After a long time, I finally tried to fall asleep, but strangely, my nerves were on edge.
“Ugh.”
Tossing and turning, I soon realized that it wasn’t just my imagination. My instincts as a prey animal were definitely on high alert.
Snap, I opened my eyes to clear my vision and sighed in relief.
‘What? It’s just Ash.’
I nearly laughed at how startled I had been. But as I hugged my pillow and closed my eyes, my hands and feet turned icy cold.
Something was off. Was Ash always that large?
No, aside from the black fur, this black panther didn’t look like Ash at all. There was no scar across its eyes like Bara’s.
Besides, Ash was supposed to be in Meimi’s room. No, no, this has to be a mistake.
My stomach started to twist with anxiety. What if it wasn’t a mistake? Should I just faint to save myself the trouble?
Hoping it was just a dream, I slapped my cheek, but the pain was all too real. Grabbing my cheek, I rolled around before making up my mind.
If I was wrong, it would be a relief, but if it really wasn’t Ash, I’d have to fight back.
After all, I’d already faced black panthers that could darken the entire forest. By now, I was practically used to dealing with predators.
I squinted my eyes open and rolled across the bed like lightning. This time, I landed smoothly on the floor and darted toward the terrace.
Slide, I closed the sliding door perfectly behind me, and my legs, barely holding me up, finally gave out.
“Hah….”
Leaning against the glass window, I wiped away the cold sweat.
‘That’s not….’
That wasn’t Ash. The one lying on the bed was much larger and had stronger features than Ash.
I couldn’t even breathe loudly as I repeatedly swallowed my tears in silence. The jet-black fur, the muscles bulging even while lying down, hovered in front of my eyes.
A single swipe of that tail could easily end me, and those fangs, barely visible between the closed lips…!
‘I can’t go back in.’
In the end, I cried bitterly, tears dripping onto the floor as I pounded it in frustration.
After crying for what felt like an eternity, with my face drenched in tears and snot, my numbed mind gradually began to clear.
‘Ash…’
There was no way Ash, who was forbidden from entering during the night, would show up at this hour. Moreover, this was Ahin’s bedroom, so it was impossible for any black panther other than Ash to enter.
Flap, just then, the sound of wings flapping made me look to the side, where the hawk landed nearby.
Oh, it’s been here on the terrace all along. Realizing this belatedly, I wiped my tears away with the back of my hand.
After facing such extreme fear, the hawk’s beak and talons didn’t seem so scary… though they were still frightening, they didn’t bother me as much at the moment.
If only I had undergone my human transformation earlier, I wouldn’t be so afraid of predators now.
“Hey.”
I placed a hand on the glass and turned to the hawk.
“Who do you think that is?”
The hawk snorted, then flew up and lightly pecked my head with its beak. It seemed to be telling me not to ask such a foolish question.
“Stop that!”
I flailed my arms in a panic, but the hawk merely settled on top of my head and started tapping the glass with its beak. The sensation of its talons on my head made me shiver, and I was forced to look back into the bedroom.
The clothes scattered next to the bed were the ones Ahin had been wearing before he went to sleep. My gaze moved from the crumpled cuffed shirt and trousers to the black panther.
Look at that massive figure. Just the sheer presence of that beast was a threat, and I had to accept that it was indeed Ahin.
‘…Why did he revert to his original form?’
Beastfolk generally preferred not to revert to their original forms. It made things like eating, sleeping, and basic communication much more difficult.
Especially in Ahin’s case, where he was far stronger in his human form. Becoming a black panther was nothing but a hassle for him.
‘Is he bored?’
Or maybe he did it just to mess with me. Ahin was definitely the type to do something like that.
However, even after a long time, the black panther on the bed didn’t budge. Watching from the terrace all the while, I anxiously bit my nails.
There was one reason why a beastfolk might intentionally revert to their original form: when something was wrong with their body, they would sometimes transform voluntarily.
In their original form, it was easier to manage their pheromones and overall condition. It was similar to how I could handle my pheromones better as a rabbit than in my human form.
Could it be that Rune transformed into a lion voluntarily because of the drugs back then? Pushing away that distant thought, I bid the hawk farewell.
“I’m going to head back in now.”
After all, it had kept me company this whole time. I exchanged a wing shake with the hawk before cautiously leaving the terrace.
Sliding along the wall like I was part of it wasn’t difficult. The real challenge was getting close to the bed.
“Ahin.”
“……”
“Ahin—”
I cupped my hands and whispered softly, but the jet-black beast didn’t move.
“You wicked black panther.”
“……”
“You obnoxious predator.”
Even throwing harsh words didn’t change anything. Could it be that he had stopped breathing? Suddenly fearful, I hurriedly ran to the bed.
I had caused such a commotion—why wasn’t he waking up? My trembling hand moved to check his nose, and fortunately, I felt the steady rhythm of his breath.
“Ahin, are you asleep?”
Sitting awkwardly by the bed, I fidgeted nervously.
“…Are you sick? Should I call the physician or Everine?”
How would I even find the medical staff in this vast mansion? As I fretted and paced, I suddenly remembered the guards stationed outside the bedroom.
“Wait here for a moment.”
I quickly stood up, but something soft suddenly coiled around my wrist. A chill ran down my spine as I glanced at my wrist. It was Ahin’s tail, resembling a black rope.
“Were you awake?”
“……”
“Is this your way of telling me not to call for help?”
Ahin’s tail released my wrist and tapped the bed a few times. Understanding his unspoken command, I quickly sat down beside him.
Taking a respectful posture, I observed Ahin with just my eyes. Even with his eyes closed, there was a certain weariness about him.
After much contemplation, I wiped the sweat from my temple and finally spoke.
“Hey… If you’re really sick, would you like me to try and heal you?”
That’s when it happened. The eyes of the black panther, which had been closed, suddenly opened. Those mysterious eyes, impossible to read, stared straight at me.
He must have understood the multiple implications behind my question. It was essentially an acknowledgment that I was aware of my ability to control pheromones.
Eventually, the arrogant black panther snorted as if my words weren’t even worth considering.
“Is that a no?”
I had revealed my hand with genuine concern. It wasn’t like I wanted to use my pheromones, risking turning back into a rabbit, just for the sake of it.
“Fine, do whatever you want, whether you’re in pain or not.”
Feeling hurt, I turned my back on Ahin, but quickly changed my mind and turned back around. After all, predators tend to target prey that shows them its back.
The black panther remained motionless, lying on the bed without any reaction.
Ahin being this calm could only mean something was wrong. My resolve softened once more, and I slowly crawled closer to the bed.
“…Should I pet you?”
When I stroked Ash’s back and rump, he would often purr contentedly.
Without warning, the tail wrapped around my wrist again. Following its lead, my hand ended up on Ahin’s spine.
It would’ve been better if he had been cooperative from the start. Raising an eyebrow, I began to gently pet the black panther, using all the techniques I’d learned from handling Ash.
Apparently, it wasn’t bad, as Ahin’s tail lazily swayed through the air. Watching him, I soon realized that the tail was forming letters.
‘G-a-…?’
“Gan?” He was signaling that I had broken my promise not to touch him, even on the rabbit’s liver.
Even in a moment like this, he’s being mischievous. Anger surged within me, and I gave Ahin’s rump a sharp slap.
“Can’t you behave for once?!”
The tail, which had briefly shot up like an exclamation point, quickly lowered. The black panther, having absorbed the stern warning, obediently relaxed its body.
As I continued to gently stroke his back, I began to understand why Ahin didn’t want me to call for the physician or Everine. Making a fuss in the middle of the night would inevitably lead to rumors spreading.
‘Predators constantly engage in conflicts and strive for dominance.’
Behind the glittering facade of power lies the ever-present danger of having one’s throat ripped out, with even the smallest weakness being potentially fatal.
To prove this, Ahin, even when injured, would never go to the infirmary but instead always called the physician to his bedroom.
“You’re not really hurt, right?”
The closed eyes of the black panther slowly opened. The beast’s glowing eyes reflected the light from the lamp, making them shine.
For some reason, meeting that gaze made my body freeze like a statue, unwilling to move.
Finally, when Ahin nodded, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I had been holding and absentmindedly began to stroke his fur again.
“Rabbits…”
My fingers threaded through the thick black fur.
“…don’t kill each other just because they’ve become weak. It’s not like there’s no hierarchy struggle, though.”
Ahin shifted slightly, gazing at me intently. I no longer had the courage to meet his eyes and instead focused on his tail.
“I’m just a rabbit.”
“……”
“So even if I know about your weaknesses, I can’t bite back.”
So you don’t need to look at me with those guarded eyes.
Swallowing the rest of my words, I lay down diagonally on the bed, feeling like a piece of driftwood. Gathering what little courage I had left, I spread my arms wide.
“Come here.”
I couldn’t quite manage to open my eyes, but the thought of looking at Ahin’s face in his black panther form was daunting in a different way than when he was human.
How much time passed, I couldn’t tell. I felt the bed sink under a significant weight, and soon after, a solid mass settled against my arm.
When I finally opened my eyes, my vision was filled with nothing but black fur. My nose was practically buried in Ahin’s neck. It was more like I had collapsed into the panther’s embrace than the other way around.
Suppressing the urge to faint, I carefully wrapped my arms around the warm, furry body pressing against me.
‘Goodness.’
Half in a daze, I absentmindedly patted his back, feeling the softness of his fur beneath my fingers.
Time seemed to stretch out endlessly. Still nestled against Ahin’s neck, I murmured softly.
“The truth is, I lied when I said I didn’t care if you were in pain.”
Maybe it was out of frustration or perhaps a childish whim, but the black panther snuggled closer.
Breathing was difficult with all that fur smothering me, and I let out a few huffs through my nose. From this angle, he seemed like just an oversized cat—albeit the scariest cat in the world.
“I’m sorry for saying something so harsh.”
Finally, I began to gently release pheromones into the air, just enough to soothe without overwhelming. I wasn’t sure if it would work, but I hoped it would help Ahin sleep peacefully.
As I continued to emit pheromones, I found myself absentmindedly stroking his soft tail. A strange sense of calm washed over me.
In a way, I felt more at ease with Ahin as a black panther tonight. Maybe that’s why he’s always so comfortable around me when I’m in my rabbit form.
I knew this delicate balance between us couldn’t last forever. Leaning into the warmth of his body, I mumbled softly.
“Don’t get sick….”
Even after that, I continued to gently stroke his back until I finally drifted into a deep sleep.
* * *
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