He’s a Fox Ch 64

Chapter 64

Lost in anxious concentration, Hohyun flinched violently as a sudden chill grazed his skin; he jerked backward so hard that he almost cracked his head against the wall behind the bed’s headboard. Luckily, Kangwoon’s quick hand shot out and steadied him, sparing his skull.

Heart pounding thunderous against his ribs, the fox tilted up—and found himself staring into the tiger’s furrowed brow. Placing the recovered cup of water onto the nightstand, Kangwoon’s deep voice murmured brief but sincere concern.

“Careful—don’t hurt yourself.”

“Y-yes…”

Muttering thanks, the fox’s eyes drifted downward in spite of himself. This time, the man was fully dressed, civilized and respectable—but the sight alone made Hohyun remember too vividly how not dressed he had been earlier. Throat dry, he swallowed painfully, and quickly lifted the cold water his boss had just brought.

Condensation sparkled across the glass. He tilted it back and—

“Ah!”

A sharp sting sparked lightning across his tongue, so harsh that tears blurred his vision. He hadn’t even sipped; pain alone made his grip falter. The full glass nearly spilled—a disaster narrowly avoided when the tiger, who’d been watching closely all along, caught it mid-fall without effort.

But this time, the culprit wasn’t clumsiness. It was his tongue.

Hand covering his mouth, the fox reeled. His arms and legs aching had been one thing, but a stinging tongue made no sense. Last night’s meal had been tender ribs—no spice, no scratch. And yet it burned. As he gingerly prodded his own palate, eyes watering, Kangwoon slid onto the edge of the bed with grave focus.

“Open up. Let me see.”

“…Wh-what?”

“Your mouth. Say ‘ah.’”

The bed was wide—but the tiger sat right at his side, so close the air itself thickened. Still, the way he spoke implied he already knew why. Cautiously, Hohyun parted lips. A tilt of the predator’s head, a hum of disapproval.

“I put some ointment on you while you were asleep, but it’s still swollen.”

“……”

No wonder his mouth had felt slick when he woke. He hadn’t realized it was medicine.

From the drawer, the tiger produced a tube of ointment. Unscrewing the cap, he readied his own hand to apply it. The fox squeaked in panic.

“I-I can do it myself!”

An arched brow, a faint smile—but obligingly, Kangwoon set it onto the fox’s lap. Terrified he might change his mind, Hohyun quickly smeared a heap and shoved it into his mouth. He should have dabbed the ointment onto inflamed spots with a fingertip, but under the tiger’s gaze, he just slathered broadly. Sticky film coated his tongue, a sensation like swallowing a frog’s skin.

Awkward grimace half-hidden by his hands, he looked pathetically amphibian. Kangwoon sighed gently.

“Sorry. It’s probably because my shifting wasn’t… complete.”

“…What?”

The fox blinked. The tiger looked utterly human now—no fur, no claws, no visible half-beast remnants. What did “not complete” even mean? And what did his imperfect transformation have to do with Hohyun’s tongue?

The tiger tapped his own lips lightly.

“…M-mouth? What…”

The fox was still lost. Only then did Kangwoon chuckle under his breath. Of course—the fox was Canidae. He wouldn’t know. Exhaling, the tiger gave demonstration.

He tugged the fox’s hand, drew his index finger toward his lips, and—lightly grazed it between his teeth.

Hohyun froze. Before he could protest, a massive tongue rasped across the digit in deliberate swipe.

Rough. Scratchy like sandpaper.

And suddenly it made sense.

The barbs. Everyone knew felines’ tongues were covered in tiny backward-facing spines. Kangwoon’s had raked across inside of his mouth. The fox’s skin still smarted with the burn of those kisses.

Blood roared in his ears as color surged to his face. No mirror needed: his blush must rival a tomato patch. He slammed hand against his cheek, trying to cool it down.

The tiger only laughed under his breath, fond amusement glittering in his eyes. His palm ruffled through the fox’s already-mussed black hair until it stuck out everywhere like a nest.

“Hungry?”

“…A little.”

“Then I’ll prepare something. Come when you’re ready.”

Smooth voice, warm as honey, followed him out the door.

The moment it clicked closed, Hohyun pinched his own cheek savagely. Ahhh! It didn’t break the dream. Pain was real. The fox collapsed face-first into the pillow. What the hell is happening.

The cushion reeked of tiger. Flailing his feet against the bed, red-faced, he relished and feared equal measure.

Later, still trembling, he struggled to his feet, wandered into the attached bathroom. Grabbing the tiger’s robe off the hook, he slipped inside it gratefully. It was loose, but at least it clothed.

Relief lasted only until he raised his eyes to the mirror. Then—horror.

“…What is THIS?!”

His reflection stared back: swollen eyes, messy hair—fine. But that wasn’t all. Across cheeks, neck, arms—even stomach—marks. Bold, red, ring-shaped welts and bites.

Most striking: his face. The beauty mark beneath his eye was surrounded by reddened patch, and a full jaw-shaped impression curved across his opposite cheek, too neat to fade.

He slapped at it furiously, but the imprint stayed. Square, perfect teeth. His first reaction, absurdly—ah, such even teeth. A dentist would love this. He cursed himself, dragging thoughts back to sanity.

And yet the truth remained. His body looked less like “lover’s afterglow” and more like “leftovers from a meal.”

Staring in mute horror, he cinched the robe tighter. He couldn’t wander halls like this. Should he risk sprinting back to his room half-naked? Or commit yet another crime—stealing clothes from his employer’s drawers?

Jaw tightened, he decided: better disgrace in public than trespass in private.

But when he flung open the door—ready to dash—a bundle tripped at his feet. Soft fabric, folded neat. Clothes, waiting.

Placed there. For him.