Humans were never meant to be on Dorok. That was just common sense. But when a human comes across the ice-flats and incites a tribe of native VaDorok into breaking into the Agraak lab to rescue a small group of human women, they suddenly have several vulnerable females awakening the ulukskinon—the mating fire—within their unmated males. But, while matings are rare enough to be considered a blessing, it is not welcomed by everyone. Kull, having experienced the loss of a mate in his youth, wants nothing of the ulukskinon’s return, but he cannot quite seem to shake the female he rescued. Ulukskinon is not good for either of them. With her size and fragility, he knows that it can only end in sorrow. Despite his determination to protect her, and his heart, from disaster, Katie chips away at his defenses. Although she has suffered much at the hands of her captors, she possesses a spirit that he cannot help but admire. Can they both set aside the pain of their past to trust in the love that they find with each other?