The chase is on. Josh Bauer expects his mate to be excited to see him, but when he shows up in her small town, she slams the door in his face. Tessa Cunningham has been an independent she-panther, running her own business and taking care of her mother. The last thing she wants is to let go of the control she has over her life. The more Josh chases her, the more she resists his sexy charm. Josh has an obligation to fulfill, but he learns that being a mate is worth sacrificing everything—even if that means losing Tessa. STANDALONE with NO CLIFFHANGER