"Alden, are you okay?" Zarion asked softly.

Alden didn’t answer—just kept his face hidden, shoulders trembling.

"How about we go to your home? Maybe he’ll be there."

Alden gave a small nod.

Zarion’s chest tightened. He could take him there right now… but they had only just found each other again after five long years. The thought of Alden slipping away—disappearing like before—gnawed at him.

"Eat something first," Zarion said, masking his fear with a gentle smile. "Then I’ll take you home."

Alden nodded again, a little quicker this time.

Zarion moved quietly around the kitchen, preparing strawberry pancakes for Alden. The sweet aroma filled the air as he whisked eggs with sugar and melted butter, folding in flour until the batter was smooth and thick. Fresh strawberries, sliced thin, scattered bright red flecks through the creamy mixture.

He poured the first scoop onto the heated pan, watching it bubble and turn golden at the edges. Meanwhile, Alden, exhausted from crying, had fallen asleep at the table, his head resting on folded arms.

Stacking the warm pancakes with a drizzle of honey and extra strawberry slices, Zarion gently nudged Alden awake. The scent drew Alden back slowly, his groggy eyes blinking open. He took a tentative bite, the warmth spreading through him, grounding the storm inside.

Alden’s fork trembled slightly as it hovered over the last bite. The room was quiet, but his mind raced with questions he couldn’t voice. His chest felt tight, like a weight pressing down on his ribs. He swallowed hard, blinking to hold back the sting behind his eyes.

After finishing the meal, Zarion quietly helped Alden to his feet. The ride back was nearly silent—the kind that pressed on your chest more with each passing minute.

Questions churned in Alden’s mind, each one heavier than the last.

Why had Kieran left so abruptly?

Was it Akalon again?

Had he… broken my brother’s heart?

His throat tightened. The silence in the car wasn’t empty—it pressed in from all sides, dense and suffocating. Every hum of the engine felt louder than it should.

Even when I wasn’t with him, the worry never left. He’s my only family—my last blood tie—but that’s not why I care for him. I just… love my big brother. So of course I’m worried. Of course, I don’t want to leave him alone if his heart’s been shattered by my best friend.

The thought burned in Alden's chest, each possibility striking like a match until my mind felt like it was on fire.

By the time they pulled up to the house, the horizon was already softening. Dawn crept in quietly, brushing pale gold through the gaps in the trees, painting the road ahead in whispers of light.

But Alden’s breath hitched when he saw the door slightly ajar. Without exchanging a word, they stepped inside, the silence between them more telling than anything else.

“Akalon! Are you home?” Alden’s voice echoed into the stillness. No reply.

He stepped toward Akalon’s room, the faint scent of his friend lingering in the hallway. Behind him, Zarion closed his eyes for a moment, stretching his senses outward. The house felt empty—no heartbeat, no breath—except for the faint pulse of life coming from one place. Akalon’s room.

Zarion followed quietly.

The door creaked open, and the sight waiting inside pulled the word from his mouth before he could stop it. “Wow…”

Akalon lay fast asleep, tucked securely in Kieran’s arms, the two of them breathing in quiet unison.

"Shush, you'll wake them up," Alden whispered, smiling widely.

"So my brother is dating Akalon. Finally, I feel relieved. I’m so happy for both of them," he stated while dragging Zarion out of the room.

Zarion's face looked like a kid trying to piece together a puzzle but failing to complete it.

"What are you thinking, Zari?" Alden questioned after studying his expression for a while.

"Alden, I was just thinking… how did Akalon and Kieran get this close when they were apart for years?", Zarion spoke his thoughts.  

"It can't have happened in just one day. Is it possible that they were secretly in contact with each other all along?" Zarion voiced his thoughts.

"Now that you mention it, I'm thinking the same thing," Alden said, but he was soon interrupted by the ringing of Akalon's phone.

"Quick, hide," Alden whispered, dragging Zarion behind the couch, not wanting to embarrass his brother and his best friend.

"Hello," Akalon answered the call, his deep voice sending chills down Alden's spine. He looked shocked, which made Zarion frown in confusion.

"Why are you shocked just from hearing ‘hello’?" Zarion whispered.

"Because… this voice doesn't sound like Akalon's," Alden whispered back.

"Hello!" A man spoke with a deep, firm voice.

"This is Wolf. Boss, I have a report," the guy named Wolf spoke through the phone.

"If it's not something important, I swear to god, I will kill you for disturbing my precious moment," Akalon replied, clearly irritated.

"Boss, sorry to disturb you, but an e-mail came from Silent Vipers. It says, The danger is approaching. Keep a close eye on Z's movements," Wolf reported.

"Who the hell is messing with Zarion when everyone knows the biggest and strongest mafia, Black Dragon, is backing him up?" Akalon retorted with frustration as he stepped out of the room, only to be met with two extremely shocked faces.

Alden and Zarion had tried to stay hidden, but as the conversation went on, they couldn’t keep themselves from reacting.

"Zari, he said mafia!" Alden exclaimed, his face filled with shock.

"Yeah… and the one backing me up?" Zarion echoed, equally stunned.

"Fuck! Bad timing, Wolf. I’ll call you later," Akalon said in his deep voice, clearly annoyed.

"But Boss, Vane's has made a move..." Wolf’s voice went unheard as Akalon had already pulled the phone away from his ear and hung up.

"Aldi, I didn't mean to hide from you. Please, listen to me," Akalon pleaded with his best friend, his voice suddenly soft... no longer as deep and commanding as before.

This shift made Alden wonder if Akalon had two different personalities. A split personality, perhaps?

"Dude, who are you? One minute ago, your voice was sending chills down my spine, and now it’s giving warmth," Alden said, still frozen in shock.

"I can explain," Akalon mumbled in a small voice, trying to make up for hiding it.

"Go ahead," Zarion replied, settling onto the couch.

"Boss, you fucked up big time," Kieran said with an evil smirk, leaning against the doorframe.

He had woken up because of the call, but acted as if he had been sleeping. The moment he heard Zarion’s name come from Akalon’s lips, he jolted up and went to see what was happening. But, of course, he didn’t forget to grab something to cover himself before stepping out.

"You’re not helping me, Kie!" Akalon whined, giving Kieran a side-eye.

"Why don’t you guys take a seat first?" Akalon asked with an innocent smile.

"Then why don’t you wear something first?" Alden decided to be rude, now that he knew his best friend had secrets, too.

​​Alden’s thoughts churned fiercely. He has secrets. Even if I kept things from him, it doesn’t count. Akalon just can’t do it. I don’t like that. He just can’t.

Suddenly, Zarion’s eyes snapped toward Alden, as if he’d heard the words inside his mind.

Well, looks like handling him isn’t easy, Zarion thought, a small grin tugging at his lips. But how adorable.

Kieran chuckled, "That’s my brother!" he exclaimed, heading inside to grab pajamas. He handed them to Akalon, who quietly changed in the blink of an eye.

"Erese, that smug look on your face, and explain what the meaning of... Boss? Also, why are two people who weren't in contact now dating? Explain," Alden spat out.

"Guess you fucked up too, Kie", Akalon mumble and chuckle at Kieran's stupidity.

"Let me introduce myself first," He continued. My name is Akalon Shadomere, aka Black Dragon. Leader of the Mafia group The Shadow Claw, which has been loyal to the Panther Kings for ages," Akalon stated as both Alden and Zarion stared at him, their eyes full of curiosity.

"After my father’s death, I was forced to take the leader’s seat and guide our Mafia group. The Shadowmere turned into a Mafia when the Panther Kingdom fell, driving every panther into hiding from the human race. To protect the panther prince and the magical forest, the Shadowmere took on the mantle of the Mafia, guarding the prince from the darkness, just as we once served as the royal guards of the kingdom," Akalon explained.

"I’m Kieran Vane. Aka Nightfall," Kieran said, his voice steady at first, then trailing off. “Second-in-command of the Shadow Claw mafia.”

He scratched the back of his neck, a subtle sign of discomfort—or maybe humility.

Alden's eyes narrowed slightly, gaze shifting between Kieran and Akalon. When did they get this close? Suspicion flickered behind his calm expression.

“Ahem—how I became second-in-command? Yeah, it’s a long story...” Kieran muttered, almost sheepishly. Then he straightened, forcing himself to speak plainly.

“If I had to sum it up, it started the day I met Akalon as your friend. Sometime after you left the country, one of Akalon’s men approached me while I was visiting home. He didn’t explain much. Just said your life was in danger, and asked if I wanted to protect my little brother.”

He paused for a breath, his tone firm but sincere now.

“I never even asked who was trying to hurt you. I just said yes.” A shadow passed over his features as the memory returned.

“So I trained for a year. Took on missions. Got good. Before I knew it, I was second-in-command.” Kieran shrugged, though it didn’t hide the weight behind his words.

“But I didn’t do any of this for power. I didn’t want a title. I just wanted to protect Alden. I wanted to protect my love ones.”

A quiet moment followed, heavy with unspoken emotions.

“Shadow Claw…” Zarion murmured, the name stirring something deep within him. The words echoed in his mind like a half-remembered warning—familiar and dangerous.

His gaze sharpened, locking onto Akalon's.

“That name… I’ve heard it before.”

Suddenly, a small voice rang inside his head.

"Uncle Darian! Uncle Darian, you were going to bring big brother here! Why didn't you bring him here? Uncle Darian!" Little Zarion whined, clinging to the broad-shouldered man.

The man—Mr. Darian was none other than the previous leader of the Shadowmere family and Akalon's father. Once the captain of the royal army and the king's knight, he now carried the weight of their fallen kingdom on his back.

"He’s in the middle of training, sweetheart, so I wasn’t able to bring him to you," Mr. Darian explained in a gentle tone, one so tender that no one would suspect he was a ruthless Mafia boss—a man who once led armies and slaughtered enemies without mercy.

Yes, despite the Panther Kingdom’s collapse, they still had enemies. Humans who sought to erase them, driven by their hunger for power.

With the monarchy gone, these humans fought desperately to secure their place in parliament, seeking to wipe out any remnants of the panther race that once ruled.

"I remember! I remember talking with Uncle Darian," Zarion suddenly blurted out, his eyes widening with recollection.

"I used to whine because he never brought big brother Akalon to meet me, but he always told me how you were training mightily so you could protect the royal family." His voice grew softer as the memories flooded back, his breath catching slightly.

But then, his expression dimmed. His eyes dulled, and his voice wavered.

"But after that... everyone disappeared, so I thought Big Brother was dead too." His voice cracked faintly, though he tried to hold it steady.

"I never saw you again, so I wasn’t able to recognize you, Akalon." His words carried the weight of years of sorrow he had buried deep within, yet he forced himself to contain the storm of emotions, refusing to let it spill over.

"I'm sorry I didn’t contact you sooner," Akalon said softly, his voice heavy with guilt.

"But I had to take care of our future queen. That was my father’s last wish." His eyes flickered with a bittersweet warmth as he glanced at Zarion.

"But even then, you didn’t grow up alone. I was always there, watching you from the shadows." His voice lowered slightly, almost tender.

"You just didn’t know it." Akalon’s gaze softened further.

"And then... I met him. Alden!" His lips twitched faintly, a ghost of a smile forming.

"At first, I was only fulfilling my duty. But after getting to know him, he became my world... before I even knew Kieran."

Hearing his name, something stirred in Alden's heart. His throat tightened, making it hard to breathe. A lump formed, thick and unyielding, lodging itself painfully. His voice—gone. Stolen by the weight of unspoken emotions.

The thing he once loathed... his womb had given him a lifelong friend. 

The cruel irony gnawed at him. His fingers trembled slightly as they drifted downward, pressing softly against his stomach, as if seeking forgiveness.

A lone tear slid down his cheek, silent and heavy with unspoken sorrow. Akalon didn’t notice, too lost in his own recollection. But Zarion did. His sharp eyes caught the tear, and though he remained silent, his chest ached at the sight.

But Zarion felt the same. The lump in his throat grew heavier, impossible to swallow.

The thought that he hadn’t grown up alone—that Akalon had been watching over him all along—was enough to soothe some of the jagged edges of his miseries.

A fragile comfort. Yet, he forced himself to keep it in. To swallow the overwhelming ache before the tears welling in the back of his eyes could escape.

With a shaky breath, he let out a weak attempt at humor, his voice trembling slightly. "You’re such a great stalker, Akalon," he muttered, forcing a smirk as he blinked rapidly.

He didn’t want to cry—not in front of Akalon. He still wanted to hold on to the image of himself as the strong child his brother had once known.

Akalon’s lips curled into a soft chuckle at the teasing remark. "I thought you forgot everything about me," he replied with a faint smile, the warmth in his eyes barely concealing the grief still lingering beneath.

Kieran, who had been listening carefully, remained unusually quiet. He was so lost in the depth of his love for Akalon—the way he spoke, the memories he carried—that he didn’t even notice the tear slipping down his own cheek.

I don’t even know anything about him, Kieran thought, the realization sinking like a stone in his chest. Not really. Not the past he’s carrying. Not the pain behind those silences.

He had fallen in love with Akalon’s presence, his fire, his sharp words and soft glances—but beyond that, the man he loved was still a mystery wrapped in scars.