Where Foxes Hunt with Wolves - K.A. Merikan Page 0,133

a cut leaving an open wound, but Yev had enough scars to know he’d one day heal. Even if life would never be the same.

But Burian decided his open disgust wasn’t enough and approached in two quick strides. “Are you fucking kidding me? He'll get away with this? With keeping this boy behind your back and lying to our faces? Repeatedly? That fox bastard knows our business, and you’ll just let it go?”

Enough was enough. If words weren’t working, he’d challenge them with brute force and they would find out who was willing to fight for their convictions.

Yev snarled at him before Father could have, growing as his roar turned inhuman, dull, coming straight from his innards. Burian changed too. His eyes glowed with a reddish light as he shifted, spreading long fingers with razor-sharp claws, hunched over like the beast he was. Like a monster straight out of human nightmares, the kind of creature that kept children from going out after dark. While not as muscle-packed as Yev, Burian’s werewolf form was unusually tall, with long limbs that turned into effective weapons, but Yev was ready to fight for his new life.

He lowered his body, eyes searching for anything that could tell him what Burian’s next move would be, because this fight was happening, no matter how much Yev longed to let it go.

Turning werewolf was a clear challenge, and blood would be spilled no matter what.

But only one of them would leave unscathed, and when Burian made a leap to the side, to unexpectedly change direction and strike, Yev was ready. Paying no mind to Olek’s whimper, he ducked and punched Burian’s unprotected stomach. His opponent gave a dull grunt but just as Yev was about to roll away, sharp teeth sank into his side, as if Burian wanted to bite off a chunk from his waist.

Tears stung Yev’s eyes, but he fought through the pain and rolled over with all his strength, crushing Burian to the ground with his own weight. The ferocious jaws opened to release a pained wail, but Yev would not give his opponent any chances and spun around, grabbing Burian by the throat and holding him down.

He was about to offer Burian a way out but remained quiet when the reddish eyes burned in the wide, hairy face, staring back with a promise of death. Any chances of negotiation were over.

Yev had clung to hope someone would intervene, but even Father must have understood this confrontation had been years in the making, and allowed the bloodshed between two brothers to take its course.

“Your back!” Radek yelled as Yev was about to swipe his claws at Burian.

How was his back in danger when Burian was at his mercy?

Fedir.

The backstabbing bastard launched himself at Yev and tore the fur off his skin with a single pass of his clawed hand. Yev stifled a roar, his head spinning from the pain as he turned to face his second opponent while Burian thrashed, attempting to bite Yev’s hand and kicking at him mercilessly.

The collective growl coming from the others at the unevenness of the fight was a hum at the back of his head, because Yev was set on surviving first, winning second. A flash of ginger hair was a distraction that cost him losing his grip on Burian’s throat, and his brother freed himself, aided by the icy mud.

Yev used the newfound freedom to launch a vicious attack on Fedir who would regret joining up with the wrong werewolf. He smashed his knuckles into Fedir’s ugly muzzle, easily breaking his nose and cheekbone in one go. The blood spraying Yev’s face was like war paint, and he reveled in its heat.

But just as he shoved the bastard down, ready to take on Burian, his older brother let out a frantic scream. Something sizzled, and the scent of cooked meat filled the air.

Father covered his mouth, the werewolves stepped back, and when Yev looked Burian’s way, he saw a small silver dagger stuck into the bastard’s side, searing werewolf flesh from the inside.

With eyes bulging from the shock, Burian stumbled forward, shuddering yet completely focused on Radek, who tried to step away but fell into the snow the moment he backed into the bench. His helpless cry was the lure to ease Burian’s suffering, and the monster went after Yev’s boy.

Burian would not let this go. Even if he survived the damage caused by the silver blade, he would never forget the pain and indignity of it,