It was late evening as they walked back toward the village.

Luke still craved more of Ginna, but since it was her first time having real sex, he held back and promised himself a much longer, deeper taste of her next time.

Walking beside her, he asked quietly, "You don’t want anyone finding out about us?"

Ginna nodded slowly. "With our age difference, they’d say I trapped you. And my daughter... I don’t want her thinking less of me." 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Luke sighed. "I couldn’t care less what they think."

She offered a helpless little smile but stayed silent.

He lowered his gaze. "Alright. If that’s what you want, I won’t push."

Then he stepped closer and took her hand in his.

Her pulse jumped at his touch. His voice dropped to a heated whisper. "But I hope you won’t turn me away when I need more of your time again."

Ginna bit her lip. The deep ache between her thighs still throbbed with every step, a constant, delicious reminder of how roughly he had taken her inside that tree.

She couldn’t lie to herself. She had loved every second. For the first time in her life, she felt truly wanted.

Luke worshipped her aging body with raw hunger, touching and claiming her in ways her late mate never had. He kept driving into her again and again, insatiable, until she begged him to let her rest.

There was something about him that awakened the deepest, neediest side of her. The greedy, feminine hunger that only craved more of his heat.

She glanced at him, cheeks warming. "Inside the house... it would be risky to... you know."

Luke’s grin turned wicked as he leaned in. "Isn’t that what makes it hotter? Sneaking around your daughter, fucking like animals in heat behind closed doors while we try not to get caught?"

A sharp shiver raced down her spine. For a moment she could clearly picture it: his hand clamped over her mouth, her body bent over in secret, biting back moans as he pounded into her.

Her face burned even hotter at the filthy thought.

Luke only chuckled and gave her hand one last squeeze, "It’s going to be interesting."

They didn’t speak much after that and entered the village together.

Luke was eager to return soon and start preparing the potions.

Tomorrow, he would be diving in the dungeon once again.

....

Knock

Rhea turned toward the sound and said, "The door is open. You can come inside."

The door slowly parted, revealing the broad frame of her to-be mate.

Claw stepped inside and asked, "You didn’t come out for the meal?"

The brown-haired girl gave a sheepish smile. "I didn’t really feel like eating."

Claw hummed softly before asking, "How is your injury now?"

Rhea glanced down at her leg. "It’s better now. It wasn’t anything serious to begin with." While supporting her father after the chaos, a fallen monster’s claw had grazed her ankle.

Still, it was nothing major. A bit of medicine was enough for it to heal quickly.

"How about you? Are you feeling well now?" Rhea asked.

Claw had suffered far worse injuries than she had, nearly losing his life in the battle itself.

"Ah... well, my savior used a miraculous potion on this worthless life of mine. So I am fine now."

Rhea shook her head. "Don’t call yourself worthless. If not for you, we might have lost the battle today."

Claw let out a dry chuckle. "I don’t think so, but I am grateful you said that." He gave a small nod of appreciation before continuing, "Well, I wanted to ask if you are close to the savior."

"Ah, Luke?" Rhea asked. "Not particularly. But why?"

Claw rubbed the back of his head and said sheepishly, "Well... when you come to our village for the rituals, if possible, bring him along as well. Maybe you could convince him somehow?"

A faint smile appeared on Rhea’s face.

She wouldn’t say she shared a close bond with Luke, but they were far from strangers too.

So... she could actually go and ask him.

But the question was, why did Claw want to bring him there?

"Perhaps you want to thank him properly?" Rhea asked with her eyes meeting his.

Claw grinned. "Yes, that’s the reason. He was too shy to ask for anything, and although he said he would visit the prime village someday, I don’t want him delaying it for too long. I want to keep this burning feeling alive and repay his favor with everything I have."

Rhea quietly watched him express his feelings so openly.

He was an honest person. Someone who generally struggled to get along with others, but once he accepted someone into his life, they became truly important to him.

After a brief pause, she nodded. "I will try my best."

Claw smirked. "Appreciate that."

....

Returning home, Luke stepped into the kitchen and found his mother and Dalia cooking together.

He walked up from behind and wrapped his arms around his mother. "I am back."

Monica jolted in surprise before quickly turning toward him. "Where were you? I was so worried, Luke!"

She immediately pulled him into a hug, the concern in her voice impossible to hide.

Luke chuckled softly. "The rain was too heavy, so we had to take shelter. Sorry, I couldn’t return earlier."

After the recent appearance of the magical beast, Monica had become even more wary of the forest than before.

She knew her mate was strong, someone capable of protecting himself, yet a woman’s heart became the most restless when the safety of her loved ones was involved.

In just those few hours, countless frightening possibilities had crossed her mind. At one point, she had nearly gone out herself to search for them.

Thankfully, Lex stopped her, assuring her that if they did not return soon, he and Gustav would head out together to look for them.

But in the end, all her fears proved unnecessary.

Luke now stood right before her, safe and unharmed.

Monica looked up at him and asked, "You didn’t run into anything dangerous, right? And don’t hide it if you’re injured anywhere."

Luke reassured her with a faint smile. "I am completely fine, I promise. Now, what are you making for dinner?"

Monica glanced toward the other girl in the room, who had remained silent until now. "Dalia is actually preparing today’s meal."

Luke’s brows rose slightly. "You can cook?"

Dalia immediately grew flustered. "What kind of question is that? I just don’t come here often because Monica usually doesn’t need my help."

Monica smiled warmly at her. "That’s right. I generally manage the meals on my own, and ever since Ginna arrived, things have become even easier to handle."

Luke hummed in interest. "So what exactly are you making? Hopefully something edible."

Frustration surfaced on Dalia’s face as she shot back, "You will be licking your plate clean soon enough. Just wait for me to finish."

Luke scoffed. "My standards are far too high for you to expect something like that."

Dalia sneered at him but said nothing more, fully focusing on the food now.

Luke then slowly pulled Monica a little to the side and whispered in her ear, "Tonight...please don’t come to my room. I want to be alone."

Monica’s eyes widened and soon moisture began to gather in them.

Has she and Laila somehow offended him after all last night?

•••••

A/N:- I hope you liked the Chapter.