Dennis burst into the precinct, eyes darting around until he spotted Aleah. She was standing by the corner, her arms folded tightly as if to keep herself together. Lea was sitting quietly on the bench nearby, her head bowed. The air was heavy with tension.
“Hey,” Dennis said, his voice softer as he approached. “You alright? You had me worried there.”Aleah glanced up, managing a small smile. “I’m okay. Really. I wasn’t the one in danger.”Dennis followed her gaze to Lea. “How’d you get caught up in all this? You’ve got a habit of finding trouble.”Aleah let out a dry laugh. “Guess it’s my thing. But Dennis, it’s not about me right now. Can you handle her case? Do you think we can nail this guy for good?”He tilted his head, thinking for a moment. “I’ll need to dig into it, but yeah, I’m in. Actually…” He paused, a grin forming on hisHunter stood confidently in front of the media, giving a short speech about the events that had changed his life. Just like the Alpha King had said, two years ago, he was attacked by a group of unknown rogue. “I know, it sounds ridiculous,” Hunter said with a slight smirk, his voice warm yet full of humor. “Who would’ve thought a couple of petty thugs could mess me up this bad? But they did. They caused the accident that robbed me of my memories.”He paused, his gaze sweeping the room, then softened as he continued. “For a long time, I lived as someone else. And for a while, I didn’t even know what I’d lost. But when my memories came back, I realized—there was no way I could stay away. I had to come back.”He turned slightly, his eyes locking onto Aleah, who wasn’t prepared for the sudden intensity of his gaze. Her breath hitched when he smiled—just for her.“Earlier,” he began, his to
Aleah narrowed her eyes at Hunter as they climbed out of the car. Her heart was still racing from everything that had happened earlier at headquarters, and now he was throwing her into another whirlwind. "Okay, spill it. What's going on this time?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity and disbelief.Hunter chuckled and leaned in to plant a soft kiss on her forehead. "You'll see, just trust me," he whispered with a grin that made her stomach flutter. Before she could respond, her mom and Claire appeared, their smiles giving nothing away. Hunter squeezed her hand one last time and said, "I'll catch you soon," before disappearing into the church.As her mom and Claire guided her into the convent, Aleah's jaw dropped. Her eyes landed on the beautiful wedding gown waiting for her, along with a makeup artist prepping tools and brushes. "What is this?" she asked, her voice soft but filled with wonder. Her mom and Claire only smiled, urging her to get ready.Meanwhile,
Aleah felt a tender touch brush against her cheek, pulling her slowly out of sleep. She stirred softly, a shy smile lighting up her face as her sleepy eyes focused on the man beside her. It was comforting to see Hunter there, his hand gently stroking her face while she dozed off. They were still on the plane, flying to their honeymoon destination, and the whirlwind of the day had left her completely drained. The exhaustion must have gotten the better of her, but knowing Hunter was close made everything feel safe and right.But something felt...off. Her vision cleared, and her heart suddenly raced in fear—this wasn’t Hunter. The man gazing at her with a hesitant smile was someone else entirely. Panic surged through Aleah, and she jolted upright, her breath catching. Who was this stranger? How long had she been asleep? Where was Hunter? Uneasy questions flooded her mind.The stranger leaned closer, his voice calm but gentle. "Hey, don't be scared. Everything's ok
Hunter turned back to Aleah, cupping her face briefly in his hand. “Let’s get you back to your seat first,” he said softly, planting a tender kiss on her forehead.His touch, warm and steady, made her feel safe despite the chaos around them. Guiding her back to her seat, he buckled her seatbelt with care. “Just stay here for now,” he said, his voice low but comforting, before walking back toward the restrained man, his shoulders squared and resolute.When the plane landed, Aleah noticed the flashing lights of police vehicles waiting on the tarmac. To keep the passengers from panicking, Hunter personally escorted the man off the plane, his movements calm and assured. Shortly after, an officer boarded the plane to address the passengers.“We received a report of a potential hijacker on this flight,” the officer explained, his tone steady. “Thanks to the actions of this gentleman, the suspect was apprehended before he
Aleah woke with a start, her heart racing. She blinked as her eyes adjusted to the dim light and felt the weight of Hunter's jacket draped over her like a soft shield. Her gaze shifted, and there he was—peacefully asleep beside her. A deep breath escaped her lips, the relief washing over her.“Hi!” a cheery voice piped up from the seat in front of her, yanking Aleah out of her trance. The woman leaned forward, kneeling on her seat as if she couldn’t contain herself. When she suddenly sat upright, Aleah flinched, caught off guard.“Oh! Sorry, did I scare you?” the woman asked, her face lighting up with amusement. Aleah forced a smile, but her attention involuntarily drifted back to Hunter. The woman’s gaze followed, and Aleah couldn’t miss the way her eyes lingered on him. Her stomach twisted.“I heard he’s an Alpha,” the woman said, her voice carrying an excited hush. “I looked him up—he&rsq
"Wait, are you leaving?” Aleah’s voice cracked as she watched Hunter unpack at the hotel. Her heart raced. It was supposed to be their honeymoon, a dream getaway to Greece—but suddenly, it felt like a nightmare.They had landed just hours ago, her excitement bubbling over when she realized where they were. Hunter had kept the destination a secret, and Aleah had been thrilled to discover they were in a place she’d only ever seen in movies. But now, something was wrong. Very wrong.From the moment they left the airport, Aleah had felt a distance—a chill in the air that had nothing to do with the weather. Hunter had been quiet, lost in thought. She tried to brush it off. Maybe he was tired. Maybe he was overwhelmed by the trip. But no matter how much she tried to pull him out of his shell, he remained cold, distant.“Zen,” Aleah whispered as they rode in the car. Her hand reached out, gently brushing his arm. “Is everything
"You’re here!" said the young woman standing by the balcony. She spun around the moment she heard the door open. Her face lit up with a big smile as soon as she saw who it was. She rushed toward the man, ready to throw her arms around him, but he stopped her in her tracks. Her smile vanished."Wow, Zen. Still the same old icy guy, huh?" she teased, trying to hide her disappointment."Where is she?" Zen asked, his eyes darting around the room like he was on a mission. But much to his frustration, there was no one else there—just him and Kimberly.After touching down at Santorini Airport, Hunter got a call from Kimberly. She told him she’d tracked down one of the Iron Maiden researchers—the one who had escaped before. Apparently, this researcher wanted to meet Hunter before they passed away. Kimberly added that there were secrets about Hunter’s identity that he needed to hear.Hunter hadn’t planned on showing up, but whatever Kim
"Zen! Is that really you?" called out an elderly woman sitting in a wheelchair. Behind her stood a nurse, gently pushing the chair forward. Her hair was pure white, her face lined with wrinkles—a classic image of someone who had seen decades of life. She looked at the young man, but no memory seemed to spark recognition."She's the researcher I told you about. Technically, she's kind of like our mother—one of the people who created us," Kimberly explained to the man."It's been years, Zen. I never thought we'd cross paths again after all this time," the old woman said, her voice warm yet tinged with something unspoken. "That soldier took care of you, didn’t he? You turned out to be such a remarkable young man.""Kimmy told me all about you," she added, smiling faintly. "A military man An Alpha of Astral guardians—a true success story. Honestly, it’s a surprise. Who would’ve thought one of you would join the armed forces after everyt
"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.
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