"So werewolves are an actual combination of wolf and man? I ask

"Yes?"

"And then what? When a full moon comes around you just wolf out?"

Max looks at me, quiet and contemplative, and then he bursts out laughing. The sound of his laughter is a little awkward, it's rusty and unused.

I realise it then, for some reason, this is a man that has had little reason to laugh. My chest constricts and sadness for him fills me. I don't understand my sadness at all. I feel like punching myself because all this man has done to me is lie and pretend about everything, but my feelings about him...