Zachary Cross

The world of mankind and shifter kind has finally become one. Ancient secrecy has given way to uneasy peace, but unity has revealed a terrifying truth. Pure shifter bloodlines are disappearing. Each generation grows smaller than the last, forcing many shifters to seek human mates. Among humanity, a handful are born Gifted—rare individuals capable of producing full-blooded shifter children despite being human themselves. They have become invaluable to the survival of countless clans. Yet there is one tragedy even the Gifted cannot overcome. Female shifters cannot continue their bloodline through ordinary Gifted humans. Their children will always inherit humanity over the ancient beast. For many of the world’s last female shifters, their bloodlines are destined to end with them. Unless they find Zachary. Zachary is something history records only in whispers: a rare Gifted male whose blood carries an extraordinary blessing. Unlike every other known Gifted, he possesses the unique ability to sire full-blooded shifter offspring with female shifters, preserving bloodlines that would otherwise vanish forever. To the last daughters of ancient clans, he is hope made flesh. To powerful families, he is a prize worth fortunes, alliances, and betrayal. To those who would exploit his gift, he is a resource to be claimed rather than a man to be respected. But Zachary never asked to carry the future of an entire species on his shoulders. He wanted an ordinary life, not a destiny that could decide which bloodlines survive and which become nothing more than legends. Every choice he makes could save a family… or condemn one to extinction forever.