Summary

Guardsmen are always matched in a bonded pair. The Protector can shift into a weredog, and the human partner is his Handler. They are incredibly rare and highly valued, but people also fear them for their mystical abilities. No Protector in living memory has outlived his Handler—until Alex Taylor.

Now a widower, Alex lives a lonely half-life and faces day after day of grief with no hope for happiness in the future. When he unexpectedly bonds with the young and vibrant Handler Marcus Stephanek, Alex is angry and unwilling to leave the memory of his former Handler behind. He pushes Marcus away and tries to distance himself from their bond. But then a mysterious villain who has been secretly shadowing Alex for years sets his plan in motion. Alex and Marcus must learn to trust their bond and love each other, or risk not only their own lives but the lives of those closest to them.

Characters

List of primary/secondary characters and their jobs/roles in the book, along with their dynamic if they are a Guardsman.

• Dillard, Marsha (Tallahassee animal control officer)

• Dr. Goldstein, Ana (Institute scientist and Alex's case handler)

• Dr. Kensington, Bryan (Institute scientist; Marcus' case handler and Alex's former case handler)

• Stephanek, Marcus (handler; 25 years old)

• Taylor, Alex (protector; 32 years old)

• Taylor, Theo (handler; deceased; Alex's former bondmate)

• Webber, John - (Handler, trainer at the Americas Institute)

• Webber (née Dolgorukov), Sam (Samantha) - (Protector, trainer at the Americas Institute; blue-eyed; canine resemblance to Russian Hound)

• Detective Zhang, Ryan (police officer; 26 years old)