Aleah woke with a start, her heart racing. She blinked as her eyes adjusted to the dim light and felt the weight of Hunter's jacket draped over her like a soft shield. Her gaze shifted, and there he was—peacefully asleep beside her. A deep breath escaped her lips, the relief washing over her.
“Hi!” a cheery voice piped up from the seat in front of her, yanking Aleah out of her trance. The woman leaned forward, kneeling on her seat as if she couldn’t contain herself. When she suddenly sat upright, Aleah flinched, caught off guard.“Oh! Sorry, did I scare you?” the woman asked, her face lighting up with amusement. Aleah forced a smile, but her attention involuntarily drifted back to Hunter. The woman’s gaze followed, and Aleah couldn’t miss the way her eyes lingered on him. Her stomach twisted.“I heard he’s an Alpha,” the woman said, her voice carrying an excited hush. “I looked him up—he&rsq"Wait, are you leaving?” Aleah’s voice cracked as she watched Hunter unpack at the hotel. Her heart raced. It was supposed to be their honeymoon, a dream getaway to Greece—but suddenly, it felt like a nightmare.They had landed just hours ago, her excitement bubbling over when she realized where they were. Hunter had kept the destination a secret, and Aleah had been thrilled to discover they were in a place she’d only ever seen in movies. But now, something was wrong. Very wrong.From the moment they left the airport, Aleah had felt a distance—a chill in the air that had nothing to do with the weather. Hunter had been quiet, lost in thought. She tried to brush it off. Maybe he was tired. Maybe he was overwhelmed by the trip. But no matter how much she tried to pull him out of his shell, he remained cold, distant.“Zen,” Aleah whispered as they rode in the car. Her hand reached out, gently brushing his arm. “Is everything
"You’re here!" said the young woman standing by the balcony. She spun around the moment she heard the door open. Her face lit up with a big smile as soon as she saw who it was. She rushed toward the man, ready to throw her arms around him, but he stopped her in her tracks. Her smile vanished."Wow, Zen. Still the same old icy guy, huh?" she teased, trying to hide her disappointment."Where is she?" Zen asked, his eyes darting around the room like he was on a mission. But much to his frustration, there was no one else there—just him and Kimberly.After touching down at Santorini Airport, Hunter got a call from Kimberly. She told him she’d tracked down one of the Iron Maiden researchers—the one who had escaped before. Apparently, this researcher wanted to meet Hunter before they passed away. Kimberly added that there were secrets about Hunter’s identity that he needed to hear.Hunter hadn’t planned on showing up, but whatever Kim
"Zen! Is that really you?" called out an elderly woman sitting in a wheelchair. Behind her stood a nurse, gently pushing the chair forward. Her hair was pure white, her face lined with wrinkles—a classic image of someone who had seen decades of life. She looked at the young man, but no memory seemed to spark recognition."She's the researcher I told you about. Technically, she's kind of like our mother—one of the people who created us," Kimberly explained to the man."It's been years, Zen. I never thought we'd cross paths again after all this time," the old woman said, her voice warm yet tinged with something unspoken. "That soldier took care of you, didn’t he? You turned out to be such a remarkable young man.""Kimmy told me all about you," she added, smiling faintly. "A military man An Alpha of Astral guardians—a true success story. Honestly, it’s a surprise. Who would’ve thought one of you would join the armed forces after everyt
For a month, Hunter hadn't shown himself to them. There was no news about what had happened to him. Even the members of the armed forces were clueless about the Alpha's whereabouts. They confirmed to Aleah that Hunter had taken leave before they departed and had specifically asked not to be disturbed while he was on vacation with his wife. This left them puzzled when Rafael informed them that Hunter hadn't returned yet.Aleah stayed for a week at her grandfather Antonio's mansion before deciding to return to the country, hoping she'd meet Hunter upon her return. However, when she arrived, even Rafael didn't know where his friend was. Rafael was surprised to hear that Aleah and Hunter hadn't been together, as he believed Hunter had been on a mission. The young captain then confirmed that the Alpha wasn't on any mission."Something terrible might have happened to him," Aleah remarked. She was at Hunter's house along with her grandfather Antonio, Guiller, Daryll, and Elara. W
While Aleah was busy packing her belongings, she received a call from an unknown number. She stared at the screen of her cellphone for a few moments, wondering whether she should answer it. The thought of Hunter crossed her mind. Hoping it might be Hunter on the other end of the line, she quickly answered the call. To her disappointment, it wasn’t Hunter but Kimberly. Curiosity got the best of her when Kimberly mentioned she was in the country and wanted to meet her. Aleah felt there was nothing to discuss between them. However, her interest was piqued when Kimberly revealed she was with Zen’s mother, who wanted to meet and get to know her. Aleah was aware that Zen wasn’t Sebastian Bryant’s biological child, and she secretly wanted to meet Zen’s real parents. Previously, Giovanni and Kimberly had told her that they, along with Hunter, were products of an experiment. Aleah agreed to meet Kimberly because she was also eager to meet Hunter’s mother. When Aleah stepped out of her room,
“These are Gio’s and my medical records,” Kimberly explained gently. “And Zen’s situation is identical.”Aleah’s heart sank as Kimberly’s words began to sink in.“As you’ll see,” the other woman chimed in, “both Gio and Kimberly developed brain tumors—side effects of the experiment. Gio passed away last year from complications. The condition is incurable. Even Kimberly, as a doctor, couldn’t do anything to stop it. And the wolf blood they carry? It’s not enough to save them.”Aleah’s breath hitched, and her mind raced. Was Hunter facing the same fate?Aleah stared at Kimberly’s files, her stomach twisting as the woman’s words sank in. Scenarios played out in her mind, each one worse than the last. If Giovanni and Kimberly had the same illness, and they were both products of the experiment, then it wasn’t hard to believe Hunter might have it too.
"Guiller!" Don Antonio called out as he walked back into the cell. He froze for a second, spotting Guiller with a gun aimed squarely at Hunter's head. Hearing the old man's voice, Guiller turned, and even Hunter, who seemed ready to embrace his end, glanced at him."Hold up," Antonio said, keeping his voice calm. He locked eyes with Guiller. "I'm not stopping you because I've had a change of heart. There's just something more important I need from you. Killing him can wait.""What’s up?" Guiller asked, lowering the gun slightly."My granddaughter’s missing," Antonio replied. The weight of his words hit Hunter like a truck. He blinked, then shot a look at the older man."What happened to Aleah?" Hunter said, standing and pressing a hand to his side. His voice wavered between panic and pain. Both Guiller and Antonio whipped their heads toward him, surprised."Why do you care? It’s none of your business anymore," Antonio snapped. His tone was
At Aleah's house, Rafael and Claire showed up with a couple of Hunter's old Astral Guardians crew. Rafael broke the news—Aleah was missing, and nobody had a clue where to start looking. The clock ticked into the night, but they were still stuck."You think something bad happened to her?" Elara asked, worry written all over her face."Let’s hope not," Claire said softly. "We don’t even know where Hunter is," she added, casting a glance at Rafael. "Still no word about---""Don’t mention that coward!" Antonio snapped suddenly, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. Everyone turned to him, startled. Claire shot a look at Rafael, who just shrugged. Clearly, no one had any idea why Antonio had it out for the Alpha."We should wait a bit before reporting this as a missing person case," Trisha suggested, trying to calm everyone down."While we wait, let’s hit up the spots she usually goes to," Charles said. "And get in touc
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,
"What are you doing out here?" Aleah’s soft voice broke the silence. She found Lucinda sitting outside, staring off into the distance."Just getting some air. Why are you here?" Lucinda asked, her tone distant and detached."I needed some fresh air too. I’ve been feeling a little suffocated," Aleah replied gently."You’re doing better now, aren’t you? So why haven’t you left yet?" Lucinda asked suddenly, her words sharp and unfiltered."Huh?" Aleah blinked, surprised by the shift in her tone. Lucinda’s bluntness caught her off guard."You don’t remember anything, sure, but you’re not helpless. Why don’t you go look for your family?" Lucinda said, frustration creeping into her voice."And where am I supposed to start? You know I have no clue!" Aleah shot back.Lucinda narrowed her eyes. "Maybe you’re just using your memory loss as an excuse to stick around here. Be honest—do you like