After we get the go-ahead from Philip that I won’t die when I walk out of his house, Jules leads me toward the door.

That doesn’t mean I don’t hold my breath as I move farther away from the sneaky cat.

“I’ll call you and give you an update within the week,” Jules tells Philip as we step outside, beneath the darkened sky. “I want to be careful of who knows what we’re doing, considering my father would never approve of it. Plus, the killers are out there still. I don’t want to risk them getting word of Lake. Her existence needs to stay in the circle of my pack. You’re the only exception to this. If I find out you’ve told anyone about her, I’ll—”

“You’ll kill me and then my family, slowly and painfully.” He makes a flapping mouth gesture with his hand. “Yeah, I remember the speech. And I wasn’t planning on telling anyone. I have a lot to lose if this doesn’t work out.”

“I know, and that’s why I’m trusting you.” They shake hands, and then Philip shoots me a smile before stepping back into his house and shutting the door.

“Are you okay?” Jules asks as we head down the porch stairway and onto the cobblestone road.

I shrug. “I don’t feel death approaching, so I’m assuming so.”

“I don’t mean that. I meant with everything I just told you.” He stuffs his free hand into his pocket as he steers me across the mostly vacant street. “I know it has to be a lot to take in.”

“I’m fine,” I mutter with a shrug.

He glances at me from the corner of his eye. “You don’t sound fine. You sound sad.”

I shrug again. “I’m not freaking out and running away, so there’s that.”

“I know. And I’m glad you’re not running. But I don’t want you to be sad, either.”

“I’m not really sure I’m sad so much as confused. There’s just so much to take in, and then finding out my parents are dead …” I swallow the painful lump in my throat. “That part does make me sad, especially because I don’t remember them.” I stare at the ground as tears prickle in the corners of my eyes. “What if I don’t ever get my memories back and I never get to know what they looked like or how their laugh sounded or if they were nice?”

He grinds to an abrupt halt. “Your parents loved you, Lake, more than anything.” He fixes his finger underneath my chin and angles my head up. “And we’ll get your memories back, I promise.”

I wish I knew if he’s the kind of person—wolf—who keeps his promises. For now, though, I choose to believe him.

“Thank you for saying that,” I tell him as we start to stroll down the sidewalk again. “I do have another question, and I’m guessing this is a no since you haven’t mentioned anything about it yet, but I’m still going to ask.” I take a deep breath. “Do I have any brothers or sisters?”

He shakes his head. “Sorry, but you were the only wolf cub your parents had.”

I crinkle my nose. “Am I even a wolf cub? I mean, I can’t shift.”

“That’s because you were never taught how. Most wolves don’t complete their first shift until they’re seventeen, and they have to be walked through the process step-by-step.”

“So, you’ve only been shifting for, like, a year?”

The muscle in his jaw ticks. “No, my father made me do my first shift at fourteen.”

I’m starting to get the impression he’s not a fan of his father.

“Is it painful?” I wonder. “Shifting, I mean?”

“The first couple of times it is, but after that, it feels amazing.” He smiles wistfully.

“How much pain are we talking about? I’m kind of a wimp.” Plus, the idea of shifting into a wolf is scaring the living nightlights out of me.

“I doubt that.” His gaze skates to me, his teeth sinking into his bottom lip. “However, if you really want, I know a way to bypass the pain during your first few shifts.”

“What sort of way?”

His teeth sink deeper into his lip as he cups the side of my face then places his mouth beside my ear. I hold my breath, waiting for whatever words are about to pass his lips.

“I don’t know … I probably shouldn’t tell you right now.” His tone is all flirty humor. “It might be too scary for you.”

I gently push him away. “So overdramatic.”

He chuckles for at least the tenth time in the last hour. For a guy who everyone said didn’t smile, he sure as hell laughs a lot.

After his laughter fades, he grows quiet, seeming lost in thought. I use the quiet moment to take in the Midnight Realm: the cobblestone streets; the fanged, winged, glittery—all sort of creatures—the starry sky.

“Does the sun ever shine here?” I wonder as we veer down a slender alleyway that dips between two glass buildings.

Immediately, my guard goes up at the sudden seclusion.

Why are we here?

He nods. “Yeah, it’ll come up in the morning. You must have slept through the last sunrise.”

“Stupid Philip,” I joke. Well, partially joke. He did poison me, after all.

“He’s definitely annoying. But don’t worry; I’ll make sure to wake you up bright and early in the morning so you can see the sunrise.” He comes to a stop in the middle of the alleyway. “The sunrises are one of the best parts of the Midnight Realm.”

“Seems pretty contradicting to its name,” I joke, anxiously peering around at the stairway above me and the large metal boxes stacked around.

“Don’t make that assumption yet.” His hand leaves mine, then he retrieves something out of his pocket and the entire area illuminates.

I squint against the brightness, shielding my eyes until the light fizzles out. Then the fragrance of moonlight overtakes the air as figures transpire from the darkness.

Figures that belong to werewolves.