Can an independent, stubborn human beta make room in his life and heart for a hard-headed Alpha? Julio Reyes has had a hard life. Orphaned at fourteen, he ran away from a group home to avoid rape but wound up being an independent prostitute in NYC. He has a life plan--go to school, become a stylist and open his own salon. Etienne Daurensbourg is one-hundred and thirty-nine years old and fears he'll never find his Mate until his friend Alexei introduces him to Julio. Julio is Etienne's Mate but before he has a chance to court Julio, who is a human high beta and therefore stubborn and independent, Julio gets knifed and is forced to let Etienne provide him with a home and help to recover. Pack problems arise that may force Etienne into the pit. Will Julio be able to love Etienne despite the fact he is a loup garou?