"Stupid Alpha!" Aleah suddenly shouted, her voice echoing through the chaos. The camera immediately swung towards her, capturing her fierce expression. Hunter glanced at her, his eyes filled with concern, even as the men continued to rain blows upon him.
"Yes, that's right. He is a stupid Alpha. You said it right, missy," the man on the monitor laughed, his voice dripping with mockery. The sound grated on Aleah's nerves, but she steeled herself."Don't even think about yielding. Not because of me nor to this freak! You're an Icy Alpha. You are supposed to be cold and uninterested in anyone. I am scared. But what I am scared about the most is being a burden to anyone. Please. Don't allow him to treat you this way. And not because of me. I would rather fall than—" Aleah's words were abruptly cut off as another chain attached to the crane broke. Her heart skipped a beat, and her fear skyrocketed."You are talking nonsense, missy," the man on the monitor sneered, fuClaire was in her office when a nurse came in and informed her that someone was looking for her. Though puzzled, she decided to check out who it was. To her surprise, she saw Rafael and Hunter waiting outside the Neurology Department."Rafael?" Claire exclaimed upon seeing him and Hunter, who had a towel wrapped around his hand. The once white towel was now soaked with blood. Rafael gave a simple wave to Claire, the young doctor, and walked towards her with Hunter."You know him, right?" Rafael asked as they approached Claire. Claire looked at the young man. How could she not know him? He was the Alpha everyone was talking about due to his arranged marriage with her family. She had just seen him on TV earlier."I know him. But what are you doing here? Shouldn't you go to the emergency room? Your companion's wound needs treatment. It doesn't look like a simple injury," Claire replied."It’s too crowded there," Hunter said simply. Claire glanced at
Elara has finally woken up after being in a coma for two weeks and is now resting in a serene, flower-filled room. Her loved ones visit her daily, bringing her favorite books and soft music to comfort her. Meanwhile, Aleah has left the Bryants' grand mansion, with its sprawling gardens and majestic architecture, and returned to the cozy condo she shares with her mother.A huge buzz has surrounded the announcement by Damian and Sebastian that Hunter and Aleah's lavish wedding will not proceed. Instead, Zane Louie and Daniella, the ambitious power couple, will be the ones to get married. This union is seen as a strategic move, as it paves the way for the merger between the influential Bryant and Guevarra companies, creating a business empire.Many were shocked and disappointed about the canceled wedding of the famous Alpha Hunter and the graceful De Luna maiden, Aleah. However, there were also many who were pleased, claiming that Hunter's powerful lineage would not b
"What are you two doing here?" Melissa snapped as she found Aleah and Elara in the living room. She noticed the flowers and fruits they brought. "Who let you in? You have the nerve to come here. Aren't you ashamed?""Aunt Melissa, we heard that Grandpa Damian is sick, so----""Don't call me Aunt!" the woman shouted. "We are not related. I allowed you into this house before because of my husband. But now, seeing you both is something I can't tolerate, especially since you are the reason my daughter is marrying a man she doesn't love," she said. "Are you happy to see my daughter's life ruined?""It's not like that. I had no intention----""Stop it," she said, slapping Aleah. "How dare you talk back to me?" She then turned to Elara. "Is this how you raised your daughter? No manners. Then again, what can she learn from a mistress?" She was about to slap Elara, but Aleah caught her hand, causing the woman to look at her in astonishment."Enoug
They arrived at the site where the incident was happening. SWAT and police were stationed outside the building, along with rescue trucks and ambulances, which they had seen earlier. Yellow police lines surrounded the entire building, preventing civilians and reporters from getting close. As Aleah and Hunter got out of the car, Rafael and the seven other members of the Astral Guardians immediately approached them."Sir," all eight said simultaneously, saluting the young man. Hunter also saluted them."Fill me in," said Hunter, taking off his shirt before accepting the black vest Rafael handed him."There are several suspected terrorists inside the apartment. They are heavily armed with high-powered firearms. No one has come out of the apartment; everyone is held captive inside," Rafael said while helping Hunter put on his vest and earpiece. "It looks like rogues are behind this," Rafael whispered to the young Alpha. Hunter nodded upon hearing his friend's words.
He also instructed them to be the ones to operate it.“Sir, we should enter the building to disable the bombs around it,” Carlos suggested to the young man.“No, we can't,” Aleah interjected suddenly, drawing Hunter's attention to her. “I mean, it’s too dangerous. They’ve installed improvised explosive devices which are remote-controlled. They’re also monitoring the whole building. If they detect anyone besides them, they might detonate the explosives,” she explained. Aleah paused when she noticed Hunter and his team looking at her with puzzled expressions, as if they couldn't believe what she was saying.“Here, see this?” Aleah pointed to a man on the monitor holding a laptop, which was the reason Hunter's team couldn’t connect to the CCTV earlier.“Who are you, really?” Trish asked abruptly.“Huh?” Aleah responded, confused by the Captain's question.“Alpha Hunter, aren’t we doing anything? The longer we wait, the more the hostages' lives
"Mama!” exclaimed Aleah as she arrived at their unit and saw her mother being forcibly evicted by some men. She also noticed some of their belongings outside the unit. She saw one of the men push her mother, causing her to fall. Upon seeing this, Aleah immediately ran towards them.She approached her mother and helped her stand up. "What's happening here? Who are these men?" Aleah asked her mother. But she received no response, as her mother was still in shock from the incident. Aleah decided to approach one of the men who were taking out their belongings."Wait a minute. You can't do this. We own this unit," Aleah said, grabbing the man's arm."You?" said a familiar voice. Aleah turned to see a woman inside the condo. She let go of the man's arm when she saw the woman walking out of their unit."Daniella," Aleah whispered, recognizing the woman. She wasn't surprised to see her sister there. If anyone would do something like this, she knew it would
Aleah exclaimed, "Dalia! Tom---- Ah!" as a man bumped into her while running out of the siblings' house. The impact caused her to drop the grocery bag she was carrying, scattering canned goods and vegetables at the doorway."What was that? Why is he in such a rush, like he's being chased?" Aleah muttered in frustration as she bent down to pick up the scattered groceries. That day, she had visited the two children who had become her close friends. Since she and her mother moved to the flower shop, she befriended the two kids. She often saw them outside the shop, staring longingly. She noticed how frail they looked, as if they hadn't been eating properly.When she got to know them, she learned that their father was an alcoholic who spent all their money on drinking and gambling, leaving them with little to no food. She also found out that their older sibling were often beaten when they couldn't provide money. Feeling deeply sorry for the siblings, Aleah decided to buy them food that day.
"Why are there so many cars parked outside your shop? Are you and Aunt Elara expecting any visitors?" Hunter asked Aleah as they arrived from the hospital. After successfully arranging for Ramil's transfer to a private hospital room, Hunter decided to drop Aleah off at their family shop so she could get some rest. He left Rafael to look after the two children, ensuring someone was there to care for them.As they approached the shop, the first thing they noticed was the unusual number of cars outside, along with several men in suits standing by the entrance. Aleah glanced at Hunter, puzzled. They weren’t expecting any visitors, and her mother hadn’t been in contact with her old colleagues from the entertainment industry in years. The Guevarra family wouldn't dare come either; her father’s side of the family had kept their distance from them for a long time. But a sinking feeling crossed her mind—it could be her Aunt Melissa causing trouble for her mother again."Maybe someone’s harassi
When he arrived, the house felt empty. Aleah wasn’t there. Concerned, he asked Charles if Aleah had called or returned to the rest house, but Charles shook his head, saying she hadn’t been back since earlier. Unease settled deep in Hunter’s chest as he recalled Aleah clutching her stomach that morning. He didn’t want to think the worst, but his mind raced with possibilities.He tried calling Dennis’ firm, hoping Aleah might still be there, but Dennis’ response didn’t help ease his worry. “She hasn’t been back since she left,” the lawyer said, his tone clipped.“You’re not looking after your wife, Captain,” Dennis added coldly.“I don’t need advice from you,” Hunter snapped, his frustration spilling over.“If you can’t take care of her, then let her go,” Dennis fired back. “Stop hurting her. She deserves better than you.”“Just s
"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