Deputy Joe of the Arrowtown Sheriff's department has tried to hold his head up high his entire life, even though it's never been easy. Carrying the Quincy name has been a curse he's worked hard to put behind him, but when his two uncles get thrown out of Arrowtown because of their nefarious dealings, Joe found the courage to turn to the one man he thought would stand by his side. Being told he was "too young, too dumb and too well-hung" were not the words he expected to hear when his true mate rejected him to his face. As the man in question was the town doctor, it's not surprising that when Joe gets hurt, turning up at the man's surgery was the last thing on his to-do list.

Doctor Nathan Farriday (known locally as "Doc") has lived a long life, and not always on his own. A long time Arrowtown local, Doc has watched Joe grow into a kind, decent, hardworking man - too good for him in other words. If asked, Doc could spout a long list of reasons why taking the man as his fated mate was a bad idea. Age and inexperience were just the easiest reasons to explain. The danger from his animal half was something he preferred to keep to himself. But when Joe's family come calling and Joe is left badly hurt, Doc has to reassess a lifetime of bad choices. Rampaging buffalo shifters and a bomb blast have the potential to splinter the tiny shifter town apart. In the ashes of the aftermath, the sheriff's department work furiously to keep their population safe. But will Joe and Doc's relationship survive the revelation of Doc's biggest secret or will they be forced to leave the town they both call home?

This is a true mate paranormal (shifter) MM story that includes depictions of intimacies between men and some violence. The story includes Mpreg although it is not the main focus of the story line.