Red Creek, New Mexico, has kept a secret for over half a century--packs of small, furry, intelligent, wolfish creatures called lupine elves their local doctor saved from destruction. Their protector, aging, must pass the responsibility to his son. Only he lives out of state, and his wife hates the creatures. She does not want their own sons introduced to them. Along with this, those who wanted the lupine elves disposed of have discovered where they are hiding.