Where Foxes Hunt with Wolves (Folk Lore 2)

“New cologne,” Yev said without a pause. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

Burian huffed and held out a fist-sized packet to Yev. “Dad told me to bring you these.”

Yev recognized the moonshrooms by scent alone, and sighed in relief. Last month, he’d had to travel deep into the woods and was still afraid he’d hurt someone if he wasn’t careful enough. With those, his instinct to shift into a huge humanoid werewolf with a thirst for raw meat, would remain suppressed as long as he didn’t expose himself to the moonlight. It would be a rough night, likely sleepless, but he’d stay in control at least.

He exhaled, smiling softly but struggled to keep the expression for long when his ears picked up the creak of the floor upstairs. He pressed his hand to Burian’s back the moment he spotted Fedir frowning and looking up. If Yev led Burian away, Fedir would follow. He guided them to the shed, so they’d be farther from the door.

“That’s very generous of you. Thank you for coming all the way here,” Yev said, hoping his submissive attitude would pander to Burian.

His brother shook his head, turning toward the house with a frown, but a fortunate gust of wind dissolved the sound and scent coming from that direction. “Dad sends it. I believe banishment shouldn’t come with perks. If you can’t handle the rules, you shouldn’t reap the benefits of being a part of our community.” Even for Burian, the words were colder than the snow under Yev’s feet, and only reminded him just how much he’d transgressed this time. Having a boy in his bed and wanting him was bad enough. But that boy had been meant to ‘disappear', and Yev had protected him instead.

“Charming as always. The holidays must have been fun at home,” Yev said as he opened the shed with more force than strictly necessary.

“Maybe next year, you and your wife can find out,” Burian said and blinked at the shed. “Wait. Why did you take us here?”

Yev could not allow Burian to discover Radek was still alive. He was glad the icy air prevented him from getting sweaty under Burian’s scrutiny. His closest family would have to act as if they didn’t know him anymore, and if he came anywhere close to their settlement, he’d be fair game to any of the werewolves.

He’d be truly and completely alone, with no one to understand him.

He needed to take Radek home and convince him to leave Dybukowo as soon as Burian and Fedir were gone.

“I’m not getting a mate. Why are you so pushy? Yulia still not pregnant?” There. He could be an asshole too.

“If there’s no business you want to discuss, we’re done here.” Burian pushed at his chest and ignored the open shed, his lips lifting to reveal long canines, and Fedir’s did the same as if they were mirror images.

Yev shrugged, but would prod if that meant Burian was distracted. “That’s the risk with human mates. Maybe Father would approve a widow’s ritual to release her? The situation is exceptional after all…”

Burian grabbed Yev’s jaw with a growl of warning. “Shut the fuck up. You’re the last person to lecture me on choosing a mate.”

“Fine. Tell everyone I said hi, unless you’re incapable of ever saying anything nice. Maybe that’s why the Moon-eyed God hasn’t yet graced you with a pup?”

Burian walked off, stomping as if the snow had personally offended him. Fedir showed Yev the finger, and they were off. If it had been up to Burian, he’d have never brought the moonshrooms here. It was a good thing he still respected their father enough to go with his orders. Spending the night at home, even if on edge, would be preferable to waking up in a pile of snow in fuck-knows-where come next morning. Last month, Yev must have eaten a whole deer while in his werewolf form, because he’d been bloated for days after, as if he were a snake digesting prey his body wasn’t equipped to handle within the usual time frame.

He rubbed his face and looked down to his fabric slippers, which had soaked through from walking in the snow, and were starting to give him grief.

Back to the drawing board. Back to Radek, who definitely should not stay in the lodge any longer.

Yev exhaled and walked back inside, intent on talking things through with the boy before sending him on his way. With the full moon coming tonight, Radek would be way safer and more comfortable at his mother’s.

But Yev knew something was wrong the moment he closed the door behind him. Radek’s scent still hung in the air downstairs, as if he’d just walked past. He stepped onto the stairs, looking up as if it could help him establish where the boy was.

“Radek?”

No answer. Yev took one more glance at the living room—because for all he knew, Radek could have shifted again—and then he saw his answer. The letter blocks Yev had bought to communicate with Ember lay on the table, arranged into: SORY. With a spelling mistake, because there was only one of each letter in the set.