Wolf Protector (Moon Kissed #3) by Harper A. Brooks

 Edmund is alive and Carmen is by his side, his lover. But that isn’t the hardest part to swallow for Tasha, it is the look of triumph and hatred in her younger sister’s eyes as she faces her. Everything she had done, was to help in her search for Carmen, to bring her home. It was almost incomprehensible to Tasha that Carmen had been with Edmund the whole time.

Tasha and Reid are caged in separate cells, in the dungeon. How did this happen? Reid had promised her he would protect her. Where was the strong Alpha, she had come to love? It’s as if he has accepted defeat without a fight. Fury and pain washed over Tasha, as she looked at Reid. They were the companion’s trying to block out the love she had for him.  At this moment she hated him. She had trusted him and again he had failed her.

Reid watched as his father parades Carmen, pawing her, in front the cells, easily demonstrating his total dominance over the young witch. He sees the pain in Tasha’s eyes, as she watches the disgusting display. All he wants to so is reach out to touch her, to take away her pain. His pain almost overwhelms him as he faces his father. Once again, he is the small child cowering as his father stands over him, with his threats, beatings and punishments. His father is once again in control, the pack following his orders, their jailers his father’s henchmen. Even Mae and her coven of witches are at Edmund’s beck and call.

Even if Tasha and he could somehow free themselves, where would they go? How could they defeat so many against them. Finally left alone, to starve in the cold cells, Tasha’s mind returns to the change in her younger sister. Carmen had been the stronger of the two witches, but she had never been cruel, so filled with hatred. What had Edmund done to her? She didn’t have to wait too long. Carmen came down to share the horrors she had faced, as she accused Tasha of abandoning her. She had a proposition for Tasha, kill Reid and she could go free. Tasha took the knife from Carmen, as she was released her from the cell. Tasha watched Reid’s face as she approached his cell.

 The look on his face told her of his love and his acceptance that by his death, Tasha would be free.

In the end there is a battle coming. Not everyone will come away unscathed, for there has been treachery a foot, as well as fear, that will hold some back.  Can Reid and Tasha together break the chain of horror Edmund has wrought?  Though Tasha loves Reid, she has had a hard time accepting him as her mate, will they finally come together as one or will all that fight against them separate them?

 

With this final tale that began with “The Wolf Hunter,” we will get answers we won't always want to hear, there is heartbreak, betrayal, abuse for those who couldn't defend themselves and a fight to end the reign of tyranny. Shifters, witches, heroes with flaws, evil incarnate, Tasha and Reid will face this and more in their fight to offer a better life for the pack.

The journey that Tasha and Reid have traveled had me following closely on their heels, sharing their ups and downs, sitting on the edge of my chair in fear that one of them wouldn’t make it to the end. The ending was so full of suspense, I had to sit on my hands so I wouldn’t rush to the end of the book to see what happened.