"Yes," Derek says, but only after he thinks about it for a long moment. This isn't a subject that he talks about too much, and every word feels heavy on his tongue. "But being werewolves is what got my family killed."

It's not their fault that they're dead, but it's why they were targeted. Derek swallows hard and looks out at the surf rather than Thomas' face. "There were those back home that thought we deserved to be hunted down like animals, and it didn't matter that we lived in peace. We were werewolves, and so we needed to die. Most of us did."

After a long moment, he looks back over at Thomas. His expression is one full of sorrow, but it's resolute as well. "But just because someone doesn't understand it doesn't mean that it isn't a gift."