The Ghosts We Keep

Sergeant Mateo Cruz walked away from the Navy SEALs, not with a medal, but with a severe TBI and guilt that haunts his every move. Now, he lives in isolation, running a specialized K-9 facility where his only loyal companions are the traumatized dogs he trains. Mateo believes his life of purpose is over. Then comes Dr. Dahlia "Dali" Brooks, a determined veterinarian whose relentless optimism is a direct challenge to his cynical, solitary existence. She needs his facility for her rescue work; he needs her skill to treat his most difficult case—a deeply traumatized dog named Ghost. Their professional clashes are immediate and intense: Mateo demands discipline; Dali offers compassion. When a sudden flood storm hits, trapping a lost child in the remote wilderness, Mateo is forced to lead the search. But the high-stakes situation triggers a devastating PTSD spiral, threatening to pull him under. It is only when Dali's own shield of positivity cracks, and Ghost utilizes the specialized trauma training she insisted upon, that Mateo realizes healing doesn't just mean saving the dogs. It means accepting the light she offers, proving that the only ghost he needs to lay to rest is the man he used to be.