At 10, Elliot's world shattered when his parents, the pack's beloved alphas, died tragically. Adopted by the pack's betas, Elliot struggled to fit in among his new family. He had neither the strength nor magnetism expected of an future alpha. While his adoptive parents cared for him, he was a perpetual outsider - too skinny, too quiet, never quite belonging.

Only the betas' son, Samson, showed him friendship, but at six years his senior, Samson was hardly ever around.

On the eve of his 18th birthday, Elliot is prepared for the claiming ceremony, in which a mate will be able to bind them together forever. He thinks no one will want him, but Samson comes to his rescue, stealing him in the middle of the night so that he can't be claimed. He wants Elliot to make his own choice of a mate, but Samson can't resist him for long and Elliot sees no reason not to give into what they both want.

However, going against tradition is no way to start their relationship, or to win over Samson's conservative father. They are found and dragged back to the pack where Elliot is forced to participate in the claiming ceremony. Samson will have to fight to get to him first, but even then, claiming him is only the first step to making Elliot his mate.