Where Foxes Hunt with Wolves (Folk Lore 2)

But it meant loyalty, and he trusted it would be mutual.

The alpha pulled away, holding Radek at arms’ length, and this time there was a faint smile gracing his tough yet noble features. His gaze darted to Yev moments later, and father and son touched their foreheads, standing next to Radek while the pack waited.

Yev’s father stepped back, and his chest expanded when he took a deep breath. “We welcome you!”

The same words were repeated by a choir of firm, masculine voices three times, and Radek felt his ears redden as Yev pulled him aside so their guests could enter. His heart pounded so fast he was getting lightheaded, but that firm hug, however brief, left him unexpectedly touched. He’d really gained a new family, so maybe it didn’t matter that he might never meet any of his fox relatives.

He had warned Mother, Mrs. Irena, and Iga that Yev’s family lived by a set of local traditions which might seem strange to outsiders, but he suspected none of them understood the exchange anyway. Mom appeared tired earlier, so he assumed Mrs. Irena would be driving her home soon, but neither of them would miss out on a chance to meet Radek’s in-laws.

Once the strange formalities were over, the guests poured into the sanctuary and toward the tables stacked with food. No longer keeping their voices down, older men jokingly argued who would get the hog’s head, and a group of women was already asking where they could see all the foxes.

Only now, Radek spotted that a whole bunch of children had been brought as well, and knowing how precious those were to the pack, he had to smile. Their presence meant trust.

“My brother told me he likes Iga,” Yev whispered into Radek’s ear. It was so unexpected he flinched, instantly searching for his friend in the crowd of guests scattering around the cleaned-up yard.

“Say what?”

“You heard me. How about we ask him to help her with the hog?” Yev whispered with a wide smile that spoke of relief while everyone congregated around the fire.

Olek couldn’t have been as shy as Yev had suggested, because when Radek found Iga by the roast, the guy was already there, offering to carve the meat for her. This would be either the fulfillment of Iga’s dream about a smart and sensitive mountain man, or a disaster. Only time would tell.

Radek’s mom left before the party went into full swing. Her meeting with Yev's parents had been somewhat stiff but Rome hadn’t been built in a day.

Radek had beer to cheer him up and live music, because as it turned out some of the werewolves had brought instruments with them. They played a mixture of folklore and pop that rendered the speakers Radek had prepared obsolete, but he loved this development far too much to worry about a change in plans.

At midnight, some kind of game of howling to the moon had erupted, which Radek didn’t fully understand, but all that mattered was that his guests were fed and having fun. The hog roast had turned out to be an all over win with the carnivorous pack, and he was having sandwich number four himself—sourdough bread filled with pork so juicy, the fat kept drizzling down his hand when he bit in.

He had no idea how the werewolves managed to dance on an impromptu floor by the gate with their stomachs full of such delicious yet heavy fare. He and Yev decided to oversee the fox enclosure instead. It housed those animals who’d made the most progress and were the friendliest toward people. Trauma made some of the others afraid of contact with anyone but Radek himself, but those were happy to interact and earn some treats.

Radek still only allowed groups of five to go in at one time, and watched over the playtime so he could intervene if need arose. But the young women and children were charmed by the foxes, and while the male werewolves seemed hesitant to interact with Radek’s charges, they did watch their partners and offspring from behind the mesh fence.

Yev’s plan to make Iga and Olek chat was a success, and they hadn’t left one another’s side since the start of the party, chatting about something that seemed to excite her greatly.

Maybe Iga could really find a home in this valley she used to detest so much?

“Yev? Radek?” The familiar rasp sent a chill down Radek’s spine, but he turned around to face the pack alpha, who approached them with a large beer cup in hand.

Yev took a deep breath, reminding himself they were now family, and nodded. “Hope you’re having fun.”

“You thought of everything,” Yev’s dad said and leaned against the fence next to them as the howling game went on in the background.

Yev cleared his throat, and squeezed Radek’s elbow, as if he needed reassurance. “It’s the celebration of my mate. I’d have done more if I could.”