A powerful Alpha wolf shifter and a strong-willed human overcome traditions ingrained over generations and uncover long-buried secrets to fulfill their destiny as true mates.
Regarded as the strongest wolf shifter in generations, Alpha Zev Hassick is surprised and confused by his attraction to his best friend. His very human, very male best friend. A male shifter has to mate with a female shifter to keep his humanity, so shifters can't be gay. Yet, everything inside Zev tells him Jonah is his true mate.
Maintaining a relationship with the man he has loved since childhood isn’t easy for Jonah Marvel, but he won’t let distance or Zev’s odd family get in their way. When unexplained ailments begin to plague Jonah, he needs to save his own life and sanity in order to have a future with Zev.
Zev and Jonah know they're destined for each other, but they must overcome traditions ingrained over generations and long-buried secrets to fulfill their destiny.
“I don’t disagree with you, Mother. Clarissa is a very beautiful woman. But I’m not going to date her.”
Zev didn’t bother trying to hide the frustration in his voice. Honestly, how many times would he have to tell his family that he wasn’t interested in their setups? Exhaustion beating at him, he leaned against the back of the leather couch and rubbed his palms over his eyes. Sleep rarely came to him, and when it did, he remained partially alert, terrified of losing his humanity while he was unconscious. He was barely hanging on as it was; this intervention was the last thing he needed.
Grandma Mae’s voice broke into his thoughts. Her frustration with Zev had reached such a high level that she willingly questioned him, her Alpha, a practice unheard of in her generation. Then again, maybe it wasn’t just her frustration; maybe Zev’s attempts to…
Some of the basic plot of true mates was tried and true but the author put such a unique spin on different aspects that he/she made this story really stand out. If you enjoy shifter stories and/or stories about people fated to be together I highly recommend this book.
The fact that we get to see them grow up together; it was just precious and enthralling and like an inner tube ride down a long and winding river on a warm day with a great breeze. You just know this is a once in a lifetime journey you are never going to forget. ... Some authors I just connect with immediately and this is one of those authors. Wake Me Up Inside is about the "who" not the what or the why or the how. A wonderful story that should be savored like the best chocolate. There is no better place to lose yourself for a few hours than in this author's fine words!
Wow this is such a great and unique shifter story that gives you a swoon worthy romance with amazing characters. ....This story was the perfect blend of childhood best friends turned adult lovers. It was a perfectly sweet romance that had a twist of mystery and suspense. ...Cardeno C. has written a story that keeps you interested till the very end. By mixing shifter elements, prejudice, love, friendships and secrets together, we have a story that is part sweet with elements of mystery and danger. ...I will highly recommend this to lovers of shifters, and enduring love. You'll get mysterious happenings, a touch of danger and a very satisfying happy ending.
I like reading a story of any genre that reaches outside the box of what is normal, and this story is a breath of fresh air to the usual paranormal/shifter reader. ... As well as being a sweet, creative love story, Cardeno C. brings a little humor and mystery to this story. I highly recommend it and look forward to reading the next book in the Mates series in the future.