Where Foxes Hunt with Wolves - K.A. Merikan Page 0,59

arrive for the night. Understood?”

Radek nodded with a small frown. "I guess I won’t be going to work with you this time?"

Yev shrugged, already antsy. “Better not.”

"Have a good day," Radek offered, but all Yev could think of was that the boy didn't have any pants, and that the flesh of his freckled ass sat straight on the wooden seat, and was likely stuck to it with a little bit of sweat.

Distracted, he pushed the last of the bread and eggs into his mouth, then rushed upstairs to shower and dress for the day.

He could not wait for the icy water to wash the edge of arousal down the drain.

Chapter 12 – Radek

A werewolf.

An actual werewolf.

Just when Radek was getting accustomed to the fact of his own magical existence, Yev had thrown that grenade into the mix. He couldn’t even blame Yev for not telling him sooner, because everyone had their secrets, and that was a big one. But how was he to get over how stunning Yev was in his wolf form? All thick black fur Radek could see himself cuddling up to. Not in a sexual way, thank you very much, but he’d felt so safe when he’d wrapped his arms around the giant wolf’s neck.

After a month spent in Ember’s skin it was now strange to be hairless. Though he finally had the answer to why the hair on his forearms and calves was black—it was the color of his fox legs. And since the fox form wasn't a separate being, it made sense that the amputation had affected his human form too, no matter how much he wanted to reject that reality.

He’d gotten used to not having a front paw, especially that he’d lost it on the first night in his vulpine body, but missing a hand had different implications. On top of that, it had been his dominant limb. His life would change forever, and he wasn’t ready to face it.

He’d lost his red string bracelet when he’d first transformed, so he found a sewing kit and had managed to fashion himself a new one with red thread. He’d had to use his mouth and hand as he worked, and it took way more time than was reasonable, but when he managed to get the good luck charm on his left wrist, he felt much better.

He closed his eyes, curling up under the comforter in Yev’s wide bed and willed himself to get smaller, to grow fur and become the cute, carefree fox Yev petted without second-guessing himself.

He resisted the urge to look out of the window when Yev’s truck arrived, dreaming of moss and grass under his paws. Of air smelling like damp earth and leaves while he ran after a rabbit. In those fantasies, woven on the very edge of reality and sleep, he chased his prey between the trees while another animal ran alongside him, just beyond the reach of his gaze. Its breath was even, its gait heavy. They would soon share a meal.

Radek awoke, startled to see the room had gone dark since he’d last closed his eyes. He exhaled the breath he’d been holding, gaze focused on the bright glow sneaking in through the curtains.

What time was it?

The house was silent, but he could smell Yev downstairs. He now understood why his senses had always been so sharp, but since his shift back into human form, it was as if he’d aligned with his fox nature and became even more sensitive.

Radek hesitated, convinced his right palm was back where it belonged, but one glance confirmed it was gone. He hated the stump more than he could express. Every little thing he’d tried doing since Yev had left proved impossible. He’d attempted doing the dishes, sweeping, braiding his hair and failed every time. He couldn’t even zip up a hoodie on his own so he’d given up at some point and settled for sleeping in Yev’s old T-shirt. It was the next best thing to Yev as it smelled of him and offered the comfort of soft fabric.

Having his advances rejected had stung and Radek couldn’t keep pushing, because that wouldn’t have been right. After all Yev had done for him, Radek had to respect his wishes, whether they made sense or not. Why would Yev even want to obey the rules of a bunch of homophobic werewolves when they could’ve been fucking each other’s brains out?

Radek once more looked at the stump and couldn’t help the sob forming in