Hunting Ground (Alpha and Omega, #2)

by Patricia Briggs

[EBookObsessed]

As exciting as the whole werewolf politic issue is, what I love best is watching Anna and Charles trying to build their relationship. It has only been a few weeks since Charles has returned from Chicago with Anna, but he is starting to break down some of her barriers and they are strengthening their bond. They are such opposites but they are definitely mean to be together.
It is time for the werewolves to come out to the world but not everyone shares Bran’s feelings on the matter. The European werewolves are not convinced that it is necessary so Bran has scheduled a conference. Charles is determined that Bran not attend this meeting. He has a feeling that something bad will happen if Bran is there when the tension is so high between the Marrock and the powerful European Alphas. Bran always listened to Charles’s mother’s feelings about things and he never regretted that decision. So Bran sends Charles and Anna to make nice with the European wolves, and to let them know in no uncertain terms that Bran will be bringing the werewolves out to the world and that the conference is not a vote, just a courtesy for them to air their grievances.

Charles and Anna face an uphill battle not only convincing the European alphas that this course is for the best, but also on a personal battlefield as well. Anna is having problems being surrounded by so many angry alphas and the alphas are even more agitated by the fact that there is an omega in distress and they can’t figure out why. When Charles sends Anna off sightseeing and shopping for everyone’s peace of mind, Anna is attacked by vampires who seem to have more planned than just a feeding. They are hunting like a pack of wolves and their plan is to kidnap Anna. This little omega wolf isn’t going to go quietly. Anna has been working on self-defense with Charles and she fights back like a werewolf possessed.

As if the trouble with the alphas isn’t enough, Charles and Anna now need to figure out who was behind the kidnapping attempt and why someone wants Anna so badly.

THOUGHTS:
I love seeing the growing relationship between Charles and Anna. Although it is still new for both of them, you can see they are growing closer and starting to work together as a team.

I try not to read other reviews before I have written my own, but I did catch someone’s complaint that someone was trying to kidnap Anna once again. To me it made a lot of sense and I didn’t see it as we do in some series that Anna is soooo irresistible that everyone has to have her. I think it has more to do with the fact that she is an Omega and the nature of an Omega’s is to calm the inner wolf. Anna was changed by her original alpha to calm his mate who was going crazy. Many of the more powerful werewolves are very, very old and with age comes a bit of insanity. It makes perfect sense that these very old, powerful and slightly crazed wolves would want to kidnap Anna and keep her calming presence for themselves. Omegas are very rare and to have one in a pack makes it special. So no, it would not surprise me to see werewolves trying to grab Anna in each and every story. She is a rare treasure that many would be willing to go against Charles to get her.

Anna might be a bit afraid of her own shadow, but she is growing more powerful in her confidence and if you try to hurt her Charles, she will bring down the wrath of God on your head. I loved seeing her fight for him with such passion.

We also had a visit from the werewolf and his blind witch who we met in one of the short stories in Shifting Shadows.