Trying to remember the name of a story I read a while ago, because I was wondering if it is part of a series.
Starts with a woman and her daughter (I think she's deaf) around the holidays. They come home to find the ex-boyfriend who left without a word in his artist studio. He has come back to re-kindle the romance.
Turns out he left because he started shape-shifting and needed to learn about himself so he wouldn't hurt her. Goes to South America to find a pack, something happened (can't remember) and the pack leader and his followers are after him. I vaguely remember a car crash and a fire in the art studio before the couple wins and de ide to stay together.