"Seatbelt,” Hunter said, his voice firm but low. Without waiting for her to react, he leaned over, grabbed the seatbelt, and clicked it into place. The warmth of his hand sent a jolt through Aleah, and she couldn’t help but freeze in surprise. Her cheeks flamed, and for a second, she forgot how to breathe. Did he just—?
Hunter settled back into his seat like nothing happened, his attention already on the road as he started driving. “So, tell me about this case,” he said, his tone casual yet curious. “Why does it matter so much to you? And what’s with the whole ‘worrying about what she might do’ thing?”Hunter and Aleah pulled up outside the correctional facility, just as Leah’s mother’s ex-husband walked out through the gate. Aleah spotted Leah right away, crouched behind a car with her hood up, gripping a knife.“What is she thinking?!” Aleah muttered under her breath. Her heart sankHunter glanced up at Aleah, a bit of curiosity in his voice. “Wait… so they’re not really related by blood?”“Nope,” Aleah replied, settling beside him on the bed as he flipped through Lea’s case files. “Lea said her mom’s ex-husband isn’t her real dad. Her mom married the guy after her actual dad bailed—like, a year after she was born.”Hunter nodded slowly, processing. “So, this guy… he raised her?”“Yeah. He’s the only dad she’s ever known,” Aleah said. “And he was great to her. Gave her everything she wanted, maybe even too much attention… you know?”Hunter raised an eyebrow. “Too much attention?”Aleah hesitated but pressed on. “They thought it was normal at first. He just seemed like a dad who really cared. But then, when she was eight, things… changed.”Hunter frowned. “What ha
Aleah couldn’t shake off the uneasy feeling gnawing at her. She had told Lea to stay safe, but something didn’t sit right. What if Lea didn’t listen? What if she went looking for him? Or worse—what if he came looking for Lea? Now that he was out of jail, anything felt possible, and Aleah couldn’t ignore the knot in her stomach.By the time she reached Lea’s place, Aleah overheard a couple of women chatting at a nearby sari-sari store. “You know,” one of them said, “last night there were loud banging noises coming from their house—middle of the night, too.” She shrugged. “But you know how it is. That house is always noisy. Roman’s usually drunk and fighting with her.”“Yeah,” the other one chimed in. “But it’s weird. The house has been quiet since last night. Not like Roman at all—he usually storms out to work after they fight, but nobody’s seen him.&rdquo
Aleah approached Lea’s mother in the hospital, noticing for the first time the bruises on her face and neck. Back at the house, amidst all the chaos, she hadn’t realized how battered the woman really was. She paused briefly to ask a nearby officer about the situation.“The man’s body was sent to the morgue,” the officer told her. “We’re waiting on the autopsy report to confirm the cause of death. We’ve also alerted multiple precincts to track down the suspect.”Aleah nodded, murmuring her thanks before making her way to Lea’s mother, who seemed lost in thought.“Have you found Lea?” the woman asked the moment she noticed Aleah.“Not yet,” Aleah admitted, her voice steady but soft. “We’re doing everything we can to find her. Please, don’t lose hope.”“Hope?” the woman scoffed bitterly. “That monster barely got punished for what he did.
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 his
Hunter 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
"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
"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