A Bond of Trust

Shifter City Fated Mates #4

by Jaymin Eve

Just when we thought the fight was over, there’s a whole new battle on the horizon.

Our last battle might have ended in victory, as we defeated one of our enemies, but it also opened the door for a much bigger danger. It gave power to a witch who is determined to take control of all shifters before the next full moon.

We are now cursed, and there’s limited time to put a stop to it.

With my pack by my side, I will have to race against the clock to learn about my heritage. Together we must embrace our full quintet power, laced with magic I never asked for. But it could be exactly what we need to survive.

Especially when we go up against the most powerful witch in the world. And her allies.

My five alphas might disagree, but I know that sacrifices might have to be made to save shifters.

Sacrifices that could cost us everything.

*This is the final in a why choose romance with very dominant and possessive male main characters. The female main character will not choose between the love interests.

Genres: Fantasy, Why Choose, Paranormal, Shapeshifters, Paranormal Romance, Omegaverse, Dragons

408 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 23, 2026

About the author

Jaymin Eve is the Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling author of paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and sci-fi novels filled with epic love stories, great adventures, and plenty of laughs. She lives in Australia with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and a couple of crazy pets. To date, she has sold over three million ebooks, and still can't believe that she gets to create fantasy worlds as a job. 

For action, adventure, romance, and a guaranteed HEA, start one of her series today.

Reading order:

Secret Keepers series (Paranormal Romance) House of Darken. House of Imperial. House of Leights. House of Royale.

Storm Princess Saga (PNR/Fantasy)
The Princess Must Die. The Princess Must Strike. The Princess Must Reign.

Curse of the Gods (Reverse Harem Fantasy Romance series) UpperYA/NA
Trickery. Persuasion. Seduction. Strength. Neutral. Pain.

Supernatural Prison (UF/PNR romance -shifter, vampire, fae, magic user) Upper YA/NA
Dragon Marked. Dragon Mystics. Dragon Mated. Broken Compass. Magical Compass.

NYC Mecca Series (UF/PNR Romance - shifters) Upper YA
Queen Heir. Queen Alpha. Queen Fae. Queen Mecca.

Hive Trilogy (UF/PNR Romance - vampires) Upper YA
Ash. Anarchy. Annihilate.

Walker Saga (Fantasy/adventure/romance - gods, mermaids, dragons) YA
First World. Spurn. Crais. Regali. Nephilius. Dronish. Earth.

Stay updated:

http://www.jaymineve.com

https://www.facebook.com/JayminEve.Au...

Reviews

[Ghouliana Darkana · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF 35% in right at chapter 20. PLEASE understand I have eagerly been waiting for this book to come out. I have been snatching up every single book as it comes out since #1. I do recommend books 1-3, but I genuinely believe this series should have ended at #3. This would have been cool if this book had come out only as a cutesy novella of their after the drama life together. This series was funny, sexy, and interesting. By chapter 20 all that has happened so far is sex, summarizing the other books in different ways, and very extremely too cute makes-you-want-to-gag-after-so-many-scenes-per chapter moments. I love all of these characters, the magic, the found family, their kinks (except the blood play in this one. This type is my ick, but unrelated to my DNF I just skimmed that part.) and I did love the plot. However, how can this be the final book in the series and you’re just going to create a whole new drama problem with new magics and conspiracies after THREE whole books dedicated to getting to one bad guy. Then the end of the 3rd book ends with a totally random (MAYBE barely hinted at through other books) bomb that creates a whole new barrel of apples rotten can of worms type of situation that has seemingly had nothing to do with the other books until now?? On top of a new bad guy? Insane. I was willing to get past that, but oh my goddddd stop summarizing everything especially this deep into the book. It has been SO repetitive!!! WE KNOW. If we made it to book freaking 4 you can bet your ass we remember simple details like traumas and backstories. Not to mention the book literally starts with severalllll pages dedicated to summarizing each book??? I loved that this series started with troubled and traumatized individuals. I loved that they went through character growths. I loved that they all seemed to be truly healing, but I started this series because I like stuff to be dark. I really just do not want to read non stop cutesy cringey lovey dovey stuff. Hence why books 1-3 is good for me. I feel like the HEA already happened, and if book 3 had been barely a little longer it could have included the rest of the bonds before finally being done. I love that they are happy, and that they are comfortable together. To me that is the best way to end a series not start a book. I just don’t feel interested in continuing to read this final book right now when it genuinely feels like this could be a totally different series. Maybe I’m just too mentally unwell for so much cutesy love in a book LOL. Maybe I’ll try again another day. For now I’m going to pretend the first few chapters were actually the last chapters of book 3, and this book isn’t a thing. :-)

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

This pains me because I genuinely loved this series… but this book did not need to exist.

It should’ve ended at book three. Spiritually, emotionally, canonically — in my heart.

This wasn’t a slow burn, it was a slow stroll. Nothing happens. And then nothing continues to happen. And then we pause to deeply explain things that absolutely did not require a TED Talk.

By the time the plot finally showed up near the end, I was already emotionally clocked out. Gone.

Still love the series. No regrets reading it.
But in my mind? It wrapped beautifully at book three and I’m choosing that reality. 😂

[Cactus · Rating 1 out of 5]

in a just world kellan and hunter would fuck yet they must remain staunchly heterosexual in order to play their roles in the wish fulfillment fantasy. SAD!

[Raelyn Caumartin · Rating 2 out of 5]

honest opinion over here

I looooved the first two books, tolerated the third, and am not a fan of this one. I feel like it should have been a novella to tie in the last part of bonding.

I found myself skipping over *scenes* and hating the amount of over explaining, like it’s book 4. We understand everything that’s happened up until this point.

The constant never ending smut scenes and declarations of love and feelings, just felt like it took away so much of the plot.

As readers we understand the MMC’s are possessive, jealous, unalive people, etc. doesn’t have to be explained every chapter in depth. And the moment they should have been badasses, it just fell flat.

Lot of pointless filler chapters, a very predictable *betrayal*, and our FMC having a realization and coming into her own that felt very underwhelming and honestly eye roll worthy.

I love Jaymin and her vibe in her books. But this was just not it for me. A disappointing end to this series.

[Elodie Melody · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was expecting this book SO much…..
I dnfed around 36%
It was so anticlimactic !
We are in a kind of war ish, but they still live fucking la la-unicorn land 🫥 I was honestly bored and couldn’t pick the book even after a week.
So I skimmed the end…. With 4/5 epilogues 🫠

Well, it could have been a novel and the main story has ended on book 3 🫠 I still love them a lot though.

[Pam Malloy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointed

I rated all the previous books in this series 4 ⭐️ but I cannot even finish this one. I read all the others within a day. But I’m at 34% and am DNFing. It’s not holding my attention in the slightest. I liked Emme is the previous books but she’s insufferable this book. Her mates aren’t much better. I think it’s the pace of this book as well, I’m 34% through and only two days have passed. Nothing with the plot has progressed at all. We meet her father at the end of the last book who is half witch/half shifter and yet we haven’t had a single scene between father and daughter after 100 pages. He’s just mentioned a lot. Anyways I’m disappointing because I liked the series but i won’t be finishing it.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was pretty ready for this series and book to end. I liked this series, but this book really dragged it out. There is so much fluff in this and it was a bit boring. The ending recycled a climax that the author already used in earlier books in this series. The traps and betrayals were so obvious. I really wanted to start skimming during the action at the end. I was like, ok let's wrap it up.

I still think the hockey aspect of this series felt too forced. It's like the author just jammed that in there because hockey romances are popular, but it just felt so random, and it was only acknowledged at convenient times. There was too much going on with this war for there to be two NHL players in this pack. Don't they have to practice more? lol they played hockey like once a week.

My favorite character throughout this entire series was definitely Slade. Hunter is runner up.

[Sentranced Jem · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️
Honesty a little disappointed…

[BookBunny · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Blah blah, whatever." - That's a quote from this book which perfectly sums up my reading experience.

I want to emphasize, that I enjoyed the first three books in this series a lot. I gave them all 4 stars and I was really looking forward to this last book.

Book 3 ends on a cliff-hanger with Jewels posing an immediate threat against all shifters. So you'd think that a big part of this book would be reading about them figuring things out and trying their everything to escape this impending fate of enslavement. However, what you get is literally ANYTHING but that. You get fluff, fluff and more fluff, mixed with 5x ice skating, spice and setting the premise for the next quintet story. Which isn't something bad per se, but it is bad when there is this huge threat and you just get no real info about the progress on it. I got so annoyed and I just DIDN'T CARE about the cute scenes!! I wanted to read about them figuring this problem out and not merely getting a sentence once in a while like "X is doing research" or "Y is checking this place out". I mean their entire freedom is on the line, yet their mentality is "we deserve to treat ourselves" and therefore that's all you, as a reader, get to read about.

Also, her father being in the picture is not really addressed. They don't have a real conversation until like 40% of the book (maybe even later I can't remember anymore). Because the plot dragged so much I started to skim most of the book and even skipped the spice scenes after the 3rd one or so because I just wanted some TINY scrap of plot progression.

I agree with other reviews that this book would have been perfect as a novella. The story should have wrapped up in book 3 and then I would have absolutely loved all that fluff. I really adore the characters in this series, so I sure as hell would have read it even if it "only" would have been a novella. Seeing it as a novella, it would be a 4-star-read for me. But as this was a "normal" book, the lack of plot progression and the pacing really bothered me so 2 stars it sadly is.

[Jess : Library of Scorpio · Rating 2 out of 5]

It pains me so much to give this book a low rating because I loved the first three books, but this one just wasn’t it.

DONT KEEP READING IF YOU DONT WANT SPOILERS OR IF YOU DONT WANT MY HONEST OPINION ON THIS BOOK.

I’ll be honest, I was so bored trying to read this book. I felt like the majority of the book was awkward dialogue, and hardly anything happened except the final battle. And it was the same thoughts feelings and words over and over again. The chemistry between the characters vanished, to the point where it was just the 5 men babysitting our FMC.

I am a total believer in the theory that some books just don’t hit for the person we are at the time, and maybe this is the case. But I really wanted to DNF, but this was one of my most anticipated reads this year, so I pushed through. Oh well, we got our ending.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

No spoilers as I know so many won’t be able to read this for a while.

I was so lucky to get an advance copy of this book from a signing event with Jaymin.

It was EVERYTHING I’d hoped for in the final book of the series. Although I did worry for while, I should have remembered Jaymin always gives us a HEA.

Loved this book!

[H · Rating 3 out of 5]

could have done without this last book. felt forced and got bored. liked overall.

[Jeong Sieun Alexandrine · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a finale !
I was literally jumping , screaming and fawning myself at the 🔥
I feel so sad to be done with Emme and her 5 alphas T.T
PLEASE , CAN WE GET KASSIDY STORY ?!?!
I will litteraly beg on my knees ! 🥺🛐
How do I not fall into a reading slump now after this amazing bomb of emotions ? 😭

[KayTheBookLover · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished A Bond Of Trust by @jaymineve and this was Perfection!!!!

I loved Emme and her guys so much! Does anyone else have the problem with the last book of a series that you're so excited to read it but you're also kind of heartbroken that it's over?

I love knowing they got their happily ever after but also I don't want to leave the world yet.

Emme was so cute and sweet! I adore her! Slade and Talon *melts into a puddle* Holy twin dragons! Hunter.our ever steady alpha! Kellen our golden retriever and Finely our grumpy yet sweet for her bear! OMG I loved them all!

I love this series so much and I'm still not over it.

*note on the audiobook*
If you are someone who likes semi-graphic audios these audios have a little bit of graphic to them but not as much full-blown graphic audio.
Overall I didn't mind it but I did find it was hard for me to fall asleep to it so it was great to listen to during the day while adulting.

Overall ☆☆☆☆☆/5
Spice ☆☆☆.5/5
Audio ☆☆☆☆/5 the full cast was phenomenal! @michellesparksvoice , Aaron Shedlock, Gregory Salinas, Noel Harrison and Jake Bordeaux

[Mursal · Rating 1 out of 5]

never again… yuck.

[lottie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I honestly don’t know what to say. The FMC is supposed to be the oh so great and powerful chosen one with FIVE scent matches. This makes you think- this girl must be special. But really, aside from her interesting heritage, she’s nothing. Except for her very random obsession with vehicles (Which I am sure the author only added to make her seem more interesting and unique), she’s basic, boring and unoriginal. Nothing about her makes you wanna learn more about her. When I read a story about a powerful FMC who is one of a kind, I want to know what is her story, what has she endured, why HER? In Emme’s case, I don’t know. She hasn’t endured anything and cries every single time someone shows her some sort of a affection. Makes me roll my eyes every single time she bursts out crying because someone hugs her. Her personality- again, basic! Would have been so much better if she was a badass who had a crazy backstory but the author wanted her to be submissive, weak, shivering kitten.

Also had to add this in:

“When I saw the meat-filled pizza, and equally meaty pasta, I was happy enough to dance a little in my seat.”

Girl u did not just do that in front of a dozen people😭

WAIT STOP SHE SAID THIS IN A DINNER WITH A DOZEN PEOPLE. I'm cringing so hard.

“Throwing my arms in the air, I declared loudly, “I’m full. Ignore these alphas. I will personally stand protectively in front of any of you if they so much as breathe heavily in your direction.”

[Iman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️ Leider hat es mich nicht so gecatcht wie die anderen Bücher der Reihe. Es hat sich alles ein bisschen rausgezogen angefühlt..
Würde eher 2,75 Sterne geben, aber konnte es nicht übers Herz bringen, weil ich die andern Bücher so toll fand 🥲

[Krissreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5⭐️ 4/5🌶️

——• A 5 🍆 harem💦

This was honestly such a good series, I loved all the main characters and they were all so different from each other which is what I want in a RH/WC, including the side characters! Whilst the plot in my opinion was a little lackluster, the overall storyline was brilliant and it had me wanting to get to the end of the series to find out how things ended.

This series was a solid 4 and I will say that I absolutely love the way Jaymin Eve writes her books. I just find everything so captivating as it has the right amount of everything that it keeps me invested in the actual storyline whilst enjoying the character envelopment.

I would recommend this series but my absolute favourite of hers is the 'Curse of the Gods Series' so if you have not read it yet, I 100% suggest you do!!

[books_know_rh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I absolutely devoured this series!
And honestly, I’m so glad I waited until it was complete, because those cliffhangerswould have been painful to sit with while waiting for the next book.
What I loved most was the journey and growth of all the characters, especially Emme.
You can really feel how gradual and well-paced the emotional development is across the entire series.
Relationships don’t happen all at once,they deepen slowly, layer by layer, as thecharacters get to know each other more honestly and vulnerably.
Emme is such a compelling protagonist. She’s strong and resilient, but also deeply human.
Her insecurities, fears, and hesitation to fully let the alphas in make so much sense given her past trauma and the pain she’s endured. I really appreciated her inner conflict: wanting the alphas, driven by her omega nature, while simultaneously pushing them away out of fear of being hurt again or hurting them.
Hunter, Kellan, Slade, Finley, and Talon are all distinct, each with their own personality and dynamic within the group. Even the twins, despite their similarities, feel clearly different from one another.
What truly stood out to me was their devotion to Emme, the love, protectiveness, and passion they show her. Sure, some of them take a little longer to get there (looking at you, Finley), but once they do? Let’s just say my book-boyfriend standards are officially ruined.
The overall plot and storyline were also incredibly engaging, full of twists, intrigue, tension, and emotional stakes that kept me hooked from start to finish. Add in well-written, passionate intimate scenes that never feel disconnected from the story, and this series became impossible to put down. All in all, this was such a satisfying, emotional, and addictive read.

[Cheyyleigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

womp womp womp. This shouldve been a trilogy. spoilers.



Alright, Fletcher should've been harder to kill and this should have ended at a trilogy. I feel bad because overall I have decent feelings about this series but this book wasn't needed.

Let's start way back in book three if Talon wasn't added and we just bonded with Slade we still would've had this same story. I never really got why Talon was added and it's not like his mega beast was this big bad part of the plot.

Then Fletcher dying at the drop of a hat and Jewels becoming the big bad just felt rushed and pushed because she wanted another book. Then I am also gonna be honest, why did we need her dad? he again just could've been a story he didn't need a plotline.

Now this book.


Friends I like smut. but I want a plot along with that, and this book goes over the line with it. Nothing happens but boring life stuff and having sex until you guessed it the end of the book. Which was my biggest complaint for the last few books but it was much worse in this time. I also think the epilogues weren't needed. They weren't even that far in the future or add anything.


overall I think I'm gonna pretend it ended last book.

[Rea Regan · Rating 2 out of 5]

it's 2.5 and honestly should have just been a trilogy 🙃

[Daisy Delfin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly the last book was the worst of the series in my opinion.
I know every author puts a lot of work into their books. And normally Jaymin's book are my go to, because she just does it right for me. But this time it was different. The last book was like a sleeping pill for me. Whenever I read it I was asleep after maximum 30 minutes.
Why? Because most of this was just ignoring the plot and doing all the smut. And it get's boring if you read about smut so often as in this one. Then the plot was mostly forgotten. Here and there a page up to 72% and then we had a short time plot and back to bonding.

This is not my series and I won't reread it.

[Brooke · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 18%. Disappointing.

[Malinda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this, I really did. I liked the characters in the other books but even the heat fizzled out in this one. Yes there were spicy scenes but it just fell flat for me.

What really started to bother me was the Alphas repeatedly talking about how they only care about Emme and how the rest of the world can burn. Now I understand what the author was trying to do, create unhinged MMCs that would sacrifice anything for their mate. For me though, it was talked about so frequently that it became so tone deaf. Especially with today's political climate. One line about Hunter said
"... looking entirety unrepentant that an entire race was dead." And that did not sit well with me. MMCs can be possessive and selfish when it comes to their mates but that's such a horrible line that really makes them unlikable. This was such a disappointment.

[Mellissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m so sad.

This was a highly anticipated read for me. I absolutely loved the first 3 books of the series. I’m not sure what happened here.

Still recommend reading it because it hit the good feelings spot, but the plot fell by the wayside, and was more of a love cuddle with many sweet nothings whispered in the pack.

[Emma Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly this was disappointing. I feel like the last book in a lot of series lately have been so dragged out and disappointing like what is going on?! In terms of this book I feel like literally nothing happened. I was soooo freaking bored. I think this should have been a trilogy because this book felt so dragged out and completely unnecessary. The whole build up with the Jewels conflict ended so quick and so anticlimactic. I literally was like that’s it?! It just felt so pointless. I felt like the main storyline ended in book three and this just felt more like a novella. This was basically just filled with spice and the constant spice scenes and love declaration just felt so repetitive. Overall I do really like these characters and the first three books were such a fun series but I just felt like this one was not needed.

“This is for those who’ve always fought alone. You deserve an alpha to dote on you. Or a pack of them.”

“Tell me what’s wrong so I can fix it.”

- Recommend/Worth It?! = No, as a series maybe
- Paranormal, Why Choose, Witches, Shifters
- Audible Audiobook, KU

[Abcdefgnopqrs · Rating 1 out of 5]

I deserve compensation.

[Nikita · Rating 1 out of 5]

There was no need for this book, 80% was spice and the final battle was underwhelming.

[Annelie · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 26%

I'm so disappointed by this book ☹️ The pace was so slow and boring... What happened???

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty bummed about this one. Got it on release day and I had to force myself not to DNF it.