Where Foxes Hunt with Wolves - K.A. Merikan Page 0,36
confirmation.
Ember rose in Yev’s lap and licked his cheek, which felt nice. It meant someone who had found out about Yev’s sexuality hadn’t rejected him. Also, a fox had a crush on him. Great.
He should talk to the witch about this. If Ember had been cursed, she surely knew some magical remedies.
With a soft sigh, Yev moved his hand from Ember’s nape to his tailbone, and his heart picked up its pace when the beautiful eyes shut in pleasure.
It was fitting that when he for once got to share a home with another gay man, said man was stuck in the form of an animal.
A branch cracked nearby, and he looked up in time to pick up a familiar scent. He stiffened, ready to protect Ember if need be. The fox curled up to him, as if sensing the tension, but Yev relaxed when he realized Burian’s scent was faint, and the one approaching was Olek, his younger brother.
Thankfully, he was in his human form, too, because they didn’t need Ember witnessing any of the werewolves shifting, even if he was a kind of shifter himself. Olek was twenty-seven, but seemed younger. His big green eyes and pouty mouth gave him a permanently confused expression, and the reddish brown hair falling on his face didn't help.
He didn’t look like a big bad werewolf at all, didn’t posture like one either, and Yev appreciated him for it.
“Hey! It’s getting so cold,” Olek said, approaching in fast strides and already taking off the large backpack no doubt containing a fresh transport of drugs. This was yet another thing Ember shouldn’t witness if he was human.
But it wasn’t like he could explain to Olek why they shouldn’t do business in front of a fox, so he’d just have to make sure Ember never said a word to anyone once they figured out how to change him back. His head was already aching from the effort of trying to come up with a sensible way to deal with all this.
“Yeah. Can’t say I’m complaining. Fewer people around,” Yev said and rose with Ember in his arms, since there was no point in hiding his existence. At least Olek wouldn’t be giving him as much shit for it as Burian would.
Olek cocked his head, and for once there was a reason for the permanent expression of surprise on his face. “What’s that?” he asked and put the backpack on Yev’s porch.
Yev didn’t understand why Olek was sent on these runs, which could’ve been dangerous, when his time would have been much better spent in the caves where they grew their plants. Despite having no degree in it, he knew more about biology than their dad, who was technically in charge of the whole operation. But education had never been high on the pack’s list of priorities, so maybe this was some sort of punishment for not caring about someone slighting him, or something like that.
Yev cleared his throat and led the way to the shed at the back of the lodge, with Ember’s warm body pressed to his chest. He tried to ignore just how sentient his new ‘pet’ was and focus on his guest, because he might say something he shouldn’t otherwise. “I’m fostering him. Got caught in snares.”
“How is he so tame, though?” Olek followed his lead through the snow, and his curious gaze on Ember was already making Yev want to snap his jaws on the hand reaching out for the furry head. “Can I pet him?”
Yev stilled, cuddling Ember more tightly. He’d have said yes only an hour ago, but couldn’t speak for Ember-the-man and grumbled, “See if it lets you. He must have been an abandoned pet, but even tamed foxes usually pick one person, so don’t get angry if he bites you.”
Olek laughed. "Okay, okay, fox daddy." But when he held his hand out to Ember, the fox let out a warning grumble and leaned closer to Yev while pushing Olek away with his paw.
Yev couldn’t deny that it made him feel that bit more special.
“Sorry. He’s been through a lot,” Yev said and walked over the virgin snow at the back. A single flick with his finger opened the latch, and they entered a space that had been used as a small stable before the time of cars. Nowadays, it was full of firewood and items Yev used for work, but the drugs would go down the hatch hidden under a small pile of hay.