What Stays Through Winter

Eight years of solitary existence in the unforgiving mountains have forged Huxley Rhodes into a creature of two worlds. Banished from his pack at sixteen, he has lived a life devoid of human connection, evolving into the enigmatic "e;mountain man"e; whispered about by Coalton residents.His carefully constructed solitude is shattered with the arrival of Bentley Knox, a former NFL star whose cleats have been traded for a deputy sheriff's badge. Bentley, seeking respite and a new beginning, purchases a cabin tantalizingly close to Huxley's secluded dwelling. Intrigued by local legends and recognizing Huxley's intimate knowledge of the treacherous winter wilderness, Bentley extends an unexpected offer: a request for guidance through the snow-laden peaks.However, the blossoming of love is dangerous when rejection has already carved deep, indelible scars. Huxley, forever haunted by his banishment, fears that the human world will never truly accept the wolf within him. His past is a heavy cloak, constantly threatening to smother any flicker of hope. Bentley, still grappling with past betrayals and uncertain of his own shifting desires, struggles to define the profound emotions stirring within him.A bitter misunderstanding, fueled by unspoken fears and lingering insecurities, tragically drives them apart. In the face of renewed rejection, Huxley retreats to the only safety he has ever truly known: his wolf form. It is a desperate act, a primal surrender to his animalistic instincts, even if it means sacrificing the last vestiges of his humanity.To save the man he has unexpectedly come to love, Bentley will have to risk everything. He must navigate the treacherous terrain of Huxley's wild heart and confront his own fears, his own past, to bridge the chasm that has opened between them. And Huxley, deep within the primal instincts of his wolf form, will have to make the most monumental decision of his life: to embrace the fragile promise of love, to truly heal, and to step out of the shadows, for good.This is a queer paranormal rom-com, a heartwarming and often humorous exploration of healing the wounds of the past, the transformative power of second chances, and the unwavering belief that even in the darkest of winters, love can bloom.