This is the fourth in Klune’s older series Green Creek.  They are for the adult readers, with both explicit gay sex and lots of lovely love – you have been warned.

This series is about the werewolf pack that lives in the small mountain town of Green Creek.  Most people have been there all their lives and the Bennetts practically own the area. In the first book, we meet all the significant characters.  The Bennett family, a family of werewolves, is now headed by Joe, the son of the Alpha Thomas we met in the first book.  The second book was told from Gordo’s point-of-view.  Gordo is a witch and attached to the Bennett pack, taking care of it. The third book was told from Robbie’s point of view.  Robbie was torn from the Bennett pack after he and Kelly realized they were mates.  Robbie was taken by the insane witch, Livingstone, and his memories were taken.  The pack finally got him back but the witch still has to be dealt with.

At the end of the last book, the Omega wolf, Gavin, had agreed to leave with Livingstone so the pack would be safe.  While Carter knew Gavin was important to him, he didn’t yet acknowledge why.  But he did leave the pack to find Gavin; leaving behind a grieving pack. 

In this story, he searched for months, with his pack also searching for him.  He finally found him, both Gavin and Livingstone.  Gavin had been wolf for so long, being human was difficult; thinking like a human was harder than shifting into one.  But Gavin remembered Carter; he was just seriously conflicted about leaving Livingstone who also desperately needed him.  Livingstone was content to live far from all other beings so long as he had Gavin.  If Gavin left, both he and Carter were sure that Livingstone would follow and do his best to destroy the Bennett pack.  But Carter won’t leave, giving Gavin great concern over whether Livingstone would eventually decide to kill Carter.  And Gavin really does want to be free; and to be with Carter.  The decision becomes a little easier when the Bennett pack finally catches up with them both and they make it very clear to Gavin that he is considered pack and no one is leaving without him.

Once they are all back on Bennett land; the top priority for the pack is to prepare for the inevitable coming of Livingstone, probably the most powerful and insane witch ever known.  And Livingstone wants both his sons back.

The top priority for Carter, though, is to figure out just what his heart and mind want.  Discovering his mate is male is a tough road for a committed heterosexual to follow.  But nothing and no one has ever made him feel as complete as Gavin does.  Gavin’s priority is to figure out where he stands in his pack, as a human.  All the time he lived with them before had been just as a wolf.  Being human has become quite necessary if he wants to have a relationship with Carter.

There is, of course, an epic showdown with Livingstone; and everyone, even the whole town, is involved.  Livingstone is no easy pushover; he has the power to destroy the entire town and the pack.  It will take a lot of clever preparation, calling in favors, and total commitment.  It will also take a monumental decision from Joe which will change everything, forever.

After this deep dive into gay love and sex, I do have to say that this book is probably the weakest of the series.  It had to be written, true; and there had to be a final confrontation and an ending that the pack could live with.  But so much of the book was Carter agonizing over his feelings; and I thought it became tedious.  I did respect the plotting that used the title and revolved the characters around their relationships: Joe, Kelly and Carter; Gordo and Gavin.  And, as always, I am impressed with Klune’s dialogue and how well he characterizes his people.

Unlike the previous three books, there was a lot more gay sex – so the gentle reader is warned.  And, as always, there are just buttloads of love (pun intended).  I feel a little critical but the thought did occur to me that the author may have used this book for a little wish fulfillment.

Overall, I am very glad that I read this series.  It was exposure to different thoughts and emotions than I usually read – or even encounter in real life.  ~~  Catherine Book

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