The trek back to the village was quiet but surprisingly quick. He didn't seem to want to speak much which I was fine with it but, I felt his eyes on my back the entire time which kept me on edge. 

At the edge of town he finally spoke.

“ I’ll be taking my leave here. Tell them to fetch the rest.”

I turned my horse at the loud wet snap. He had ripped off the back left leg of the boar and plopped the remainder of the body to the side. My eyebrows rose as he fixed his silver hair from his forehead. A small bead of sweat above his brow. Thank god he was showing a bit of weariness. He carried that thing the entire way without a break.

My cheeks flushed as our eyes met again.

     “I’ll be seeing you.” he said with that devilish smile. Before I could ask what that had meant,  he was gone. 

I sat there confused a moment, then brushed it off.

Chapter 2:

              After three hours of appraising and shoving food down my face in celebration oh killing the beast, the villager's settled down a bit and let me wander off on my own. This was a rather nice place. Plenty of shops and a lot of warm styled houses. A few of the local chickens and home animals roamed around the empty streets. Seeming like they were up to no good without any supervision.

I watched the bright blue clouds float in the dark abyss of a sky. A full moon hung overhead brightening all the dark shadows that hid between buildings.

An old man with a hunched back opened a sliding wooden door and began shaking out a rug. Overhead of him was a sign that showed a bathhouse. I felt my heart burst in my chest.

The man looked over at me with a toothless grin and motioned me over. I don’t think I ever ran so excited to anything in my life.

      After much more talking than I wanted, he pointed me to my own private room and vigorous hand shaking, offering loads of service but I really just want to relax and bathe!

The room was huge! All wooden walls and a large underground bath that could easily fit five others. Many different sized candles lit the room with some deep green plants that thrived off the wet air. It smelled crisp and refreshing.

     I ripped off my disgusting clothes and placed them in a basket beside the door where the man told me to put them. Offering to wash them as one of the services. I place my sword and armor beside it.

I noticed a basket that lay many large white towels and what looked like a neatly folded robe.

I lightly tipped my toe into the clear bath. Testing the waters to make sure it wouldn't burn. It felt perfect. I slipped into the steaming water. As my days of dirt float atop the rippling surface I noticed small stings erupt through my body. Scratches I had not realized I had.

It felt like a good burn so I wondered if there was medicine in the bath.

I let out a relaxed sigh as I rested my body, completely submerged. I laid my head back onto the edge of the pool softly floating above the underwater seating. The small echo of the happy town was all that filled my ears. Followed by the small crackle of the fire near that kept the bath warm.

I heard the old man murmur something out the door but couldn't quite make out what he had said. Too tired to open my eyes I just ignored it. Until the sound of the door opening had me sluggishly peek.

      “ I thought I caught your scent here.” The Lycan was standing at the doorway. That same sexy smile on his thin lips. I felt my eyes widen. My mind froze. I honestly didn't think I'd see him again. even the more so soon!

I stood naturally defensive 

He ran his fingers threw his silver bangs, brushing them away from his eyes.

      “ Relax. I've just come to wash your hair, Gil. ” The look in his eye would have made me quiver if I wasn't so on edge.

I didn't have time to give a response before he slipped out of his tight black clothing revealing his pale fit body. His fluffy looking tail wagged stiffly as if he were trying to hold it back.

        ‘Holy fuck….what is with this Lycan?’ I thought feeling my lower half immediately respond to his stunning figure.

‘I mean, I know they are prone to liking humans. It's something with a bond they share with us because of the human characteristic they have but fuck, I've never heard of them being so forward with their…. actions. Was he wanting to sleep with me or something? Or is he just really comfortable with himself?’ I couldn’t wrap my head around it.

He tipped his toe into the bath and slowly moved in toward me. I watched in amazement as the water slowly trailed up his toned legs to sharp pale hips. His skin was completely free of any scars or markings unlike me. It made me feel strange to see such a clean body. Even where I was from the women had battle and wound scars.