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.<br><br>Etienne Daurensbourg is 139 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.<br><br>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?

Julio's Wolf

Judge Booker began the ceremony. “It is your duty, Etienne, to be to Julio a considerate, tender, faithful, and loving Mate. To support, guide, and cherish him in prosperity and trouble, to behave thoughtfully and enlarge carefully the place he holds in your life. To constantly show to him tokens of your affection, to shelter him from danger, and to love him as your Mate in unalterable love for eternity. Do you do as I say?”


“I do.” Etienne kissed Julio’s forehead.


“It is your duty, Julio, to be to Etienne a considerate, tender, faithful, and loving Mate, to support and cherish him in prosperity and trouble. To give him counsel and help him to bear his burdens with grace, to comfort him in need and rejoice with him in plenty—to love him as your Mate for all eternity. Do you do as I say?”


“I do,” Julio replied in a soft voice.


“Do you have the rings?” Donal and Alexei stepped up. Alexei gave one to Etienne, and Donal gave one to Julio.


Chapter 60