With Hearts of Flame (Deluxe Limited Edition): A Dark Academia Romantasy Novel of Vampires and Dragons Featuring Stenciled Edges and Illustrated Endpapers (Bloodwing Academy, 4)
Briar Boleyn
The Tyrant Alpha's Rejected Mate: The Five Packs, Book 1
by Cate C. Wells
About this book
In a pack governed by archaic rules and brutal hierarchies, Una Hayes has learned to survive by staying invisible. As a woman with a bum leg who has never shifted, she is considered damaged goods by her peers. Instead of pining for a mate, she focuses on building her clandestine farmer’s market empire alongside her found family. Life is predictable until her wolf finally awakens, forcing a public claim on Killian Kelly, the pack’s ruthless alpha. His cold, callous rejection in front of the entire pack should be the end of her story, but for Una, it is merely a catalyst for transformation.
Killian is a man defined by his iron-fisted control and a refusal to acknowledge anything that threatens his authority. Convinced that his wolf’s obsession with Una is a mistake, he attempts to bully her into submission. However, he soon discovers that Una is far more stubborn than he is. As he finds himself uncontrollably drawn back to the woman he discarded, the line between tyrant and lover begins to blur.
This dark shifter romance masterfully blends high-stakes pack dynamics with a slow-burn emotional journey. It is a gripping tale of resilience, challenging the typical tropes of the genre with complex characters and a gritty, atmospheric world. If you are looking for a paranormal romance that balances intense angst with a satisfying, hard-earned resolution, this is the perfect addition to your reading list.
- Publication Date
- May 25, 2026
- ASIN
- B0B7SKL8J1
Reader Reviews
March 6, 2022
I'd rate this 4.5 stars but enjoyed it enough to round it up to a five. I'll admit, this book took me by surprise and I didn't think I'd enjoy it nearly as much as I did. Why? 1. This author is new to me - not saying that's an automatic disappointment, just that I didn't know what style/vibe I'd be getting, especially when I'd seen a couple of other readers get almost gushy over her books (in my experience, this normally ends really well for me or it's a car crash lol). 2. Rejected mates isn't...
December 15, 2024
I enjoyed this book more than I expected to. It isn't your usual werewolf romance, in that the world-building is extremely dark and emotionally complex. The pack has a harrowing past of rampant sexual assault and abuse, a history that casts a long shadow over every character and interaction. This trauma is not treated lightly, and it is clear that the story takes place during a pivotal time of healing and change. The pack is only in the beginning stages of addressing these atrocities, and while...
May 5, 2026
This gave “Facebook rejected alpha reel you can’t stop watching” energy 😂 The premise? So good. Una? Loved her. Strong, scarred, easy to root for. Killian? Didn’t do it for me at all 🫠 The audiobook kinda killed the vibe… the narrator was super monotone and it took away from moments that should’ve hit harder. I wasn’t rushing to finish it, but I also didn’t hate it. It’s one of those “this could get really good” series starters 👀 And I will be continuing because I need to know more about the...
May 5, 2026
](https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_rvw_avp?ie=UTF8&nodeId=G8UYX7LALQC8V9KA) This gave “Facebook rejected alpha reel you can’t stop watching” energy 😂 The premise? So good. Una? Loved her. Strong, scarred, easy to root for. Killian? Didn’t do it for me at all 🫠 The audiobook kinda killed the vibe… the narrator was super monotone and it took away from moments that should’ve hit harder. I wasn’t rushing to finish it, but I also didn’t hate it. It’s one of those...
March 17, 2024
Normally when I read these heterosexual shifter romances, there's a ton of angst, back and forth, girl too stupid for her own good but still somehow tough. But then leaning on the man and expecting him to do everything. That's not what this book has, there's a little bit of angst, there's some character growth, and honestly the plot moved very well, it was well worded and well written. The characters really grew on me. And they grew together, I really liked this book, and the sided characters...
