Brody Parata has spent the last decade imprisoned in his shifted form. An event in his former life as a soldier drove him to retreat into his beast form. He had no hopes of living any other way than within his bear. That is until a curvy little veterinarian makes it her mission to help his new niece, with the special gift, to mend the part of him that's broken. Now, he's been thrust back into the shifter and human worlds, but the trauma that drove him inside his bear hasn't gone away.Portia Applewhite lived her life among humans running her veterinary practice. So, she doesn't know why she was compelled to pack up her life and follow her best friend to live among the shifters of the Central Valley Pack. What she does know is that big brooding bear with the sad eyes needs her help.Life as they both know it changes when Portia combines her knowledge with her friend's gift to free Brody. A spark, neither can deny, consumes them and they discover their destiny as mates. However, accepting their fate is the easy part. Brody's past haunts them. It's a roadblock they'll need to remove to secure their future. Will Portia and Brody solve the mystery surrounding the mission that scarred him? Can learning the truth allow him to truly break free of his chains and finally be healed?