A girl had died once before, when Cris tried to find release through strangulation. Gerald had laughed as Cris stood there, pale and horrified, realizing he had just killed an innocent girl—a member of his own pack.

Suddenly, Cris stilled, groaning as his release came hard, spilling between their bodies, warm against their skin.

Only then did he release Aria's neck, where bruises had already begun to form. "Are you okay?"

There would be no ...