All his life, the hero has lived in the form of his wolf. Born defective in the eyes of the Guardians, he meets the heroine, a gentle woman whom treats him with respect and honor. No closer bond can be shared between two souls and when the heroine uses her frightening her powers to take the wolf from the enemy and give the hero the power to shift into his human form, he's overwhelmed by the idea that he could finally express to her his true feelings. But he doubts himself. He leaves for 9 months to discover how to be human so he could be worthy of her but all this does is hurt the heroine's feelings. She feels like she's lost her only friend and it's so lonely when her clansman make her feel unwelcome because of her powers. So when he returns to her, she is over joyed. But now she wrestles with a deeper problem. Her friend is no longer a wolf but a man. Beautiful and tempting. Neither knowing where the other stands in regard to the changed dynamic of their relationship, they tip toe around their mutual desire until finally neither can stand it any longer and they surrender to their love. The heroine begins to teach the hero the act of making love, and together they bond as true mates. But just when they think they have their happily ever after the heroine is betrayed by a friend, kidnapped and imprisoned by the enemy who wants her-or mainly her powers- for himself. Believed to be dead by her family after so long without contact, the hero never gives up on her. Then she begins to visit him in his dreams, telling him she's alive and needs his help. The hero mounts a rescue, willing to do any and everything needed to save his mate. I really enjoyed this book. It was definitely fantasy but it had a heavy emphasis on a love story. The gentle yet frightening powerful heroine, living in her cottage and longing for the love of a wolf. The hero, still adjusting to life as a man and wanting the heroine with every inch of his soul yet stumbling over how to make her see inside his heart. Together they made a heartwarming and dedicated pair. Love rooted in friendship is said to be the strongest of all and they certainly had a lasting love story. ( )