Jon Slade finally met his mate, but instead of it being the happiest day of his life, it became the saddest when wolf shifter Kelvin MacCurdy chose his obligations over their fated bond, leaving Jon to pick up the pieces of his shattered dreams. Lucky for him, Roman Howell, his boss and the owner of L’Ange, saw promise in the forlorn lion and put him to work so he wouldn’t have time to sit around and lick his wounds while he waited for his wounded spirit to heal.

Then the wolves make an official visit to L’Ange, and Jon finds out Kelvin’s pining for him is taking its toll on his position as the king’s champion. Though Kelvin’s training and the expectations of others steer him toward an intended mate, Jon has an unbreakable hold on his heart, and it’s no longer possible for Kelvin to keep himself from where he truly belongs.

But the conclave brings more than Kelvin to the château. It also brings a challenge to jackal alpha Quade Danas, a threat that Quade and Roman, Arman and Linus, and Jon and Kelvin may have to fight in order to keep L’Ange’s family intact. Jon never wanted to lead a pride, but the loyalty and devotion to one is ingrained in him. Kelvin was raised to punish anyone who questioned his king, but the calling to protect others runs through his veins just as deeply. To come out on the other side of the battle together, Jon and Kelvin will have to hold the darkness of solitary pride and broken hearts at bay—and find strength in belonging to something bigger than themselves.

When we first meet Jon Slade, he’s not easy to like. He does some really despicable things, including trying to seduce Roman, a man scarred by tragedy, simply for money. Quade Danas, Roman’s bodyguard, assures him that won’t happen. So what does Jon do? Attempts to seduce Quade. So, yeah, pretty much not someone I liked. But times, and characters, change. As do their fortunes.

This is Jon’s story, which started in book two, when he met his mate, the giant of a wolf named Kelvin. Only, Kelvin rejected him, and went back home, leaving Jon heartbroken. This is where we start book three, which shows Jon trying to mend his shattered heart, and pick up the pieces to find a new path in his life. No matter what Jon tries to do to move on, his heart belongs to his mate, as it should. Even though he believes he’s ready to move on, all that changes when Kelvin shows up at L’Ange, the place owned by Roman and Quade. Now Jon is torn between attempting to get on with his life, or forever pining after a wolf he believes he can never have.

But Kelvin seeks Jon out, and gives a startling admission, which is going to lead Jon to decide what he’s willing to give up for his love. Will he step in to protect Kelvin, when it’s Kelvin who must now be punished?

I cannot…no, will not, give out any spoilers in this review. It would be unseemly, and totally unfair to this amazing book. I’ve loved the L’Ange series since we met Quade and Roman, and this book definitely gives us a lot more depth to some of the characters (Quade especially steps up and shocks the hell out of me when he’s asked if he’s willing to go to war, and he says yes.) All of the characters are given their due, including Linus, the prickly steward of L’Ange, who has a few great one-liners which, when you know how Linus is, are even funnier. Unknown information comes out, secrets are revealed, and love must be put on the line (or is that lion…LOL), and in the end, what these men are about to find out is that family is something we make, not necessarily what we’re born into.

(P.S. Kelvin’s brogue is HOT!)

This book brought so many emotions to the fore. There is a scene in here (well, okay, the whole of Chapter Nine) with Quade, Roman, Kelvin, and Jon that had me in tears. It’s powerfully written, and a perfect testament to the characters themselves. Mary Calmes is an amazing writer, and if you haven’t gotten into this series yet, you should really check it out.

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