This second book of the luna werewolf series sets out to "debunk" another myth in shifterland and change the rules for this world. Where the first book focuses on an alpha wolf shifter who learns to love someone else's child that his mate already carries when they meet, this volume focuses on the "alpha always dominates the omega" idea and has the omega take control, at least initially.

Taylor is a wolf shifter with issues stemming not only from his past and the way his parents behaved toward him and each other, but he also carries a deep, dark secret that makes him think nobody can possibly accept and love him. When he finds out that Josh, an alpha, is his mate, he knows there'll be trouble. He insists he needs to be in control at all times, and is stunned when Josh accepts that. But all isn’t well even though they go through the mechanics of becoming mates. Different from an "automatic bond" that happens so often in stories like this, these guys struggle. The emotions are severely lacking, all they have is lust. And the expected energy transfer between mates just cannot reach full strength.

Josh is as shocked by this as Taylor. Josh may be an alpha, but he is willing to do almost anything to be with the mate he finally found, and bottoming isn’t a real issue for him. What turns out to be the problem between them is the emotional distance Taylor wants to keep at all cost. Add to that Josh's own fears about Taylor hating him when he finds out Josh's dark secret, and the barriers between them seem insurmountable. In fact, they are serious enough to stop the bonding between them fully taking place, and I loved that. I think this idea about the lack of an emotional connection slowing down or hindering the effects of the bonding is pretty fascinating. Josh and Taylor, of course, are mystified and it takes them a while to figure it all out. Much sex is had in the process, so they didn’t suffer too much.

The male pregnancy idea is back as well, and while Westley does not yet give birth in this book, the discussion of what will happen when he does is ongoing. And when Taylor insists on using condoms for birth control when he bottoms, I have to admit I smiled. If you like shifter stories with a difference (taking them even "farther out there" than traditional paranormals), if you enjoy reading about mates who know they are mates but are lacking the immediate connection and have to work for it, and if you're looking for a read with lots, and lots, and lots of hot shifter-on-shifter action, then you will probably like this novella.

( )

This was a nice follow-up to the first book in the series. The pack is coming together and will be a force to be reckoned with before long. Looking forward to continuing the series and seeing what is in store for the growing luna pack. ( )