"Mr. Adkin is dead! The Italians deceived us!"
The news spread like wildfire through both the Main and Minor houses of Seath. Shock rippled through every corridor—few could believe it.
Their country, was ruled by the Seath clan, divided into two great families: the Main house and the Minor house, governed by two Alpha brothers—Adrin and Adkin.
The world itself was built on eight genders: Female and Male Enigma, Alpha, Beta, and Omega.
The Main family held authority over all superficial and legal affairs, respected in society for its prestige and honor. The Minor family, in contrast, handled the underground—politics, black markets, and everything that lived in the shadows.
For years, both houses had coexisted in uneasy peace. Few, however, knew of the quiet rivalry between the brothers.
Each dreamed of ruling both sides, and neither was willing to surrender the empire they had built together.
Adrin, the elder Alpha, sat calmly in his study, playing chess with his beta assistant, Owen, when his sons burst into the room without announcing themselves.
By inheritance and by temperament, Adrin had claimed the Main house.
Their late father had deemed him unfit for the ruthless work of the underworld, leaving the Minor house to his younger brother, Adkin—who had embraced the darkness without hesitation.
Adrin had four sons, all alphas—a fact he carried with both pride and arrogance.
Ethan, the eldest, a celebrated actor in the entertainment world.
Evyan, the second, who oversaw much of the Main family business.
The twins, Evan and East: Evan, the elder twin, a music major who kept his distance from family affairs; and East, who studied business to follow in Evyan's footsteps.
Adkin, meanwhile, led the Minor family with his two Alpha sons—River and Rain. River was in his final year of college, majoring in business, while Rain was still in high school.
Recently, a new member had joined their household: a newborn baby, abandoned by its mother shortly after birth.
"Pa! Did you hear?!" Ethan burst out, his face pale. "Uncle was killed!"
East, standing quietly beside him, studied his father's expression.
Adrin calmly placed the king piece down on the board and looked up.
"Such an unfortunate event. River and Rain will be having a hard time with their loss."
"That's all you have to say?!" Ethan shouted in outrage. "Those bastard Italians dared to kill our family!"
"Control your emotions, Ethan," Adrin warned, his voice cool. "One should never lose their calm, no matter the situation." He stood, moving toward the balcony.
"Wait for Evyan and River to return. Send someone to bring Rain and the baby here."
Owen bowed and slipped quietly out. Ethan groaned in frustration and left as well, muttering about preparing a room for his young cousin.
East sat in Owen's empty chair, eyeing the chessboard with a crooked smile.
"Pa is far too calm for someone who just lost his only brother."
Adrin said nothing. He only glanced at his youngest son before stepping out onto the balcony, his face unreadable.
East twirled the king piece in his hand, studying it in silence.
--
Meanwhile, at the Minor house, Rain paced the hall with the week-old baby in his arms, waiting anxiously for River to return.
His world had collapsed the moment he learned of their father's death.
Adkin might not have been the best parent, but he had been their family. Now he was gone. The baby's cries pierced the air.
The child's mother, Adkin's former lover, had disappeared soon after giving birth.
At last, the front door opened. Rain's eyes lit up with desperate hope.
"Brother! Is it true?! Is Dad really dead?! Say something!"
River's silence was answer enough. He glanced at the crying infant, whose wails seemed to carry the grief they both could not voice.
River took the baby into his arms, rocking him gently, though the child only grew more restless, suffocated by the thick sorrow in the room.
"Brother..." Rain whispered, his voice breaking.
River opened his mouth to speak, but a knock came at the door. A guard stepped inside and bowed.
"Alpha, the Main family has sent a car to bring young master Rain and the baby to their house."
"We aren't going anywhere!" Rain snapped, his voice raw. He didn't hate the Main family, he simply couldn't face anyone, not yet.
River saw his brother's state and gave a curt nod. "Tell them we'll go tomorrow. Today, we need to be left alone."
The guard bowed and left. The baby quieted, sensing his brothers' turmoil.
River pulled Rain into his free arm, holding him close as the younger alpha broke down in tears.
For a moment, the world shrank to just the three of them.
But peace was brief. The guard returned, bowing nervously.
"Alpha River... there's a beta who insists on seeing you."
River's eyes narrowed, his aura flaring. The guard flinched at the weight of his presence.
"Send him away. The Minor house is not receiving guests."
"Sir... he says it's urgent..."
"I said no!" River roared. The guard trembled and fled.
Minutes later, the man returned, pale with fear.
"Alpha... he refuses to leave until he meets you."
"Then throw him out!" River snarled. The guard wiped sweat from his brow and ran
---
The next day, River, Rain, and the baby joined the Main family for Adkin's funeral. Rain sobbed openly as the coffin was lowered, while River stood cold and silent beside him. Ethan embraced Rain, while Evyan rested a firm hand on River's shoulder.
"The Main family will always stand with you."
After the ceremony, they returned to the Main house. Ethan's guards tended to the baby while Adrin called the family into the meeting room.
"After the sudden death of Adkin," Adrin began, his voice calm as ever, "I believe it's time to merge the Main and Minor houses."
The room erupted in shock. Ethan shot to his feet.
"Pa! What are you saying?! The Minor family still has heirs!"
"Don't misunderstand me," Adrin replied. "But right now, River cannot handle everything alone.
Rain is unstable, River himself is lost, and there is an infant to consider. He needs time a chance to regain control."
River said nothing. Deep down, he knew his uncle was right.
Yet the thought of surrendering his father's power left him unsettled. He felt trapped, torn between responsibility and despair.
"Let's leave this matter for now," Evyan said firmly. "It's not the right time."
Adrin inclined his head in agreement, but his sharp gaze shifted to River's hand.
"Where is the Minor family's ring?"
River froze. He remembered clearly: their father had not been wearing the ring the last time he saw him.
He had searched for it after his death, but it was nowhere to be found.
"Our ring is at the Minor house," River lied quickly.
Adrin nodded, accepting the answer. River exhaled in relief, silently resolving to return home and find the ring as soon as possible.
The Seath family possessed two rings, each symbolizing absolute power.
To wear one was to be recognized as the rightful leader of a house. Without it, authority meant nothing.
Adrin ended the meeting. "We'll discuss our next move in a few days. For now, all of us need rest."
"You're welcome to stay here at the Main house," he added.
"No," River interrupted coldly. "It's better we return."
He wanted, he needed to get back to the Minor house. The missing ring weighed on his mind like a curse.