The rain’s really coming down hard," Aleah said as she walked over to the window. She was hanging out in Hunter’s room, a small space inside one of the houses in the barracks. Since they were staying there for a few weeks, living in the barracks was their only option.
"What’s he up to?" Aleah asked, her curiosity piqued as she glanced at Hunter and the other soldiers in the training area. From her spot, she could see everything happening over there.She watched as Hunter put his squad to the test, pushing them through grueling push-ups while they carried heavy tactical military backpacks, packed to the brim with gear. The rain poured mercilessly, making every move harder for the soldiers. Aleah saw Officer Maestrado stumble and collapse, unable to get back up. But what stunned her most was Hunter’s reaction. Instead of helping him, Hunter stepped on Maestrado’s back, pinning him down even more."He’s really being tough on them," AleAleah shot up with a sharp gasp, jolted awake by the gentle touch brushing her cheek. Her eyes fluttered open, and there he was—Hunter, looking straight at her. Flustered, she glanced out the window. The rain had stopped, the training ground was deserted, and the outside was drenched in darkness.“Why’d you sleep here?” Hunter asked, nodding at the chair near the window where Aleah had clearly dozed off watching the soldiers. “You’re gonna get sick doing stuff like this,” he added, his voice tinged with concern.“I didn’t even notice,” Aleah muttered, feeling a bit self-conscious.“Come on. Ester whipped up some dinner,” he said, grabbing her hand and gently helping her to her feet. Aleah didn’t protest—she was starving anyway. She hadn’t wanted to disturb Hunter earlier, knowing how busy he was, and honestly, she’d have gotten hopelessly lost trying to find her way around
“Lady Aleah,” Ester whispered nervously, trying to calm her down.“What did you say?” Raffy asked, his voice tight, irritation flashing in his eyes.“I’m trying to avoid being rude,” Aleah said, her tone icy but controlled. “So, if you don’t mind, could you leave us alone? Our husbands are just nearby, and I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t appreciate this. Oh, and in case you’re unaware, soldiers tend to keep their guns loaded.”“Are you seriously bragging about those lazy soldiers in the barracks? What are you even proud of? A sergeant?” Raffy scoffed, grabbing for her hand again.Aleah immediately shot to her feet and yanked her hand away. “Please don’t make a scene. It’s not a good look,” she said, holding her ground.“Then maybe you should cooperate,” Raffy said smugly. “No one wants trouble, right? So, who’s your husband?
"Hey, did you hear? There was a fight between the military and rebels in the next town," the market vendor said, leaning in like she was sharing a secret.Ester and Aleah, busy picking out food supplies for the barracks, froze. They looked at each other, worry flickering in their eyes."Ma’am, can I ask something?" Aleah said, stepping closer to the vendor."Sure, what’s on your mind?" the vendor replied, raising an eyebrow."This, uh, fight you’re talking about... when did it happen?" Aleah asked, her voice tight."Just this morning. Everyone's been talking about it. Two soldiers died, and a few others got injured," the vendor said with a heavy sigh.Ester and Aleah shared another uneasy glance."But why are you so curious? Kids your age don’t usually care about things like this," the woman added, eyeing Aleah. "Honestly, I don’t get it. We have so many soldiers around here, but the rebels? They’re just everywhe
Aleah lifted her head slowly, tears spilling down her cheeks. "It was all a lie," she confessed, her voice trembling. "I never forgot you, not even for a second. I lied, Hunter. I lied to you.""Lied?" he echoed, his tone a mix of confusion and hurt. "You... you’ve been lying to me this whole time?""I’m sorry," she said, her voice breaking as she clung to his shirt for dear life. "I didn’t know what else to do. I just wanted to see what you’d do—if you’d still stay with me, even if you thought I couldn’t remember you. If you’d still care about me… or if it was just pity keeping you here."Hunter stood there, stunned, as her words sank in."When you told me at the hospital that you’d give me whatever I wanted," Aleah continued, her voice cracking, "it hurt so much. But I couldn’t blame you. I deserved it... for lying. And then, when I heard about the encounter and thought you might be gone forever
Upon discovering the rebel stronghold, Hunter and his team launched a decisive counterattack. This operation wasn’t only driven by the ambush that injured Hunter's men but also aimed to rescue the young individuals held captive by the rebels and rogues. Hunter received news that several boys from the town had been taken by the rebels and were being forcibly trained as fighters. These boys were taught how to handle firearms and were being prepared to combat the government.During the assault led by Hunter and the Astral Guardian on the rebel base, a fierce battle erupted between their forces and the combined strength of the rebels and rogues. Some rebels perished, as they refused to surrender. Despite Hunter's reluctance to see bloodshed, he had no choice since negotiations with the rebels were impossible. One of the rebel leaders was killed in the clash. Meanwhile, the rogues involved in the group resisted capture and left Hunter and his team no alternative but to neutral
"You’re here,” Hunter said as he reached Aleah, his voice calm but tense. He was sure she’d seen what happened earlier. His chest was a storm of emotions. Normally, he didn’t care if his enemies died in an operation, but finding out they had families tore at him. It wasn’t just sadness—he was angry. Angry at how pointless it all felt. And, deep down, he blamed himself for jumping in too fast, without thinking things through. That old woman’s words earlier made him realize how much he had messed up.“Zen,” Aleah said softly, and out of nowhere, she wrapped him in a hug. Hunter froze, caught off guard.“I’m glad you’re okay,” Aleah said, her voice full of relief.“Do you even know where we are? Looks like someone got gutsy overnight,” Hunter teased, smirking as he moved to touch her shoulder.“I saw what happened earlier,” Aleah blurted out, stopping him in his tra
“OPEN THE GATE,” Hunter suddenly commanded, his voice firm and sharp. Aleah blinked in surprise at his sudden shift. Carlos hurried over, his expression tense.“Sir, we can’t do that. It might cause chaos,” Carlos said, trying to reason with him.“I’m sure the mayor wouldn’t want any more bloodshed,” Hunter said, his tone calm but with an edge. He turned to the mayor and his group. “I’m just a guest in this town, after all. That’s why I’ll leave the decision to you. Inside, there are wounded rebels and the bodies of the ones who didn’t make it.” His words were steady, even as the weight of them lingered in the air.“Open the gate,” Hunter repeated, his sharp eyes locking with Carlos. The two stared at each other for a moment before Carlos let out a deep sigh. He knew there was no changing the Alpha’s mind. With some hesitation, Carlos nodded and gave the signal
Still no sign of Hunter?" Elara asked as she walked over to her daughter, who was standing by the door, staring out at the gate. Hunter had promised to pick them up so they could all head to the hotel together. But it was already past ten, and there was still no Hunter—not even a call.Hearing her mom’s voice, Aleah quickly turned to look at her. Right at that moment, the sound of the doorbell rang through the air. Both mother and daughter’s heads snapped toward the gate.“Finally, looks like he’s here,” Darylle said with a grin, already making his way to the gate to let Hunter in. Elara and Aleah watched as Hunter and Darylle strolled back toward them. As soon as Aleah saw him, a smile spread across her face."Sorry I kept you waiting," Hunter said as he stopped in front of them. He extended his hand to Aleah with a playful smile. "Ready to go?"Aleah smiled back and slipped her hand into his. Meanwhile, Elara and Darylle exch
Everyone in the emergency room—doctors, patients—turned their heads in shock at the deafening sound of a gunshot. All eyes shifted to the glass door just as a security guard collapsed outside. Moments later, a man in tactical gear stormed in, dragging another guard who was clearly his hostage.The room froze. Nurses and patient companions panicked, racing toward the door leading to another section of the hospital. But their escape was short-lived as more men blocked the exits, forcing everyone back. With every way out sealed, tension filled the air.“If you don’t want this to be your last day alive, you’ll do exactly as we say,” the masked man barked. His grip on the hostage tightened as he scanned the terrified crowd. “Nobody leaves until we get what we came for. Got it? And to prove we mean business...watch this.”Without hesitation, he jammed a syringe into the neck of the hostage. The guard's eyes widened in terror a
"Claire! Watch out!" Aleah yelled as a woman suddenly dashed onto the road. Startled, Claire slammed on the brakes, sending both of them jerking forward. Luckily, their seatbelts kept them in place. Once the shock wore off, Claire turned to Aleah with wide eyes."Aleah, are you okay? Did you get hurt?" she asked, clearly worried."I’m fine," Aleah said, brushing it off. "But… I think we might’ve hit someone.""I swear, I didn’t mean to!" Claire blurted, panic creeping into her voice."Let’s go check," Aleah said, already getting out of the car. Claire followed quickly. As they rounded the front of the car, they saw a young woman sitting on the road. She looked terrified, her blonde hair and blue eyes immediately marking her as a foreigner."Are you okay? I’m so sorry! I didn’t see you—" Claire said as she approached the woman."Help me," the woman whispered, her voice shaky. Aleah and Claire exchanged une
"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