𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐔𝐬

CHAPTER 11: THE ONES WHO HUNT COYOTES

We were walking through the park of the town, holding paws awkwardly. We wanted to show affection, but both of us were very shy on the outside, so we had straight faces and a gay attitude.

After the mess my sister did on the town meeting the day before, no person dared to look weird at us. She was what was left of my family, except for my dad, but he was too busy for us, but it wasn't his fault though. I knew he was taking care of the entire town, our family included.

Will, on the other side, didn't have a family, so ours adopted him as their son when we started dating. We were technically brothers, but people have bigger problems than just two adopted brothers dating.

"Nate," said Will. "I... have to tell you something,"

The concerned tone in the voice of my fox boyfriend made me worried. He usually was very happy and optimistic, and I knew that something was wrong from the moment he asked that. And I could never be more right.

"What's wrong, Will?" I asked.

"No, no," he chuckled. "Nothing's wrong, it's just that... I was called for patrol,"

My face instantly beamed with excitement.

"That's great, man!" I cheered. "You were fighting for this your entire life!"

And yet, he didn't seem happy about it. My mood went back to concern again, and I grabbed his shoulder.

"What's wrong?" I repeated.

He hesitated before telling me, but I forced him to.

"When I was... fighting for this, my parents were dead, no one cared about taking care of me, and I wanted to get away from this place as fast as possible," he started. "And then I met you, and now I have a reason to come back here. What will you do if I... don't come back?"

"Don't say that!" I cut him. "You're the best shooter in the damn town, everyone knows that! If you don't come back then it's because the Butcher was there!"

He stared at me for a few seconds, then cracked a smile and started chuckling. I smiled as well, knowing that I knew every way t make him smile.

"The Butcher, really?" he said. "That's a story for kids,"

"Based on true facts," I argued.

"Even if it was true, it would be on the other side of the country," he said. "It wouldn't be able to walk all the way over here,"

I knew that there was absolutely no point for us to be discussing that, but I liked how goofy our conversations could be. We'd talk for hours and hours about the stupidest things and would still have a lot to go on about.

The nice moment passed and the tense silence returned. He started stroking the back of my ear, something he always did when he was stressed, and I grabbed his paw, holding it with mine both.

"If you don't want to go, then don't. But you'll never have this chance again," I said. "I don't want you to throw your future away for me,"

He put his other paw on our cluster.

"You are my future," he said.

"Honestly... now I get why people want you guys to stop doing this," said the mocking voice of my sister, Nicole. "You're clingy as hell,"

We instantly let our paws go and looked at her, both of us very much flustered. Nicole was the best sister in the entire world but could be very annoying sometimes, and I wouldn't wish for her to be different.

"Don't creep on us like that!" I said.

"I saved both your asses yesterday," she started. "I'm allowed to be an asshole for a little while,"