Darren "Dare" Lupin is a young wolf shifter struggling with the weight of his past and the looming classification test that will define his future. Eight years ago, his brother Ethan, a Caregiver, suffered a devastating loss when his first Little, Duncan, died from an asthma attack. Duncan's death shattered their family, and Darren, only seventeen at the time, felt the grief just as deeply. Duncan had been like a nephew to him, following him around at every chance, and his absence left a painful void. Back then, Ethan was still living at home after graduating from Chass, a prestigious Shikari school for Doms and Subs. He had brought Duncan with him, and their bond had been unshakable. But when Duncan fell gravely ill just before Darren's eighteenth birthday, Ethan rushed him to the hospital-only for tragedy to strike. The loss changed Ethan, leaving him hesitant to embrace his role as a Caregiver again, and it left Darren watching his older brother struggle through grief. Years later, Ethan finally found the strength to open his heart again and took in another Little. Their family slowly began to heal, though the loss of Duncan would never fade completely. Now, Darren finds himself at a crossroads. He delayed his classification test using the grieving clause, but that time is running out. He has spent years working as a Classification Retrieval Agent, finding and escorting unclassified individuals to their tests: his own classification and what it will mean for his future. Despite the love and support of his family, Darren wrestles with uncertainty. He has seen firsthand how much pain being a Caregiver can bring, and the thought of being classified as one terrifies him. But no matter how much he fights it, the inevitable moment is approaching-one that will determine who he is meant to be.