According to the Breedmasters of the Rovanis species, Veloki is aberrant because he doesn't have an active sex drive. Mark thinks the young male is just suffering from the trauma of the massacre that had brought the Rovania from Greece to a safe place where they could hide in Colorado. The Breedmasters agree, but if Veloki doesn't recover soon, they'll drop him from consideration as a future breeder. Even in freedom, the Breedmasters still control their creation, and they will only breed the very best. Mark sets about wooing the skittish Veloki with love and patience as his main assets. Will Mark succeed in proving to Veloki that his love is true? Or will the Breedmasters deem Veloki a freak and deny him the chance to ever become a stud?