Blurb:

She invited in the darkness, so she had no one else to blame…when I came for her.
It was a sinister game of submission. The Hunt. 
She’d run. I’d chase. 
And when I caught her…
Primal. Untamed. Merciless. 
I’ve been watching her. Stalking her.
I will become the beast from her darkest fantasies.
Hunting her from behind a stag’s mask made of bone.
Preying on her secret need for primal play.

I should be protecting her, but I’m not.
Instead… I am a Heathen. 
And she is an innocent who chose this. 
And if she made a mistake?
If she wants to try and escape me? Escape The Hunt?
It’s far too late.
She’s mine now. 
Run.

My 4* Review:

Heathens by Alta Hensley is a stalker, age-gap, forbidden dark romance between Storee Brooks and Locke Hartwell. The author takes us back to Heathens Hollow, the unsettling and depraved island and The Godwin family from her Gods Among Men series. A tale of hidden feelings and obsession, secrets and deception, debauchery and dominance. 

We first meet the couple at her father’s funeral. Gabriel’s murder has left them both grief stricken  and as his best friend, Locke is now her guardian and promises he will always be there for her.

Locke is a ruthless and dominant man who commands respect but hides the dark monster that resides inside him. He part owns The Vault with Merrick, Soren and Braken, an invite only sex club. He feels it is his duty to protect Storee and feels guilty over her father’s death. 

The story continues a year later and we find Storee working as a fishmonger and a waitress to the elite at night. She is spirited, stubbornly independent and won’t accept help. Her relationship with Locke is complicated, mainly because at eighteen, it was love at first sight with the older powerful man. She still loves him but won’t dishonour her father’s memory knowing it’s wrong, also he acts like a father figure so she’s no idea he feels the same. 

Locke is protective, possessive and over bearing with her because he doesn’t want any other man to have her. He watches her most nights and struggles to keep away as his desire for her keeps growing. He feels ashamed of his feelings as he knows he can’t have her, she’s off limits but gets to the point he not only wants but needs her. 

“I needed to watch. From the shadows, I needed to keep her safe.”

When Storee’s best friend encourages her to take part in The Hunt, a sinful tradition on the island, she is tempted. One night to experience the unknown, feel free and alive. She knows it is dangerous to participate but she is curious about the submissive game. This sets off a series of events but things don’t go the way she thought they would after she turns on the red light. 

“One night to experience the unknown. One night to leave behind everything and everyone you ever knew, to feel free, to feel alive.”

What will Locke do when he finds out she is on the list of participants for The Hunt. What happens when they can’t resist each other any longer. Will it ruin their friendship if they cross the line. What will their reactions be when all the secrets are revealed. I felt some of the details were repetitive but liked the great twist at the end. Will they be Heathens together?