Being Pucked by Rosemary Johns

2 Stars

An NHL star player pucked up my life, and now I have one rule: Avoid all ice hockey players.

But when I run to my hometown, desperate for a fresh start, I find that it's easier said than done. My dad is the coach of the newest team in the NHL and offers me the job of PR Director to these gorgeous players who are walking disasters.

They say that cocky hockey players are obsessed with their sticks. It turns out that three of them are also obsessed with me.

First, there’s the charming, playboy captain. Then there’s the scorching-hot twins. One brother is a fighter on the ice but has the heart of a golden retriever, when he takes off his skates. The other is intense and tattooed but sweetly protective. Yet they’re all hiding secrets that could blow apart the team.

My job is to keep these three out of trouble. But will I break my one rule for them? Their careers depend on winning this season, and my new life depends on beating them at their own game.

Will falling for hockey players puck up my life again? Will my heart be broken or is this my second chance?

The ending killed the book for me. There was no reason to have this as two books for this pack. I liked the book overall and the characters. I loved Robyn’s never sleeping with another hockey player to immediately sleep with another hockey player. The backstory of each of the guys was interesting and helped move the story. I overall, I probably will pick up book 2 but just not right now.

Book 1 Bay Rebels

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Jasper Vale by Devney Perry

3 Stars

Eloise Eden’s pride and joy is her family’s hotel in Quincy, Montana. Her lifelong dream is to own The Eloise Inn. All she has to do is prove to her parents that she’s the epitome of responsible. That her days of being duped and making reckless decisions are history. She’s so close she can taste it.

Until after one weekend in Las Vegas, she comes home married to a stranger.

Jasper must have put her under a spell with those soul-deep eyes because after a single night together, they woke up husband and wife. Her only hope is to keep this marriage a secret until it’s annulled. Then she’ll pretend it never happened.

Except Jasper begs her to stay married. To fake it for three months so she can accompany him to a wedding. Maybe she’s lost her mind to agree. But her brooding husband seems desperate. It’s only three months, right? Then she’ll say goodbye to Jasper Vale, and with any luck, hello to her new hotel.

Oh Jasper. I loved him so much but he’s so stupid too. I connected with Eloise. She’s ignored so much and just wanted to be seen. Yes she’s made mistakes in the past but the way the family deals with it is to make her feel useless. The big shooting at the end really didn’t add anything to the story other than to show the matriarch of the family doesn’t take responsibilities for her own mistakes.

Book 4 The Edens

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Talk about Rivalry by Jarica James

3 Stars

I’m an omega destined to never find her mates…

I can’t scent potential mates, my heats are messed up, and my own scent is nonexistent, meaning scent-matches are not in the cards for me.

The worst part is that I’m in love with my best friend’s brother, Maverick, and Taylor, a sassy omega I can’t get enough of. Even if they were interested, I can’t stand the thought of being left heartbroken when they do find their mates.

When Maverick is asked on a date… and he accepts, I know I have to do something. I recruit Taylor to help me sabotage this date before it’s too late.

He agrees, but the only problem is he brings his best friend Leo along, and the new beta in town makes it very clear he wants a date in exchange for his help.

My world is thrown into chaos as we all grow closer and small slips of scents start to hit me. They think there’s hope, I’m too scared to agree.

My doctor thinks he has a solution, but am I willing to risk the potential heartbreak if he’s wrong?

The back and forth with Lindsey irritated me so much. Lindsey was all about we aren’t scent matches so we can’t be together but she didn’t have a scent until later in the book. So even though the guys were all in and wanted her no matter what she hemmed and hawed about being together. She kept running away from that and it irritated me so much and if not for this I would have enjoyed the story more.

Book 2 Rockwood Valley Omegaverse

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Not Safe for Work by Nisha J Tuli

3 Stars

Two workplace enemies find themselves in close proximity on a tropical company retreat that challenges their assumptions—and just might make them to fall for each other—in this romcom by a beloved TikTok author.

Engineer Trishara Malik once dreamed of being the first woman of color to smash the glass ceiling at WMC Purcell, but after years of dealing with white male privilege and blatant nepotism, she watches her hard-earned promotion go to her nemesis, Rafe Gallagher—the boss’s son. Teetering on the edge of burnout, Tris is stunned when she’s picked to attend WMC's corporate leadership retreat in Hawaii. It’s a chance to revive her stalled career and compete for a coveted spot in an executive training program—plus, three weeks in paradise! The only downside? Rafe is her co-attendee.

Tris plans to avoid Rafe entirely, but when she arrives in Maui, a booking error has them stuck sharing the honeymoon suite. Sure, it’s not all torture. Rafe is a smoldering ten—okay fine, an eleven—but after years of competition, they can barely stand being in the same time zone. As they vie against each other during aptitude tests and team-building exercises, Tris begins to realize Rafe might not be the villain after all. With her dreams at stake, can she learn to trust the man who might have been standing in her corner all along?

This was a cute read. I loved Tris and Rafe’s story. Their banter made the book enjoyable. The workplace harassment was so frustrating and how it was handled was even worse but accurate to real life.

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Lights Out by Navessa Allen

4 Stars

I want someone with a soul as black as night. Someone who would burn the world down for me and not lose a single minute of sleep over it.

Trauma nurse Alyssa Cappellucci doesn’t need any more kinks. She likes the one she’s landed on just fine. To her, nothing could top the masked men she follows online. Unless one of those men was shirtless, heavily tattooed, and waiting for her in her bedroom. She dreams about being hunted by one in particular, of him chasing her down and doing deliciously dark things to her willing body. She never could have guessed that by sending one drunken text, those dreams would become her new reality.

I want things most people don’t, craving darkness and depravity instead of light and love.

Joshua Hammond has an infamous father—the kind of man that true-crime podcasts love talking about. He’s spent his life avoiding the limelight, but his online persona is another story. At night, he posts masked thirst traps for his millions of fans to drool over, but one follower has caught his eye: Aly. After reading a comment begging him to break into her house wearing a mask, he decides to take her up on her offer.

Together, Aly and Josh live out their darkest fantasies, unaware that Aly has captured the attention of someone else. Someone with far more sinister intentions than a little light stalking. As Josh turns from predator to protector and the stakes heighten, he must ask himself how far he’s willing to go for the woman he’s obsessed with.

I caved to all the Instagram reviews and I am happy about it. I loved this book so much. It is a dark romance that is more like a grey romance. The Joshua is such a teddy bear character that you just love him even though he is stalking Alyssa. He only stalks cause he doesn’t know any other way to get close to her. I enjoyed Josh’s interactions with Alyssa before and after the reveal of his identity. The way he interacts with her cat is so sweet and amusing. I just really enjoyed this book.

Book 1 Into Darkness

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Must have been Love by Carrie Elks

3 Stars

Inheriting a rundown bar from the father who abandoned me should be my chance to start over.

Instead, it puts me directly in the path of Hudson Fitzgerald—single dad, small town royalty, and the most insufferable man I’ve ever met. He’s rich, broody, and way too good-looking for my peace of mind.

Oh, and he wants me gone.

But I didn’t come here just to tuck my tail and run away. I came to prove I’m not the hot mess everyone thinks I am. Even if that means going head-to-head with Hudson every single day.

He thinks I’m chaos in a crop top. I think he’s a control freak with a stick where the sun doesn’t shine. But beneath all that tension is something else. Something electric.

And when he kisses me? Let’s just say, for a man who claims he doesn’t do messy, he sure knows how to make a mess of me.

I was only supposed to be here long enough to fix up my bar. I never meant to fall for the man who runs this place like he owns it.

But in a small town like this, love has a way of sneaking up on you.

The book was ok. I really hated Hudson and I can’t really forgive him for what he did to Skyler. I loved Skyler and all of the secondary characters, particularly Skyler’s brother and Hudson’s sister. Hudson had a lot going on and some of that might explain his issues but the way he handles some things in the book just frustrated me throughout. It didn’t matter what anyone told him he was determined to believe what he thought and push everything else away.

Book 1 The Fitzgeralds

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Trueborn’s Queen by Leona Page

1 Star

Warning Mature Language and Content, including abuse, violence, and SA

Ophelia
I never wanted this. I never asked to be a Luna. I only wanted a mate who loves me and cares for me as I do him. A simple life; happy and secure. I never knew that there was no humanity left to soften the Beast. I didn't understand until it was too late. I ran. I ran into the arms of another wolf. A good wolf. A knight in shining armor. A fairytale prince... but royal blood will never be stronger than a TrueBorn.

Gideon
I am TrueBorn alpha and no runt princeling will take her from me. She is mine. If I need to become King to Claim her, then so be it. I will make her a Queen.

Luna's are fought over... a Queen is worth dying for.

 

I’ve loved most of Page’s books but between errors in spelling and grammar plus the redemption of Gideon. I just hated this book. Gideon never redeems himself from all that he did to Ophelia. Ophelia tried so hard to get away from him and when all avenues are blocked she caves to his demands. I loved the secondary characters and Ophelia but Gideon just ruined the story.

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Garnet Flats by Devney Perry

4 Stars

Talia Eden loved Foster Madden for one year, two months and eleven days. It was on day 438 that her love died. The day he chose to marry her best friend. The day she vowed never to think of Foster again.

Until years later when he has the audacity to show up in her small hometown of Quincy, begging for her help.

The ink on his divorce papers is barely dry, yet he comes armed with apologies and promises. She knows it’s all a ploy. Foster is the king of games and secrets. But he’s got delusions the size of Montana if he thinks she’ll help him train for a world championship fight.

Except Talia has forgotten exactly what made Foster famous. The man has dedicated his life to victory. He’s steadfast. He’s determined. And he won’t stop fighting until he’s won her heart.

This book flowed nicely. I loved the backstory of Talia and Foster. Talia deserved so much more groveling from Foster than she got. I get Foster was in tough spot but there were so many ways that this could have been better. I did like them together.

Book 3 The Edens

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Wonder by Evelyn Flood

3 Stars

I wasn’t expecting to find a man whilst drowning my sorrows and hiding from my responsibilities in the filthiest bar in the city.

Hatter is elusive, beautiful… and sad.

Tempting enough to make me throw my usual caution aside and steal him.

Just for a night.

One night, to help us both forget.

I expected him to leave me. But I didn’t expect the invitation he left behind.

Wonder.

The most exclusive club in the city. Always moving, never discovered, and impossible to enter without permission. So naturally, I stole it. Except Wonder isn’t quite what the whispers say. Once you enter, you can’t leave without permission.

Red runs Wonder with an iron fist, a calculating mind and possession in her gaze. And when I find myself in the middle of Red’s games, I’ll need to use every skill I have to keep me and the men around me alive.

She likes to collect broken things. Maybe I’m the most shattered of them all.

But Hatter, Buck, Aiden, Kayden and Chess won’t let me fall. They shine a light on my nightmares, offering a shield against the grief that haunts me even as I rip theirs apart in return.

Red thinks she’s facing Alyss Lidell.

I’m much, much more than that.

Caveat for this book. I hate Alice in Wonderland and have never found a story based off of that story that I actually like. This is a riff on that and though I love Evelyn Flood’s writing and most of her books I just didn’t like this one. If you like Alice in Wonderland this book will be an amazing read.

Book 3 Forbidden Fairytales

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For Whom the Belle Tolls by Jaysea Lynn

5 Stars

They told her to go to Hell.

She went, but on her own terms.

Lily isn’t exactly thrilled with her arrival in the Afterlife, but what awaits her there is more fantastical than she ever could have imagined: Deities wait in line at the coffee shop. Fae flit between realms. Souls find ways to make death a beginning.

As she explores the many corners of the Afterlife, Lily finds herself surprisingly drawn to a place most people would avoid at all costs: Hell. Armed with years of customer service experience and pent-up sarcasm, Lily carves a job out for herself amongst Hell’s demons, sending souls to their rightful circles with more than a hint of sass.

Lily’s expectations are subverted every day in Hell—especially by Bel, a demon general with a distractingly sexy voice. The two meet by chance and form an immediate, deeply healing friendship, but the undeniable heat between them threatens to combust.

Meanwhile, something stirs beyond the boundaries of their world, threatening to destroy everything they’ve known and everything that could be…unless they fight like Hell to stop it.

I loved this book so much. It would have been my number one book for the month if it hadn’t been read in the same month as Devney Perry’s Shield of Sparrows. This book deals with death and dying and if this subject is hard for you avoid the book. I loved that Lily creates a help desk in hell to deal with crabby afterlife souls. She gets to take out her anger on those who are going to different levels of hell or to help them find their afterlife. This book has so much humor along with the serious notes which led me to not be able to put the book down. Would definitely read again.

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Bought by the Alpha by Bella Moondragon

2 Stars

I thought I was here to pay off my family’s debt…

But the Alpha King didn’t bring me to his castle to be a maid.

Isla

I’m a nobody from a struggling pack, just trying to help my family cover my brother’s medical bills. When I’m sent to the Alpha King’s palace, I expect to scrub floors—not sleep in a luxurious bed.

Then I find out the truth:

I’ve been sold to be his breeder.

King Maddox is cold, cruel, and dangerously powerful. Rumor has it he killed his first wife—and now he needs an heir or he’ll lose his throne.

I’ve never even been with a man. How am I supposed to survive this?

And worse… why does my body crave the one man who might destroy me?

Maddox

After my Luna Queen died, I vowed never to love again. But time is running out—I need an heir, and I need one now. I didn’t go looking for a breeder, but Isla arrived at my doorstep like fate itself.

She’s innocent. Untouched. Nothing like the woman I expected.

I told myself I’d use her and forget her.

But now I want more than just a breeder.

I want to make her mine—forever.

I actually liked this book if not for the ending. It ends on a cliff and there are a lof of books in the series. This is fine but to get the full story of Isla and Maddox it’s 4 books and the books are pricey for the read. In my opinion. Story wise Maddox is an idiot through and through and Isla is a freaking doormat.

Book 1 Alpha King’s Breeder

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Wild Eyes by Elsie Silver

4 Stars

A rugged mountain town seemed like the perfect escape from a life in shambles. But on day one I ran full tilt into the world’s hottest single dad and now all my plans are ruined.

As a chart-topping country singer with a recent streak of bad press it’s hard to find any peace. But I find it in Rose Hill. With a little boy and a little girl who steal my heart just as thoroughly as their dad.

Weston Belmont.

The man is a shameless flirt. He oozes confidence and masculinity in a way that’s downright distracting. And in bed? He’s addictive.

Everything with him is wild and impulsive and I’m desperate to regain some control.

But no one has supported me like West does. And no one has ever made me feel as loved as he does either.

So, while my brain says settling down with a small-town horse trainer is impossible… my heart says I’m right where I belong.

Still, my life as a celebrity haunts me. It has the power to pull us apart.

I can see in his eyes that wants me to stay. And I want that too.

But I know better than anyone that we don’t always get what we want.

I loved West and Skylar’s story. There were times I was so frustrated with Skylar and her continuing to push West away. However, when they finally get their HEA I loved it. The audiobook was also well done and I loved the duo narration. It was definitely worth listening too.

Book 2 Rose Hill

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Chase Lovett Wants Me by Helena Hunting

4 Stars

A fluffy, insta-love, laugh out loud, college hockey romance. Chase Lovett. Star of my (unrequited) fantasies. Hottest guy on campus. Hockey god.

Too bad he has no idea who I am. Literally, I’m so invisible to him that he once sat on me in class.

No thanks to a fire in the dorms, he just became my accidental roommate.

Did I mention the hotel room our university moved us to has only one bed?

Not ideal.

Worse, I accidentally left “My Precious” fantasy fandom underwear hanging to dry in our shower.

My actual nightmare.

My name is Cammie Lovelock and this might just be the worst, best thing that’s ever happened to me.

This was a solid book that fits with the authors other books. I loved the fanfic aspect of Cammie's life. Cammie and Chase are the most adorable of couples. It was a quick and easy read.

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Juniper Hill by Devney Perry

3 Stars

Memphis Ward arrives in Quincy, Montana, on the fifth worst day of her life. She needs a shower. She needs a snack. She needs some sanity. Because moving across the country with her newborn baby is by far the craziest thing she’s ever done.

But maybe it takes a little crazy to build a good life. If putting the past behind her requires a thousand miles and a new town, she’ll do it if it means a better future for her son. Even if it requires setting aside the glamour of her former life. Even if it requires working as a housekeeper at The Eloise Inn and living in an apartment above a garage.

It’s there, on the fifth worst day of her life, that she meets the handsomest man she’s ever laid eyes on. Knox Eden is a beautiful, sinful dream, a chef and her temporary landlord. With his sharp, stubbled jaw and tattooed arms, he’s raw and rugged and everything she’s never had—and never will. Because after the first worst day of her life, Memphis learned a good life requires giving up on her dreams too. And a man like Knox Eden will only ever be a dream.

I loved Memphis so much. She is trying to make it on her own with a kid and starting over. Knox is an ass from the beginning with reasons he eventually tells Memphis about. After he explains everything he does make it up to her. It was a slower paced book which is why a 3 instead of a 4.

Book 2 The Edens

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Axe-identally Married by Daphne Elliot

4 Stars

I used to be a good girl.

That is until I woke up in Vegas married to a former hockey player who also happens to be my best friend’s ex.

Cole Hebert and I are opposites. I’m the new town doctor, a rule follower, and five-five on a good day. He’s the six-seven bad boy currently doing court-ordered community service.

I’m struggling to earn the respect of the people in our hometown, and he’s doing some soul searching after an injury ended his hockey career. We’ve already drunkenly said I do, so we agree to a marriage of convenience.

Forced to live together, we slowly become friends. I see a side of Cole I never knew existed. He coaches kids’ hockey, knits for the entire town, and loves snuggling while watching Jeopardy.

Soon, we’re growing closer, and the way the hockey-playing lumberjack worships my plus-size body and obsessively calls me his wifey has me embracing my inner bad girl and tearing down all my carefully constructed walls.

Our feelings eventually burn as bright as our passion, but the small town we both love is harboring dark secrets. After a shocking discovery, we learn there are those who want us silenced forever, and we’re forced to risk it all to protect our happily ever after.

Cole’s brother was a dick through and through. His HEA was a previous book and I am so not interested in reading it after reading this one.  I loved Cole and Willa. They balanced each other, supported and lifted each other up. Very much couple goals. I loved seeing them fall for each other and defend each other.

Book 3 Maine Lumberjacks

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These Summer Storms By Sarah MacLean

3 Stars

Alice Storm hasn't been welcome at her family's magnificent private island off the Rhode Island coast in five years--not since she was cast out and built her life beyond the Storm name, influence, and untold billions. But the shocking death of her larger-than-life father changes everything.

Alice plans to keep her head down, pay her final respects (such as they are), and leave the minute the funeral is over. Unfortunately, her father had other plans. The eccentric, manipulative patriarch left his family a final challenge—an inheritance game designed to upend their world. The rules are clear: spend one week on the island, complete their assigned tasks, and receive the inheritance.

But a whole week on Storm Island is no easy task for Alice. Every corner of the sprawling old house is bursting with chaos: Her older sister's secret love affair. Her brother's unyielding arrogance. Her younger sister's constant analysis of the vibes. Her mother's cold judgment. And all under the stern, watchful gaze of Jack Dean, her father's intriguing and too-handsome second-in-command. It will be a miracle if Alice manages to escape unscathed.

I love this author’s historical romances and came in expecting to love her modern romance. It was just ok. There were pacing issues in the story. Sometimes it moved quickly and then other times it was super slow. I also wanted more character development to better understand the dynamics of the family. It was an interesting concept and you feel bad for Alice. Once you find out why Jack is there you will want to kick him in the balls for his part. Overall, It was an ok read.

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Contractual Obligations by Elle Rivers

4 Stars

When Lily is offered a ticket out of the career and life she hates, she takes it. Even if it means signing a contract to marry the attractive but aloof Sebastian Miller for five years.

Her job is simple: play the happy house wife in person and on social media and she will get awarded a million dollars of her inheritance. That money is more than enough for her to start a life on her own and away from her controlling parents. It should be easy.

But four years in, she’s more than ready to be done with this marriage. She’s pretty sure her husband hates her, and she longs for the freedom the end of their contract will bring—a freedom that is threatened when she’s called to meet Sebastian’s father, the orchestrator of this whole sham. She worries he will try to extend their contractual marriage.

What he does is worse.

Forced to move across the country due to a promotion for Sebastian is her worst nightmare, but her only choice is to pretend to be fine.

She prepares for the last year of their marriage to be more cold indifference, but being stuck in a new city shows a sweeter side of Sebastian that Lily never thought possible. Gone is the indifferent man she knows and in his place is the kind and patient man of her dreams.

But their clock is ticking—only one year of their marriage remains. Will they find love or will contractual obligations get in the way?

I loved this book so much. Sebastian was an idiot and almost lost his HEA. I loved how Lily buried herself to give this perfect couple for him and it’s not even what he wants. All the missed communication was hilarious.

Book 1 Aisle and Error

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Twisted Play By Poppy Jacobson

4 Stars

Cruel. Merciless. Wicked. If they find out the truth, I’ll lose everything—including my father’s life.

Surgery saved me, but left my family drowning in debt. The man we owe has one demand–destroy the hockey team from within.

Three obsessive, controlling men catch me spying and promise retribution for my sins. Cole is as cold as the ice beneath his skates, and he likes to hurt me. Tristan’s sweetness hides a terrifying possessiveness. And broody, frightening Coach Aleksandr? He hates me with a passion I don’t understand—but his hands tell a different story.

Their brutal touches and degrading commands break down my walls until I can’t tell where I end and they begin. With every cruel game, I fall deeper, tangled in a web of lies I can’t escape.

When you're in as deep as I am, walking away isn't an option. Surviving might not be, either.

OMG the cliffhanger ending killed me on this book. Here’s hoping she releases the next one early. I loved this very dark and twisted story. Eva is in a no win situation. She either loses her dad (which I am fine with) or she loses everything else. Since she wasn’t ok with losing her dad she gives up her freedom to get insider information on the college hockey team for the mafia. She doesn’t want to do it but doesn’t have a choice. Coach Aleksander blackmails with sexual favors to get her position on the team. She hooks up with Cole and figures it’s a one off until he catches her in a compromising position and blackmails her because he doesn’t want to walk away from her. Then sweet Tristan ends up roped in on the blackmail. The ending where the entire hockey team take issue with Tristan and Cole hurting Eva was amazing. I loved this book a lot and can’t wait for the next one.

Book 1 Cruel Games

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Alpha King’s Secret Baby by KA Iris

3 Stars

I thought fated mates were forever. Then the alpha king rejected me—

and left me pregnant with his secret baby.

When I met Alpha Trick at the Omega ball, I thought I had finally found my mate. But that same night, he ended up rejecting me.

It was all it took to rip my world apart. I ran away, hiding my heartbreak—and the secret baby in my belly.

Months later, he’s found me, He says he’s sorry.He says he’s been searching for me for years. He says he wants us to be a family.

But I’m not the broken omega who ran from him. If Trick wants me back, he’ll have to prove it. Because this time, I’m not just fighting for myself. I’m fighting for my unborn baby— and I'll protect her at all costs..

Trick was an idiot from beginning to end. She forgave him way too quickly. He kept so many secrets and instead of apologizing he doubled down. She was too good for his pack and him.

Book 13 Forbidden Alpha Kings

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