"Sorry, I can't join you here. I had an urgent call," Hunter said to Aleah as she walked him to the grand iron gates outside the mansion. The crisp morning air carried the faint scent of blooming flowers from the garden. Hunter had suddenly received a call from an officer of the Astral Guardians, summoning him to the camp. The Alpha King had learned of his return and insisted on his presence, emphasizing the urgency of the matter.
"I can't do anything about it. You're heading to work, after all. Even if I tried to stop you, you wouldn't listen," Aleah replied, her voice tinged with a mix of acceptance and sadness. She wrapped her arms around herself, shielding against the morning chill.
"Good thing you understand. Will you be okay?" Hunter asked, his intense gaze fixed on her face, as if trying to gauge her emotions.
"Of course," Aleah said with a forced smile, her eyes betraying a hint of unease.
"Don't act so tough, clumsy girl," Hunter teased, breaking
Aleah walked into the kitchen and found Daniella, Michelle, and Aurora busily preparing breakfast. It was a surprising sight for her—back when she lived in the mansion, she was used to seeing the household staff take care of such tasks. The family members rarely, if ever, lifted a finger in the kitchen. But here, for the first time, she saw these women actively cooking, moving with practiced ease as they chopped, stirred, and arranged ingredients. What caught her attention even more was how effortlessly they worked together, their laughter and light banter filling the air. It was evident that Daniella had already won their affection.“G-good morning. Can I help with anything?” Aleah’s voice was hesitant but hopeful. She had woken up early, thinking it would be a good idea to lend a hand. Helping in the kitchen seemed like a way to make herself useful and to prove that she wasn’t just a burden on Don Sebastian’s family. It also seemed like an
Dalia! Tommy! Ramil!" exclaimed Aleah in surprise as she stepped out of the car, her expression shifting from confusion to delight upon seeing the three eagerly waiting by the door of Hunter’s house in the Astral Guardians compound. She had barely taken a step when the sound of the gate opening drew her attention—it was Rafael. Not surprising, she thought. Rafael was always around Hunter, and it wouldn’t be shocking to learn his house was also within the compound. His presence there only added to her growing curiosity."Big Sis Aleah!" shouted Dalia and Tommy, their faces lighting up as they ran toward her. The twins practically launched themselves into her arms, hugging her tightly. Overwhelmed but smiling, Aleah gently hugged them back. Her eyes shifted to Hunter, who stood nearby with his usual calm demeanor. She noticed Ramil approaching him, and in that moment, Hunter handed over their bag to the younger man."How are you?" Ramil greeted her with an
"Why is the kitchen light on?" Hunter asked as he entered their home, his voice tinged with curiosity. It was late into the night, and he assumed everyone, including Aleah, was fast asleep. However, the glow coming from the kitchen immediately caught his attention. Instead of turning on the living room light, he quietly made his way toward the source of the illumination. He was curious to see who was awake at such an unusual hour.Standing at the doorway, Hunter was greeted by an unexpected sight. Aleah sat at the kitchen table, her posture heavy with dejection. In front of her was a plate of food that, even from a distance, looked disastrously overcooked. Her chin rested on one hand as she stared blankly at the plate, seemingly deep in thought. The sight of her, lost in her own world, piqued Hunter’s interest. His gaze shifted to the charred food she seemed to be contemplating, and he furrowed his brows, wondering what could be running through her mind."What are yo
"Really now. What a troublesome person," Hunter muttered as he approached her. He picked up the rock near her foot and tossed it to the side of the road."What?" Hunter asked, puzzled, as Aleah simply stared at the hand he extended toward her. "Do you have no plans of getting up from there?" he asked, his tone slightly teasing."Ah—" Aleah stammered, her words trailing off as she hesitated, her eyes fixed on his outstretched hand."Come on," Hunter said, placing a hand on her shoulder and helping her to her feet."Ah," Aleah winced as pain shot through her foot when Hunter pulled her up. He immediately paused, concern flashing across his face."Did you sprain your ankle?" Hunter asked, glancing down at her foot while keeping a steadying hand on her shoulder. "Stand still," he instructed as he crouched down to examine her foot.When he touched her ankle, Aleah flinched and instinctively grabbed the back of his shirt. Hunter looked up at her, worry
"Grandpa?!" Aleah exclaimed in surprise as they arrived at their house. She was with Hunter, and they had just come back from the grocery store, their arms laden with bags. Since Aleah had finished work early and it was Hunter's day off, they decided to tackle the shopping together. With Ramil still at school, it seemed like the perfect opportunity for the two of them to get it done.Their light mood quickly shifted when they noticed Don Damian standing outside their gate, accompanied by Melissa and Albert. The atmosphere grew tense as Aleah and Hunter exchanged uncertain glances. Hunter, ever the gentleman, immediately took the bags Aleah was carrying, allowing her to greet her family.Aleah approached her grandfather with a warm smile and kissed his cheek, followed by her father, Albert. She hesitated slightly before turning to greet Melissa. However, Melissa, with a sharp turn of her head, deliberately avoided her, leaving Aleah's smile faltering."Sir," Hunter gre
"Do you need anything?" Ramil asked a man in uniform standing in front of Hunter's gate. He had just arrived after picking up his younger siblings from school. The afternoon sun cast long shadows, and the air was heavy with an unspoken tension. Ramil froze when Tommy suddenly gripped his hand tightly, his small fingers trembling, while Dahlia quickly hid behind him, clutching the hem of his shirt. Confused, Ramil glanced at the soldier, who stood with his head bowed, holding his hat as if weighed down by something more than just the heat. Ramil couldn't understand why his siblings were suddenly so frightened of the man."Oh! You're here. Why haven't you gone inside yet?" Aleah's voice broke the silence as she opened the gate, stepping out of the house. She noticed the siblings standing outside, their faces pale and uneasy. Her gaze shifted to the man in uniform, who seemed out of place yet oddly familiar."Do you need anything, sir?" Aleah asked politely, her tone cautious
As the man lay sprawled on the ground, Aleah turned to look at him, her breathing heavy. Her gaze then shifted to Hunter, who stood protectively in front of her. Hunter's men, seeing the man incapacitated, lowered their weapons and moved toward the children and Rafael to ensure their safety."You’re bleeding," Hunter said with concern as he approached Aleah, gently placing his hand on her neck to examine the wound."I’m fine. It’s just a small cut," Aleah replied, brushing it off as she touched the wound herself."This is what happens when you’re stubborn. How troublesome. Don’t provoke someone dangerous with your defiance. What would you have done if it had been worse than this?" Hunter scolded his tone a mix of frustration and worry."I—I’m sorry, okay? Nothing bad happened," Aleah stammered, unsure why Hunter was reacting so strongly.As they spoke, neither of them noticed the man regaining consciousness. He reach
Ae you sure you'll be okay here?" Hunter asked the young woman as he stopped his car just outside her grandfather’s mansion. The sprawling estate, known as the Guevarra mansion, loomed behind the ornate iron gates. Despite his busy schedule and the urgency of his next mission, Hunter had insisted on escorting her himself, ensuring her safety before his departure.“I’ll be okay. I’m more worried about Dahlia and the others back home. Only Ramil is there to look after them,” she replied, her voice tinged with concern as she gazed through the gates at the mansion.“Don’t worry about them. Their stepfather is already behind bars, and he won’t be able to get out anytime soon. Besides, I’ve reinforced the security in the compound after what happened,” Hunter reassured her, his expression firm and resolute, the faint lines of worry on his face softening.“That’s a relief,” she said, exhaling deeply
Everyone in the emergency room—doctors, patients—turned their heads in shock at the deafening sound of a gunshot. All eyes shifted to the glass door just as a security guard collapsed outside. Moments later, a man in tactical gear stormed in, dragging another guard who was clearly his hostage.The room froze. Nurses and patient companions panicked, racing toward the door leading to another section of the hospital. But their escape was short-lived as more men blocked the exits, forcing everyone back. With every way out sealed, tension filled the air.“If you don’t want this to be your last day alive, you’ll do exactly as we say,” the masked man barked. His grip on the hostage tightened as he scanned the terrified crowd. “Nobody leaves until we get what we came for. Got it? And to prove we mean business...watch this.”Without hesitation, he jammed a syringe into the neck of the hostage. The guard's eyes widened in terror a
"Claire! Watch out!" Aleah yelled as a woman suddenly dashed onto the road. Startled, Claire slammed on the brakes, sending both of them jerking forward. Luckily, their seatbelts kept them in place. Once the shock wore off, Claire turned to Aleah with wide eyes."Aleah, are you okay? Did you get hurt?" she asked, clearly worried."I’m fine," Aleah said, brushing it off. "But… I think we might’ve hit someone.""I swear, I didn’t mean to!" Claire blurted, panic creeping into her voice."Let’s go check," Aleah said, already getting out of the car. Claire followed quickly. As they rounded the front of the car, they saw a young woman sitting on the road. She looked terrified, her blonde hair and blue eyes immediately marking her as a foreigner."Are you okay? I’m so sorry! I didn’t see you—" Claire said as she approached the woman."Help me," the woman whispered, her voice shaky. Aleah and Claire exchanged une
"Alpha’s not with you?" Claire asked as Aleah walked into the hospital for her check-up. Yesterday, her cousin’s appointment got canceled because of that hostage situation. She was sure Hunter would be with Aleah this time, but seeing her alone was a surprise."He’s busy at work. Don’t worry, I’m fine. My belly’s not that big yet, so I can manage. Besides, I just came from work myself," Aleah said with a light smile before glancing over at the doctors talking to Uncle Luis. "New faces over there?""Yeah, they’re researchers from Scotland. They’re teaming up with the medical staff here to work on a new medicine," Claire explained, stealing a quick look at the doctors chatting with her dad. Just as she finished talking, the group started walking over."I’d like you to meet my doctor, Dr. Claire Ramirez," Uncle Luis said, beaming. "She’s one of the best surgeons we’ve got in this hospital. And I’m no
Oh, Alpha Hunter. Have you been here long?” Trisha asked with a curious look as she walked in, files in hand.Hunter glanced at her briefly before speaking. “No, but you're right on time. I need you to grab the test results from forensics—the one for the new case we're working on. It’s important.”Trisha nodded and headed off without hesitation. Hunter watched her leave for a moment before focusing back on the task at hand.Yesterday, he’d been pulled into an emergency meeting with the Alpha King and Navy Vice Admiral. It had been about the chilling discovery of street kids’ bodies in an abandoned building. The Vice Admiral thought the case tied into Hunter’s earlier work involving the Iron Maiden and a band of pirates.Months ago, Hunter had been sent undercover to an island suspected of being the pirates’ lair. It turned out to be much more than that. The island, dubbed “Death Island,” was actual
“Is there anything you’d like to eat?” Hunter asked, his tone soft and thoughtful as he looked at Aleah. She shook her head lightly, her lips forming a faint smile.“Please, don’t worry about me. I’m really not hungry yet,” Aleah replied, her voice gentle as she turned her gaze toward Jestina and Dave.“That’s a shame. Alpha’s cooking shouldn’t go to waste,” Dave remarked, eyeing the dishes before them.“Don’t mind me—enjoy the meal,” Aleah said simply.“Are you absolutely sure there’s nothing you’d like?” Hunter asked again, his fingers brushing hers gently as he reached for her hand. Jestina and Dave exchanged a glance, quietly noting the intimate bubble the couple seemed to share.“Tama si Alpha Hunter,” Jestina chimed in cheerfully, leaning forward slightly. “It’d be such a waste if you don’t eat. If I were
You’re the first person to say that. I remember someone once saying this house screams way too much of—” Hunter stopped mid-sentence as his eyes landed on Aleah. Her sharp glare was all it took to silence him. For a moment, he froze, then bit back a grin at the fierce expression on her face. She looked adorable when she was mad, though he didn’t dare say that out loud.“Really?” Aleah chimed in, her voice sweet but with a subtle edge. “Sounds like that person didn’t know the first thing about good interior design,” she said, her smile polite but pointed.“Think so?” Hunter replied, a playful smirk tugging at his lips as he glanced at Aleah, who was trying hard to keep her irritation under wraps.“Can we check out the second floor?” Dave cut in, breaking the exchange between the two.“Sure, let’s go,” Hunter said, motioning toward the stairs. But as Aleah moved to lead
Hunter's voice cut through the quiet hum of the yard. "Hey, what are you up to?" he asked, his brows furrowing as he spotted Aleah crouched among the grass, trimming away.She paused mid-snip, turning to him with a sheepish smile. "Just cutting some grass. It’s gotten too wild. Mang Ponce called earlier—his wife is sick, so they can’t make it today. I figured I’d handle it. It’s not a big deal."Hunter sighed, shaking his head as he walked closer. "Aleah," he said, his tone soft but firm, "you shouldn’t be doing this, not when you’re carrying our baby." He gently took the trimmer from her hands and helped her to her feet, his touch warm and protective. "Your body isn’t just yours right now, you know," he added, his hand settling lovingly over her belly.Aleah rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress a smile. "You always worry too much," she teased. "It’s just a bit of grass. I’m fine—"Before sh
When Aleah stepped into Hunter's house, she was greeted by all their friends, including Francis, whose face lit up at the sight of her.“Aunt Aleah! You’re safe! I’m so sorry I couldn’t do anything to protect you,” Isaac said, his voice laced with guilt. “But I promise, I’ll start learning martial arts right away. Next time, I’ll be the one keeping you safe.”Aleah smiled warmly, holding his hand. “That’s so sweet of you, Isaac. I’m just glad we’re all okay.”Francis approached them, his gratitude shining through his words. “Aleah, because of your courage, my family and I are safe. I owe you more than I could ever repay.”“Thank you for everything, Aleah,” Aurora added, stepping closer with a bright smile. Aleah nodded at them, her heart full of gratitude.“Some things never change, huh?” Elara teased with a knowing smile as she looked at h
I’ll end this right now!” Jonathan snarled, gripping the paddle so tight his knuckles turned white. He raised it, ready to strike Hunter again. But before he could swing, Aleah threw herself in front of Hunter, wrapping her arms around him tightly and squeezing her eyes shut. “Wha—” Jonathan's words froze mid-sentence as a firm hand grabbed the paddle. Aleah's eyes snapped open, and there stood Charles, holding the paddle steady. “You need to stop this, sir,” Charles said, calm yet commanding. “Who the heck are you?” Jonathan asked, his confusion evident as he took in the newcomer. “I’m Officer Charles Cordero with the Astral Guardians. Alpha Hunter’s mentee and personal aide,” Charles replied coolly. “Charles…” Aleah whispered, relief washing over her voice. Charles yanked the paddle from Jonathan’s grasp and shot a look at the group of men who had attacked Hunter. As his eyes shifted to an intense, glowing blue, fear spread like wildfire, and the men scatt