Nobles and servants alike bowed to the hellhound of Candor, Basma Loughty. Her stature, poised and dignified with femininity, was not for show. She was ruthlessly strong and held much power from the tip of her fingers to the ends of her teeth.
Basma was out with her daughter at night to feed the youngest in the house some medicine. The guards quickly gave way when she reached the quarters and stepped inside. She could hear the dispute between Master and Servant right outside Arlen's door. "Nephew, open up." Her voice was graceful yet firm.
The chatting ceased instantly.
"Your Eminence." Julius bowed and stepped aside after getting the door open.
Her right foot went in first, then the left. Basma usually wore black, but she appeared in a stunning green midi dress with a touch of grey tonight. She smiled broadly and played with the metallic ring on her finger as he strode in.
Arlen stood and saluted properly, his upper body stiff like a pole. His unwrapped locks slid over his shoulders like silk curtains, soundless yet alluring.
"You're going to bed this early?" The woman raised her brows. So it was true what Ari had informed her. Arlen was already in his pyjamas, and there was no trace of alcohol in his room. Basma touched the young man's face, dressing his hair behind his ears to get a better look. "I brought some medicine for your health," she added.
Arlen pursed his lips, dreading what he would be consuming this time. Basma occasionally fed him bouts of herbal concoctions, promising it would kickstart his growth into something he did not fancy- to be the alpha everyone expected. But all those potions did was ruin his mouth. He hated it.
"Aunt, is it necessary? I like being ordinary," Arlen whined.
"You're not a beta! Is that servant feeding you with this nonsense? I've told Claude to pair you with beastmen of your kind, but no, he lets you keep a puny human. Maybe you need a change of servant." Basma's pleasant countenance changed swiftly as she directed her anger at Julius. The servant could only sink his head lower.
"No, no, no, haha. I was just kidding. I'll take the medication." Arlen changed tune immediately.
"Better!" Basma took the youngster's hand and walked him to his bed. With a simple nod, the maidens served him. Arlen glanced at Ari after seeing the dark contents of his cup, and his sister gave him an encouraging nod.
"Go on, drink it," said Basma. Her smile returned after Arlen gulped down every drop and wiped his lips with a napkin. "Not so bad, is it? Arlen, you've grown two tin taller." She hummed proudly after examining him.
Arlen, on the other hand, faked a calm face. 'Just a little longer, endure it. God, it's awful.' He stilled his thoughts to enjoy Basma's motherly affection.
As soon as the door closed and he has left alone with Julius, Arlen was on the floor clawing at his tongue, trying to get the bitter taste off his mouth. "Oh, that was disgusting...Yuck!"
Julius only shook his head at the drama and veered around, "Have a good night Master Arlen." His tone could have been more fond.
"Julius...Jules, don't be mad at me. It's only been a few days; Luca is not dead, just asleep."
"Your recklessness could have killed him- us! Now your Uncle will lose face."
"It's normal for a beastman to get injured; he will heal. Don't leave your best friend like this. I need liquor to wash off this distaste in my mouth."
"Liquor will make it worse; sleep!" Julius waved a hand before leaving.
"Why is Jules angry? He supported the idea of following them that day. Gosh! I need liquor." Arlen climbed atop his bed. He quits moping and sits up after a while.
"I've been practising the teleportation spell Mother taught me. Hmm, let's see if it works. I want wine," he murmured while tapping his chin.
**
It worked! This time his teleportation spell landed him in the middle of the cellar. The downside was that it drained a lot of energy from him- and that Jules was right. The liquor did not help with the taste in his mouth at all. It made it worse.
Arlen jumped into another spell and found the kitchen. The pantry was always full of snacks and sweets; he only needed a healthier one. Who was he kidding- Arlen stuffed his mouth with different kinds of cookies and cakes. "Ahhh, much better." He rubbed his tummy delightfully.
Walking back in his white pyjamas with loose hair, Arlen could easily be mistaken for a ghost. "Pffft!" The thought made him recall when he lurked in the town once, pretending to be one. He nearly got stabbed that night by a stranger.
Arlen takes cover when two servants, done for the day, walk in his direction. Somehow he got carried away when they stopped to gossip.
" That guest, lord Luca, is still in a deep sleep. Master Claude is furious at his son."
"Rufus was scolded heavily for this. He has been put on watch duty at the border. We better remind the others to be extra careful in his presence."
"True. I never imagined our waters could be dangerous for such formidable swordsmen."
"Hmph! In other news, there is a new omega at the usual brothel. You know what I mean."
"Ah, you took the words right out of my mouth. Hahaha...I hear he's a real beauty."
"He?"
"Yes, the males are in high demand these days and very rare."
'Dirty old men and brothels.' Arlen rolled his eyes as he waited for them to leave. His initial plan was to get back to his room but hearing that his person of interest was still knocked out, he figured why not lend a helping hand since he caused the unfortunate accident in the first place.
**
It was half past ten. The windows were shut tight, but the curtain was left open to let the moonlight seep in.
Axel retired from his brother's side to let him recuperate. He had done what he could, and Luca had been checked by a qualified physician. Truth be told, Luca was not in any imminent danger, and Claude convinced him not to frighten his father with this.
Inside Luca's room, a liberal young man made his way through the walls. Taking off his shoes, Arlen dares to sit on the alpha's bed to get a closer look. He was mesmerized.
Lying on his back with his hands resting beside him, Luca looked like a god in his slumber.
"Did I overdo it? You did say I was harmless, haha." Arlen adjusted the sheets confidently, chuckling. "You should thank me, Luca. I saved your pretty little toes from a hungry corpse." His fingers did not stop there; they climbed Luca's chest to straighten his shirt.
Arlen's lips parted slightly as he touched the man. His dove eyes fluttered softly as he anchored his skin on an alpha he knew little of. A beast he was to avoid.
Arlen lost sight of how serious he had become with stalking this individual, to the point of causing harm. But this silly 'hello' pricked something sensitive within him. He was oblivious as to why he lowered his head. So close that Luca's faint breath tickled the tiny hairs on his skin.
Arlen's nostrils were amazingly drawn to the alpha's neck. "You smell like wood...like...oud wood." He murmured as he leaned his body correctly. It was unlike him to be enthralled or stuck to a stranger's neck- his sense of smell was never this strong.
Arlen flinched, snapping back to reality when a cold hand rested on his back.
"You came in person." The alpha's words vibrated through his thorax: His voice was deep and slightly nasal.
The youngster's heart clenched in his chest.
'Oh shit, shit, shit, what do I do?!' Arlen shrieked in his mind, caught in an odd situation. His attempts to move stalled when the alpha secured his waist with another hand.
"Is this why you've been spying on me? To get in my bed?" Luca said. Arlen became numb. How was he going to talk his way out of this, whistling? That would expose him.
"If this is what you came for, then be ready to bear the consequences." Luca heaved the intruder at a go and landed on top of him.
"Wh...what. No!" Arlen stuttered. He quickly buried his face in the alpha's chest, refusing to be seen.
Luca had to hold him down to get a better look. At first glance, he thought it was a 'she'. Arlen's glossy locks spread out beneath him like ink. His skin was fair and smooth. His dove-shaped eyes roamed nervously, and his throat dipped with constant swallows. On his face was a thin nose centred above luscious rosy lips.
Aside from the plain two-pieced pyjamas, Luca's hands proved him wrong when he travelled below the belt and felt an average bulge growing on the intruder. Arlen wriggled, trying to break free, but Luca was awake and physically fit.
"You look frightened, but your body betrays your desires. I should warn you before I start- let you know what you've gotten yourself into." The alpha pulled out the buttons on Arlen's dress one after the other, giving the youngster enough time to imagine what punishments he would suffer.
"I won't be kind or gentle. I won't stop even if you beg me to," Luca said, his hand sluggishly prying into the poor boy's garment.
Arlen bit his bottom lip to quench a moan, but his breath quickly turned shallow. He clasps his legs together to hide his throbbing member, but Luca catches on and keeps them separated. Arlen fights another cry when Luca locks him between solid legs and crushes his lower regions with his abdomen. The slightest movements led to the alpha's erection rubbing through his clothes.
"Ahh, please, let me go." Arlen was losing his mind to the sensation of being touched by another person.
"You know my name; say it." The alpha growled seductively. "I know you want me."
"Ah...huff...Luca, stop." Arlen whimpered when the alpha's lips grazed the side of his neck. He was haunted by Luca's moist tongue touching his skin at unexpected intervals. Coupled with the involuntary grinding, Arlen was left out of breath. It didn't make sense to want freedom at this point. He wanted to be crushed harder beneath the alpha.
He was on fire, and Luca was like a cold spring he could drown in. Soon Arlen gritted his teeth, his body threatening to explode at any moment. That was when Luca looked at him with a face of steel.
"See how shamelessly your body responds. Were you dying for this? Okay, it's time to eat you." A pair of furry ears grew on Luca's head as he zoomed in with those elongated canines. Arlen was far gone by then. The release was inevitable and sweet. His eyes widened as Luca yanked his head back, exposing his neck in an arch and hovering an inch away from marking him with his teeth.
"AHHHHH! HAAA! AHHHHHH!" Arlen screamed himself awake, his heart thumping wildly in its little cage. His upper body was drenched in sweat. Touching his chest frantically, he peered around to ensure he was in the correct room.
Julius comes running within seconds, but his alarm goes dead when he sees Arlen peeking under the blanket.
"Arlen?"
"Jules...I had a nightmare." There was fear in Arlen's eyes, and his gust was shallow.
"One that makes you check your bed? Did you piss on yourself?"
"No." Arlen shook his head, blown away by a wet dream.
"Let me see it." Julius walked toward the bed.
"No!" Arlen raised a palm.
"Owww, so it's that kind of dream. Hehe...Come on, there's nothing to be worried about. Men have dreams they can't control."
"No, don't come near...just...just prepare a bath." Arlen appeared very dishevelled and uncomfortable.
"Okay, okay, I'll prepare you a bath," Julius observed his Master, slowly backing away to appease him. It must have been scary for Arlen to be covered in goosebumps and go red on the face. His Master was not one to get flustered because of a dream.
*Slide...shut*
Arlen threw the blanket aside and stared at his pants, taking deep breaths while he invaded the region below his crouch. The principal place of concern and discovery. "Ahh!" He twitched as he pressed a finger between his butt cheeks. A little pressure on the cotton fabric, and he could feel whatever liquid it was that seeped out of his behind.
The spot was strangely sensitive, and his fingers were coated in a transparent slime that took a while to clean. "No way. Is this...is this an omega's slick?" The shock branched into a spontaneous smile. But then it crumbled into a grimace when the severity of the discovery hit at a different angle...
**
"Luca, you're awake?" Axel was happy to see his brother out of bed and meditating in the morning.
"How long have I been asleep?" Luca asked with his eyes closed.
"Four days," Axel said.
"*Sigh* Did you stay in my room all night during that period?"
"Only an hour past the usual bedtime." Axel noticed his brother's brow converge at a point. Luca's prominent Adam apple bobbed after a while. He opened his eyes and urgently said, "I must speak to King Claude about a nuisance."
"Did someone come into your room again? Was it the same person?"
Luca thought of it carefully and replied with a monotonous "Mn."