Title:  Guarded By The Alpha
Series:  Shifters, Inc.  #1
Author:  Holly Eastman
Published:  October 24, 2016
My Rating:  4 stars
Source:  Kindle Unlimited
Cover Description:

Puma shifter, Del Santoni, has lived her entire life as the heir to a decades’ old feud with the Armsford family—a struggle that ended in the death of her own father years ago. Since then, both sides have done nothing but fight and grapple for social power—and Del’s sick of it. She’s willing to do anything to end the war—even if it means dethroning her own family.

Del begins a secret mission to recover the Maker’s Mark. If legend is true, its symbols will reveal the name of the one true ruling family. When the statue is found and someone threatens Del’s life in order to steal it, Del is forced to accept the help and protection of her greatest enemy. He is the most stubborn, infuriating werewolf she’s ever laid eyes on. He also happens to be her fated mate. Throw in a sassy human car thief who won’t leave her alone, a marriage hoax, and tattooed coyote shifters trying to kill her at every rest stop…if she survives the week, it’ll be a miracle.

Wolf shifter Zak Armsford has never been accused of being a good guy – but being good doesn’t get the job done. Mislabeled and misunderstood, he left Fort Jericho years ago and joined the military to put his bad rep to good use. Now that he’s a free man, he’s not exactly white collar material. So when his friend from Shifters, Inc calls with a protection detail, Zak is just hungry enough for some action to say yes.

Turns out his assignment offers plenty of action. Zak discovers he’s been hired to protect the Princess of Fort Jericho herself. Del Santoni—his greatest enemy and his childhood crush all in one. Zak can’t walk away a second time. To keep Del alive and the statue safe, he’ll ruthlessly use his supernatural strength, his connections, and Del’s own secrets against her.

On the run, Del struggles with the truth. Is Zak her Fated Mate – or her mortal enemy? Because it’s not just Del’s heart that’s at risk – it’s her life.

Sexy shifters and their feisty mates who aren’t shy about loving each other – so, this is an adult, 18+ reader tale.

Titles in this series include:  Guarded By The Alpha

Family.  most of the time you’ll love ’em.  But sometimes family can be the biggest pain in the butt, especially when there’s a Family Feud going on and you and your Fated Mate are smack in the middle of history, melodramatics and danger.

The Cover Description gives you a really good outline of the basics of Del and Zak’s story.

Del is one stubborn, mule-headed and yes, a bit arrogant woman who is going to end this stupid family feud once and for all.  But she’s going to do it her way, without any help.  She’s keeping information about an artifact that can prove who the ruling family should be for Fort Jericho and she’s sharing that information with only a few.  And one of those few is definitely not Zak.  When the reality of the danger this artifact will bring to her finally hits home, Del is forced into an alliance with the one man she’d never wanted to care about… her Fated Mate, Zak.  But that was beside the point, he left town and she doesn’t need the arrogant idiot anyway.  Or so she tells herself.

Zak never expected to set foot in For Jericho again, let along be heading out to rescue the one woman he never stopped loving, even if she was the Princess of the ruling family of their town, his Fated Mate and wanted nothing to do with him either.  At least he told himself that.  After leaving the special ops and the military far behind, Zak is working for Shifter, Inc.  And, bless his damned soul – his assignment is protecting the woman he’d give his life for… and never stopped loving.  Del.

Guarded By The Alpha is intense, definitely sizzling with off the charts sexiness between Del and Zak… and a bit of mystery that I sorta figured out, but still was surprised by the reveal and additional information.  While I like heroines who are strong and sassy, Del had a long fall ahead of her when she finally understood just how badly she’d wronged Zak.  Zak is most certainly arrogant but he also had some attitude adjustments to make as well.  Through attacks, danger and family these Fated Mates will find their way to each other in a most satisfactory conclusion.  Two very strong characters who deserve each other.  *grin*  I enjoyed this one and would definitely recommend it.  Now the wait for the next story in this series.

I read this story through my Kindle Unlimited subscription. For ten dollars a month you get access to thousands of really great stories across all genre, and the authors get paid for you reading the story through to the 100% mark. It’s a win-win. Probably the best 10 bucks I spend a month.

Available for the Kindle