Christina Stilton has waited all her life to become a wolf's bride. Becoming mate to a stranger in a faraway pack is the only chance she has to escape her Appalachian life of poverty and abuse. She wants safety, but trusts The Fates to steer her toward love, too.

Love is the last thing on Anton Denis's mind. He doesn't want to saddle some hopeful woman to him. A brutal fight left him scarred and half blind. He's a mercenary who can't drive, can't shoot straight, and on most days, can't even crack a smile. He fully intends to send his mate away—to give her a chance at being matched to some stronger wolf—but stubborn Christina is intent on staying.

She might have been treated as a useless female back in Virginia, but her role in Anton's small pack is clear. He needs to be loved and loved hard, and she's just the woman for the job. She just needs to convince him to get out of her way and let her do it.