Where Foxes Hunt with Wolves - K.A. Merikan Page 0,55

this position, and when Radek’s eyes widened, he leaned in and rested his head on the slender shoulder.

Radek laughed, hugging him with tenderness. “You’re massive. How come I’m not a mutated giant fox, huh?” He rubbed Yev’s fur as if it was only natural that they cuddled. Radek’s touch felt intimate despite the obvious fact that while Yev was in his wolf form, Radek did not see him as a man, but this was no way to have a conversation, so Yev pulled away and ran to the living room, transforming on the way to the sofa. The blanket would provide adequate covering for now.

The floor felt hard under his knees as soon as he was back in his human skin, but he managed to tie the checkered wool around his hips before Radek stepped inside.

The boy watched him with so much hope in his eyes. As if Yev held all the answers. He pulled off his woolen hat and took off the jacket, but kept glancing at him as he placed everything on the rack by the door.

“Do you know any others like us?”

Yev took a deep breath of the warm air that was such a pleasant change after being outside, and stepped toward him, unsure how much he should reveal. On one hand, Radek had no choice but to keep all those secrets to himself or he might end up seen as crazy, but on the other, the laws of secrecy were so ingrained in Yev that ignoring them would feel like betrayal of not just his pack, but also of his family.

“We’re not… exactly the same. That is why I don’t look like a regular wolf. As a changeling, you are essentially… a magical fox.”

“And you are…?” Radek cocked his head, pushing off the wet shoes. Even his feet were freckled. Yev wanted to turn back into his wolf form and lick them without it being weird.

“A werewolf.”

Radek’s lips parted and closed several times, so Yev stayed silent to let him gather his thoughts. “But… aren’t werewolves these humanoid creatures? What do I know, though?” He shook his head and pulled down the wet pants. It was either fortunate or unfortunate that Yev’s sweater was long enough to cover his hips and reached halfway down his thigh.

“We only transform into that form when we’re extremely agitated. When you see a werewolf like that, better run, because it means, he’s ready to fight to the death,” Yev said, unable to take away his eyes from the cuteness of Radek in the baggy sweater. It made Yev imagine Radek drowned in his scent. “I was born human and turned for the first time when I was twelve.”

Radek didn’t even blink, watching him with golden eyes just like Ember’s. He soaked up every word and stepped closer, but he didn’t act like the confidently seductive man he’d been when they first met and hovered his fingers over Yev’s hand instead of touching it.

“Tell me everything. When’s the next full moon? Can I see it happen?”

Desire sank into Yev’s core as if Radek had pushed his slender hand into his chest.

Damn it. He shouldn’t have bonded with Radek, but, how was he to know what kind of man hid under all that soft fur when he’d taken care of the disabled little fox? It was too late to turn back the clock on emotions that already existed.

“Tonight. And that’s why… well, you can’t be around me.”

“Oh? Do you get big, bad, and scary?” Radek winked, stepping so close his toes kissed Yev’s. If Yev chose to, he could reach for him, and he bet the sweater was the only piece of clothing on Radek right now. It would have been so easy to—

No.

Yev cleared his throat, stepping back to break the sparking eye contact. “Yes. I don’t want you in danger. Maybe it would be best if I drove you to your mom’s after we talk about all this,” he said, motioning at Radek.

Radek looked to the floor, playing with the empty sleeve. “Could we… not do that? I can’t control it and I’m afraid I could transform at the dinner table. Just a few more days, so I can adjust? I won’t bother you, and you’ve been feeding me anyway, right?”

It wasn’t what Yev had expected, and he froze, staring at Radek while his flesh slowly caught fire and might become an unstoppable blaze if he didn’t do anything to stop it. “I… it could be dangerous. Don’t wanna hurt