Mercy Howe knows what she wants. Caleb. In her bed, in her life. She's loved the wereleopard warrior since he rescued her from the fire that killed her family. The fact that Caleb is warrior-mated to Kerrick, a male former Unfree slave, doesn't matter. Mercy wants Kerrick too, and wants to carry on the traditions of her pride, where females can have several mates. However, the Orion pride is different. The women are allowed one mate and must remain celibate until their twenty-second birthday. Mercy is determined to change that, and a weekend in the city gives her the opportunity she needs. Now all she has to do is convince Caleb and Kerrick to let her into their hearts and their happy marriage. She sees her actions as a very necessary seduction. But someone else is watching Mercy...determined to kill her before she taints the Orion pride.