Haunted by loss from the past, Blister, the most mysterious of the Dirt Track Dogs, is now running from his future. He’s found his mate, the sweet-as-sugar owner of a local bar, Annie Redmond. But the idea of shaming her with his disfigurement is unacceptable to him. He’s content to watch her from afar until a storm rips through Cedar Valley, leaving her home in need of major repairs. He could never abandon his mate in her time of need, but keeping his wolf from claiming her will be the greatest challenge of his life. Perpetually alone and forever a virgin, Annie has watched her closest friends mate Dirt Track Dogs, and now it’s her turn. She’s pined after elusive Blister for months but he seems about as interested as a moth to a dark room. When she finds herself in a jam, he steps up to help, bringing in a crew of cats from the Ouachitas to rebuild her broken home. For once, her patience pays off as their time together slowly reveals a pain she shares herself. Loss. But if he’ll give her a chance, they could have the one thing both of them crave more than anything: Love.