I'd met him before. Karen had told him that we were cousins, and I played along. Karen was one drop-dead sister. Her petite body was naturally voluptuous, and her dark brown skin was flawless.

She was alone listening to some Jill Scott and sipping wine. I remembered back when I used to do that. I collapsed on her all-white couch and looked the way I felt.

"What's wrong?" She picked up her glass and sipped the pale fluid.

"Paul can't control his wolf, at least not ...