Still no word on where Giovanni is?" Aleah asked Hunter, glancing at him as he drove toward their university. Ever since the incident, he’d been picking her up and dropping her off. He even had people keeping an eye on the campus. Hunter always warned her not to underestimate Giovanni. The guy was a pro at terrorist tactics and knew all the tricks.
"It’s tough to track someone who doesn’t want to be found," Hunter said, keeping his eyes on the road. "If he wants to show up, he will. I’m the one he’s after, so sooner or later, he’ll make his move.""What about Dr. Stuart? What’s going on with her?" Aleah asked."They’ve taken him to the national defense office," Hunter replied. "He’s just waiting for the FBI to pick him up. Security around him is tight—Giovanni’s bound to try something to get him out.""Do you ever regret standing against them? They’re your family, after all. They’re the"Playing the hero again, Zen? Letting your little wife escape. Does your life mean nothing to you?" Giovanni snarled, his voice dripping with venom. Suddenly, his eyes shifted, glowing a menacing red. It was the first time Zen had seen Giovanni’s transformation, and it was clear—his anger had reached its breaking point."You’re testing my patience! And for that, I’ll make sure to tear you apart," Giovanni growled, his voice low and dangerous."Even if I explained, you wouldn’t understand," Hunter replied, his tone calm but firm."I’ll show you just how weak you are, Zen. Your ties to these fragile mortals will be the reason for your early death," Giovanni spat, his words laced with contempt.Hunter didn’t notice one of Giovanni’s men sneaking up behind him. The attacker struck, catching Hunter off guard and forcing him to his knees. As Hunter tried to stand, another man pressed a club against his neck, pinning him d
Alpha Hunter!" exclaimed Claire upon spotting the man rushing through the hospital lobby. Just the expression on his face was enough to reveal the urgency of his situation. Only moments earlier, Aleah had been brought to the hospital by ambulance, bleeding profusely."Dr. Ledesma. How’s Aleah?" Hunter urgently inquired as he approached the young woman."She's still in the operating room. She's lost too much blood," Claire responded gravely. "But we have a problem.""A problem?" Hunter's voice was tense."There's no stock of her blood type in the blood bank. Aunt Elara isn't a match, and Uncle Alberto can't donate because of his health condition," Claire explained. "We've contacted other hospitals, but none have Aleah's blood type either.""What blood type does she need?" Hunter asked."AB Rh-negative," Claire replied."Take mine then," Hunter declared without hesitation. As soon as Claire revealed Aleah's rare blood type, Hunter immediately v
"What’s happening to Alpha Hunter?” asked a soldier, watching the young man burn through round after round of ammunition during his prolonged shooting practice. He had already used up countless bullets, all aimed at the same spot. The anger on his face was unmistakable, his movements charged with raw intensity. Everyone watching was gripped with fear, seeing him in such a state. He resembled a wolf, poised to pounce on its prey.After finishing his shooting practice, the young man suddenly took off running, fully geared up. It was as if he was determined to exhaust himself. They watched as he ran laps around the headquarters quadrangle, carrying all his equipment. But his relentless drive didn’t stop there. Without taking a moment to rest, he headed straight to the gym, where he unleashed a storm of kicks and punches on a sandbag. The onlookers were chilled to the bone. If Alpha Hunter had been facing a human opponent, they were certain that person wouldn&rsqu
Shh." Elara shot a quick glance at Darylle and pressed a finger to her lips, signaling him to keep quiet. As they stepped into Aleah's room, they spotted Hunter fast asleep, his head resting on the edge of the hospital bed, still clutching Aleah's hand. Elara and Darylle exchanged knowing looks and shared a small smile before slipping inside and gently closing the door behind them.Darylle headed to the table, placing the fruits they brought, while Elara moved to the bedside table, swapping out the flowers in the vase. Just as she was arranging the new blooms, something caught her eye—Aleah's fingers twitched. Her heart skipped a beat. Then, slowly, Aleah's eyelids fluttered open."Lei!" Elara blurted out, her voice a mix of shock and excitement. The sound startled Hunter, who jolted awake, lifting his head in a panic. His gaze immediately locked onto Aleah. He stood up so fast he almost knocked his chair over. From across the room, Darylle froze, his eyes darting to
"Hey," Hunter said softly as he approached Aleah, who was seated in a wheelchair in the hospital garden. Her eyes wandered over the other patients—children and elderly alike—walking with their nurses. "What are you doing out here? Don't you have someone to keep you company?" he asked gently, stopping just in front of her.Aleah glanced at him briefly but said nothing, her silence almost louder than words. Lately, she hardly spoke to him at all. Most of the time, she'd just look at him—her gaze distant, unrecognizing. It was as if she had forgotten him completely."Are you alone out here?" Hunter asked again, his voice tinged with worry. When she still didn’t answer, he sighed, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Still don’t want to talk to me, huh?" he murmured. "I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Why would you want to talk to a stranger? But you know, Aleah...you have this habit of meddling in other people’s business
Hunter, Darius, Aleah, and Ester arrived at the barracks where Hunter had been assigned. The Four Elder Alpha of Astral Guardians and the Alpha King were informed that the rogue rebels in the area were becoming uncontrollable, and the Astral Guardians stationed there were severely weakened. They were deeply troubled by the news that the commanding officer of the barracks was neglecting his duties. The soldiers lacked discipline, spent their nights in nightclubs, and were often the instigators of trouble—causing the rebels in the area to no longer fear them.Even their identities as werewolves were not kept secret, as they openly displayed their nature to civilians. Worse, the mortal soldiers stationed there were frequently bullied due to the lack of discipline among the ranks. Given these dire circumstances, the Alpha King decided to send Hunter to the barracks despite knowing that the young man had just completed a mission. It seemed like Hunter was the last hope for res
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," Ale
Aleah 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
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
"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.