Wake Me Up Inside(Mates #1) by Cardeno C.

Wake Me Up Inside(Mates #1) by Cardeno C. 
SUMMARY 

Zev Hassick is surprised and confused when he finds himself attracted to his best friend. His very human, very male best friend. Zev is the son of the pack Alpha, regarded as the strongest wolf in generations, born to lead. And everyone knows a male shifter has to mate with a female of his own kind to keep his humanity. So shifters can't be gay, right?

Jonah Marvel wants a relationship with Zev, his best friend, the man he has loved since childhood. It wasn't easy to maintain that relationship over years spent living apart while Jonah studied to become a doctor. And then things grow more difficult when Jonah becomes his own patient. Before he can make a life with Zev, he has to understand his past and cure the unexplained ailments that plague him.

Zev and Jonah know they're destined for each other, but they're facing traditions ingrained over generations and long-buried secrets that may threaten any future together.

MY REVIEW 

"It’s just you. It’s always been you.” 

I loved the way Zev and Jonah first met:

The human didn't cry, he just reached his small hand out and petted Zev's fur. The wolf cub whined with joy and pressed himself against the human baby, licking his neck and rubbing against his body. Zev's wanted to mark himself with that lemony scent. It smelled so good and right...

So when they first met, they were just babies.
A one year old human baby and a same age wolf cub.

After that they are always together, as best friends, until they become 18. Then, Jonah leaves the small town in order to study and Zev stays behind in order to become Pack's Alpha.

While Jonah is oblivious and he hungers for more, Zev hesitates because:
• He never thought it is possible for shifters to mate with humans.
• He never thought it is possible for shifters to be gay. And...
• True mates are incredibly rare.

Zev and Jonah will be together on and off, but it will take them 12 years to finally be together at last.

An amazing, romantic story! I devoured it in one sitting.