Markus Reussmin is a wolf shifter who's worked as a Stone Ridge deputy for over a decade. Over the last couple of years, he's had a few people comment on how he doesn't look as if he's aged a day, but he's always laughed it off as good genes. After all, he isn't ready to go into hiding so he can reappear after a decade with a new reinvention of himself.When the sheriff's department receives a report of smoke in a remote part of the forest, Markus is dispatched to check it out. He hikes into the area and discovers a rudimentary campsite. That's not all. The site is occupied by none other than his mate...judging by the delicious scent pervading the area.With the help of his shifter nose, Markus locates the hiding human-Ronan Dyer-who turns out to be wary and untrusting of law enforcement. That makes sense, since he's hiding from the government. Can Markus convince the skittish human he's not the bad guy so he can help him, even as he explains the complexities of shifters and matings before his pack's mountains are invaded by government stooges?