Belligerent Beta is the second book in the ‘Pack Partners’ werewolf series. The story is told through the eyes of Dan Keller, the Beta of the pack.



Dan Keller expected to be chosen as the Alpha to his pack when the Alpha died. Instead, the previous Alpha’s toddler son choses a human, Lex Tompkins, across the street to become Alpha of the pack. The new Alpha’s adjustment in turning into a werewolf and learning about werewolf life, is covered in the first story, Accidental Alpha, which I’ve read but have yet to review.

Unhappy with not being picked to lead the pack, Dan is anything but helpful towards Lex until Lex gives Dan the job of looking after Nathan Ross the Omega of the pack who has some major insecurity issues plus other troubles following him. In fact, Nathan may not be an Omega after all. If he’s not, then what is he?

There’s a mystery in the story that surrounds Nathan. He thinks he’ll have to leave this pack like he’s had to do with all the others. No pack wants him to hang around. But Dan’s job is to find out what makes Nathan tick and what is after Nathan.

I’m going to reread the first book, but from what I remember of it, I think I like this book better. It didn’t feel as rushed and the two MC’s felt more fleshed out than in the first story.

The one part I had a problem with is the ending, when Dan and Lex urge Nathan to resist the call of the shift. There’s more of an explanation in the first book, but I don’t feel like it was well explained in this book. It wasn’t clear why Nathan had to resist the shift if he was supposed to be okay with shifting. Was it because he wasn’t an Omega and the Alpha and Beta wanted Nathan to show he was strong enough to resist the pull? In that way would it build his self-confidence? I wish this part was better explained because I think it relied too much on the previous story for the explanation.

I would've loved to find out about the 'mystery person' and how he became the way he was, but it was never explained. I want to know what happened to him after. I'm hoping the author will write another story to this series and maybe work this character in it again to explain what's happening since it feels a bit like a lose thread.

It seemed like the theme to this story was about finding your place and belonging. Dan was a loner, he hadn’t accepted his position as the Beta and needed to connect with the rest of the pack. And Nathan, didn’t feel like he belonged anywhere and no one would ever want him. I liked that despite Nathan isolating himself and hovering around on the outside like a wallflower, the others in the pack pulled him in, comforted him and made him feel like a part of the group. It’s similar to people and how they make cliques and how those groups stick to themselves and don’t let others in, while other groups will be inclusive. With Dan interacting with Nathan and standing by him, we find Nathan growing stronger, more confident, and more supportive, reaching out to Dan when Dan needs him. In the end, Dan and Nathan find their HEA.

Belligerent Beta is a short, fast read and I’d read them over again and I don’t often read books over. I give the story 4 Stars.



UPDATE: I finished re-reading Belligerent Beta about a week ago for the second time and I enjoyed it as much as the first time I read it. I do have a few additional comments to make about it though.



I don't remember if I noticed the first time I read this book, but there's a lot of monologue from Dan, about what happened in the previous story. That makes this book easier to read as a stand-alone, but it's a bit excessive in the amount of previous information given about the plot in book one. Also, even if a reader chooses to read just book two, I think they wouldn't get the full emotional impact of what happened from the first story, so I suggest reading book one first.

The author did a good job with character growth for Dan and Nathan in a short story. Nathan pulled out Dan's protective side and Dan listened and observed the pack members instead of expecting obedience, thereby growing closer with all of them and settling into his Beta status.

I noticed one scene that's a dropped subplot that really should have been discussed among the pack members. I'll put it behind a cut for those who don't want to read it. Towards the end of the book, the rogue shifter follows Nathan to Dan's house. There, Dan confronts the rogue and makes a comment about the rogue at least once biting a human woman to create his own pack. Nathan's mother was bitten by a werewolf while she was pregnant with Nathan. She died because she didn't take to the bite. So Dan knows/guesses that the rogue was Nathan's father. Nathan is standing next to Dan and doesn't react to the comment at all. At no time does he later ask Dan about the comment and Dan never brings it up to Lex, his Alpha, that he suspects/guesses that the rogue was Nathan's father. To me that's a very important point to clear up or at least have a fifteen minutes discussion about. In any case, I find it sloppy writing when a topic that is brought up in a story is dropped into a blackhole never to be spoken of again as if it never existed.

Anyway, I still stand by my previous rating and review and hope the author writes another book in this series although it looks like she may be finished with it. I'd like to learn what happens to Ruby, Dan's human friend, Mia and some of the other pack members.

( )

Please Poppy! You are continuing this series, right?

Both of these books were wonderful to read and have jumped to the top of my ‘best ever’ list with Beta as 1st and Alpha as 2nd.

I thought I was about to read my standard paranormal MM romance but these just touched me so deeply and were so needed right now.

Thank you Poppy. Just so you know, I’m holding my breath and crossing my fingers wishing for more. Please ( )