Where Foxes Hunt with Wolves - K.A. Merikan Page 0,112

his ribcage, but he wouldn’t give up and tore his neck out of Yev’s grasp. The taste of blood boosted adrenaline, and while Yev’s teeth ached from the pull, the ragged wounds on Burian’s neck called his inner animal.

Family or not, Burian would not be allowed anywhere near Radek.

Olek barked right next to them, but made the wise choice of not interfering. Radek’s high-pitched whines stimulated Yev’s rage. Burian said it himself—he’d smelled Yev all over Radek, and had still attempted to kill him. It would not only be murder but also a slap to Yev’s face. There was only so much indignity Yev was prepared to suffer for the sole reason of liking dick in his bed.

Burian scratched at him, his growls promising bloodshed, but the snow would not turn red at Yev’s loss.

With a furious howl, he rolled Burian over and bit his foreleg as hard as he could. The strong body under his went stiff, then thrashed when Burian opened and closed his jaws, trying to reach Yev.

Burian’s blood gave the air a stench of fury, but the few kicks he landed with his hind legs could not compete with the force of Yev pushing Burian down again and gripping the thick neck with his teeth as a last warning.

He could end this. Now. Get rid of his jealous, vengeful brother forever.

But they were still family, and Mother would have cried her eyes out if she lost her eldest.

Olek whined and pulled at Yev’s tail, but didn’t dare put force into it, only signaling his intent. It would be better for everyone if this didn’t end in death.

Burian eyed Yev, huffing out vapor with each angry breath, but eventually stilled and shifted into his human form in the ultimate admission of defeat.

Yev couldn’t deny himself growling at his older brother before he too transformed, kneeling in the dense snow. He briefly glanced over his shoulder, but Radek appeared fine and watched them from where Yev left him, his little body still shivering in fear. Yev barely contained his rage.

“Bastard,” he growled and punched Burian’s stomach a final time before getting to his feet while Olek’s furry coat rubbed against his leg.

Burian was still catching his breath, and his torn-up arm bled into the snow, but the defeat didn’t manage to cool his head. “You’ll regret this! To fight your own brother over that thing?” He pointed to Ember with his chin. “You know you broke the rules! Again! Has this banishment taught you nothing?”

Yev gritted his teeth, too hot with anger to feel the cold yet. “He’s as much of a thing as you and I, so shut your fucking face before I knock your teeth out,” he said louder, and when he took a step toward Burian the bastard actually leaned back. Wise choice. Burian was scornful about it, but now that the difference in their age no longer mattered like it had when they were still pups, Yev was the stronger wolf, and they both knew it.

“Dad will hear of this,” Burian said coldly, holding his chest.

Had Yev broken some ribs? He sure fucking hoped so.

“Of what?” Yev asked, even though the frost started getting to him at the mention of their Dad. As the leader of the pack, and as their father, he’d always been strict and intolerant of failure. One word from his mouth could keep Yev away from his mom and Olek. Forever.

“Of your secrets! That you didn’t get rid of an outsider who knows about our business, and on top of it, that you haven’t changed at all, and you’re still unnatural! Mom would have been so ashamed to see this!”

An invisible icicle made a hole in Yev’s heart. And then another, but he stayed still, his face slack. In control. But while he could hide his emotions, his true self wanted to change into his wolf form and run home. Bring his mom a little gift—a flower for the table, or a nice-looking stone—the way he used to when he was younger, and when nobody had known of his transgressions.

Yev could sense Radek had shifted back into his human form, when his scent changed, but he hadn’t expected him to speak up.

“He’s not unnatural!” Radek said despite his teeth already chattering from the cold.

“Shut your face,” Burian roared, but Radek continued while Yev’s stomach gradually plummeted, because none of those arguments would matter in the end. The rules were clear. A werewolf male could only form a true bond with