Once a year, a psychological storm sweeps over Neira’s entire species. They call it the Heat. From the moment its gnarled fingers grasp their kind, shifters turn feral. It’s a whirlwind of aggression and chaos, and Neira is no stranger to it. Against all odds, Neira has lasted an incredible amount of time alone. Twice now, she has withstood the ferocity of the Heat, but as a third year approaches, Neira is losing hope. Females don’t usually survive independently, and Neira’s strength makes finding an equal all but impossible. When Neira finally stumbles upon Judd and his pack, she momentarily believes she has found salvation. But Judd is impulsive, his secrets are deep, and his territory seems to have eyes of its own. Judd’s disregard for the law has gained the attention of others, and now Neira feels trapped. Neira is plagued by uncertainty and is questioning her decisions. Fear begins to consume her, and she finds herself running away from it all. Only then does she find herself face-to-face with the one thing that truly frightens her the most. Shade.