Patricia Briggs – Alpha and Omega

The prequel novella to the Alpha and Omega series, first published in the anthology On the Prowl, on August 7, 2007.
Genre: urban fantasy
Cover: eye catching
Re-read for the second time. After meeting Patricia Briggs, I really wanted to re-read this short story.



In Cry Wolf, New York Times bestselling author Patricia Briggs started a new urban fantasy series set in the world of Mercy Thompson — but with rules of its own. Now, read "Alpha and Omega," the novella that inspired the new series, and see how it all began...

Anna Latham never knew werewolves existed, until the night she survived a violent attack... and became one herself. After three years at the bottom of the Chicago pack, she's learned to keep her head down and never, ever trust dominant males. But when she discovers wrongdoing in her pack, she has to go above her Alpha's head to ask for help.
Charles Cornick is the son — and enforcer — of the leader of the North American werewolves. Now his father has sent him to Chicago to clean up a problem there. Charles never expected to find Anna, a rare Omega wolf — and he certainly never expected to recognize her as his mate...


Ever since Anna Latham was turned into a werewolf three years ago, her life has been miserable. Abused by every male higher in rank than her, which means all of them, she finally learned never to resist them or look back into their eyes. Forced to give them 40% of her earnings, she barely makes enough money working two full time jobs to support herself. She is malnourished and living in poverty and fear. But when she does see a picture of a missing young man, she cannot stay silent. She has seen that young man in a cage in her alpha’s basement, a case used for unstable wolves. And so she calls Bran, the alpha of all alpha’s and he sends his son Charles Cornick out to investigate the goings on in Chicago.

Anna is not happy with Bran’s order to meet his enforcer at the airport, she doesn’t have a car or money for a taxi, so she will have to go there in wolf form, and will only be able to carry a few clothes and her shoes with her. And how will she recognize him? But that last part is not so difficult, as people can’t get around Charles’ presence. Charles insists on going home with her, to protect her, but also because his Wolf has recognized Anna as his mate. Anna is not a submissive wolf either, as she was told by Leo. Anna is a rare Omega wolf; her very presence will calm people down, and especially alpha werewolves. Of course Anna doesn’t trust Charles at first, he is so very alpha, and her only experiences with alpha wolves are bad. She will not be a plaything ever again.

But before Charles can get to the bottom of everything that is wrong in Chicago’s pack, someone shoots him with a silver bullet. Or was it aimed at Anna? And now he has to confront an alpha while wounded ...


I loved re-reading this short story, prequel to the Alpha and Omega series. I liked it very much, and even though she has been badly used and abused, Anna has not lost her spirit; she won’t give up, and even defends Charles when she thinks he needs it. She is not sure about the mate thing, but is willing to give it a go. After all, Charles has been nice to her, and he has saved her from her pack. So why not go to Montana with him, and finally learn what being a werewolf is all about?

Charles is his father’s enforcer, but it does not mean he likes killing other werewolves. He knows it is necessary and it has to be done by someone. Being on an airplane sure riles his wolf up, and he is very close to the edge. Being around Anna sooths him like nothing ever has before, and his wolf even takes over control of him when he wants to say something to keep Anna at a distance. He won’t be able to hurt her, even with his words.

It is a really nice novella, and gives a good insight in pack dynamics and how wrong it can all get in the name of love. Werewolves do tend to go insane when they get older.

9 stars.

© 2014 Reviews by Aurian