They were taken in by the elderly man in a grand mansion that resembled a palace. There, Aleah noticed numerous men in suits surrounding the estate. She discovered that her grandfather was no ordinary businessman—he was the leader of a powerful mafia group in Italy. His real name was Antonio De Luna.
At the mansion, Antonio recounted the reason he hadn't been with Aleah's mother for 20 years. He was once the Alpha of a pack, but an unexpected tragedy struck, leading to the death of most of his pack members. He was blamed for failing to protect them from a deadly epidemic. The only ones he had managed to save were his own family. This incident was why he never formed another wolf pack, nor was he accepted by any other. Left with no choice, he lived with only his family, became a businessman, and established a powerful mafia group.
As for what happened between Antonio and Elara, it was a different story. Antonio couldn’t accept that his daughter wanted to become an actre
"M-marriage?!" exclaimed Aleah in shock when her grandfather told her that before they returned to Italy, he planned for her to marry Giovanni. She looked at the man her grandfather mentioned. She had no complaints about him and saw that her grandfather trusted him completely, but she couldn't understand why the old man wanted her to marry a man she barely knew. She had just met him, and now her grandfather had decided on their marriage. She had avoided one arranged marriage, and now here came another one she needed to escape."Why?" Rafael asked Hunter as the latter suddenly froze at the door and looked at the table where Aleah, Elara, her grandfather, and a young man, whom Rafael had never seen before, were seated. He also heard what Aleah said, which made him stop in his tracks. Hunter's eyes narrowed at what he overheard. Did he hear it correctly? Were they discussing marriage? His gaze shifted to the young man with them. Hunter couldn't understand, but he felt an energy
As her grandfather exited the restaurant, Aleah let go of the young man's hand and sighed deeply. Thankfully, her grandfather believed her and didn’t ask further questions. She wasn’t surprised though—after all, her grandfather wouldn’t object. Hunter was, undoubtedly, an excellent choice: not only did he come from a reputable family, but he was also an Alpha leader.“That was close. Thank you,” Aleah said, turning to the young man.“So now you’re using me to reject a marriage proposal?” Hunter said, his gaze shifting back to her.“I didn’t know you were that bold,” Claire’s friend remarked. “You’ve accepted his rejection, and now you—”“I know I was impulsive,” Aleah cut in, admitting, “I didn’t think things through. All I know is—I don’t want to be trapped in another messy arranged marriage.” She turned to Hunte
Did you not know?" Melissa exclaimed to Alfredo when Daniella revealed to their family what she had learned from Zane. The young man had told her that his grandfather was preparing to meet Aleah's grandfather. Hunter had also informed them that he and Aleah were planning to get married, and Aleah's grandfather wished to talk to their family."No wonder those two haven’t been coming here—they’ve been plotting against our family all along," Melissa remarked. "See? We shouldn’t have welcomed them here in the first place," she added."Maybe they really are in love," Amanda said. "Think about it—they called off the wedding because of Hunter’s job, but in the end, they’re still getting married," she continued."You actually believe that, Aunt?" Natasha asked sarcastically. "Just think about it—Hunter is a high-ranking Alpha, and their pack is close to the Alpha King, while Aleah is an illegitimate child. Who would believe they truly love each other? Hunter is known as
"Alpha, someone’s looking for you,” said a soldier who encountered Hunter while he was entering his office. The soldier saluted him before speaking. Hunter noticed the confusion on the young Alpha’s face. “She’s at the main gate now. We haven’t let her in yet just in case-----”“Who is she?” Hunter asked.“The young woman who came here the other day,” the soldier replied.“Send her in,” Hunter instructed before heading into his office.“Yes, Alpha!” the soldier responded, saluting before rushing to the main gate to fetch Aleah.When Aleah entered Hunter’s office, she glanced around. It looked the same as it did the last time she had visited. Hunter was at his desk, reading some files. It was also the first time she saw him wearing spectacles. When he noticed her entrance, he immediately set down what he was reading, removed his glasses, stood up from his
At a grand cathedral, the wedding of Hunter and Aleah was held. Hunter's entire family attended, as did Alfredo's family, making the event even more special. Standing outside the church, the elderly Antonio and Sebastian, along with Attorney Brambilla, eagerly awaited the ceremony. Also present outside were individuals dressed in service uniforms, marking the occasion as a military wedding. Apart from being the leader of the Astral Guardians, Hunter was also a member of the armed forces, adding a unique significance to the celebration.Everyone was in awe when Hunter arrived with Rafael and other members of his task force, all in their service uniforms. The young Alpha was the center of attention, exuding dignity and charm in his crisp attire. Sebastian and Antonio warmly greeted him, sharing in the joy of the day“Aleah and her mother are on their way with Alfredo,” Sebastian informed Hunter, who nodded in acknowledgment. Soon, a limousine, Aleah's bridal car, stopped
"Excuse me, Miss," a man said to Aleah as she sat in her seat inside the plane, waiting for it to take off. They were in the business-class suite, and it was her first time traveling by air. At that moment, she was alone because Hunter had stepped away after receiving a call from the Alpha King's assistant. As she was engrossed in her book, someone suddenly approached her. Hearing the voice, Aleah glanced up. Her eyes met a young man dressed in a casual summer outfit—he was tall, striking, and carried himself with ease."Sorry, did I startle you?" he asked, flashing a simple but charming smile. "I’ve been noticing you for a while now, and you seem to be alone. Are you traveling by yourself?" he inquired, his tone friendly yet curious.Aleah, however, didn’t respond. She simply stared at him, unsure how to react to this stranger's unexpected approach.The man seemed to realize his abruptness and quickly corrected himself. "Oh, how rude of me. I&
"Wow!" Aleah exclaimed in awe as she walked toward the open space near the large indoor pool, gazing at the beautiful view outside the suite. From there, she could see the lush green mountains and the azure ocean."Did you like it?" Hunter asked the young woman."Very much," Aleah replied cheerfully, turning to the man with a sweet smile. Hunter suddenly froze, captivated by what seemed to be her radiant smile. It was as though he was looking at a goddess when he saw her innocent, smiling face."What did you do?" Aleah asked, startled, blinking rapidly as she heard the faint sound of a camera. It was only then that she noticed Hunter standing with a camera in his hands, looking straight at her."What else would it be?" Hunter responded as he lowered the camera and walked over to where Aleah stood."You took my picture without even telling me?" Aleah asked in surprise, following him as he walked ahead. She stopped beside him, and together they looke
"Mama?!" exclaimed Aleah in surprise upon seeing her mother with Atty. Brambilla, waiting for them in the airport's arrival area. She looked at Hunter in confusion, and it was only then that she realized what country they had traveled to. She noticed Hunter nodding at her, as if to say it was okay to approach her mother.Aleah immediately ran toward her mom and hugged her tightly, as if it had been ages since their last meeting. Hunter silently followed them, pushing the trolley with their luggage."Hunter, thank you for bringing my daughter here," Elara said upon seeing Hunter approach them, then stepped back from her daughter."What do you mean by that?" Aleah asked, still confused, and looked at Hunter."Hunter called me the other day and told me you were coming to visit," Elara explained. "He said you’ve been crying every night and calling out for me. You’re very thoughtful—thank you so much," she added, turning her attention to the
"You're so stupid!" the furious woman exclaimed as she struck Lucinda on the head. "I told you not to put vegetables in the sinigang because I can't stand their smell, but you still did it!" she said angrily. In her rage, she flung the contents of the bowl, its freshly cooked soup still steaming hot. Some of it spilled onto Lucinda's hand."Ouch!" Lucinda cried out as the scalding liquid touched her skin."What? Does it hurt? Are you complaining?" the woman sneered."N-no, ma'am," Lucinda replied weakly."I can't understand Jonathan," the woman went on. "How could he marry someone like you? My son is intelligent, but I can't fathom why he chose you—uneducated and dumb," she spat out venomously.Lucinda stood there quietly, listening, but inside, she was overwhelmed by pain. This was just another day of enduring her mother-in-law's cruelty. Ever since she and Jonathan had married, the woman had been nothing but harsh to her.Aleah happened to walk
The rain was pouring heavily, accompanied by thunder and lightning. Aleah didn't know where to go; she kept running aimlessly. The area was covered with grass and thick bushes, making it difficult for her to move. Her clothes got caught on the plants, and she stumbled several times. Her arms and legs were scratched and wounded by the sharp foliage.Because it was dark and she had no idea where she was heading, Aleah didn't notice the cliff in her path. She tripped over a protruding rock and fell, rolling down uncontrollably. Her clothes got snagged and ripped during the fall. When she finally stopped tumbling, she landed in a single spot—at the bottom of the cliff."Zen," Aleah called out her husband's name as she fell. That was the last thing she remembered before her vision went black.“Hah!” Aleah jolted awake, her chest heaving. “Ow, my head...” she groaned, instinctively reaching for her scalp. Her fingers brushed against a bandage.
Hunter got a call from Rafael, saying the senator fought back when they tried to arrest him at his house. He managed to escape, and now the cops were on his tail. Without a word, Hunter grabbed his things and left. Michael and Samuel didn’t ask questions; they just followed their Alpha like always.Hunter headed straight for the airport, like he had a sixth sense about where the senator might be. He wandered around, scanning the crowds, until his eyes zeroed in on a man in a big hat and a scruffy beard."Hey, where do you think you’re going?" Hunter said sharply, stepping in front of the man. Michael and Samuel exchanged puzzled looks, wondering why Hunter was stopping him.Out of nowhere, Andrew stepped forward and landed a solid punch on the guy. The impact sent him flying, knocking his hat clean off. Michael and Samuel stood frozen in shock—it was the senator, the very man they had been hunting down. Hunter’s fists clenched, his anger boilin
During a conference, Hunter announced that a warrant of arrest had already been issued against the senator, along with solid evidence to prove the senator's crimes. Hunter also revealed that they would not only file charges for rape with murder, but would also include kidnapping in the list of cases stacked against the senator. However, the senator vehemently denied the allegations against him.The senator claimed that the prosecutor was merely doing this for attention. He also accused Hunter of aiming to make a name for himself. Furthermore, the senator denied the accusation that he abducted the family of Hunter's older brother.“Why did you bring us here?” Aleah asked in confusion when the senator and his men took them to the wilderness.“Your husband is too stubborn. He doesn’t care even though we told him we have you; he still pursued the case against me,” the senator snapped angrily.“He’s not a weak soldier, Mr. Sen
"Miss Aleah, there’s a client outside,” the paralegal said as she peeked into Aleah’s office. “He’s asking to meet you here.”“Alright, let him in,” Aleah replied without glancing up. Because of this, she didn’t notice the armed men quietly standing behind the paralegal, guns pointed at her. Moments later, the "client" entered her office.“Mrs. Bryant. Finally, we meet. And they weren’t exaggerating—Hunter’s one lucky guy to have such a stunning wife.” Aleah looked up, her eyes widening in shock. She hadn’t expected to see the senator in her office, of all places. With Dennis out handling a case, she was completely on her own.“Don’t even think about doing anything stupid, Mrs. Bryant,” the senator warned as she started to move. “See these men? They’re armed. One wrong move, and today might just be your last.”“What do you want from
"Zen!" Aleah called out, practically running to Hunter as they arrived at the Bryant mansion. She threw her arms around him, holding on tight. "What’s going on? Is something wrong?" she asked, her voice full of worry. Hunter let out a sigh and began explaining the mess they were in—how Isaac, Aurora, and Francis had been kidnapped. He added that Bernard, his kids, and Clarisse managed to escape, with Clarisse leaving the island earlier. The kidnappers were demanding Hunter drop the case in exchange for their safety."You’re not seriously thinking about dropping the charges, right?" Aleah asked, her tone a mix of concern and disbelief."And what’s that supposed to mean?" Michelle chimed in, rolling her eyes. "You think it’s okay to just leave Francis, Aurora, and Isaac with those scumbags? Come on, Aleah, you of all people know what it's like to be in the hands of kidnappers!" Her words were sharp, cutting through the tense air."Guys, sto
Hunter spoke to Francis, urging him to make time for his child and explaining why his child had been acting out. At first, Francis was reluctant to listen, arguing that it wasn’t Hunter’s place to interfere in their family issues, especially since Hunter wasn’t a "true Bryant." But Hunter didn’t let that stop him from making Francis understand his shortcomings as a father.Francis eventually promised to make time for his child. He said he would bring Isaac along on their next outing with Aurora, Bernard, Clarisse, and Bernard’s children for a chance to bond. However, this being the family's first vacation together, Francis struggled from the very first day due to the emotional distance between him and his son. Fortunately, Aurora stepped in to mediate, and Bernard and Clarisse also helped bridge the gap. Perhaps due to their experience with Aleah and her family, they found it easier to adapt to the situation.Francis felt unsure of what to say
“Why aren’t you and Dad more alike? He’s so harsh with me,” Isaac muttered, frustration clear in his voice. Sometimes, he couldn’t help but wonder—did his dad even love him? All he wanted was to be the kind of son his father could proudly acknowledge, someone he could hold up like his other children.Hunter leaned against the bars with a small smile. “Trust me, your dad’s a lot kinder than I am. People don’t call me the Demon Alpha for nothing, you know?” He smirked. “I mean, let’s face it—I’m the family rebel. I went off on my own path, completely ignoring what they wanted for me. Your dad, though? He’s the golden child. He’s spent his whole life trying to protect our family’s reputation and live up to being the eldest. You’ve got to cut him some slack, kid.”Isaac stayed quiet, though the faint growl from his stomach betrayed him. Aleah, standing nearby, look
"Feeling any better?" Claire asked as she walked over to Aleah, who was lying on the hospital bed. Hunter had rushed her to the hospital when she passed out, but he'd stepped out for a bit to take a call from the Alpha King. He said he'd be back soon, though.When Claire walked into the room, she noticed Aleah was awake, staring quietly out of the window."A little dizzy, but I think I can handle it," Aleah replied, smiling faintly. "Where’s Zen?" she asked."He just stepped out. Rafael came to get him—something about the Alpha King wanting to talk to him," Claire explained, her eyes scanning Aleah’s face. Aleah caught the look and raised an eyebrow. "What is it?""I don’t know whether you’re totally clueless about what’s happening to you or if you’ve got this daredevil streak—but seriously, with that angelic face? Who’d guess?" Claire teased, smirking."What are you talking about?" Aleah asked, frowning