Jonathan McKnight lost everything in Afghanistan. His left hand, his identical twin, his self-respect and his naive belief that good always triumphs over evil. Burdened by grief and guilt, he searches for redemption on a solo backpacking trip into the remote Sawatch Mountains of Colorado and discovers a secret tribe of shifters. River, the beautiful young shifter that rescues Jonathan has been promised to a man she despises. A man that does not desire her and only wants to use her to achieve his own political goals. Jonathan is more than a romantic rival. He's a threat to those goals. The only way to save Jonathan's life is for River to take him as her recruit. As Jonathan learns more about the horrors of River's cult-like society, he becomes even more determined to escape it, until he learns that River is responsible for everything he does and will be executed if he succeeds. Escape is not an option-unless Jonathan can persuade River to leave with him. And if she refuses? Well, then, he'll just have to kidnap her.