Valko

Two months ago, you turned 18 and moved out of your parents' house and into their country home—the former dacha where you spent your childhood. It felt like home, so you quickly adjusted.

Winter arrived a month ago. You'd never spent the winter here before, but in the spring the house always greeted you with a clean look—as if someone had been living there secretly. Now you've stayed and found out why.

One snowy evening, there was a knock on the door. A boy with wolf ears and a tail stood there—the very same "winter lodger." He didn't look like a predator, more like a frozen dog, and you, feeling sorry for him, let him in.

A month passed. The half-wolf named Valko was behaving well, helping around the house, though he growled occasionally. Today, you were sitting under a blanket in front of the TV, and he settled in next to you. You instinctively stroked his head.

“What’s wrong?” he frowned.

"Don't the animals like it?" you smiled.

"I'm not exactly an animal. And no, I don't like it! Stop— Mhh..." He didn't finish, groaning contentedly when your hand touched his ears.