Chapter 4

Three days later...

Arlen woke up way past his usual time. Julius saw him wince in response to the painful throb in his head. "Finally awake? Have some camomile tea. You look like you pulled an all-nighter, yet you slept early last night," Julius said. As the Master sipped on the hot contents in his cup, Julius went for a basin and a towel.

'I should take it easy on myself.' Arlen hissed, overthinking it worsened the pain.

"You seem unwell. I'll send for the doctor." Julius wiped the other's cheeks.

" Auch! There's no need for that." Arlen flinched when the towel ran over his face.

"Sorry." Julius slowed down and dabbed gently.

Arlen was not sick at all. He suffered the consequences of using another strategy to see the Widower of Beaumont Castle at night. Shapeshifting into rodents and insects gave him the privilege of spying on Luca.

Such methods came with high risks. Although Arlen could regenerate, whatever happened to him in that state would reflect on his original body. Not even death was off the table. So tumbling down a flight of hard concrete stairs as a mouse while being chased with a broom by a maid did him dirty.

Perhaps it was his sense of adventure getting the best of him. All Luca did in his room was read, meditate and write, but Arlen could not stop himself from prying daily.

The doctor Julius sent for noticed some purple bruises and signs of fatigue, but there was not much he could do as long as Arlen kept going.

"Jules, I would like to rest now," Arlen said after slipping into his white overall at eight in the evening. Julius tucked him in without complaint. His Master resting early meant free time to do what he wanted.

"Julius, it's chilly tonight. Could you leave the lamps on?" Arlen said.

"Certainly. Do you need more blankets?"

"..." Arlen shook his head.

"Okay, I'll let you rest. Call if you need anything."

"Thank you." Arlen shut his eyes as the servant walked out.

Moments later, he drew a spell over the door to keep the outside world from hearing what happened in his room and returned to the bed. Satisfied, he mounts enough energy to keep him afloat and whistles. The sounds Arlen produced could be likened to a flute, shrill and piercing.

A white puff of smoke gradually crawled through the walls, whirling in the atmosphere to dance to the tune. And when the song ended, the ghost of a faceless woman hovered in front of him.

Her skin was a pale blue, and she stood taller than the one who summoned her. On her head was a lustre of raven black hair similar to Arlen's, half held in a bun and fastened with a pin bearing the symbol of a great white wolf.

She wore an elegant black and gold Renaissance gown, depicting her status. On her left hand was a sapphire ring paired with diamonds.

Together their frames lower onto the bed.

There was a sense of yearning when the mist sat next to Arlen and spread her icy hand on his cheek. She had no eyes, nose or lips. Nonetheless, Arlen could decipher that she was worried. "It's okay, Mother, no one is coming." He curved his lips.

After examining her son, Pandora holds up her hand and gestures for him to speak.

"Mother, shapeshifting is as tricky as you inscribed. I know you disagree with the approach, but I like this alpha." Arlen froze at his own words when his mother's neck became stiff. Pandora immediately touched her son's chest and shook her head disapprovingly.

"I mean, it's not in a romantic way. Haha." His laugh could not hide the nervousness. Tired, Arlen let go and sighed. "Luca is an alpha with a spotless reputation. I believe he can help me clear your name."

The ghost's shoulders drooped- a sign of relief. Pandora rested a finger on her chin and focused on what she wanted to put across. Arlen bit his lower lip when his mother pointed at him, then one of the windows.

"Huh? I could get you a pen and paper, but Julius might hear me if I go through the door."

The ghost waves her hand in protest and stands to give as many demonstrations as it would take for him to understand her.

"You want me to introduce myself to Luca right now?"

Pandora nods.

"But that's...Hah, okay. Will you wait for me?" Arlen scratched his head after a lazy sigh. He had not put much thought into meeting the alpha in the first place. The woman floats to the bed and sits, assuring him she will be there. With a nod and a smile, Arlen turns into an owl and dives out the window.

***

It was a lovely night. The moon was out, and Luca had a beautiful view outside his window. He did not refuse when Axel invited him for a quick run. The vast forests surrounding the Castle were so thick they could cover many miles.

Letting the butler know where they were headed, the brothers walked out of sight.

"Are you ready?" said Axel after taking off his boots.

"Do we have to turn?" Luca glanced at his brother's feet which had taken the shape of large ginger paws.

"Nope, just stretching my toes. Come on, take your shoes off. You can remove that shirt for some air." Axel sounded excited. Why wouldn't he when they hardly had the time to do this at home? Axel waited for Luca, but only till his boots were off. Then he took off on a surprisingly quick start.

"Cheater!" Luca runs shortly after, picking up the pace, hoping to close the gap between them.

The brothers go off the grid, jumping over high boulders and pulling each other's toes. In one of those playful scuffles, Luca gets tripped and slams his face into the ground.

"Axel!" His pupils shone, and his teeth grew in size. Luca manages to suppress his instincts. They were maintaining this form; turning was not permitted. He goes back to normal but loses his brother's trial. So, he stopped to sniff Axel out.

*Inhale*

Luca veered around, glaring at a tree with indifference. "Come out," he said as he took a step forward. "Do you intend to spy on me forever? I've been waiting for you to show up in person. Return what you took from my room. If this is a plot to harm me, think again... I doubt this is a stunt to win my attention; you have no scent or pheromones," Luca said all he had to, waiting for a response.

"..." Arlen beamed behind the tree. Any closer, and his heart would explode. 'So you knew all along.' The thought amused him. Arlen clenched a fist on his chest, trying to still his breath. Too many butterflies fluttered in his stomach; he had never experienced this much pressure from wanting to befriend another person. 'You're just saying hello.' Arlen psyched himself. With much effort, he opened his mouth, sucked in air and...

" Luca!"

A voice echoes behind him, and he stops.

Axel wondered why his brother was talking to a tree. Just one look at Luca, and he knew something was up. For the one in hiding who wished to get Beaumont alone, it was a chance to reflect on his choices. And he preferred to bail for tonight.

Axel's brow furrowed when a giant bird flew out. His claws popped out of his fingertips, but Luca stopped him.

"Don't bother; he's harmless," Luca voiced. When the shadow flies over the trees, Luca sprints past the younger. Axel's expression eased. It was unusual that a spy would breach Loughty Castle's security but taking his brother's advice, he decided to let it be.