Overview

One regret. One relentless mate. Fate won’t let him run forever.

Zane Mitchell has spent his life following the rules of his pack—even when it meant turning his back on a friend. As alpha of the Gila National Forest shifters, he bowed to the elders’ demands, banishing a packmate for being gay. Now, that choice haunts him.

When Zane is summoned to a mandatory meeting with the Dux Ducis—the dominant leader of the Southwest packs—his world shatters. Aidan Criswell isn’t just the most powerful alpha he’s ever met. He’s also Zane’s fated mate.

But destiny isn’t always easy. Aidan is shocked to discover his mate is the very man he’s been ordered to investigate—a leader who once cast out one of his own for simply being who he is.

Zane knows he doesn’t deserve a mate like Aidan, and running seems like the only option. But Aidan isn’t one to back down, and he’s ready to claim what fate has given him.

The past can’t be rewritten, but redemption is within reach…if Zane is willing to fight for it.

Note: This expanded edition of Relentless has been revised in first-person, present tense for a richer, more immersive experience.

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5-STAR REVIEWS

"Relentless, the second book in the Southwestern Shifters series, packs a very hard punch, in the best possible way, while delivering a scorching romance... I was enthralled from the beginning and loved reading the book."

"Just as good as the first book. The story continues and you feel like you are still reading the first book as the flow from first to second is flawless. Can't wait for the third book to come out and it will be just as good."

Tropes in Relentless by Bailey Bradford

1. Fated Mates - Zane and Aidan are supernaturally destined to be together, whether they’re ready for it or not.
2. Reluctant Mates - Zane believes Aidan could never want him because of his past, while Aidan struggles to accept the mate fate has chosen for him.
3. Enemies to Lovers - Aidan initially sees Zane as a man unworthy of being his mate due to his past actions, creating intense conflict before desire takes over.
4. Second Chances/Redemption Arc - Zane deeply regrets his past choices, and his relationship with Aidan forces him to confront his mistakes and fight for a better future.
5. Power Imbalance / Dominant Mate - Aidan, as the Dux Ducis, holds far more power than Zane, creating a dynamic where Zane must reconcile his own authority as an alpha with the overwhelming dominance of his mate.
6. Forced Proximity - When Aidan refuses to let Zane run, they’re forced into close quarters, making their attraction impossible to ignore.
7. Hurt/Comfort - Zane carries deep emotional wounds from his past decisions, and Aidan, despite his initial anger, becomes the one who helps him heal.
8. Reclaiming Identity - Zane struggles with guilt and self-doubt but, through Aidan and his mate bond, he begins to reclaim his identity as a leader and as someone worthy of love.
9. Pack Politics & Intrigue - As leaders in the shifter world, both men must navigate power struggles, pack traditions, and external threats while figuring out their bond.
10. Action & Danger - As high-ranking shifters, both Zane and Aidan face external threats, pack politics, and the danger that comes with their world.
11. Protective Mate - Aidan is fiercely protective of Zane, determined to claim and defend him, even when Zane himself doesn’t believe he deserves it.
12. Healing Through Love - Their fated bond isn’t just about attraction—it’s about redemption, forgiveness, and finding a love that makes them both whole.