Stuart Tidwell has his eye on a U.S. Senate seat. His hopes hinge on those who seek the right to kill wolves "by any means" in most parts of Wyoming. Cally Carson's commitment to a viable, protected population grows over the course of a summer spent observing wolves. Manuel Herrera, a disabled Vietnam Veteran who played a role in the reintroduction campaign, worries the initiative may be headed south. An attempt to remedy the perceived slide leads to unexpected outcomes and strange alliances.