“My instincts are never wrong,” Tori said, tossing the pouch in her hand. The coins inside jingled.

  “Hmm,” I hummed. “What do you mean?”

  “I knew you’d pay me back quickly.”

  “Is that enough?”

  “Yeah, but you would be left broke again. So we’ll split the money, and you’ll give me back at least half the debt.”

  “How much did we get for Mirage?”

  “Two hundred ryns. The reward was actually higher, but the captain cut it because we didn't catch Mirage’s whole group.”

  I nodded slowly. It seemed like no one really cared about those men. The fact that Mari had killed them was just an excuse to pay us less money and didn’t seem to bother the guards much.

  “We’ll split it at the inn, okay?” Tori asked.

  “Yeah,” I replied.

  “I know a pce where we can stay for the night,” Tori said. “But it’s quite early.”

  “Is there a pce here where we could train, like the arena in Ortas?” I asked.

  “There’s an arena in every bigger city. There should be one here too,” Tori replied.

  “Mari, let’s do our first training,” I said, gncing toward her. She was supposed to teach me how to fight using a spear, and perhaps if not talking, then at least training would distract her from what she had done.

  She pressed her lips in a thin line but nodded.

  We walked through the city for a few minutes, asking people for directions before we found our way to the arena. Nothing was happening there at the time, so we could just enter and practice for free.

  Tori split off from the group to train with her sword on a dummy, as Azura and Zoe sat on the ground together.

  Mari gave me some basic advice and information on how to hold the spear correctly, how to attack and defend. Using her own Ice Spear, she showed me movements that I then repeated many times, trying to have correct form and learning better control of my weapon.

  She said the key was to stay low, keep good footwork, control the distance, and use the spear to block their advances.

  After more than an hour of training, I was still working on my accuracy—striking different parts of the wooden target while keeping my distance—when I noticed Mari watching me with a confused look, as if something was on her mind. I paused and turned to face her.

  “Am I doing something wrong?” I asked.

  “Aren’t you tired? Don’t your arms or back hurt?” she asked, her gaze lingering on my shoulders.

  I hesitated. We’d been at it for over an hour with that heavy spear, and yet… nothing. No soreness, no real fatigue. I should be feeling it—if I were normal. But she didn’t know about my css.

  I gave a small ugh and rubbed the back of my neck, gncing briefly toward Zoe and Azura chatting nearby. “You know, I’m in pretty good shape,” I said.

  “Are you showing off?” Mari asked directly. Just as I hoped she would.

  I chuckled, as if embarrassed. “No, come on. But… if you’re tired, we can stop for today,” I added.

  “Men,” she muttered, rolling her eyes.

  “Great,” I said and walked toward Zoe and Azura.

  Tori joined us moments ter, and we wrapped up our training before heading to an inn. The pce had plenty of bedrooms and bathrooms, but if we wanted to eat, we had to go to the tavern across the street.

  We rented two rooms—one with a single bed for Mari, and the other with a double bed. The hostess assured us it could easily fit four people, giving us a knowing smile.

  We dropped off our stuff and headed to the baths. Mari and Tori each went into a separate bathroom, but I was left with a problem. The bath was big enough for two—and I had two women by my side.

  “Master, go bathe with Azura,” Zoe said, pushing the two of us toward one of the bathrooms.

  “Are you sure?” I asked.

  “I’ve already had a bath with you. Go take care of her now,” she said with a wink, stepping into the bathroom next door.

  I stepped into the bathroom, realizing it was the perfect chance to talk to Azura. She’d stay in her human form, and we’d finally have a moment alone.

  The bathtub stood in the middle of the room. I turned on the water, only then realizing I wasn’t even sure if Azura wanted to bathe with me. I opened my mouth to ask—but when I turned around, she was already standing there, completely naked.

  Her slim, delicate body stood fully exposed before me. Her gaze was lowered, fixed on the floor between us. Her small breasts rose and fell with each breath, dark nipples stiff with anticipation. Her hands rested on her stomach, just above the dark patch of hair hiding her pussy from view.

  I stepped closer, cupped her cheek, and gently tilted her head up before pressing my lips to hers. Her hands came to rest on my chest as she melted into the kiss. Our mouths parted slightly, and our tongues met in slow, hungry strokes—wet, deep, and full of heat.

  “God, you are beautiful,” I whispered.

  Azura lowered her gaze, her head tilting down shyly.

  I ran my fingers slowly through her dark hair, then gently took her hand and guided her toward the bath. As the steam rose around us, I stripped off my clothes in one motion, my cock already throbbing with anticipation, and stepped into the warm water.

  “Sit here,” I said, pointing between my legs.

  Azura stepped in slowly, lowering herself between my thighs, her back resting against me—just like Zoe had done days ago at Samara’s pce.

  I grabbed Azura’s hips and pulled her closer, until her body pressed fully against mine, her head resting on my chest.

  My hands slid around her front, first caressing her smooth stomach, then moving up to her small breasts. I circled her areo with the tip of my finger before giving her nipple a gentle flick.

  She let out a quiet sound, something between a sigh and a growl, her lips closed, her body still rexed against mine.

  When I cupped both her tits in my hands and began to slowly tease them, she moaned softly, melting even more into my touch.

  “Why did you follow us?” I asked, my voice low. “After we… killed your pack.”

  Azura gnced up at me for a moment before her eyes dropped again. “I didn’t know what else to do,” she whispered.

  “Then you saved us,” I said.

  “You saved me first.”

  I sighed. Saving her from Marcus hadn’t felt like enough to make up for killing her entire pack.

  “I’m sorry for what we did to your pack,” I whispered, holding her small body close.

  Azura hummed but didn’t say anything.

  My hands slid from her tits to her arms, and I began to gently wash her. When I returned to her stomach, she shifted—pressing her ass against my cock, rubbing it slowly with subtle movements. She still wasn’t looking at me, but I could feel her intent.

  I grabbed her hips and lifted her slightly. She rose to her knees to help me, and I shifted her until the head of my cock brushed against her folds. A soft moan escaped her lips. Then she reached down between us, wrapped her fingers around my shaft, and guided me inside.

  Her tight warmth welcomed me slowly as I lowered her onto me, inch by inch, until she was seated fully on my p, her pussy wrapped snugly around me. She let out a trembling moan and rested her head against my chest.

  “Much better,” I murmured, returning to gently wash her body—this time with my cock buried deep inside her.

  “This pack is better,” Azura whispered.

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’re stronger. You have more food,” she said softly. “And you treat me better.”

  “They treated you badly?” I asked.

  She hummed quietly, thinking for a moment before speaking.

  “I think they knew I was different. They didn’t kill me—like they did other wolves we met—but they never let me sleep near them. They’d sh out if I got too close. They left me scraps. If there were scraps. And they never…”

  She trailed off, then slowly lifted her hips and sank back down. Her pussy slid along my length, making her gasp.

  “…wanted to fuck me,” she finished.

  I wrapped my arms around her, wondering how it had happened that yet another outcast, rejected by those around her, had ended up with me.

  “Now you are part of my pack,” I said. “I will take care of you.”

  Azura hummed, sounding happy, as she rexed against my chest.

  We y there for a while, my hard shaft still buried in her warmth. She squeezed around me, sending waves of pressure that made it harder to think clearly, the urge to grab her and thrust deep building with each passing second.

  Azura sniffled before speaking again. “D-Do you think… you’ll find the boratory?”

  I turned my head and saw the tears in her eyes as she looked at me.

  “I don’t know,” I said softly. “But I’ll try. And if we find it, we’ll get your mom out. I promise.”

  Azura let out a small, broken whine and began crying in my arms.

  I held her tighter, wrapping myself around her like I could protect her from the world.

  “But you’re our only hope,” I added gently.

  “I… I don’t remember,” she whispered, before sobs took over again.

  I kept holding her, her body trembling in my arms as I whispered, “It’s okay. We’ll find a way.”

  She didn’t answer—just buried herself deeper into my chest, crying harder.

  Slowly, her breathing calmed, and we rested in the warm water. Then, without a word, Azura lifted her hips. My cock slipped partway out of her soaked pussy. I thought she was going to get out of the bath, and I reached to help her—but she stopped halfway, then sank back down, her ass spping softly against my thighs. I groaned as I slid back into her.

  Azura whimpered, but rose again—this time I helped her move, guiding her rhythm. She sank onto me again, slow and steady.

  Her shoulders rested against my chest as I leaned back, letting her ride me. Our movements were slow, deliberate, intimate. She couldn’t bounce wildly in this position, but she made up for it with smooth, relentless rolls of her hips.

  I held one hand at her waist, helping her keep her bance, while the other slid over her stomach and lower.

  My fingers brushed through the soft bck curls between her legs, until I found the pce where we were joined. Her slick folds parted around me, and just above them, I felt her swollen clit—hard and sensitive.

  I began to circle it gently with my fingertips. Azura moaned loudly and gripped the edge of the bath, her hips moving faster, her breath growing ragged.

  “You’re so beautiful,” I whispered into her ear. Her pussy clenched around me, her ass bouncing slowly on my thighs. I kept teasing her clit, making her moans grow louder with every stroke.

  “Your tight pussy feels amazing around my cock,” I whispered into her ear. “I’m going to fill you with my cum.”

  Azura let out a loud whine and dropped down fully into my p, her body trembling as a shuddering orgasm rolled through her.

  Leaving her clit, I grabbed her hips and began thrusting into her quickly. I was already close—too close to hold back. Short, urgent thrusts brought me to the edge, and when the pressure finally broke, I drove myself deep, pulling her against me.

  I groaned as I came, hot pulses of release flooding into her, my arms wrapped tightly around her small frame, one hand on her stomach, the other on her tits.

  Azura moaned softly, her body twitching with aftershocks. We stayed like that for a moment, panting, as I held her in my arms.

  After a while, she tilted her head and nuzzled my chest, whispering, “Thank you.”

  I kissed her forehead, rexing in the bath. We y together for a moment longer, but I was getting really hungry, and I assumed Azura must have been too.

  My hand slid over her stomach in a soft caress. She shivered, and I felt her pussy clench gently around my cock, still inside her.

  “Time to eat something,” I murmured.

  Azura hummed in agreement, then slowly lifted herself off me, letting me slip out of her.

  We quickly finished washing—this time focusing on cleaning the mess we’d made. I dried her off with a towel, then myself, and we got dressed.

  On our way out, I stopped by the other bathroom and knocked. “Zoe?”

  “Just a moment, Master,” she called out from inside. “I’ll be out soon.”

  Azura and I returned to our room to wait. I sat on the bed, and she joined me, lying down instead of sitting.

  I leaned back, pulling her close. Her head rested on my chest, one arm draped over me, one leg slipped between mine. She was practically lying on top of me, and I stroked her back gently, enjoying the quiet closeness.

  Then, out of nowhere, she asked softly, “Do you think I’ll have puppies?”

  “What?!” I gasped.

  “Children,” she expined, stroking her stomach. “Do you think you made me a mommy?”

  “Umm…” I hesitated, knowing that I hadn’t, thanks to my css skill. “Would you like that?”

  Azura was quiet for a moment, watching her stomach, stroking it slowly. “Yes,” she whispered.

  I sighed. “Azura, my css gives me a skill that prevents pregnancy. It’s active all the time—I’ve been using it.”

  Azura’s gaze shifted to me, but quickly she averted it, resting her head on my chest again.

  Did I want to have children? In my previous life, I had accepted that I never would. But here… here I could have kids. And I did want to have them. But the moment wasn’t good for that.

  I gently cupped her chin and tilted her head until our eyes met. I gave her a soft kiss before leaning back slightly, still close.

  “I want kids too, but this is not a good moment for that. I don't have money, we are sleeping in inns every night, we are exploring dungeons. But one day, perhaps soon, if I manage to get my life a bit more stable. Then we can think about it, alright?” I asked.

  I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to have kids with her specifically. But before I’d be ready for that, there’d still be time—to get to know her better, and for her to get to know me. Because right now, I doubted she wanted kids with me. She just wanted kids. And I was the man fucking her. But I’d rather she wanted them with me, not just for herself.

  “Really?” Azura asked quietly.

  “Really,” I replied, and kissed her shortly.

  Azura hummed and rested her head on my chest.

  I was stroking her back and hair, thinking it all over, until Zoe came back from her bath. She immediately jumped on the bed and straddled both me and Azura, wrapping her arms around us, lying across the two of us at once.

  “Zoe, your hair’s wet,” I said as her damp white strands fell across my face.

  She brushed them away, giggling, then leaned in and kissed me. “I’m all wet around you, Master,” she said with a grin.

  Chuckling, I wrapped my arm around Zoe and pulled both women close, enjoying the warmth and closeness of their bodies.

  But in the end, hunger won out, and I had to break up our cuddles—no matter how good they felt.

  “We need to eat something,” I said. “Are Tori and Mari still bathing?”

  “Mari went to her room, and Tori’s already at the tavern,” Zoe replied.

  After I hugged them once again, we left the room. Gncing toward Mari’s door, I decided to let her stay, not wanting to force her into the tavern where many people would be around.

  We passed through the street and entered the tavern. Tori was already eating at one of the tables, and we joined her, ordering food for ourselves. I decided on a stew with chicken and veggies, Azura took the same, but Zoe decided to test out a pork variant of it.

  This time, Zoe didn’t sit in my p, but right next to me. When the food arrived, we started eating right away. But after a few spoonfuls, I gnced up and saw Zoe sitting there with a grimace, stirring her stew instead of eating.

  “Zoe?” I asked.

  “I don’t like it,” she said, gncing at me, then at my stew.

  I sighed, rolled my eyes, and smiled. Then I grabbed both bowls and switched them.

  “I love you, Master,” Zoe said as she happily dug into my stew.

  I scooped up a spoonful of hers, wondering if it was actually bad or if she just didn’t like pork—but I froze before taking a bite.

  “Azura,” I gasped, turning to her. “What were they feeding you in the b?”

  She looked up, thinking for a moment. “Fish,” she said.

  “Anything else?”

  Azura shook her head.

  “Fish every day?”

  She nodded.

  “How many people like you were kept there?”

  She hesitated, thinking it over.

  “Roughly,” I added. “Ten? Fifty? A hundred?”

  “Fifty,” she replied.

  “That’s it!” I said, sitting up straighter. “I knew they had to leave some kind of trace. Feeding that much fish to fifty demons for years—there must be something. We can track them down with that!”

  “Really?” Azura asked, eyes wide.

  “It’s a big lead. And if not this one, then another. We just need to focus on the important things you remember. Thanks to you, we’ll find that pce,” I told her.

  “Half a day from Ortas,” Tori cut in. “There’s a sea.”

  I looked at her. “Then the b must be near it. We’ll need to head there and ask around.”

  I had found a way forward—or at least a solid lead. They had to be getting hundreds of kilos of fish every month. Tons of it every year. And it had gone on for years.

  They could have changed their diet over time, but if they’d fed Azura nothing but fish, they were probably near the sea. It would’ve been the cheapest and easiest way to feed that many subjects.

  It was getting te, and soon I would have a chance to speak with Gemma. She might know where to look for more information. She should know where someone in her guild could buy that much fish.

  I focused back on my food. The pork wasn’t really bad, and I finished it quickly. Once we were done, I ordered a chicken stew for Mari.

  Back at the inn, Azura, Zoe, and Tori went into our room, while I stopped by Mari’s door.

  “It’s me. I brought you food,” I said.

  Mari opened the door, the salve I’d bought freshly spread over the wound on her face. She took the bowl from my hands and started to close the door.

  “Do you want to talk about what happened?” I asked.

  “No.”

  “Were those the same men who caught you before?”

  “No.”

  “Are you sure—” She shut the door in my face. “—that you don’t want to talk?” I finished anyway.

  “Fine,” I muttered, stepping back. If she didn’t want to talk, I wasn’t going to force her. If she wanted to keep things purely transactional—just working to pay off her debt—then so be it.

  I opened the door to my room. Inside, three gorgeous women were waiting—none of whom had any problem talking to me. Or fucking me.

  We were all exhausted after a long day on the road. But that didn’t stop us.

  It wasn’t wild this time—just slow, deep, and intimate.

  I took Tori first, gently thrusting into her in missionary until she came on my cock.

  Then Zoe rode me, her body trembling through two orgasms before I erupted deep inside her.

  Finally, I took Azura from behind. Her moans built with each slow push, until she moaned, coming again on my cock. And I filled her pussy one more time that day—thinking of her question about children as I did.

  Afterward, I y down with Azura in my arms, my cock still inside her. Her ass pressed against me, her back resting against my chest.

  Zoe hugged me from behind, her arms wrapped around mine, her tits pressing into my back, her lips brushing soft kisses along my neck. Her tail coiled around my waist.

  Then around Azura’s waist too, and in a strange way this gesture felt like a symbol of Zoe accepting Azura. As part of us. As part of our little family. Or our little pack.

  Sandwiched between two warm, soft women, rexed after two orgasms and wrapped in their affection—I drifted off to sleep.