Unwanted Mate

Katu Wolves #4

by Jade Marshall

Sapphire
Every shifter longs to find their fated mate. It's one of the greatest blessings the Goddess can ever give to a shifter. But sometimes even the Goddess can get it wrong. When your mate is your childhood bully, there must be a mistake.

Marc
I started to believe I would never find my fated mate and had already accepted it as fact. Then I found her. But the woman I want to claim is a grown-up version of a girl I tortured when we were children. I wish I could go back and change things but the past is set in stone. Is there any way for me to make this right?

Genres: Enemies To Lovers, Paranormal Romance, Shapeshifters, Paranormal, Werewolves, Second Chance, Romance

Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2022

About the author

South African author of romance with a dark side
Mother, wife, animal lover, alcohol consumer...
English, Afrikaans, and sarcasm are the only languages I understand.

Evernight Publishing Author & Acquiring Editor.
It's official!

Check out the submission requirements here - https://www.evernightpublishing.com/g...
or for Evernight Teen - https://www.evernightteen.com/submiss...

Reviews

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 WTF stars

I'll admit, this is my first book by this author, so I didn't really know what to expect. However, once I started this story I found myself enjoying the angsty and remorseful feel to the book. I liked Sapphire and her strength in the face of who fate has chosen for her, and after a bit, I found myself liking the hero. He had a lot to make up for, and I feel like he groveled enough.

However, just when I think all is well and the characters should be getting their HEA, the author throws this absolute loose cannon of a plot twist at us right before the story just ends. Like WTF was that??!! I don't know if this is common for her stories as a way to leave you desperate for more, but it was very unexpected and unnecessary.

Tropes: fated mates, bully romance, OW drama (no cheating), cliffhanger ending

*ARC provided by Booksprout, and I voluntarily reviewed it*

[Athanasia ♥︎ · Rating 1 out of 5]

NOPE

I HATE HIM... that being said, I was expecting some type of grovelling... I did not get that. The conflict was just magically resolve and I hated it.

The smut would have been good if he wasn't an asshole.

Tags:
Paranormal MMC👻👹😈
Paranormal FMC👻👹😈
Violence 🩸👁🦴
Heats/Ruts🥵 🥴👋
Found family 👩🏽‍👨🏽‍👧🏽🏡💗
Insta love-matehood❤️‍🔥 ❤️
Learning intimacy💁👌😍
Monster smut👺👾🤤
Angst😐😑
HEA🔔👰🏼🌠

[april ♡ probably reading smut - safety reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stars ☆☆☆

“I’m saying”—I take a deep breath—“that I have been in love with you since I can remember. I’m saying that the past doesn’t matter, the future does. I’m saying that I accept you as my mate.”

This was a short, angsty shifter romance with bullying. I didn't enjoy the OW drama... I love the premise though!

safety:
no virgins
OW drama
no cheating/sharing
HEA ♡

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

[Jeanette Wolfe · Rating 1 out of 5]

No, can't say I would recommend it since it basically sells notion that if a guy bullied and abused a girl, it's okay and means he likes her and she just has to forgive him because it's fate after all. What's worse, she does -- literally saying she just has to forget the past. I hate to break it to you, but only IDIOTS FORGET about the lessons imbedded in the past and are therefore doomed to repeat history and never learn. The jerk basically showed her, and the world, who and what he is: an abusive womanizer, and she's stupid not to remember and heed the lesson.

Seriously, all it took was a sob story about how he abused her because he had a crush and wanted to treat her so badly the other boys thought something was wrong with her and would stay away. I mean, what sacrifice is a girl's broken arm if it saves a male's ego? Yeah, and her response to that drivel is how she's ALWAYS loved him -- made me want to puke.

No ladies and gentlemen, bullying with emotional and physical abuse isn't a sound foundation for a relationship, and bullies don't change; someone who rationalizes and justifies hurting a love interest is NOT an acceptable partner and ISN'T going to suddenly stop hurting women (or men).

[XxnightxowlxX74 · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a fight with their alpha Sapphires dad packs her, her brother and mother up to leave in the middle of the night. After five years of moving her father and mother pass away in separate instances. Ezra, her brother, decides to move them back to where they grew up. Sapphire is not too happy about it but her brother is all she has left of her family. She fears that her past will haunt her when she returns.
Marc her bully still belongs to the pack and when he goes to help his buddies bring their mates back home he finds his mate dancing on the dance floor. When he saves her from being harassed by a drunk he finally sees the face of his mate… the very girl he bullied and secretly crushed on Sapphire. Oh boy…
This was a quick read. I really wanted more of their story.
It does end in a very tragic way nothing to do with the main couple of the story but still an odd and painful ending.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick read and a lovely storyline. I would have liked to have had a little longer story so that the conflict between the two leads could have been flushed out more. The epilogue ends on a cliffhanger.

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

[LaBlue · Rating 2 out of 5]

To a degree this book makes women seem stupid. There was no resolution here. The FMC just decided all by herself that her she wanted her mate more than her pride dignity and against all his negative behaviors and past history with anyone. This was not romantic to me. There was no on page character growth, only one s e x scene that was pretty boring. It’s also never described in any of this series book’s how they become “mated”. There is no bite or blood exchange that makes it special or different in any way. So considering the MMC was a whoooaaarr then shouldn’t he be “mated” to every female he ever banged??

This author and this series is sloppy. I liked her writing style, her plot lines and most if not all of her characters but she is severely lacking in depth, details and continuity in and between stories. I will not buy another book from this author.

Lastly, why the f#€k did this book end on such a horrible note?!?!? That was terrible! To leave the reader hanging on what happened and wondering if there is a book for the grieving widow. Ugh. That was the last straw for me. I won’t give this author another chance. Endings need to be positive or at the very least with a complete understanding of why it ended that way. The author just threw it in there like it was nothing. Smdh. Good luck.

[Sonya · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick instlove novella of Sapphire and Marc. They were once childhood friends until the day Marc turned into her bully.

Sapphire was happy when her family left Katu and their Pack. She was happy for a new start away from the horrible memories.

After the death of her parents; Sapphire and her older brother move back to the Katu Pack because it wasn't safe for them to be without a Pack. Sapphire was against the idea mainly because she didn't want to run into her childhood Bully Marc again.

Fate had other plans because while hanging out with the ladies of the Pack Sapphire runs into her Fated Mate which happened to be Marc.

Marc was a womanizer who didn't care about the feelings of others. When he realizes that his Fated Mate is the one person who hates him most he is faced with a dilemma of how to make things right so that Sapphire doesn't reject him.

This was a quick read and although Sapphire had a few misgivings about mating Marc it didn't take her long to let go of the past and look forward to the future by accepting Marc as her mate.

This story ended on a semi HEA for the main couple but heartbreak for another.

[Reader_for_LifeTLG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marc tormented Sapphire when they were kids. All grown up now, they find that they are mates. His mom warned him his actions had consequences and now it's time to pay the piper. How can she get over the hurt he caused? How can he make her see that he has become a better person? This is a really good kinda second chance PNR novella. The unconventional way Marc and Sapphire became acquainted with their adult selves was really sweet. He didn't demand that she accept him as his fated mate. Rather, he humbled himself, acknowledged he was a jerk, and offered her the chance to allow him to woo her. How could she resist?.

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

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sapphire and Marc’s story starts out as childhood friends then he turned into her bully before her and her family leaves the pack. Forward a few years and her parents both are dead so her older bro decides they need to go back to the pack. She is out with a few of the ladies when she sees all the males come for their mates when she feels an arm go around her as a guy is bother her. She senses her mate and turns to see Marc. She hates him and kicks him. He knows she is his mate and they need to find a way to get past the problems to get together. He does make it hard to but she manages to put it all behind her to go forward.

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

[Michelle Claypot_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick and fun PNR Fated Mates read.

What do you do when you find out your fated mate is your childhood bully? You give him a swift kick in the junk... He definitely had to work hard for his HEA. I enjoyed the friendships in this story and hope the other characters get their stories told.

This was my first read from this author and I'll definitely be looking for more in this series.

I received an arc of this book.

[Sandy Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is another short, fated mates story but with a bully trope added in. When her parents pass away, Sapphire and her brother move back to the area they grew up. And in doing so, she finds out her mate is none other than than the boy who bullied her as a child. Marc has a lot of groveling to do and growing as a person in order for Sapphire to accept their bond and not reject him as a mate. And I loved how all of that played out, and I was completely into the story during all this. Although, there really isn't anything paranormal to it-other than it being they are fated mates. Nothing mentioned really about their wolves and claiming or any of that. And then the ending happened and I was left feeling like, what the heck did I just read?? There was nothing necessary in that not leaving the book just kinda hanging. Unfortunately, I doubt I will read another by this author.

[Ash J · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this read about fated mates where one used to be bullied by the other. The story was easy to follow and I really liked the characters, even the side ones. I've never read the previous stories in this series but now I will have to check them out!.

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

[ShelmadineMaltbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

ok

After reading the previous books, this one is the same they all feel rushed.The characters don’t have time to develop together.

[Stacey Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved how sweet it was. It's nice to take a break from the other stuff I read. Sometimes I need something that makes me smile and warms my heart.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

eh

Nothing to rave home about. Average fated mates, which I like, but not much emotion in this one. Piles of cliches. Didn’t satisfy my rejected mate trope itch 3

[Anne Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is Sapphire’s worst nightmare
As a young girl Sapphire was bullied by a guy called Marc. They were part of the pack when there was a disagreement her dad packed up her, her mother and brother Ezra and they left. Sapphire was over the moon that she wasn’t gonna be bullied again. Years later both her parents died and her older brother decided that they had to return to the pack and she just knew she would come face-to-face with Marc at some point her brother asked her to try so she gave him one month. If she hated it after one month she would leave with or without Ezra. The pack except them back with open arms and they even got housed in their old family home. The next day the alphas Omega, the lunar of the pack came to invite her to come out with the ladies. Just to get to know each other to have a few drinks and have a dance Sapphire agreed. And they were having a brilliant night until the alphas descended on them to take home their women. One of the locals grabbed Sapphire and that’s when she heard his voice telling the local to get his hands off her. She knew the man behind her was her mate but when she turned around and saw Marc she just saw red.
Marcs mother had told him that day that he would meet his mate but she didn’t always get it right so he didn’t think anything of it and he went to have a drink at the bar. He felt off, like there was something in the wind. When a woman came up to get his attention he growled at her and told her to go he wasn’t interested which wasn’t Marc at all because he had basically slept with everyone in the town human or pack. He goes to have a drink with Max when he finds out it’s ladies night and he will be needed so there’s no fighting in town. The call comes in that the ladies are at the bar a bar they’re not meant to be in. And the alphas get in their car to go and get the ladies. As he enters the bar he sits down grab the drink and wait for the fun to begin but that’s when he sees her and he knows he’s found his mate but what is shocking is it is the girl he bullied so badly at school he really did make her life hell how on earth was she going to accept him to be her mate but when he sees someone grab her he’s on his feet straight away he needs to defend his woman.
And that is all you are getting because there is so much going on in this book that you need to read it for yourself. It takes a lot for Sapphire to even look at Marc how can she forgive him for the hell that he has put her through ?? Is it just best to refuse the Mating bond? Or is this something that can be done?? I really enjoyed this read. And the cliffhanger really that was so unfair.

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

[Ada · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,0 ⭐

Arc provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. There are no spoilers here.

A book with fated mates, second chances AND WOLVES ON IT? Give it to me!

Sapphire and Ezra, both wolves, decide to return to the pack after the death of their parents. Sapphire finds herself hesitating, remembering a specific boy who made her life impossible a few years ago. Things get complicated when she discovers that Marc is her fated mate. Will she be able to leave the past behind? Mark has really changed?

A light read, with easy-to-understand characters, without complex storylines or overdone drama. It's my first time reading something from this author and the world of wolves, my experience was better than I expected. Although I wish there was more development of this world, like, how does a shifter mark their mate? What differentiates a wolf from a human besides physical characteristics?

One specific thing that stands out is in the ending, I usually see an epilogue where the characters already have families, etc, but in this book there is a cliffhanger ending that involves other character, and it's not a frustrating one, on the contrary, it's one that left me wanting more.

If you are looking for: a well written book, quick read, paranormal romance, fated mates story, then this is definitely for you! Otherwise, if you are looking for groveling, more developed paranormal world and complex romance, then this may not be for you, but still I recommend it.

[**Elle**Bee**Double U** · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even though this is a 4th in the Katu series, it can be read as a standalone.
This is the first book I've read from Jade Marshall.
Honestly, this was not that great of a story. I've been on a bully romance kick, just without it turning too dark for my tastes. But one thing I love about the bully romances is groveling. I like to see how the character proves themself to the other character. Yet when it comes to this one, there isn't groveling. Hell the main female character is the one to go to the male who bullied her and lets him know that she has to give them a chance/give him a chance. To make matters worse the main male has slept with just about every woman in the pack of age and now his mate has to deal with that and be surrounded by women that have been with her mate...ugh, just ugh.
This book, you could've just written out the whole paranormal aspect to this and you would've never known that this is a werewolf romance. There's no shifting...no mating heat, no mating bite nothing. I actually by the end of this forgot that it was suppose to be about wolves!
Overall, this was not a great book...Then to just throw in that "thing" at the end. Seriously?.

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

[Paranormal Kiss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unwanted Mate is about Sapphire and Marc. Sapphire has moved back to her childhood pack after being away for five years. She is surprised and shocked when she learns Marc is her mate. He was the boy that bullied her for years, until she moved away at the age of fifteen. Marc is just as surprised when he meets her again.

This wasn't bad. I just thought it was too quick and I didn't find the romance believable. The story is pretty short so there wasn't much time to work through things. I didn't buy that the past could be sweep away so easily and that there wasn't any hard feeling on Sapphire's side. Part of me really wanted her to reject him and hold out for a different mate. I was disappointed that it didn't take more time and effort to get their happily ever after.

This book ends on a cliffhanger for a different character.

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

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved Marc and Sapphire's story! Marc had so much to make up for when it came to his fated mate, Sapphire. Not only did he bully her when they were younger but while Sapphire was away he also became the town bicycle when it came to women. I love that the moment he realized that not only did he find his mate but that it was Sapphire you could feel his regret for everything he's done. Sapphire left town years ago and only recently moved back. So imagine her surprise when she finds her mate is none other than her childhood bully. I love Sapphire's grace with how she handled everything - she wasn't going to refuse the mate bond because she knows what an amazing gift that is but she also wasn't going to jump all in either.

This series is one of my favorite and Unwanted Mate is just another reason why. Cannot wait to see what Jade has in store for the next book!!

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bullied Mate

Sapphire and her family fled their pack in the middle of the night when she was younger. After years of being on the run, it's just Sapphire and her brother Ezra now because both of their parents have passed. Ezra decides the best thing is to return to their old pack because there is a new Alpha in charge. Sapphire doesn't want to go because she was treated poorly back then and has no good memories.

Now back in the pack, things are going well until she meets her mate. It's her old bully, Marc and he was the main reason she didn't want to return. Now she has to discover if she can forgive him for his past mistakes. Their future together relies and the bond that they form now if even possible.

One of my favorite tropes is the bullied mate, enemies to lovers romance story. I was excited about this one because it was by a new author to me. This book was enjoyable but there were some areas that could have been executed better. It was a quick read and for a story that has so much emotional baggage, it gave off a rushed feeling. I also wished that Marc was a stronger character. I'm looking for an Alpha monster who will stop at nothing to get his mate. A little more intensity would have helped his character.

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

[Bella Toric · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I jumped into this novel, I wasn't sure what to expect other than it had shifters and romance. A combo of things that I really enjoy! It relies heavily on the bully trope as Sapphire's mate was once her bully but it shows the character growth away from the bully trope and into realizing they're meant to be mates.

It was a relatively short read, one I definitely finishing in a single sitting and by the end I was so invested in what would happen between the two main characters only for a plot twist to get thrown right in there with absolutely no warning! It shocked me and left me reeling a little there! Overall though, it was a good book and one I'd read again!

Thank you NetGalley for giving me an ARC copy of this novel.

[Alexandria · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited to get an eARC of this from Netgalley, because rejected/reluctant mate stories are some of my favorites. This is a very short novella, and unfortunately that made it feel extremely rushed. There wasn’t any tension despite the fact that the MMC bullied the FMC pretty terribly through childhood. There was very little groveling, and the dialogue didn’t feel genuine. Both characters felt like cardboard cutouts.

This also really didn’t feel like a shifter book. The only thing that identifies it as one is the MMC shifting to run home from work, and, of course, the concept of a mating bond. But there is no claiming, marking, or even any primal desire between the two that you would expect from a shifter couple.

[Akanksha Dutta (Athena Book Briefs) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a paranormal romance, with themes of fated mates and second chances. It is not your usual bully romance, the hero Mark does admit that his bullying behavior was wrong and seeks to make amends. And the heroine holds onto the trauma it caused before slowly allowing him to show that he has changed, it is refreshing to see that being fated mates does not forgive all past wrongdoing and it's not insta-love, just a very magnetic pull towards each other.
I love the sisterhood amongst the women of the pack and good supportive female friendships shown, to affirm that being a mate is not the be-all and end-all of the heroine Sapphire. Looking forward to seeing more from the author!
I received an e-ARC of the book from netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

[Shawna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unwanted Mate Book 4 of Katu Wolves was a sweet and sad story. Marc spend his childhood bullying Sapphire. A twist of fate has made them mates and now Sapphire doesn’t know if she can accept Marc. The more she finds out about Marc’s past it makes Sapphire rethink her plan to forgive him. Marc feels it’s best for him to walk away before he causes Sapphire anymore pain. Will it be the right choice and will Sapphire let him? A great storyline and likable characters. I really enjoyed this story and I would definitely recommend this book.

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

[Meme · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sapphire and her brother return to their previous pack where Sapphire runs into her childhood bully Marc. I loved how Sapphire responded when she sees Marc after all that time. Its great how strong she is in herself and despite past hurts from the pack open to making new girlfriends. She is very gracious and open to giving second chances. It was kind of cute him trying to woo her. There is drama in the story especially with Marc's past "flings." The story isn't full of bedroom scenes but there is a little steam. There wasn't any violence or action.

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

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

"I know why I did what I did, but how do I explain the actions of a child? The fucking stupidity of a hormonal teenage boy? Not to mention the fact that I have slept with most of the town, and she now has to deal with that too."

Ummm... ew. I read this because I love a good grovel and one review said there was that. Fun fact: there isn't. There isn't enough grovel for calling a young girl a fat cow and other disgusting crap. Not to mention the physical bullying. And he grew up a manwhore.

Did the FMC do something terrible in another life? Then instead of letting him grovel, SHE instigated giving him a chance. He didn't even ask for one. Gross.

[Kristine L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sapphire and her brother are headed back to the Katu Pack. Sapphire is not happy about that as Marc was the biggest bully to her and continued to be the biggest manwhore around. When Marc smells his mate he is thrilled and goes to save her from a man that won't take no for an answer. Sapphire smells her mate and he smells wonderful until she turns around and finds Marc her bully. The story is about Sapphire and Marc's journey to a happy ending. I loved the story but hated the ending of Keela and Bryan. That made me sad.

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

[Anij · Rating 3 out of 5]

“How can I expect her to move past something I can’t even explain?”

Very short but nice story, it’s fourth in what is clearly an ongoing series. I liked the two main characters, Marc and Sapphire. I felt we didn’t really get enough of them and the entire story was rushed. At less than eighty pages I guess there wasn’t time, which is too bad. There definitely could have been more story. At least we got a HEA from Marc and Sapphire. I didn’t care for the epilogue being turned into a cliffhanger leading to the next book in the series, though.

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