Whoa! What’s all this chaos?” Hunter teased as he strode into the kitchen, only to be greeted by thick smoke clouding the room. His playful expression shifted to concern when he heard Aleah coughing. He quickly covered his mouth and nose, darted toward her, and found her crouched by the stove, struggling to catch her breath. Without a second thought, Hunter turned off the stove and helped Aleah to her feet.
“Hey, are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?” Hunter asked, his voice full of worry as he gently held her arm. “What’s going on? Were you trying to burn the house down?” His teasing tone returned, trying to lighten the mood.Aleah rolled her eyes, irritation flaring. “I was cooking!” she snapped.“And this masterpiece?” Hunter chuckled, peering at the pan of charred food. “Is it supposed to be edible?”“It’s nothing,” Aleah muttered, snatching the pan and dumping it i“Then find someone else for the mission,” Hunter shot back, his voice calm but icy. “I don’t appreciate being blindsided like this. You’ve already ruined enough of my Christmas morning. Now leave.”The Alpha’s jaw tightened as irritation flickered across his face, but he managed to keep his composure. “Fine. But you have exactly one hour. Don’t be late.”“Got it. Don’t bother waiting for a thank you,” Hunter said, her tone sharp and cold. She shut the gate without so much as a goodbye to the Alpha and stormed back into the house. The Alpha stood there, speechless, processing her reaction before quietly signaling his companions to leave.Inside, Hunter found Aleah in the kitchen, cleaning up in silence. He walked over, trying to take the trash she was holding, but Aleah snatched it back, and the contents spilled onto the floor. They both stared at the mess for a moment before Aleah bent
What’s going on?” Aleah asked, her voice laced with curiosity and a hint of worry as she stepped into the Bryant mansion. Her grandfather Damian and her dad were already there, along with the Alpha who had picked Hunter up a month ago. It had been weeks since Hunter left for his mission, and not a single word from him. The silence was starting to weigh heavily on her.She had been patiently waiting for him all this time. Then, out of nowhere, Sebastian’s secretary showed up, whisking her away to the mansion without any explanation. And now, here she was—facing a room full of soldiers and high-ranking officials. It was unsettling, to say the least.“Hey, come in. Let’s talk inside,” Sebastian said gently, guiding her toward the house.“Okay, but… why are there so many soldiers here? Did something happen?” Aleah asked, scanning the room. Her eyes landed on the Alpha holding a white envelope. A wave of uneasine
"Are you really gone?" Aleah asked, sitting on her bed while clutching her pillow tightly. Her gaze remained fixed on the letter and the ring given to her by the Alpha. They lay on her bed—Hunter's ring, handed to her by the Alpha when he broke the devastating news about Hunter's death. She learned that inside the envelope, there was also a letter.Two days had passed, yet Aleah had not brought herself to open and read Hunter's letter. She tried to carry on with her daily life, holding onto the faintest hope that the Alpha's news wasn't true. However, just the day before, Hunter's group, accompanied by Rafael, visited her at the university and asked if she was okay. In that moment, her resolve to believe that Hunter was still alive was shaken. How could she stand firm when those closest to him also believed he was gone? Even Rafael, who was practically like a brother to him, seemed to share the same conviction.. “We’ll finish the rest of this when I get
"Are you sure you wanna stay here?" Elara asked her daughter as she and Darylle visited Aleah at her house, just two days after Hunter's funeral. They had offered her to move in with them, but Aleah had stood her ground, choosing to stay."I'm fine here, Ma. Besides, I can't just leave this house," Aleah said with a reassuring smile."But you—""I barely have any memories of him in this house, Ma. I'll be okay," Aleah cut her off gently. She reached for her mom’s hand. "Trust me, I'm okay.""But, sweetheart—""It’ll take time for me to heal, to truly accept everything that’s happened, but I’ll be okay. You raised me to be tough, remember?" Aleah said, flashing a small, bittersweet smile.Elara sighed, cupping Aleah’s face tenderly. "You know, I think I regret raising you to be so strong sometimes," she said softly. "If you’re hurting, if you need to cry, I’m here, okay? You don’t have to keep i
"Finally, you made it!" Claire exclaimed, her face lighting up as she greeted Aleah at the church entrance. As Aleah came closer, Claire pulled her into a tight hug. "I was starting to think you'd skip my invitation again. You were this close to making me sulk," she teased."Sorry, I’ve been swamped," Aleah said sheepishly. Two years had passed since Claire and Rafael tied the knot, and more than two years since Hunter had been gone. Life had moved on. Rafael had climbed the ranks and was now a Major. After two years of married bliss, Claire and Rafael welcomed a healthy baby boy into their lives. They’d asked Aleah to be one of his godmothers. The church was filled with familiar faces too—members of the old Task Force Wolf who were also godparents to the couple’s firstborn."Well, look who decided to show up," Michael chimed in with a grin as Aleah walked in. "You’ve been ghosting us for two whole years," he joked. Being part of Hunter’
Aleah leaned against the wall outside the courtroom, watching the crowd spill out after the trial. She spotted a couple of reporters chatting as they walked past. One of them, not too discreetly, said, “Man, Dennis Espinosa is something else. He completely nailed it in there! The way he defended his client—what a pro.”Hearing that, Aleah couldn’t help but smile.It had only been two years since Dennis graduated from law school. He crushed the bar exam right after and, boom, he’s already running his own firm. What’s even more impressive? Most of his clients are people who could never afford a top-notch lawyer otherwise. People respect him not just for his skill but for his heart. Oh, and let’s not forget—he’s easy on the eyes. The kind of guy who, if he were a celebrity, would have fans swooning at every trial.Aleah had sat in on the trial earlier too. She had to admit, watching Dennis in action was something else
Aleah got dropped off by a teenage boy right in front of the house she had been looking for. As she stood outside, she could hear loud voices and banging coming from inside. She glanced around—there were plenty of neighbors nearby, but none seemed to care. It was as if all that noise was just part of their everyday life. Was this what those women she met earlier were hinting at?She was about to step closer to the house when, out of nowhere, a young woman in a jacket burst through the door. She was in such a rush that she didn’t even notice Aleah and slammed right into her. They both fell hard to the ground, and for a second, they just stared at each other, startled. The young woman looked even more surprised to see Aleah."Lea, get back here!" shouted a woman who followed her out of the house. The moment she heard her mother’s voice, the young woman scrambled up and bolted, not even bothering to apologize to Aleah."Wait! Hold on!" Aleah called afte
The accused-appellant was found guilty of sexual assault under paragraph 2, Article 266-A of the Revised Penal Code (RPC). The Regional Trial Court (RTC) sentenced him to suffer imprisonment ranging from ten (10) years of prision mayor as minimum to seventeen (17) years and four (4) months of reclusion temporal as maximum. Additionally, he was ordered to indemnify AAA with the following amounts: ₱75,000.00 as civil indemnity, ₱75,000.00 as moral damages, and ₱30,000.00 as exemplary damages. This was the judgment issued by the judge who initially handled Lea's case. Based on Aleah’s research, the assailant pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against him. Over the years, however, he displayed good behavior while in prison, which led to his release after serving ten years.Aleah’s attention was caught by the news of the man’s release. In two days, the suspect would regain his freedom, and this was the reason behind Lea’s unease.“Why is Lea r
"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
"Don’t let him fool you," Jonathan said, his voice sharp and commanding. "I’m the one who saved your life. You owe your second chance to me, Aleah, so you should be listening to me." His eyes burned with intensity, and for the first time, Aleah felt fear creep into her chest. The look in his eyes was unsettling, almost as if he was silently declaring that she wasn’t allowed to leave.Hunter stepped forward, his expression calm but his voice firm. "I don’t know why you’re so desperate to keep my wife away from me," he said, his gaze unwavering. "But I’ll say this—I don’t like what you’re doing."He took a deep breath, his features softening as he turned to Aleah. His voice was gentler now, filled with quiet conviction. "Aleah, I’m holding back my anger because I don’t want to hurt you. I won’t force you to remember me, but your heart already knows. It always has. We share something unbreakable—a b
Hunter and Charles wasted no time heading to the small town where Aleah had been spotted. It was late afternoon, and Aleah stood by the shoreline, watching the sun dip below the horizon. The golden light bathed her as the wind played with her hair. Watching the sunset had become her refuge—a quiet moment where she wished, over and over, for her memories to return.As soon as they arrived, Hunter’s eyes locked onto a familiar silhouette standing by the water. Her long hair flowed in the breeze, and his heart leaped at the sight. His lips curled into a soft smile as he recognized her. Slowly, almost reverently, he approached her. The anticipation was overwhelming—he’d spent countless sleepless nights worrying about her, praying she was safe. Now, here she was."My Love," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. He reached out, wrapping his strong arms around her. Those arms, so familiar, sent a jolt through Aleah. "I’ve missed you," he added,