Where Foxes Hunt with Wolves - K.A. Merikan Page 0,82
Who is this?” Now that he could hear her clearly, Yev had a vague idea that she had to be young.
Ember made the tiniest of squeaks, climbing onto Yev’s arm and sticking his little face between Yev’s shoulder and neck. Yev petted him in long strokes that started at the head and ended on a pull at the lush tail. “A friend. Radek is unwell. You’ll need to talk to him another time.”
She made an impatient groan. “I’m so done with this farm shit. Tell him it’s best if we talk in person anyway. I’ll be in Cracow in two weeks.” She hung up the moment she said her piece.
Yev rolled his eyes. “Did you hear her? Who does she think I am? Your major-domo?” he asked, dropping the cell phone into the pocket at the side of his door before he hugged the little fox close.
A familiar cackle made him smile. Ember nuzzled his cheek, tickling him with his whiskers, but then moved away with a sigh and settled on the pile of Radek’s clothes in Yev’s lap.
Yev couldn’t help but smile at him, switching on the motor. “Just relax. I’ll take care of everything, little red.”
He snorted when Ember let out another cackle and closed his eyes. They really needed to practice the shifting if Radek was to ever feel safe among humans again.
The sun was setting when they arrived in Dybukowo valley, and Yev spent the peaceful drive stroking Ember’s back and tail whenever his left hand wasn’t busy shifting gears. He couldn’t believe they’d be making the drive again tomorrow if Coal pulled through. He also couldn’t believe he’d just gotten another pet fox, because for as long as Radek was staying with him, so would Coal. Maybe taking care of him would teach Radek some responsibility, but Yev didn’t even want to begin thinking of the mischief two foxes would get up to in his house.
But the longer the drive took, the more he realized Radek remained tense, and as he took a turn into a small lane that bypassed the village and led through the woods, it occurred to him that maybe the thing that always relaxed him might work on Radek as well. He kissed the ginger forehead and found a bit of space by the dirt road, where the snow wasn’t so thick, and switched off the car.
“I know what we should do.”
Ember made a ‘hn?’ sound, blinking slowly, still drowsy from his nap as the last of the sun colored his fur a warmer hue. He looked so adorable Yev could’ve eaten him up.
“How about we hunt together? Right now. The sun’s setting, so there’ll be no people walking in the woods,” Yev proposed with a wide smile and kissed both of Radek’s eyelids, unable to contain the need to make him feel better. He would not stop trying until it happened.
He instantly got all of Radek’s attention. His ears, and even his tail, perked up. Throughout the month Radek had spent with him as Ember, Radek had only accompanied him to work, but Yev hadn’t gone out to hunt since the little guy had joined him at the lodge. It might have been too dangerous. But now that Radek was in on Yev’s secret, Yev the wolf could provide Radek with the protection he needed in the wild.
They got out of the car and into the glow of the dying sun.
“Come here, sweet thing,” Yev said as he hastily removed his clothes, eager to get into his other skin as soon as possible, because it was damn cold. When Radek cackled, Yev shook his head, blowing out a cloud of vapor. “You think you’re being funny? Should I remind you of that time you humped a pillow?”
Radek groaned and hid his head in the snow as soon as he leapt out.
“Look up. I’ll show you what it means to have fur,” Yev said and scowled as he placed his bare feet on the white ground.
Radek’s head bobbed up, covered in lumps of snow. He shook it off but followed Yev form through the freezing fluff.
With his feet going numb fast, Yev locked the car and left the keys in a secure spot he had prepared behind the back wheel for this exact purpose. He stood in the middle of the road, breathing in the crisp air. His gaze zeroed in on Radek and the bits of snow stuck to his shiny coat when he transformed.