Where Foxes Hunt with Wolves - K.A. Merikan Page 0,121

both froze, releasing clouds of vapor into the space between their bodies. Yev’s eyes went wide, but the ghost of his touch was gone, and he turned on his heel, walking off without a word. Radek stared after him, his chest pumping ever faster while Emil thumped down the wooden steps, but Radek didn’t want to explain what had happened.

He ran off, both wanting to be alone and craving to be held in Yev’s arms. No one could truly understand him.

Radek ignored Emil’s yelling and focused on the one step that was always in front of him. He was hot despite the frost in the air, but it didn’t matter. He just needed to get away from it all. From Mom. From Yev. From Emil. None of them could offer him the peace he needed nor know what he was going through. They seemed to have their lives figured out. Even Yev, who’d helped him so much, didn’t feel like making adjustments for a fox who loved him so, so deeply.

Radek wasn’t sure how long he ran, lost in thoughts, focused on the vapor coming out of his mouth and the frantic heartbeat in his chest, but when he stopped, he found himself in front of a heavy gate topped with barbed wire.

It was the dreaded place he’d avoided since the first transformation, but right now it felt like the only one he could claim as his. Breathless, he dashed for the metal gate and banged his hands on it until something moved on the other side.

“Who's there?”

“Radek Nowak!” he announced in a voice that didn’t tremble in the slightest. “Is that you, Tomek?” They’d fired old Gawron, who used to practically live on the farm and had been the one to stay overnight after he’d attempted to sabotage any changes, so at least Radek knew he wouldn’t have to deal with the old drunk.

Silence. And then. “Hello? Why didn’t you use the intercom, Mr. Nowak? Is it not working?” Tomek asked, and the locks clanged on the other side. A light appeared and made the gate cast a long shadow.

The intercom. Right. He’d been too frantic.

“Yeah, I think the button got stuck, so… anyway. I’ve come to see the foxes,” Radek said, squinting to protect his eyes from the bright illumination as the gate opened, revealing the dark silhouette of the other man.

Tomek let Radek inside, his eyebrows rising. “Hm. I guess you can do that. We’ve been following all the new procedures and instructions though. No need to check up on us at night like this.”

Radek realized how this could look to Tomek who’d proven himself to be a stellar worker and instantly felt apologetic. “No, it’s not about that. I’m not here to control you, just to… see them. May I have the keys?”

He extended his hand in greeting, but then changed his mind and reached for his wallet. It took some awkward fumbling, but he eventually pulled out a few notes with his teeth. He handed Tomek the money and met the man’s widening eyes.

“I don’t want anyone coming in with me, or entering when I’m there. Under any circumstances.”

Tomek’s face was suspicious and tense, but he eventually nodded and handed Radek a bundle of keys on a red lanyard. “Um… I’ll be in the office if you need me,” he said, backing away so fast he almost lost his balance on the first step. But Radek didn’t care for his company and glanced at the renovated enclosure standing in an empty spot that used to house a rusty old bus.

He wasn’t scared as he walked to the tall door. Just so hopelessly sad and desperate for understanding. If he was home, his new home at Yev’s, he would have hugged Coal and cried into his dark fur, but he could not go back there.

He was neither a real human, nor a fox, but it meant something that instinct had led him here of all places. Those animals, who his family had abused and exploited were a family he didn’t know he had until three months ago. And while they couldn’t understand the reasons for his sorrow, each and every one of them responded to his call, and as he stepped into the spacious shed that smelled of musk rather than feces and blood, he met dozens of eyes staring straight at him in the dark.

He had no need for the light and locked the door behind him, stepping farther inside while he breathed in the