Kaiden glances at the door and swiftly looks back into the room, only to catch a glimpse of Loden removing his shirt. Blushing uncontrollably, Kaiden quickly averts his gaze, trying to respect Loden's privacy and his own sanity.

  Kaiden notices Brokenfang standing with his hands clasped in front of him, prompting a perplexed tilt of his head. Curiosity floods him as he observes the strange behavior of his wolf-eared companion, trying to understand what might be troubling him.

  Kaiden inquizes, his tone curious yet gentle. "Are you going to undress too, Brokenfang?" he inquires. "Loden managed to get us in, after all."

  Brokenfang turns his gaze towards Kaiden, briefly glancing at Loden before quickly shifting his attention back. Kaiden seeing Brokenfang’s glance, can't help but also notice Loden, who's now taken off all his top clothes, standing there topless.

  Kaiden notices something amiss with Brokenfang, and he reaches out, gently touching his arm. His words carry sincerity as he speaks, "You know you can share what's troubling you with us, right? We're your friends. There's no need to hold back."

  Kaiden observes Brokenfang's blushing and subsequent attempt to avoid eye contact, attributing his behavior to embarrassment caused by the earlier encounter with the servants. Kaiden can't help but entertain the thought that it was the servants' reaction to Brokenfang that has him feeling this way.

  Kaiden pauses as he thinks over what to say, reflecting on the recent events with Brokenfang, feeling slightly annoyed but choosing to brush it aside for the moment. He looks directly at Brokenfang, his blue eyes filled with concern and understanding. "Brokenfang, is it about what happened just now, with the servants?" he inquires gently. "Don't worry about what they said, it's just words—we'll change all that soon enough."

  Brokenfang's expression shifts from distant to more sheepish as he runs his hand through his hair, pushing his ears down before returning his hand to his side. "It's not that," he corrects, his voice carrying a tone of mild unease.

  Loden, having been quietly listening to the conversation, turns to face them with is bare chest exposed. He had stopped undressing to listen more intently to what the pair were saying. His eyes focus on Kaiden and Brokenfang, a hint of slight jealously stirring within him over Kaiden's attention towards Brokenfang.

  Loden, his arms crossed in front of his chest, chimes in with a sense of impatience. "Don't keep the kid waiting," he insists, his tone tinged with mild annoyance. "What exactly is troubling you?"

  Kaiden is about to retort, but as he glances back at Loden, he's taken aback. His eyes fixate on Loden's bare chest, his face instantly flushing with embarrassment. Surprised once again by the unintended sight, Kaiden swiftly averts his gaze, turning his head to face Brokenfang once more.

  Brokenfang observes Kaiden's unexpected reaction to looking at Loden's bare chest and feels a bit confused. He rubs his hands together, hesitating before continuing, "I'm not sure if you'll be comfortable bathing with me once you see my tail and ears fully exposed. It might be a bit..." Brokenfang trails off, unable to find the right words to complete his sentence.

  Loden uncrosses his arms and moves closer to Kaiden and Brokenfang, interjecting with a more blunt response than Kaiden would have thought. "Odd, alarming," he asserts. He shakes his head and smirks a little, saying, “It's not a big deal. Kaiden, Wulfric and I are fine with you, ears and all. So, relax."

  Kaiden speaks up, keeping his gaze averted to the side, he reassures Brokenfang. "Brokenfang, please understand that your ears, tail, and enhanced senses are a part of you. We don't mind them and accept them just as we accept you. You have nothing to worry about."

  Loden can't help but chuckle at the situation, his gaze shifting towards Kaiden. With a playful gesture, Loden points at Kaiden's behavior and tries to articulate his thoughts. "Well, you see, Kaiden is a touch shy," he admits, his tone laced with amusement. Loden chuckles warmly more, his gaze still fixated on Kaiden, who appears more timid. Raising an eyebrow, Loden chuckles harder, remembering Kaiden's behavior from the hot spring. "He doesn't… how do I say it?”he muses, searching for the right words to describe Kaiden's slight shyness.

  Kaiden's face turns beet red as the embarrassment and irritation with Loden rise. He restrains himself from turning to face Loden, resisting the urge to strike him. With frustration in his voice, Kaiden responds, "Loden, seriously, did you have to bring this up? I don't feel comfortable looking at other guys while they're changing. It's as simple as that. Got it?"

  Loden nods in understanding, finally backing off. He grabs a robe from a basket nearby and then tosses one over to Brokenfang, who catches it clumsily. Kaiden exhales, glad that Loden doesn't further push the conversation.

  Kaiden turns his gaze to Brokenfang, offering a reassuring smile. "It's okay, let's relax and enjoy our baths," he says, his words gently coaxing Brokenfang to forget about the earlier exchange and the tension.

  Brokenfang nods and removes his cloak, Kaiden’s and Loden’s words giving him some courage and faith in his friends.

  Kaiden walks over to the corner, choosing a spot farther away from the pair, and starts undressing, wanting to change in a little privacy. He moves silently, feeling a bit self-conscious but wanting to respect their privacy as well.

  Kaiden slowly zones out, fully absorbed in the task of undressing and putting on his robe. Once he's done, he speaks over his shoulder to the pair, "I'm done changing, are you both done as well?"

  Brokenfang confirms that he is done, and Loden responds with a "yeah." Kaiden slowly turns around, his gaze falling on Brokenfang and Loden, who are now dressed in their robes, matching Kaiden's attire. The three of them stand awkwardly for a moment, each dressed in their matching robes. The sight of them all in the same robes is almost comical, but Kaiden can't help but chuckle slightly. The contrast of their three robe, three sizes and body types were humorous to him. Kaiden can't help but admire the sight a little before quickly averting his gaze, feeling a bit self-conscious again.

  Loden rolls his eyes and approaches Brokenfang, his tone playful yet slightly teasing. "You can manage your tail and ears yourself, right? Or do you need a hand?"

  Kaiden observes as Brokenfang turns away from Loden, his body language almost protectively guarding his side. Brokenfang shakes his head, replying, "I can manage, thank you."

  Loden, with a confident stride, walks past Brokenfang and Kaiden. He parts a curtain, revealing a previously hidden door. Surprised, Brokenfang and Kaiden follow his lead, not having realized that the curtain hid a doorway.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  Kaiden's eyes sweep over the makeshift shower room, taking in the details. He notices the bathtub and showerheads made of wood and metal, and his curious gaze falls upon the seats on the floor. The strange combination of materials strikes him as an interesting choice.

  Kaiden looks curiously at the seats on the floor and then at Loden, who seems to take charge. Loden directs Brokenfang to one spot and then gestures for Kaiden to go to another, silently telling them what to do.

  Brokenfang and Kaiden move to their respective spots without argument, but not before exchanging a quick glance. As they prepare to sit down, their gaze turns to watch Loden, who is attending to his own area.

  Loden instructs, "You have to disrobe and use the shower to clean off. Once you've scrubbed yourself clean, soak in the tub for a few minutes."

  Kaiden is surprised, his face turning red as he stammers out his words. "Wait, we'll all be naked? You better not look." He grabs his robe and presses it closed, his discomfort evident.

  Loden chuckles, reassuring him. "We won't look if you don't." He flashes a small grin, clearly enjoying teasing Kaiden.

  “What does that mean?” Kaiden furrows his brow in frustration, not fully understanding Loden’s comment.

  Kaiden's eyes inadvertently catch a glimpse of Loden removing his robe, revealing his shoulders and chest. Kaiden quickly turns away, trying to shield his gaze from the unwanted scene.

  Kaiden keeps his eyes forward on the wall, trying to stay focused. In a small attempt at trying his best to maintain composed. He hangs his robe on a nearby hook by the showerhead and turns on the water, releasing a slow stream that eventually flows steadily.

  Kaiden sits on the stool, allowing the warm water to run down his body and drench his hair. He closes his eyes for a moment to enjoy the sensation, feeling the warm water cleanse his skin.

  Brokenfang and Loden have already begun rinsing off, their bodies being enveloped in the running water. The only sound in the room is the rhythmic patter of the water against their skin and the ambient drip sounds of it hitting the floor.

  Kaiden washes his arms and legs with his hands, making do without a cloth or rag. Once he's done, he leans forward, allowing the water to fall solely on his head, his hair drenched.

  Kaiden meticulously scratches and pulls at his hair, determined to remove any lingering dirt. As he scrubs diligently, the water continues to flow brownish, indicating that there is still more dirt to be washed out.

  Kaiden grows increasingly frustrated, muttering to himself as he continues to rub his scalp, trying to dislodge the dirt embedded in his hair. "Come on... how much more is there?" he whispers, hoping that the friction will help remove the stubborn debris.

  Loden's voice chimes in from behind Kaiden, stopping him from turning around. "Ah, ah, no peeking, remember?" Kaiden's heart rate quickens at the unexpected touch of hands on his head and his own hands. He relaxes a bit at first, but the realization that Loden is behind him and instructing him to not peek makes him tense up.

  Kaiden instinctively lowers his hands to cover his private section, feeling self-conscious and embarrassed. He turns his legs inward as well, his cheeks reddening with embarrassment. "I can do it myself!" he insists, a hint of irritation in his voice.

  Loden pours some liquid onto Kaiden's head and begins to massage it gently. He lets out a little chuckle, replying, "Oh yeah, I could hear you struggling from my spot. Let me help you; I'm the one who got it in your hair in the first place."

  Kaiden feels torn as to whether he should protest or simply submit to the situation. He remains tense, feeling Loden's hands gently massaging the liquid into every strand of his hair, thoroughly cleaning it.

  Some of the liquid seeps toward Kaiden's face, following the natural path of gravity. As it moves closer to his mouth, he instinctively closes his eyes and mouth to avoid any potential stinging or awful taste.

  Loden pauses and gently pushes Kaiden's head further into the water, allowing it to rinse the foamy soap out of his hair. As the water rushes down through his hair, it finds its way into his nose, forcing him to inhale inadvertently.

  Kaiden coughs and jerks involuntarily, his irritation growing as he protests, "Stop! The water is going up my nose." Relenting, he shifts forward, the water now hitting his back instead of his head.

  Kaiden continues to cough a little, the effect of the water in his nose subsiding. He feels a gentle smack on his back from Loden, who queries, "Are you okay? I couldn't quite hear you over the water."

  Kaiden, recovering slowly, replies, "Yeah, I'm okay now." Turning his head to look at Loden, he momentarily forgets the context of the situation, caught up in the initial irritation from the water rushing up his nose.

  Kaiden unconsciously locks eyes with Loden for a moment, taking in his disheveled appearance - his short black hair plastered to his head, wet from the water. His gaze drifts below Loden's shoulders, his eyes briefly roaming towards his chest before he quickly averts his gaze, embarrassed by the unintended glance. His gaze then drifts sideways, landing on Brokenfang's bare back, who is still facing away from him, rinsing himself.

  Kaiden's face turns a deeper shade of red as he averts his gaze, feeling embarrassed for the second time. He's both shocked at his unintentional glance at Loden's chest earlier and surprised by the sight of Brokenfang's bare back.

  Loden lets out a soft chuckle, having noticed Kaiden's reactions and his shifting gaze. However, his attention remains focused on Brokenfang, his curiosity piqued by the sight of the wolf-eared man's fully exposed tail.

  Loden raises his voice to break through the sound of the running water. "Brokenfang," he begins, directing his words at the wolf-eared man, "I have a question for you, if you don't mind."

  Brokenfang turns his head slightly, angling his face towards Loden as the water continues to pour down his chest. "Feel free to ask," he responds, his ears twitching slightly.

  Kaiden listens intently, his curiosity piqued by Loden's impending question. He can't help but wonder what Loden would ask Brokenfang at this moment, but he keeps his eyes averted, not wanting to incur Loden's gaze or his eyes land on either of their naked bodies.

  Loden’s gaze is fixed on Brokenfang's back while he asks, "You have full movement of your tail and ears. How does your tail actually connect to your body?"

  Brokenfang shifts his attention, catching a glimpse of his tail hanging down, gently touching the floor, its fur slightly damp from the surrounding water.

  Brokenfang's cheeks redden slightly as he offers his answer, his voice carrying a hint of embarrassment. "I'm not entirely sure," he stutters, "but I believe my tail is connected to my spine, and it seems to respond to my emotions."

  Loden grins, mischief in his eyes, as he teases Brokenfang by jerking his tail. Brokenfang jerks in response, instinctively standing up at the unexpected touch.

  Loden can't help but chuckle as he raises his hands in mock surrender, excusing his impulsive action. "Sorry, I couldn't resist. I was curious to see if it was truly connected," he admits, a smirk still playing at the corners of his lips.

  Brokenfang allows himself a moment of irritation, taking a deep breath to quell any lingering annoyance. He then turns back around and begins to carefully wash his tail, completely disregarding Loden's presence.

  Kaiden shakes his head, and turns around to finish washing. He finally feels satisfied that all the mud has finally been washed out his hair. The water runs clean now, no longer tinted brownish from the earlier dirt.

  Kaiden keeps his gaze fixed on the floor as he shuts off the water, then proceeds towards the bathtub to sit. He carefully lowers himself into the warm water, the heat causing a slight tingling sensation on his skin but soon subsiding as he adjusts to the temperature.

  Kaiden lets out a sigh of relaxation as he lets the tension leave his body, sinking further into the warm water until only his head is visible. The tub is deep enough that he can kneel in it, the water reaching a little above his shoulders.

  I haven’t felt this clean since the hot spring outside the capital. Kaiden thinks to himself.

  Kaiden enjoys the moment of comfort, eyes shut in bliss, until suddenly he feels the water moving and splashing against his face. Startled by the unexpected sensation, he quickly opens his eyes.

  Kaiden's face flushes with embarrassment as he realizes how close Loden is, the water almost causing them to touch. In a quick motion, he shifts his body, turning his back toward Loden. He tries to hide his flushed cheeks and awkward state, hoping Loden didn't notice anything.

  Kaiden internally curses, feeling frustrated and embarrassed at Loden's advances. "Why does this man keep pushing me?" he murmurs to himself, his thoughts racing. "He's not even that handsome, or...." He quickly catches himself, shaking his head to dispel those thoughts. "No, I can't think or say that," he admonishes himself internally.