The one time werewolf Darcy decides to wander away from Pack territory to go to the store with her Alpha mate's sister, Jasmine, without the watchful eye of any members, it just happens to be the day danger comes calling. With her heightened sense of smell this wolf already knows her stalker is lurking in the shadows behind her, waiting, and he's dangerous. With his weapon drawn, what Darcy hadn't figured on was his familiar smell. She knew him but all she wonders is why. Why does he want to kill her and what can she do to stop him?
And so begins the opening scene of Belinda Boring's debut novella, Without Mercy, Book One of Mystic Wolves. This novel may be short in pages but it certainly doesn't skimp on anything else. This urban fantasy yarn spins an enticing web, grabbing the reader from the first tense moment. Darcy gives us an insightful view of a young werewolf still learning when and how to loosen the feral beast inside of her. I enjoyed how her other fur-covered half would interject observations or feelings as the human Darcy's fights to keep the confrontation violence-free. As she watches over her younger, inexperienced friend, we see her inner battle for control and to do what is right, until she has to no choice but to finally give in to the beast inside of her.
Aside from a few typos, Without Mercy was a gripping and emotional story. Tension-filled from beginning to end, we are privy to one she wolf's interactions with a crazed human and the fight she undertakes to keep her humanity intact. Though her scene with her mate, Mason, was short, the strength of their bond was obvious, as was his love for her. I used to believe werewolves were not my favorite kind of supernatural creature, but quite a few adult and YA authors have proven me wrong with their stories. I must now add Belinda Boring to my list of writers convincing me to keep on reading their engrossing wolf tales. Move over vampires, angels and fey, make room for the wolves.