Corporal John Young thought he knew what danger looked like. Afghanistan had tested him with hostile terrain, long nights, and missions that left no room for mistakes. But nothing prepared him for the abandoned mountain village or the discovery waiting there that would alter not only his future but who he was at his core.

When his instincts flare, John is proven right in a way he never imagined. Something ancient stirs inside him, a legacy of power and responsibility he never asked for. Wrestling with the soldier he’s always been and the beast now rising within, John finds an anchor he didn’t expect: a woman whose quiet strength and compassion awaken a longing he can’t ignore.

But the new world he’s bound to is ruthless. Enemies close in, secrets press down, and every choice carries the weight of survival. John must decide if he can trust the fire inside him not just to keep him alive, but to protect the woman who’s become his reason to fight.

Can a soldier built by war learn to claim the beast within, or will fear steal the only love he’s ever found?

Melanie Delgadillo