"This will be your room. Please take a few minutes to get settled. I'll send someone over to check on you shortly," Elder Thea said as she opened the wooden door in front of us.
I stepped inside and turned to her. "Thank you, Elder."
She smiled. "Of course. And please don't hesitate to ask for anything that could make your stay more comfortable."
"I will." I nodded once.
Elder Thea gave me one last smile before turning and heading back the way we'd come. I waited until she disappeared from sight before finally turning my attention to my room.
It was large. Much larger than my bedroom back home.The space matched the mansion's elegant aesthetic, with its tall windows and rounded archways. One side held a grand bed and a pair of nightstands, while the other side had a small sofa, a wardrobe, and a coffee table.
The sheer size of the room and all of the furniture made me feel slightly intimidated. I was used to small and compact since space was always a big problem.
I opened the door beside the entrance to reveal a spotless bathroom and shower.
At least they clean themselves...
I glanced at myself in the mirror, noticing all of the dust still clinging to me from the horse ride earlier. "Well, I guess I could use a shower," I mumbled.
Dropping my bag, I quickly undressed and stepped into the bathing area. It was nothing like the cramped standing-tube showers back home. This one had a wide, round porcelain tub crowned with a golden showerhead.
The moment my clothes hit the ground, I leapt into the bathtub, only to realize that it was empty.
"I guess I got a little too excited," I muttered, reaching for the golden knobs. Hot water immediately gushed out of the spout, filling the tub.
The sound of running water filled the room, helping me relax from the long journey. I never would have imagined that such a sound would be so pleasing.
As the tub filled with steaming water, I stretched my legs out. Taking a bath like this felt too luxurious and was such a novel experience for me that I couldn't help but smile with excitement. Back home, nobody owned bathtubs. They took up too much space and used too much water. Showers were the only option.
When the tub was full, I turned the golden knob again, cutting off the flow. Steam curled through the room, fogging the mirror and wrapping me in warmth.
"Now this is bliss!" I sighed, stretching out until my toes brushed the far edge of the tub. "The only thing that could make it better is my shampoo—"
"Oh no!" I suddenly jolted upright, splashing water over the rim. I was so eager to try taking a bath that I had forgotten to unpack my toiletries!
"My special shampoo!" I cried out. It would have been the perfect addition to this bathing experience.
Leaning against the smooth rim of the bathtub, I eyed my bag that was lying in the corner of the room. It was just a few steps away...
"But I don't want to get out!" I sighed. The water felt too good— almost addicting. I sank back in, leaving only the top half of my head above water.
My gaze drifted around the bathroom. Everything was so different from what I was used to, but somehow, I didn't hate it. I only hated that it all belonged to the werewolves.
On a small shelf beside the tub sat several ornate jars. They were all mostly the same shape and size, but each was etched with unique designs.
"What's this?" I murmured, reaching over to lift the lid of the first jar.
The instant I lifted the lid, a wave of a wonderful lavender fragrance spread through the room. It was unlike any lavender scent I've smelled before— sweet and calming.
Inside were large salt crystals dusted with a purple powder. I'd never seen anything like it before, so I reached in and scooped up a small handful.
The rough salt crystals began to melt as they made contact with my damp hand, leaving a bit of purple powder clinging to my fingers. I carefully lifted my hand and smelled it.
"This must be it! The source of the lavender scent!" I said, grinning.
After toying with the powder on my hand, I finally dipped it into the bath. The powder dissolved instantly, spreading the scent even further through the air.
The dissolved powder spread through the water, dying it a faint purple color.
"Is this what it's meant for? To melt into the bath...?"
I took a few more minutes to observe how the substance spread through the water. The calming aroma mellowed out slightly, but still lingered pleasantly in the air.
A tinge of curiosity caused me to look at the remaining jars. I reached over and picked up the white jar. It had a small flower pattern and a glossy sheen.
I opened the lid to find a green cream-like substance inside. It had a gentle herbal scent that was even more refreshing than my prized shampoo. As soon as I poured some on my hand, the herbal scent intensified.
"Wow, this is so nice. It seems like it's shampoo… or body wash?" I muttered as I lathered it between my palms.
Before trying it out in my hair, I turned my attention to the final jar. Instead of another cream or liquid, this jar contained small cubes. I reached in and fished one out. It was tiny and fit perfectly in my palm.
"Soap?"
The water in my hand caused the cube to slide around, leaving behind a soapy film. Compared to the scents of the other items, this one was significantly milder, almost milky.
If this one's soap, then the previous one must be the shampoo.
I set the cube down on the side of the tub and reached over to scoop up more of the shampoo-like cream mixture out of the previous jar. At first, I only placed a very small amount, but as I began working it into my hair, I became addicted to its scent and silky texture.
Scoop after scoop, I continued to put more of the substance into my hair. I knew that I was using far too much, but the novelty of the item made me want to drown in the scent.
"I probably won't get another bath like this anytime soon," I muttered, then dunked my head underwater to rinse out the majority of the shampoo.
Killing the Alpha was my mission. The sooner I got it done, the sooner humanity could reclaim its rightful lands.
I stood up and turned the other golden knob, activating the shower head above me. Warm water cascaded over me, rinsing the rest of the shampoo out of my long hair. I reached over and picked up the soap cube and the soft washcloth that was hanging beside it, working them over my skin in slow, deliberate circles.
When I finally finished rinsing off and stepped out of the shower, I glanced toward the mirror.
"How can this be?"