her mate bond right out of her and the relief is instant. She’s now able to finally breathe through the repercussions and agony of Killian’s rejection and decides there and then that she wants nothing more to do with the arrogant Alpha that is her mate.
Killian is a little bit dense I was able to deal with his drama because he’s basically clueless. He doesn’t really reject Una for cruelty’s sake but because he honestly believes she’s not his mate. Now his wolf is playing up and it’s set its sights firmly on Una and very gradually he starts to realise he’s maybe made a terrible mistake one that might now lose him everything if he can't get Una to forgive him.
There’s a lot wrong with this pack but what I liked was the resilience of the single females. They’ve got their own side racket going which pays for all the things that are forbidden to them within the pack like electronics and internet and they’ve also then managed to keep it hidden for the past ten years.
Una is such a strong character she has a quiet determination and is extremely protective over those she considers family. I loved that she had a backbone and gave Killian hell not rolling over and playing nice and after the way, he treated her he deserved to work for her forgiveness.
This was enjoyable well written and such an easy read. Killian does evolve so much through the course of this and he totally managed to win me over with his ability to change for the better. And once he realises his mistake he’s all in and totally possessive and growly. I totally recommend this one it was great.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
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d-n-f
June 3, 2024dnf @ 50%
*warning: rant review. no proper spoilers though. i hope.*
now who lied to me. WHO LIED TO ME. because too many people told me "oh this book is sooo good", "oh the grovelling is simply perfect", "oh the mmc is so swoony, you'll love him", "such a good rejected-mates enemies to lovers vibe".
swoony?? i DETESTED that man. when i say 'enemies to lovers', i mean they're on opposite sides of an ancient war and have both been raised believing they're in the right and their opponent is wrong. or they're at least rivals in academia or something. i do NOT mean that the man is a misogynistic piece of shit who treats the women like they're below him, and says he's a remarkable leader because "oh i stopped women being sa-ed all the time, i stopped (obvious) abuse, i no longer let the pack kill off their disabled kids."
well you're a damn saint, aren't you.
yes, he's an improvement from the last leader. does not make him a good leader, or a good man. men have to fight in the ring to get the pack money while women serve food and do household chores??? are you fr?? nothing this man could do while grovelling would possibly make me like him.
i read more of this than i wanted to, and the man was still not redeeming himself.
i see enough misogyny in the real world y'all. i'm clocking out ✋🏼.
*warning: rant review. no proper spoilers though. i hope.*
now who lied to me. WHO LIED TO ME. because too many people told me "oh this book is sooo good", "oh the grovelling is simply perfect", "oh the mmc is so swoony, you'll love him", "such a good rejected-mates enemies to lovers vibe".
swoony?? i DETESTED that man. when i say 'enemies to lovers', i mean they're on opposite sides of an ancient war and have both been raised believing they're in the right and their opponent is wrong. or they're at least rivals in academia or something. i do NOT mean that the man is a misogynistic piece of shit who treats the women like they're below him, and says he's a remarkable leader because "oh i stopped women being sa-ed all the time, i stopped (obvious) abuse, i no longer let the pack kill off their disabled kids."
well you're a damn saint, aren't you.
yes, he's an improvement from the last leader. does not make him a good leader, or a good man. men have to fight in the ring to get the pack money while women serve food and do household chores??? are you fr?? nothing this man could do while grovelling would possibly make me like him.
i read more of this than i wanted to, and the man was still not redeeming himself.
i see enough misogyny in the real world y'all. i'm clocking out ✋🏼.
September 15, 2025
── ✦0.00 stars
Well, this was confusing, misogynistic, annoying, and a complete waste of my time.
The title was giving major ‘do not pick me up’ vibes, but I’m willing to read certified garbage if there’s groveling involved. So I picked it up. BIG. MISTAKE. I seriously need to stop letting "there’s groveling” justify this level of suffering.
I’m honestly mad at all the Reddit girlies who tricked me into reading this disaster by hyping up that insufferable mmc. Like, this man could grovel by crawling on broken glass, writing the fmc sonnets in his own blood, and hand-delivering her the moon, and I’d still want his misogynistic, stuck-up, arrogant ass to choke. Absolutely irredeemable.
I liked the FMC for maybe five minutes, then she shared a scene with that jackass and instantly downgraded herself from ‘potential queen’ to ‘court jester of bad decisions.’
Honestly, I don’t even know how this got published. The plot was messy, the dialogues were cringe, and the supposed chemistry was as stale as week-old bread.
I recommend everyone steer clear unless you enjoy self-inflicted pain and severe eye-rolling.
Well, this was confusing, misogynistic, annoying, and a complete waste of my time.
The title was giving major ‘do not pick me up’ vibes, but I’m willing to read certified garbage if there’s groveling involved. So I picked it up. BIG. MISTAKE. I seriously need to stop letting "there’s groveling” justify this level of suffering.
I’m honestly mad at all the Reddit girlies who tricked me into reading this disaster by hyping up that insufferable mmc. Like, this man could grovel by crawling on broken glass, writing the fmc sonnets in his own blood, and hand-delivering her the moon, and I’d still want his misogynistic, stuck-up, arrogant ass to choke. Absolutely irredeemable.
I liked the FMC for maybe five minutes, then she shared a scene with that jackass and instantly downgraded herself from ‘potential queen’ to ‘court jester of bad decisions.’
Honestly, I don’t even know how this got published. The plot was messy, the dialogues were cringe, and the supposed chemistry was as stale as week-old bread.
I recommend everyone steer clear unless you enjoy self-inflicted pain and severe eye-rolling.
January 26, 2022
I loved it! Alpha werewolf Killian tries so hard not to be a jerk. I loved his grovelling.
December 12, 2021
I think I’m in a mood because I’m struggling finding a good read, so take this with a grain of salt. The Tyrant Alpha’s Rejected Mate is a YA/NA-ish shifter romance. There’s a rejected mate element going on, but it doesn’t really play out like we typically see. There were two things that negated some of my angst…
Killian is alpha of a cage fighting, backwards, male chauvinist pack. Una is at the bottom of the pack, she’s basically the maid/housekeeper. She goes into heat very late and realizes Killian is her mate. He denies the claim, and she has her ass handed to her by one of the “strictly for heat” females that wants is his pants despite being mated. The rest is their bumpy road to HEA.
Bottom Line- Like I said, this could totally be my mood, but I didn’t love it. I read shifter romance because I like the concept of true mates, so I wasn’t a fan of the “strictly for heat” couples. I also felt it was a little all over the place (mushrooms- ShroomForager 3000, video game consoles, her bad leg, retrieved memories, A & B roster packmates, OW issues, lack of female rights that only seemed to affect h and friends not all females, enemy issues, cage fighting, etc.), and I struggled to find my groove. BUT, several of my friends liked it, and it’s free to read with KU, so give it a shot. :)
Killian is alpha of a cage fighting, backwards, male chauvinist pack. Una is at the bottom of the pack, she’s basically the maid/housekeeper. She goes into heat very late and realizes Killian is her mate. He denies the claim, and she has her ass handed to her by one of the “strictly for heat” females that wants is his pants despite being mated. The rest is their bumpy road to HEA.
Bottom Line- Like I said, this could totally be my mood, but I didn’t love it. I read shifter romance because I like the concept of true mates, so I wasn’t a fan of the “strictly for heat” couples. I also felt it was a little all over the place (mushrooms- ShroomForager 3000, video game consoles, her bad leg, retrieved memories, A & B roster packmates, OW issues, lack of female rights that only seemed to affect h and friends not all females, enemy issues, cage fighting, etc.), and I struggled to find my groove. BUT, several of my friends liked it, and it’s free to read with KU, so give it a shot. :)
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