Running with the Pack 1. Running With The Pack

Ethan is a "normal" boy if you discount his being thrown out by his parents at the age of 15 and surviving on his own on the streets of the city.  As he reaches his 18th birthday he decides to get away and hike in the mountains.  With little or no money he survives quiet well in the wilderness and enjoys some free time reading the few fantasy books he treasures about his favourite animals, dragons and wolves.  Aiden is a young man on a campout for young wolf shifters who show leadership.  Michael the alpha's son and arch-rival of Aiden is also on the campout. 

Ethan feels like he is being followed for a few days, but doesn't see any one until a very large and beautiful black wolf appears and frightens him.  The wolf keeps coming back and eventually the two become companions.  Unfortunately, some of the other wolves find out and decide to attack Ethan.  His friend defends him, but Ethan is hurt.  When Ethan awakens, he finds himself with a giant bear of a doctor who tells him he will be OK.   In a few days Ethan again returns to hiking the forests and mountains, but misses his big black wolf.  He does remember that in his injured fog after the attack that his friend seemed to become a human and talk to him.  Thus this adventure begins.

This is a wonderful tale of love, loyalty, family and amazing adventures.  The plot is compelling and fluid, but filled with complexity and interesting details.  It covers many different ideas and problems that the author takes time to flesh out, but leaves for readers to discuss in the comments.  Fast paced chapters of action and anxiety are often preceded or followed by magnificent chapters of love and healing.  Descriptions of many places are soaringly beautiful, or hideous. Characterisations are also complex in diversity and depth whether villain or hero. If you are an adrenaline junky this novel is probably not your style.  If you enjoy thinking, imagining and exploring then this is one of the great books on GA.  

WolfM is a talented writer and is one of my favourite writers on GA. Carlos Hazday has edited and is the beta for this story.  There is no better recommendation than know that!

I’ve read this story in it’s entirety multiple times now. It’s one of my favorites. I know what is going to happen in each chapter but still read every word! Very good plot and world building. 

This story had me blowing through chapters! I went through this story so fast, my husband had to start it after the third, "OH, COME ON!!" The author perfectly keeps the reader in his clutches as he ends each chapter. 

This story perfectly blends romance, drama, and action, and is in a class of it's own. The characters are relatable, but will surprise you with every step of the journey. I'm unsure if this book intends to be published, or is published at the time of this review, but I am ready to throw money at a copy for my bookshelf! 

I don’t write too many reviews of books but after reading the 2 star review here (which I stopped reading after a couple paragraphs when it became obvious to me that the reviewer has a personal grievance with the author and that he had “skimmed” through chapters) that I decided to add my two cents having actually read every chapter.

I read the initial version way back when this book was completed (I prefer binging on completed books!) and thought that it was pretty good. It certainly wasn't polished and it didn't bridge all to well but it had potential nonetheless. It certainly gave me insights on the author's thought process putting this elaborate world together. Something I truly appreciate and have come to love even more now that he has gone back and made significant changes to the flow without losing the core essence of the story line. This is one of the few books I use as a goto when I need to unwind and unplug.

Having read another reviewer's lengthy review 😒, I felt compelled to leave my own. Firstly, I love the main protagonist. He is the reason I followed the series. I like that the author drops just enough information about each character for the reader to imagine for themselves what those characters would look, sound and feel like. The same goes for the world building. The cliffhangers to me were well placed. Most of all, I like that the story line was generally dramatic yet most characters weren't overly dramatized.

The mix of realism and fantasy to me is what makes this book stand out. I don't binge read fantasy to get a dose of realism.. I have reality for that! So in other words, the balance struck by the author worked for me! I like that intuition was the goto for the main protagonist as his powers developed (I don't need another X-men teen struggling to figure out how to control their powers and dealing with their psychological issues).

Having said that, I would have preferred the Alpha's friend and mentor (James if memory serves me right) playing an important role in helping the main protagonist learn more about his abilities especially in the initial stages of becoming an Elemental. I also have to agree that the 'Lycan' word is loosely used in this book. Lycan refers to canines, more specifically, wolves. So the Lycan Council rightfully governs only wolves.. this technicality can easily be rectified but calling them the Shifter Council also loses it's ring if you know what I mean 😛!

As for the author, my hats off to your story telling ability! I'm impressed you squeezed so much into 50 chapters on book 1. Book 1 alone could be split to 3~4 books with sufficient back stories and slow character development but in the process you might lose the magic and continuity which to me was a route you avoided allowing us to get into the heart of the story telling quicker and wanting more following Book 1! I do hope there is a Book 5 coming soon.. 😏

I just read this story and really liked the development of the characters and their world. The story included many situations that most could relate to things in our real world. I am a sucker for romance stories, but while this has romance it also has much much more. It is action packed, has times of suspense and several surprises that just keep you wanting to read more. I tend to read completed stories so binge reading is on my list. This story, having 50 chapters, definitely lends itself to binging. You will have trouble pausing your reading. I highly recommend this story!!!!

This is a remarkable adventure story by a very talented author, but it is also an excellent treatise on the importance of diversity and inclusiveness.  In addition, it is a testament to the significance of family and community, both those that we are born into and those that we adopt or adopt us over time.  What WolfM has created with the Lycan world is comparable to what J. K. Rowling created with the world of witchcraft and wizardry - a fantasy world brought vividly to life that leaves us wishing for more.

Were-creature stories are not my usual cup of tea. It's personal taste: I'll read almost any SF, but the "were" stories don't grab me in the same way.

This story though grabbed from the start and pulled me in more and more as it went along. Because of the high quality of the written, the fully-developed and interesting characters and their relationships (family, friendships, business, societal, sexual, romantic). And the warm-hearted inclusiveness of the folks in this pack.

Plus mystery and adventure and lots of woo-woo fun. An all-around great read.

This is one hell of an amazing story. Wolfm has woven a breathtakingly magical tale in fantasy, intrigue, magic, and most importantly, love. The colorful cast of characters and the situations they find themselves in will have you biting your nails with in the edge of your seat mystery, crying your eyes or from both joy and sadness, laughing your ass off, and if you're male, rearranging your endowment.

Thank you, @WolfMfor creating such an amazing world to get lost in as you explore the terrain. 

Thank you so much for writing this story.  I’m a prolific reader.  Have been since I was about 12yo.  OK, about 40yrs.  This is the best story I’ve ever read.  I can’t strongly recommend enough that you should publish this story on Apple Books.

I've really enjoyed reading is story.

So much happened in the 50 chapters🙂

I'm really looking forward to reading the next story on the series.

Action packed, full of love and romance too.

I found this to be a great Story of Ethan and Aiden, and their wonderful love is a thing of beauty to enjoy. And I have come to enjoy it. I am sure if you read it, you will love it as much as I have! Try it and see if I am right! 

I've read this story several times and enjoy it each time I do. It's the first one I read on the sight after someone mentioned @WolfMto me. Fun, fantasy, finding yourself and how you fit in the world, drama, action and some suspense. This story has it all.

I really enjoyed this, the dynamics of their relationships, the action and drama, the way scenes are written. It left me both satisfied yet wanting more. Thank you for the incredible journey 

Fantastic story and well written. Thank you. 

I believe it's totally appropriate for the first review I've ever written on the site to be about "Running with the Pack".

You'll be binging this after just one chapter. I suggest you start at a time in your life where sleepless nights are appropriate. Aiden and Ethan are the best. If wolves and magic are your thing, THIS is it.

I cried, I laughed, and I loved. I still remember the forests vividly in my mind, and while reading, I did so out loud—it's just that good.

I once was lost, but now am found,

John Newton

Put in magnificent lycan world made by @WolfM, it is the Mother Nature that leaded her lost son Ethan, through loneliness, sadness and wildness to embrace of new family, pack and his mate – where he was found.

It’s been some time that this amazing story has been on my waiting reading list. WolfM’s eyes has been looking at me from the pages of GA, reminding me to find a time for binge read. Not until I read two autobiographical stories from WolfM’s life (‘Alone in the night’ and ‘Memories…’) I’ve been brave enough to take a challenge of 50, rather extensive, chapters. But, once I started a journey with Ethan, Aiden, their friends and family, I’ve neglected everything else for a few days, until the last sentence has been read.

Perceptive reader can see how deeply personal this story is. Author has put all his strength, dreams and hopes in Ethan, boy from the street, despised and abandoned by his biological family. Settled in imaginary lycan world, WolfM shows us how magnificent power can be hidden in small things. How the ones who are put at the margins of the cruel society could be bearers of something magnificent and unexplainable.

This is story of finding family and friends, finding love and support, finding hope. It is also story of loyalty and heroism, principles and ethics. Can be a world of wolf shifters – predators by nature, be a world of tolerance, acceptance and inclusion?

WolfM writes the story of forgiveness. Only those who do not repent for their sins are doomed. There is hope and embrace for everyone who decide to change.

Incredible how the most charming chapters brings the most intimate thoughts of author. We see how the lost abandoned boys from the street don’t dream of luxury. They dream of Christmas tree, Thanksgiving dinner, family barbeque…some ‘ordinary’ things. Even sex, although hot and, sometimes kinky, has some special beauty when it is touched by love between mates and friends.

This amazing story has many levels. At some level it is story of love and family. There is also part of mystery and crime. It is also detective story and very good spy and intelligence thriller. Close to the end, author spread this story on global level, something we could call United Nations of lycan world. Our heroes brings new order to this world, making inclusive society where every race is welcome. Ideal lycan world, maybe utopia for real world, but the highest goal to which we should all strive.

Beautiful, amazing, captivating…no wonder this is one of the highest rated Books at GA. I’ve been laughing, I’ve been crying, I’ve been biting my nails… I enjoyed every part of this incredible journey! Bravo!

Have to say that I have enjoyed this each time that I have read it.  I read it as it was being posted the first time, then did a re-read a month or so after the initial posting; but decided to wait to do this last one until the author finished the re-write.  The time and energy that it took to add almost 40,000 words to a re-write/clean-up must have been staggering, but it was well worth it.  

I can be a very bitchy reader, and did pick up in the initial posting some of the technical issues that the author wanted to go back and fix.  I actually really admire his desire to do so, and purely from a readers point of view appreciate it greatly.  I feel that the story simply flows much better now versus the original posting.  

However the additional written areas that were added to the story helped more than anything.  They smoothed out a few plotting gaps and added much to the overall story.  In places, I could easily tell what was added and in others; I had to read a chapter twice to find hardly anything that was changed, and a few times could not find anything in particular chapters.  

This is a thoroughly enjoyable read that was made even better by the re-write/clean-up done by a truly dedicated author.  Cannot recommend this story enough, simply a delightful take of love and redemption, as well as finding the true power that is within us all.

Great story. You deliver a wonderful look into the lives of your characters, full of suspense to keep the readers on the edge of their seats. Keep up the good work.

I've read this story several times since I came to this site and enjoyed it every time.  Its setting of inclusiveness, awesome characters, and excellent plot make it a worthwhile read (or reread).  Ethan is an excellent protagonist and his actions, feelings, and thoughts drew me in throughout the story.  The antagonists for each "act" of the story feel believable for where you are in the tale.  Getting to go along this journey with Ethan & Aiden, along with several others, made for a great read (one that I'll probably repeat shortly).  Hope to see even more in this universe sometime soon!

This was the second story on this site I read (my 1st review now, i think). The first time i read it, I actually binged read it in 2 sessions  i mean it is 50 chapters after all. It started good and just got better. Second book is just as good, but different in style. No pressure, but I'm hoping for another book/story set in this world. PS: I've read this one 5 times now. (so far) 

I have read this story twice and each time it is a revelation. Don't worry yourself into editing and editing, it is great as it stands. I'm glad that AI saved each chapter along the way, so at least I can say I have an original. While waiting for the next episode I will definitely be reading again.. Don't second guess yourself in what is a great story well written.

Great story. Perfect story from the point of Eithan and Aiden.

Since leaving my review in 2017, this story has gone through a major re-edit.

This really improves the story of Ethan and Alden as it has become a much smoother read.

It comes highly recommended.

Can we please get some more work in this world and with these characters you have so beautifully created? I loved loved loved this story!

Any idea when book 2 is coming?