Hollow Oak Mates Series by Kala Aster, Milly Taiden

She crash-landed in a cursed town with wild magic in her veins and a warlock’s claim on her soul.Cora Thorne wasn’t looking for a fresh start —but the Veil took her anyway. Now she’s stuck in Hollow Oak, where the trees whisper secrets, the muffins glow at dawn, and the town’s lion-shifter ranger growls like she’s already his.Callum Cross protects this place with claws and silence. He doesn’t trust Cora’s fae blood, her too-bright magic, or the way she hums under her breath like she belongs... moreShe crash-landed in a cursed town with wild magic in her veins and a warlock’s claim on her soul.Cora Thorne wasn’t looking for a fresh start —but the Veil took her anyway. Now she’s stuck in Hollow Oak, where the trees whisper secrets, the muffins glow at dawn, and the town’s lion-shifter ranger growls like she’s already his.Callum Cross protects this place with claws and silence. He doesn’t trust Cora’s fae blood, her too-bright magic, or the way she hums under her breath like she belongs.But the relic buried beneath the forest is waking. Her curse is tied to it. And the only thing more dangerous than what’s coming… is what’s sparking between them.Read on for sentient brooms, soul-deep bonds, snarly kisses, ancient curses, and a grumpy shifter who’d burn the forest down before he lets her go. HEA Guaranteed! less

Katniss Greaves came to Hollow Oak chasing a missing girl — and walked straight into the arms of something ancient, angry, and breathtakingly alive.The town wasn’t on any map. The mist watched her. And the man across the street? He didn’t smile. He growled.Emmett Hollowell doesn’t like strangers. Doesn’t like questions. Doesn’t like the way the seer with the sharp tongue and haunted eyes makes his wolf pace like it remembers her.He tells her to stay out of the woods. She doesn’t listen... moreKatniss Greaves came to Hollow Oak chasing a missing girl — and walked straight into the arms of something ancient, angry, and breathtakingly alive.The town wasn’t on any map. The mist watched her. And the man across the street? He didn’t smile. He growled.Emmett Hollowell doesn’t like strangers. Doesn’t like questions. Doesn’t like the way the seer with the sharp tongue and haunted eyes makes his wolf pace like it remembers her.He tells her to stay out of the woods. She doesn’t listen. Now the Veil has opened, the past is bleeding through, and the only thing more dangerous than what’s waking beneath Hollow Oak… is what’s waking inside them.Because the girl he was sent to protect is his mate.And the monster who broke him once wants her next.Read on for small-town secrets, shadow curses, mate-marking magic, and a grumpy wolf who falls hard for the woman digging up the past. HEA Guaranteed! less

Moira Marsh just wanted to digitize some dusty records, not get yeeted into a magical town with a possessed book, a bloodline full of secrets, and a grumpy panther shifter claiming she’s his fated mate.Lucien Vale was supposed to be a mild-mannered bookstore owner. He’s also the town’s supernatural enforcer, emotionally repressed cat dad, and apparently the only thing keeping Moira’s runaway magic from cracking the fabric of reality... moreMoira Marsh just wanted to digitize some dusty records, not get yeeted into a magical town with a possessed book, a bloodline full of secrets, and a grumpy panther shifter claiming she’s his fated mate.Lucien Vale was supposed to be a mild-mannered bookstore owner. He’s also the town’s supernatural enforcer, emotionally repressed cat dad, and apparently the only thing keeping Moira’s runaway magic from cracking the fabric of reality.Now the grimoire won’t shut up, ancient evil’s knocking at the veil, and Moira might be the only one who can stop it—if she doesn’t set something on fire first.No pressure. less

Luka Ashe was perfectly content being Hollow Oak’s resident grizzly grouch.He had a quiet workshop, a collection of haunted woodworking commissions, and zero interest in mating, dating, or feeling anything deeper than oak grain. Until a necromancer with too much eyeliner and a snark problem summoned half the spirit world—and his inner bear got very interested in sharing territory.Leenah Carrow talks to ghosts, rolls her eyes at supernatural politics, and doesn’t do “help... moreLuka Ashe was perfectly content being Hollow Oak’s resident grizzly grouch.He had a quiet workshop, a collection of haunted woodworking commissions, and zero interest in mating, dating, or feeling anything deeper than oak grain. Until a necromancer with too much eyeliner and a snark problem summoned half the spirit world—and his inner bear got very interested in sharing territory.Leenah Carrow talks to ghosts, rolls her eyes at supernatural politics, and doesn’t do “help.” But when a spiritual uprising starts brewing, she somehow ends up soul-bonded to the town’s most emotionally constipated shifter.Now the two of them are knee-deep in ancestral curses, magical prenups, aggressive dead people, and one sacred grove that definitely isn’t zoning-code compliant.There’s also kissing. And spiritual warfare. And a bear who keeps carving her name into things.They’re saving the town.Probably.He thinks she’s his fated mate. She thinks he needs therapy and maybe a rabies shot.Read on for grumpy-sunshine tension, sacred mate marks, ghost tour chaos, and a bear shifter who builds furniture like foreplay. HEA Guaranteed! less

Freya Bloom wanted to sell tinctures, avoid commitment, and pretend her grandmother’s roses weren’t weeping black sap.Instead, the town’s magical plants are dying, an ancient dryad is waking up cranky, and Hollow Oak has decided she’s their last line of defense.Enter Kieran tiger shifter, reluctant hero, and aggressively hot in a “built my porch and ruined my boundaries” kind of way. The town council says he’s her magical backup. The universe says he’s her mate. Freya says absolutely not... moreFreya Bloom wanted to sell tinctures, avoid commitment, and pretend her grandmother’s roses weren’t weeping black sap.Instead, the town’s magical plants are dying, an ancient dryad is waking up cranky, and Hollow Oak has decided she’s their last line of defense.Enter Kieran tiger shifter, reluctant hero, and aggressively hot in a “built my porch and ruined my boundaries” kind of way. The town council says he’s her magical backup. The universe says he’s her mate. Freya says absolutely not.But the evil in the woods has other plans — and so do her roses.She’s a legacy witch with control issues. He’s a lone shifter who’s allergic to feelings. Together, they’re Hollow Oak’s least qualified save-the-world plan.Read on for fated mates, botanical disaster, dryad curses, and a cinnamon roll tiger who only growls when you’re naked. HEA Guaranteed! less

Kaia Monroe had two never trust a fae, and never fall asleep near cursed lakes.She broke both by accident.Now she’s stuck in a cozy Appalachian town full of shapeshifters, witches, and suspiciously nice baked goods—and worst of all, she's mated to a grumpy bear shifter who insists on protecting her from her nightmares. Literally. With claws. And maybe feelings.Elias Vane didn’t ask for a mate to fall out of the sky. But the moment he fished her out of Moonmirror Lake, his bear called dibs... moreKaia Monroe had two never trust a fae, and never fall asleep near cursed lakes.She broke both by accident.Now she’s stuck in a cozy Appalachian town full of shapeshifters, witches, and suspiciously nice baked goods—and worst of all, she's mated to a grumpy bear shifter who insists on protecting her from her nightmares. Literally. With claws. And maybe feelings.Elias Vane didn’t ask for a mate to fall out of the sky. But the moment he fished her out of Moonmirror Lake, his bear called dibs. Now he’s rearranging patrols, dodging fae wedding planners, and trying not to scare the woman who smells like forever.Unfortunately, Kaia’s childhood trauma summoned a nightmare warlock from the dream realm… and he wants her back.Permanently.She’ll have to run from the people who care about her—or trust a sleepy mountain town (and one dangerously hot shifter) to fight for the dream of something real.He brought her blankets. And snacks. And eternal soul-bonding.Read on for grumpy x sunshine, bear shifter mating bonds, magical small towns, and a heroine who can literally rewrite your dreams. HEA Guaranteed! less

Her empire died over an avocado. Her comeback began with a wolf.Sera Quinn was once untouchable—sponsored posts, brand deals, millions of followers. Then one meltdown at Target turned her into the internet’s favorite punchline. Now broke and desperate, she stumbled into Hollow Oak, a town whispered about for its mist, its folklore, and its ability to chew up influencers whole.She expected rustic vibes and maybe a story worth filming. What she got was Dr... moreHer empire died over an avocado. Her comeback began with a wolf.Sera Quinn was once untouchable—sponsored posts, brand deals, millions of followers. Then one meltdown at Target turned her into the internet’s favorite punchline. Now broke and desperate, she stumbled into Hollow Oak, a town whispered about for its mist, its folklore, and its ability to chew up influencers whole.She expected rustic vibes and maybe a story worth filming. What she got was Dr. Maddox Thorn — wolf shifter, folklore professor, and the grumpiest man alive, unless you counted the phoenix that hissed every time she opened her mouth.He wanted silence. She wanted redemption. Instead, they got a fated mate bond, a monster with antlers crawling out of legend, and a federal agent insisting Sera was basically a weapon of mass destruction with good hair.She brought a camera. He brought claws.Read on for fated mates, bite marks, folklore gone feral, and a possessive wolf who files his papers but not his teeth. HEA Guaranteed! less

The prophecy said the bloodmoon wolf would destroy everything.Ryker Dusk took that personally.So he built a sanctuary, isolated himself from fate, and absolutely did not pine over the visions of a woman who haunted his dreams.Until she showed up in town with a suitcase, a soulmate vibe, and a magical power that made the Veil start cracking like cheap glass.Now the town’s under attack, the realm between worlds is bleeding shadow demons, and apparently the only way to fix it… is to mate.Perfectly... moreThe prophecy said the bloodmoon wolf would destroy everything.Ryker Dusk took that personally.So he built a sanctuary, isolated himself from fate, and absolutely did not pine over the visions of a woman who haunted his dreams.Until she showed up in town with a suitcase, a soulmate vibe, and a magical power that made the Veil start cracking like cheap glass.Now the town’s under attack, the realm between worlds is bleeding shadow demons, and apparently the only way to fix it… is to mate.Perfectly. Publicly. And without blowing a hole in reality.No pressure.But Sonya Sibyl isn’t afraid of prophecies. She’s afraid of Ryker ghosting again after they save the world.Which is fair. He’s not exactly known for emotional stability. Or, you know, staying.But destiny’s done waiting. And if these two don’t get their bond right on the first try, the Void’s going to turn Hollow Oak into a snack.She saw the future. It included a lakeside wedding and a hot wolf husband.Not cosmic annihilation because her man couldn’t commit.Read on for prophecy-fueled foreplay, true-mate chaos, emotional support dryads, and a bloodmoon wolf who marks like he means it. HEA Guaranteed! less