On his way home, Hunter got a strange call. The person on the other end asked if he’d received the envelope and if he remembered anything about his past. When Hunter tried to figure out who was calling, the voice just told him to ask Dr. Stuart for answers. Then the call cut off.
Not long after, his phone buzzed again—this time, it was Kimberly. She asked to meet up at a restaurant. When Hunter asked if she was alright, she didn’t give a clear answer. Still, her tone made him think she was okay. Curious about the first call and wanting to figure out how Kimberly fit into all this, he agreed to meet her.When Hunter got to the restaurant, he spotted her right away, sitting in the farthest corner. He walked up to her and asked, “How are you feeling? Are you sure you’re okay being out?”“I’m fine. Honestly, I’ve been through worse,” Kimberly said with a small shrug, but her words made Hunter frown.“SAleah headed to her house in the Compound after Rafael called her up. He told her that Hunter's wallet, phone, and gun had somehow shown up at their place. They were waiting for Hunter to come by, but as the evening dragged on, he still hadn’t shown up. Nobody had a clue how to reach him, and Kimberly wasn’t around either.“Do you have any idea where he might’ve gone?” Aleah asked Rafael once he arrived. The whole squad from Hunter's task force was there, too. Even Claire had come over to check on Kimberly, but the girl wasn’t home.“No clue,” Carlos chimed in. “But yesterday morning, Hunter got a package. Then he told me he had to go somewhere, but didn’t say where.”“You saw him yesterday?” Rafael asked.“Yeah, he dropped by Director Kim's place to see me. But we didn’t talk for long—he said he’d be back here later,” Aleah replied. She furrowed her brows
After a long flight, Hunter and Kimberly finally touched down in Scotland. They ended up in a remote area, far from civilization. As Hunter looked around, something about the place felt oddly familiar—especially the crumbling remains of a house in front of him. Without saying anything, Kimberly headed straight into the house, and Hunter followed after her.Inside, the place looked like it hadn’t been touched in years. Dust and cobwebs clung to everything.“What is this place?” Hunter asked, glancing at Kimberly.“This? It's the Iron Maiden facility,” she replied, turning to face him. “This is where you were... I don’t know, created? Or woke up? Whatever you want to call it.”“What are you talking about?” Hunter asked, his confusion growing.“Here. Drink this,” Kimberly said, holding out a tablet instead of answering his question directly. Hunter frowned, staring at the pill, then a
"Zen!" Aleah called out, her face lighting up as she spotted him outside. She’d been standing on the terrace, taking in the night sky sprinkled with stars and a bright full moon. There he was, standing in the garden, looking right at her. She didn’t know when he’d returned, but seeing him made her heart race with excitement. Without thinking twice, she dashed downstairs to greet him.As soon as she reached the garden, she ran straight into his arms and hugged him tightly."Zen, what happened to you? Where’ve you been all this time?" she asked, her voice a mix of relief and curiosity. But Zen didn’t say a word; he just stared at her in silence."Why aren’t you talking? Did something happen to you?" Aleah continued, growing more anxious. Instead of answering, Zen gently pushed her away, leaving her confused."Let’s end this," he said flatly."Wait, what?" Aleah asked, completely caught off guard."This whole act,
"Alpha Hunter!" Rafael and the rest of the task force called out in unison as Hunter stepped out of the highest-ranking General's office. It had been nearly a month, and they couldn’t believe he was finally here. They’d searched everywhere for him—even Guiller’s team came up empty-handed."Dude, what happened to you? You were gone for a week! Do you know how worried everyone was? Your family, Aleah especially," Rafael said, walking up to him."I don’t owe you an explanation for anything I do," Hunter replied coldly, catching everyone off guard."What? Are you serious right now?" Rafael asked, baffled. "Did something happen to you while you were away? Why are you acting like this?""Drop it. I’m not explaining myself to you. And for the record, I don’t need you meddling in my life. Have you forgotten I’m the Alpha, and you’re just a Beta? You shouldn’t be questioning my decisions.""But—"
Aleah didn’t believe Hunter would change so suddenly. Sure, he’d always been a bit of a grouch—even during their first meeting—but he wasn’t the type to just ditch his friends. Something must’ve happened to him when he disappeared. Deciding she couldn’t just sit around and mope, she resolved to find him. She asked Dennis for help, and together, they started their search.While looking for Hunter, they spotted Dr. Stuart at a shopping mall. Aleah figured it might be a good idea to follow him since Hunter had previously handled his case. She knew Hunter wasn’t the kind of person to walk away from something he was working on until it was solved.“Are we really doing this?” Dennis asked, munching on fries as they sat in a fast-food joint inside the mall. Across from them was a boutique where Kimberly had just walked in.“What’s the deal between you and Hunter anyway? Is he cheating on you or something
"I thought you promised to find a way to cut ties with your old friends. So why did I see you talking to your ex-wife?” Giovanni asked Hunter as they returned to the house they’d been staying in. When they arrived in the country, they all decided to live together under one roof while planning their strategies to execute their mission.When Hunter discovered his true identity and came to understand what Giovanni and Kimberly stood for, he realized that the life he thought he knew was all a lie. Joining their cause felt like the only way to piece together his fragmented sense of self. That’s why he chose to be part of their mission.Kimberly and Giovanni had been involved in the unrest in the countries they’d been to—Libya first, and then Myanmar. The chaos was a result of the falsehoods they had sown in the hearts and minds of local communist groups, inciting rebellions against the government. Though their actions went against the beliefs Hunte
"You saw what happened, right? What else does Zen need to do to prove he’s on our side?" Kimberly said as Hunter returned home after the operation. Giovanni glanced at Hunter, still unsure about his loyalty. But even he couldn’t deny the fact that Hunter had played a huge role in keeping the police and soldiers from discovering their plans. The guy had come up with the entire strategy and even set the trap that worked perfectly. "Okay, fine. You did well," Giovanni finally said. "Because of you, we managed to save a ton of money." "Exactly. So, can we drop the doubts now? I know what I’m doing," Hunter replied, leaning back confidently. "What else do I need to do to prove that I’m with you?" "You saw him shoot his former teammate, didn’t you?" Kimberly jumped in. "That should be more than enough proof that he’s with us now." "Alright, alright. But I’ve got one more task for you," Giovanni said, crossing his arms. "Do this right, and I’ll trust you—no questions as
"Z...en!" Aleah gasped, bolting upright from where she had been lying down. She blinked hard, taking in her surroundings. This was... her room? At Director Kim's house? Her eyes darted to the bloodstain on her shoulder. But there was no pain, no wound. What on earth? The last thing she remembered was Hunter pointing a gun at her head. That deafening gunshot still rang in her ears. Was this real—or was she dead and dreaming?"Lei! You're awake!" Elara’s voice broke through her confusion as she walked into the room, trailed by Guiller, Rafael, and Director Kim. "How are you feeling?"Aleah stared at them, bewildered. They all looked concerned, even... relieved? But why? What were they doing here, especially Guiller and Rafael? Her head was spinning."What’s going on?" she blurted, her voice trembling. "Where’s Zen? Is he okay? Did something happen to him?""Hey, hey, calm down," Elara said gently, sitting beside her and clasping her hand. He
"Z..en?!” Aleah blurted out in shock as she caught sight of her husband walking into Dennis’ law firm office. What truly made her jaw drop was the young woman clinging to his arm. Just recently, Hunter had saved her from a dangerous businessman, and he’d shared her tragic story with Aleah. Now, it seemed, the woman was under military protection.“She’s our new client,” Dennis interjected, clearly picking up on the surprise plastered across Aleah’s face.“Thanks for taking this on. You’re the only guy I trust to stand firm, even against a brick wall,” Hunter said, his tone light yet full of confidence in the younger man.“Should I feel flattered or cornered?” Dennis quipped back.“Take it however you want,” Hunter replied with a small smirk, but he subtly shrugged off Aster’s hand when he caught the sharp daggers Aleah was throwing his way.“Let’s move this i
Bursting into the room, Hunter froze. On the bed lay Aster, bruised and battered, her face pale and terrified. She was clutching the sheets desperately, trying to cover herself. Hunter looked away immediately, scanning the room for something she could wear. His eyes landed on a cabinet. He crossed the room, flinging it open to grab one of the polo shirts folded neatly inside.“Here,” he said softly, holding it out to her.Her trembling hands reached for the shirt, but before she could put it on, she collapsed into him, her sobs breaking the silence. Hunter’s chest tightened as he hugged her close, his hand rubbing soothing circles on her back.“You’re safe now,” he murmured, his voice as steady as he could manage. “I’ve got you.” Aster’s sobs started to calm down, though her body still shook. “Can you stand?” Hunter asked gently. She nodded weakly and slipped on the shirt, but as soon as she tried
Mission again?” Aleah asked, catching Hunter just as he ended his call. He had only been back for a day, fresh from his last mission and finally meant to be on vacation. Yet here he was, barely settling in, already being pulled away again.Hunter glanced at her, guilt flashing in his eyes. He hated leaving, especially after they’d just made up. “I’m sorry, Lei,” he said quietly, moving closer to wrap his arms around her.Aleah shook her head, her smile bittersweet. “I get it. You never really stop, do you?” she said softly. “But that’s you—always ready to do what’s right. It’s one of the reasons I fell in love with you.”Hunter sighed, holding her tighter. “It’s Aster, the reporter. She went missing while investigating a drug syndicate. My team’s counting on me to help find her. I have to go.”Aleah’s heart ached, but she managed a small, brave smile.
"Hunter!" Elara gasped, visibly surprised when Hunter stepped into Antonio's mansion. "You’re here to bring your wife home, aren’t you?" she teased, a playful smirk dancing across her lips.Hunter nodded casually, his gaze steady."I heard about your mission," Elara continued, her tone softening. "It was all over the news.""Aleah—where is she?" Hunter’s voice carried a subtle urgency."She’s in her room. Go to her," Elara said, giving him an encouraging look. "You two need to talk. Don’t let a single day pass without working things out. It’s been three weeks, Hunter. Three weeks of distance and silence. And you’ve been away while Aleah’s... you know, carrying your child—""I know," Hunter cut her off, guilt shadowing his expression. "I’m sorry.""You don’t owe me an apology," Elara replied, shaking her head. "She’s waiting upstairs. Go make things right."Hunter gave her
"Alpha?!" exclaimed a task force member, including Rafael, as Hunter and the Vice Admiral arrived at their headquarters. Everyone was visibly shocked and confused. Just last week, the Vice Admiral had informed them that their Alpha was KIA (Killed in Action). But now, standing before them was Alpha—unharmed and very much alive. Their shock was such that it was as if they'd seen a ghost."You're alive?" Rafael asked in astonishment, staring at his friend in disbelief. Hunter responded with a restrained smile."Later. This isn't the time to be stunned. We still have work to do," Hunter said, walking inside. He turned to Charles and added, "Charles, set up everything in the conference room. We have something to discuss." He then approached Charles, tapping his shoulder. Unlike the rest, Charles was the only one unsurprised by the return of the man they had believed to be long gone."Yes, Sir!" Charles responded enthusiastically as he stood up."Hunter, wait!"
"KIA? What do you mean KIA? Who’s KIA?” Aleah’s voice cracked as she stepped into the living room, her eyes darting to Rafael, who was mid-conversation with Sebastian. Charles and Michael were also there, but their usual easygoing demeanor was replaced with somber expressions. It was as if a dark cloud had settled in the room.Hunter hadn’t been home in two weeks. Every time she went to the camp, the soldiers would block her path, telling her the Alpha wasn’t accepting visitors—not even her, his wife. She had tried to be patient, to understand, because deep down, she knew she still had a lot to make up for. But now… this? Her chest tightened as if the air had been sucked out of the room.“Aleah, dear…” Sebastian’s voice was calm but carried the weight of something heavy, something she wasn’t ready to hear.“No, no,” Aleah said, shaking her head as she took a hesitant step forward. &l
"Zen!" Aleah called out, her voice trembling slightly as she followed him off the bus. The weight of his silence during the ride there still hung heavy between them. Even his men, usually talkative, hadn’t dared to utter a word. The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife, and everyone could feel the storm brewing within their Alpha."Alpha Hunter," Aleah tried again, grabbing his hand gently to stop him. He froze at her touch, and for a moment, everyone else around them seemed to hold their breath.“We’ll head inside first,” Charles said, offering a quick salute. The rest of the Astral Guardians followed suit, their movements sharp and disciplined. Hunter returned the gesture with a curt nod, still silent."I’ll prepare the report," Rafael chimed in, saluting his friend. Hunter barely glanced his way, giving a small nod of acknowledgment before they all began filing into the camp.Aleah watched as Hunter pulled his hand from he
Aleah hunched down inside the van, trying to avoid the bullets tearing through. Two men hit the ground, lifeless. Chatles, perched on top of the bus, joined in firing at the attackers. Rafael and Hunter weren’t holding back either.Soon enough, Aleah's kidnappers started dropping one by one. The driver and his buddy in the passenger seat didn’t stand a chance either. Out of nowhere, Aleah gasped as someone yanked her out of the van."Stop! Stop firing!" a SWAT officer shouted, raising his hands. Carlos and his team noticed the man dragging Aleah and signaled for everyone to hold their fire."You piece of—!" Hunter growled, barely keeping his rage in check as he watched the man use Aleah as a human shield. The man dragged her further away from the van, pointing a gun at her head, facing off against Hunter and Rafael."What do you think you’re doing?" Aleah shot at him, her voice steady despite the fear in her chest. "You think they’re
"You’re being reckless again,” Hunter said, pushing himself off the hospital bed and letting go of Aleah’s hand. “You’re shaking, but here you are, worrying about everyone else’s safety instead of your own.”Aleah didn’t reply, but Hunter could see it—she was scared, terrified even. Yet, knowing her as well as he did, he knew she’d never ignore the injustices she witnessed.“What the hell are you doing? Get over here already!” the armed man barked at Aleah, his patience wearing thin. Aleah glanced at him briefly, then turned back to Hunter. The tension in the room was palpable; everyone inside seemed to be holding their breath.“Rafael, are you hearing me?” Hunter said into the device clipped to his ear. He’d been in the emergency room all along, tipped off that Shadow and the Iron Maiden’s operatives might target Claire after learning about Taniya. It had been days of stak