Reviewed by Morgan
Title: Unexpected Demands
Author: Kaje Harper
Series: Hidden Wolves #2
Heroes: Aaron/Zach
Genre: MM Paranormal
Length: 305 Pages
Publisher: MLR Press
Release Date: May 23, 2012
Available at: Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads
Blurb: Becoming Alpha made Aaron responsible for protecting his new pack against outside threats, but fighting his own desires might pose an even bigger challenge.
When Aaron took down a crazy dominant wolf and inherited half a pack, he knew the Alpha job wasn’t going to be easy. A week later, he’s finding out what an understatement that was. Having a gay wolf in his pack brings lethal threats from other werewolves. Then humans locate his wolves and move in to try to capture and exploit one of them. Aaron has enough pressure and demands without letting his long-suppressed sexuality escape his rigid control. But keeping his distance from a young man who appeals to all his senses could be Aaron’s biggest challenge.
Review: This is book two in the series, and I absolutely think it needs to be read in order to be appreciated.
Aaron is the new alpha in the pack that’s formed when Simon and Paul cause a rift by mating. He’s in the closet and has been for years, and he’s determined to stay that way for the sake of the pack.
Zach is young, an alcoholic, a member of Aaron’s pack, is half Aaron’s age and has a history of abuse.
There’s no way these guys have any business being together, but they can’t stop their attraction.
The pack is in no way a settled or a safe place to be right now. Someone is still after Simon and Paul and now there are some humans who want to exploit their knowledge of shifters.
**
Wow. This was so intense. The drama with the pack is huge and absolutely takes over much of this book, but the drama between Zach and Aaron is no less intense and absolutely remains a central part of the story.
On the one hand, we get some beautiful moments between Paul and Simon – finally! – that make them feel a bit more solid and real as a couple.
On the other hand, while it’s clear that Aaron and Zach are a couple, they have to remain in hiding, so they don’t feel nearly as solid as Paul and Simon; and Aaron – in fact – is still resigning himself to eventually losing Zach right up until the end.
For that reason, this story bugged me. I didn’t get the same “fated mate” feel from Aaron and Zach as we get with Simon and Paul and while they are absolutely SCORCHING HOT together and (if you ask Zach especially) “it” for one another, there remains a disconcerting distance between them that I’m hoping changes in the coming books.
While I appreciate the “realness” of having the problems not magically disappear, I really wanted these guys to commit to one another more firmly, if even in secret.
So… for fans of the series, I’m sure you’ll love this as much as I did, but I can’t help but knock it down a bit for the tenterhooks we’re left on at the end.
On to book three and hopefully to a more solid connection between these guys!
Overall Impression: I loved it
*I purchased my own copy of this book for my review.*
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