He got a message from his brother, Francis, saying their mall was under siege with a bomb threat. And if that wasn’t bad enough, one of the Guevarra hotels had also been hit by guys carrying explosives.
"Giovanni really planned this one out," Guiller said, shaking his head. "He didn’t just start one mess—he’s got four different disasters lined up to make sure you can’t make a move." "And this isn’t just random chaos," Rafael added, scrolling through his phone. Hunter frowned. "What are you looking at?" he asked, watching Rafael’s expression darken. "Check this out," Rafael said, holding up his phone. It was a video, already blowing up online. The clip showed Aleah, sitting down with a bomb strapped to her body. A distorted voice in the video declared that once the timer on Aleah’s bomb hit zero, all the other explosives—in the shopping mall, the hotel, and the Astral Guardians’ HQ—would go off at the same time. The video had already reached Hunter’s and AleaSuddenly, everyone was stunned when a live stream popped up online. The video showed Hunter making his way to the roof deck of the building. At the same time, another stream showed Aleah, strapped with a bomb, with the countdown ticking away. The situation quickly caught the attention of the media, who rushed to the Bryant building for live coverage of the unfolding events.The emergency response team Guiller had called showed up right on time, while Rafael dashed inside the building with a squad of SWAT officers, ready to back up Hunter.Hunter raced up the stairs until he reached the door to the roof deck—only to find it locked tight. Heavy-duty chains wrapped around the handle, the kind specially designed to hold back people like him with enhanced abilities. Stronger than regular mortals? Sure. But breaking through these? Not so much."Aleah! Are you in there?" Hunter yelled, his voice booming through the corridor."Zen!" Aleah’s shaky voice called
Aleah couldn't help but smile as she watched the twins chase each other around, their laughter echoing in the open field. She sat a short distance away, enjoying the rare moment of calm after weeks of juggling work and endless cases. It had been months since she had spent uninterrupted time with her little ones. Their grandparents had taken up most of the babysitting duties, as she and Hunter were often lost in their respective careers. That’s why today felt so special—taking them out for a picnic, letting them run freely under the open sky.In a few months, things would get even busier with a new member joining their family. Aleah knew moments like these might become more rare, so she wanted to savor every second.“Mama!” the twins called out, their bright faces lighting up as they waved at her. Aleah chuckled and waved back, her heart swelling with love. Watching them, she saw her little girl suddenly stumble and fall.“Be careful!&rdqu
I’m not kidding around, Alpha Hunter," Aleah said, her voice firm but trembling with emotion."And I’m not joking either," Hunter replied, his tone low but steady. "I told you I’d protect you, always. But honestly... this might be the one time I’m not sure I can pull it off. Giovanni made this thing, and it’s so damn complicated. That bastard knew exactly what he was doing.""If there’s really nothing else we can do..." Aleah whispered, her eyes flicking to the timer. Less than two minutes. Her heart pounded harder with every passing second, fear coursing through her veins."Zen," she said softly, her gaze locking onto him."What is it?" he asked, meeting her teary eyes, his own glowing gold ones filled with concern."Do you remember... when I told you I liked you?" she asked, her voice shaking but sincere."Yeah, I remember. Why are you bringing that up now?" Hunter asked, his brow furrowing as his hands worked caref
Alpha Hunter, sorry to butt in, but we’re good here. The bombs are ready to be transported to a safe spot," Rafael said, standing in front of them. The guy just looked up at Rafael while still holding Aleah close. He glanced at her for a moment, then let go, stood up, and helped her get to her feet.They watched as the SWAT team and bomb squad headed downstairs with the disarmed bombs."I’m coming with you for the transport," he said, turning to Rafael. "Guiller, what’s going on with the other locations?" Hunter asked, speaking into his earpiece to Guiller, who was down on the ground floor. He was talking about the bombs at the Shopping Mall, Guevarra Hotel, and Headquarters."They’re all being moved to safety, nice and easy," Guiller replied."Good. I’ll catch up soon. Make sure no cars pass along the bomb routes. We can’t assume we’ve completely shut this down. Giovanni’s a slippery one. Who knows what sneaky tric
The young man brought the armored car and the bombs to a remote, deserted area, along with the other explosives recovered from the shopping mall, Guevarra Hotel, and Headquarters. Hunter had a hunch Giovanni’s bomb threat wasn’t over, and he couldn’t shake it. While checking the bomb’s wires earlier, he realized it wasn’t timer-triggered, which meant they had to move fast and get everything as far away from people as possible.“Man, Alpha Hunter is something else, isn’t he? Guy’s one of a kind,” a SWAT member said, walking alongside Rafael as they moved away from the empty lot where they’d just hauled the bombs. Hunter had told them to bring everything there so he could work on disarming them. They left him with three bomb experts, trusting he’d handle it.As Rafael and the SWAT team headed back to their vehicle, a massive explosion rocked the air behind them. They whipped around to see a fireball rising fro
After 24 hours, Hunter managed to overcome his critical condition and is now under observation. However, he has yet to regain consciousness due to the events that transpired. The Alpha King learned of Hunter's actions, and to safeguard him from those who mean him harm, a group of Astral Guardians was assigned to protect the young man.The Alpha King was in disbelief when Rafael informed him that a massive international terrorist group, with connections to rogue elements, was their enemy. Rafael also revealed Hunter's original plan, but it seemed unlikely that Hunter could rejoin the group after what happened. Additionally, Rafael confessed that Kimberly was involved with that group. In response, all branches of the military were alerted to pursue the group relentlessly.Several days passed, and Hunter’s condition stabilized as his wounds healed gradually. Thanks to his Alpha blood, Hunter's recovery was much faster compared to an ordinary mortal's. He was eventually
Everyone lit up with relief when Hunter opened his eyes. After days of being out cold, the moment they’d all been waiting for finally came—he was awake. Inside the room were Sebastain, Damian, Guiller, Elara, Darylle, Rafael, and Claire, who had been taking turns keeping watch.“Where’s Aleah?” Hunter asked right away, scanning the room and frowning when he didn’t see her. No one answered, just a bunch of awkward glances. His eyes darted to Guiller and Rafael. “Seriously, where is she?” he pressed, already trying to sit up. Claire rushed over to help, steadying him.“Hunter, this… isn’t easy to say, but you’ve got to hear it,” Rafael started carefully.“Out with it,” Hunter said, his tone sharp.“She hasn’t been home for two days,” Darylle blurted out, earning a stunned look from Hunter.“What are you talking about?” Hunter demanded, confu
"How long are you planning to keep me locked up in here?” Aleah snapped as Kimberly strolled into the room. The last thing Aleah remembered was being taken by Kimberly and Giovanni to some place Kimberly claimed was their origin along with Hunter. Kimberly had made it clear she was going to take Hunter back. Then boom—everything went black after she got whacked on the back of her neck. When she woke up, she was stuck in this room, with Giovanni and Kimberly taking turns bringing her food.Escape? Not happening. The windows were barred, even the bathroom ones. And her phone? Long gone—Giovanni had snatched it before they left the country. Now Aleah had no idea where she was. Every time she peeked out the window, all she saw was a massive stretch of ocean. It reminded her of that other time Giovanni kidnapped her. He’d taken her to this cliffside house with nothing but endless water below.“When I finally get Zen back, I’ll send you home.
"I’ll call you as soon as we get there,” Hunter said to Aleah, standing with her at the gate of their home. Aleah walked him outside, hand in hand, with Isaac by their side. The President’s car was parked nearby, ready to take Hunter to the airport.“Take it easy on your mom while I’m gone, okay? Be her little angel,” Hunter said softly, resting his hand on Aleah's belly. He leaned down and kissed it gently, making Aleah laugh at his sweetness.“Was that a little kick?” Hunter chuckled, feeling the baby’s movement against his palm. His gaze shifted to Aleah, filled with love and admiration. “Our little one’s already saying goodbye. Makes it harder for me to leave.”“You’re doing what you need to do,” Aleah replied, her voice tender. “I’ll be fine—I’ve got Isaac here, Mom’s coming soon, and if anything happens, I can call Grandpa or the Bryants. We&rs
"What are you saying?!" Aster exclaimed as Rafael and Trisha entered the safe house. They had come to escort her to a new location—a place where she could stay until the case they were working on reached its conclusion. Her eyes found Hunter, full of uncertainty and frustration. He had also mentioned that a different team would now be responsible for her safety, leaving her feeling even more adrift."Alpha Hunter? You promised you wouldn't leave me," she said softly, almost pleading. "What if I… try to take my life again?"Hunter met her gaze, his face unreadable but his voice steady. "That’s your choice, Aster," he replied.The room fell silent as everyone turned to look at him, their Alpha. Aster's heart sank at the weight of his words."I’m sorry for everything that’s happened," Hunter said, his voice gentler now. "I’ve done everything I can to protect you, to give you another chance at life. But if you can’t take eve
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