Page 22 of Wild Bred

Every day, I notice something new. Every day, my affection for her unfolds more and more.

And every time I’m deep inside her, it becomes harder and harder to stop myself in time.

Three weeks in, Mackenna asks if I’m interested in doing some behavioral training with the foxes. I’m finishing up cleaning the owl enclosure when she asks me, and I must look surprised by her question, because she laughs and says, “You don’t have to say yes.”

“I’m here for whatever you need help with,” I say, turning off the hose I was using before stepping out of the enclosure and locking it behind me.

“This isn’t really a matter of need,” Mackenna says. “I just thought it might be something you would be interested in. I can tell you like the foxes.”

I’m amused by her comment. She isn’t wrong. Not to play favorites, but seeing the foxes is generally the best part of the rounds I make here every day.

“What kind of behavioral training are we talking about?” I ask as Mackenna and I start to walk together. “I haven’t noticed them misbehaving.”

Mackenna laughs. “No, it’s not that. It’s for healthcare management. As you’ve seen, they’re skittish when anyone enters their enclosure, and that makes it harder and more stressful when they need medical care. The goal is to get them more comfortable around people. Justin was working on getting them to extend a paw and set it in his hand, but he never quite succeeded. So, if you’re interested, I was thinking you could try.”

“Sure. I can give it a shot.”

When we reach the fox enclosure, Mackenna and I enter together. The foxes watch us cautiously from the other end, keeping their distance even as we crouch down to make ourselves less threatening.

“What now?” I ask.

“Encourage them to come over. Here,” she says, tucking a little bag of treats into my hand. “This will help.”

I call out to Wicky and Hazel in a soft, reassuring voice—not a way of speaking that comes naturally to me at all—tossing a few treats halfway between us to motivate them. Wicky pads over to eat one of the treats, but then immediately rushes away. Hazel, on the other hand, sniffs out the treat more slowly, but then remains standing where she is.

“Good stuff, huh? Here, Hazel,” I say, tossing another treat between us.

Four treats later, the little fox is only a foot away from me. It’s incredible to see her so close-up. Her rust-colored fur looks denser and silkier than I expected, and her eyes are surprisingly variegated in color.

“See if she’ll eat one out of your hand,” Mackenna whispers, her hushed voice brimming with excitement.

But when I hold out a treat in my palm, Hazel decides I’ve pushed too far. She dashes away, rushing back to the safety of the other side of the enclosure.

“Shit,” I mutter.

“No, Reid, that was great,” Mackenna says as we stand up and move toward the exit. “I’m impressed that she came as close as she did. That kind of trust can take a long time to build.”

“I’ll try again tomorrow.”

“That’d be lovely, if you have time. But please don’t feel discouraged if it takes a while to progress. It could take weeks, even months, to—” She abruptly cuts herself off as we step out of the enclosure. “Not that I expect you to come around here for months. I’m working on hiring someone new.”

“There’s no rush. I like helping out around here.”

She smiles at me. It’s one of those glittering smiles of hers. “I know I say this to you every day, but it really does mean the world to me. Someday I’m going to make it up to you. I promise.”

“There’s nothing for you to make up,” I say seriously. “I’m doing it because I want to be here.”

Her expression turns teasing. “You just like the perk of getting laid every night.”

Before I can respond, she moves in close and kisses me. It’s a quick, sweet kiss, but I catch her by the waist and pull her in for another one, slower this time. She exhales softly and relaxes into it, pressing her curves against me.

And in that moment, I know. The clarity I’ve been searching for is right here in front of me.

Pulling my lips from hers, I look deep into her eyes.

“I’m crazy about you, Mackenna,” I say, my chest thundering. “Like…in-love-with-you crazy about you.”

10

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