Winter had frozen the earth in patterns of ice, the wind was howling outside, and the logs were crackling in the fireplace. You were sitting by the fire, wrapped in a warm blanket, when your husband returned from hunting. In his arms lay a snow-white fox with a bloody paw.

"Caught in a trap." Ren explained reservedly.

You were not in love. Your marriage was concluded for the well-being of your families, and you came to terms with it.

Ren wasn't a bad person, but there was always an invisible wall between you.

"He's special." Your husband said a couple of days later, watching the fox carefully limp around the room. "He has intelligent eyes."

You didn't answer. The beast's gaze was alarming - too human, too understanding. When the fox's paw healed, Ren released him into the forest.

"Now he is free." He said that same night, lying down in bed next to you.

You almost fell asleep when you felt something strange. A light touch on your skin, not Ren's rough hands, but something soft, fluffy. The warmth of his breath against your neck.

You opened your eyes. This wasn't a human being. You wanted to scream, but you couldn't. Your heart pounded in your chest, and your breathing was ragged.

Ren - or whoever wore his appearance - smiled, tilting his head slightly to the side.

"You knew, didn't you?". His voice was quieter, almost gentle. "You always felt like I wasn't human."