"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
Son, have you been waiting long?" Don Antonio asked as he approached Hunter, who was seated inside an elegant restaurant with dim lighting and soft instrumental music playing in the background. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm bread filled the air, setting a calm yet tense atmosphere. Upon seeing the elder, Hunter immediately rose from his chair to greet him, his posture formal and composed."Please, have a seat. My apologies for keeping you waiting," Don Antonio said as he lowered himself into the empty chair across from Hunter, his movements deliberate and marked with authority."You could have simply visited the mansion. Why did we need to meet in a public place like this?" the elder remarked, his voice carrying a subtle tone of curiosity and unease.Hunter leaned forward slightly, his expression grave. "I’ll get straight to the point. I didn’t ask to meet you as the husband of your granddaughter, but as an officer of the law," he decla
"Aleah," Hunter called softly as he arrived at the hospital. His voice, though steady, carried a weight of concern as he approached with Rafael and other members of the Astral Guardians trailing behind him. The corridor outside the operating room was dimly lit, the sterile scent of antiseptics lingering in the air. The faint hum of medical machines and the occasional muffled voices of nurses passing by only amplified the tension hanging in the atmosphere.Standing just outside the operating room, Aleah was anxiously waiting for news about her mother. She had been holding herself together with all her might, but the moment her eyes landed on Hunter, her resolve cracked. Silent tears began streaming down her face, betraying the overwhelming emotions she had fought so hard to contain."Ale—" Hunter began, stepping closer to her, but his words were abruptly silenced when Aleah closed the distance between them, wrapping her arms tightly around him. A sob escaped her a
Hunter entered the room where Aleah was staying at the hotel. He noticed his wife asleep on the bed, her features illuminated by the dim, warm glow of the bedside lamp. As his eyes lingered on her peaceful face, he caught sight of her puffy, reddened eyelids—evidence of the tears she'd shed. His chest tightened at the thought of her pain.“This brat,” Hunter muttered under his breath, shaking his head with a mix of affection and frustration. He quietly approached her, each step deliberate to avoid waking her. Sitting gently on the edge of the bed, he carefully adjusted the blanket to ensure she was comfortably covered. Afterward, his gaze softened as he studied her features, brushing away strands of hair that had fallen over her face.“You’ve been through so much,” he whispered, his voice barely audible, laden with regret. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about your grandfather and the truth about who he really was. I j
When Aleah and Hunter returned to the country, they were immediately welcomed by a call from the elderly patriarch, Don Sebastian. He had insisted that they stay at the expansive Bryant mansion for a week before moving to Hunter's house in the Astral Guardians' Compound. The mansion stood as a symbol of grandeur and tradition, a place that carried both history and the weight of family expectations.“Are you alright with coming back here to the mansion?” Hunter asked as he stepped out of the car and held the door open for Aleah. His gaze caught hers as she lingered, her eyes momentarily fixated on the grand structure before them. It wasn’t her first time seeing it, but its imposing size and the memories it held still had the power to unsettle her. This was the place she had called home for a while during their engagement—an arrangement born not of romance but of a pact between Sebastian and Damian.“Daniela also stayed here while waiting fo
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
They really thought everything would be fine after the CEO got arrested and the data mine shut down. But nope—they were way off. The guy wasn’t done messing with Natasha. He found out all the video data sources were destroyed, and because of that, his company shut down and he lost his job. He blamed Natasha for all of it. He even showed up at the hospital, telling her that if she didn’t do what he wanted, he’d post the video from his cellphone online—and make sure her family saw it.“And you’re seriously just gonna believe him like that?” Aleah said to Natasha during her hospital visit. She walked into Natasha’s room just as the guy was heading out. He didn’t say a word to her, just stormed off. But Aleah heard every single thing he said—every nasty, threatening word.“Can you just leave me alone? I don’t need your lecture,” Natasha muttered, refusing to look at her sister. Aleah clenched h
Moments later, the screen lit up with a pop-up—it was the location of the data mine."Alpha Hunter," Joyril said, his voice steady through the earpiece connecting them to Hunter. "We found it.""Good," Hunter replied with a smirk. Without hesitation, he snapped the chains binding his hands. They were no match for his strength, which far exceeded that of an average Alpha. Even the specially designed chains meant to restrain his kind couldn’t hold him any longer."Why, Alpha Hunter? Lost your mind already, talking to yourself like that? If you want, I can hand you the first copy of your wife's video," the man taunted, his smile oozing arrogance as he stepped closer. "She’s young, beautiful... Heck, I might even start liking her myself," he added with a smirk that made Hunter's blood boil."Save your breath," Hunter said coldly, his piercing glare stopping the man in his tracks. "She’d never look twice at scum like you." His words cut deep, m
As Hunter dug deeper into the case, he uncovered that the website was owned by a company spreading explicit videos. Natasha wasn’t the only victim—there were countless others. Although they managed to shut down some sites, new ones kept appearing every day.Aleah and Hunter tried to shield Natasha from what had happened, but the truth got out. Daniella, furious after piecing everything together, stormed into their home with Melissa and Alfredo. They dragged Natasha and her baby back to the mansion against her will.Aleah wasn’t spared from the fallout. Her father gave her an earful, berating her for hiding the truth—especially the fact that Natasha had given birth to a child with no known father. No matter how hard they tried, Natasha wouldn’t reveal who the father was.“You want this family to accept you?” Daniella spat at Aleah. “Then stay out of our business. We’ll take care of Natasha and her baby ourselves,&rd