"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 dAlpha 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
“Lady Aleah,” Ester whispered nervously, trying to calm her down.“What did you say?” Raffy asked, his voice tight, irritation flashing in his eyes.“I’m trying to avoid being rude,” Aleah said, her tone icy but controlled. “So, if you don’t mind, could you leave us alone? Our husbands are just nearby, and I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t appreciate this. Oh, and in case you’re unaware, soldiers tend to keep their guns loaded.”“Are you seriously bragging about those lazy soldiers in the barracks? What are you even proud of? A sergeant?” Raffy scoffed, grabbing for her hand again.Aleah immediately shot to her feet and yanked her hand away. “Please don’t make a scene. It’s not a good look,” she said, holding her ground.“Then maybe you should cooperate,” Raffy said smugly. “No one wants trouble, right? So, who’s your husband?
"Z..en?!” Aleah blurted out in shock as she caught sight of her husband walking into Dennis’ law firm office. What truly made her jaw drop was the young woman clinging to his arm. Just recently, Hunter had saved her from a dangerous businessman, and he’d shared her tragic story with Aleah. Now, it seemed, the woman was under military protection.“She’s our new client,” Dennis interjected, clearly picking up on the surprise plastered across Aleah’s face.“Thanks for taking this on. You’re the only guy I trust to stand firm, even against a brick wall,” Hunter said, his tone light yet full of confidence in the younger man.“Should I feel flattered or cornered?” Dennis quipped back.“Take it however you want,” Hunter replied with a small smirk, but he subtly shrugged off Aster’s hand when he caught the sharp daggers Aleah was throwing his way.“Let’s move this i
Bursting into the room, Hunter froze. On the bed lay Aster, bruised and battered, her face pale and terrified. She was clutching the sheets desperately, trying to cover herself. Hunter looked away immediately, scanning the room for something she could wear. His eyes landed on a cabinet. He crossed the room, flinging it open to grab one of the polo shirts folded neatly inside.“Here,” he said softly, holding it out to her.Her trembling hands reached for the shirt, but before she could put it on, she collapsed into him, her sobs breaking the silence. Hunter’s chest tightened as he hugged her close, his hand rubbing soothing circles on her back.“You’re safe now,” he murmured, his voice as steady as he could manage. “I’ve got you.” Aster’s sobs started to calm down, though her body still shook. “Can you stand?” Hunter asked gently. She nodded weakly and slipped on the shirt, but as soon as she tried
Mission again?” Aleah asked, catching Hunter just as he ended his call. He had only been back for a day, fresh from his last mission and finally meant to be on vacation. Yet here he was, barely settling in, already being pulled away again.Hunter glanced at her, guilt flashing in his eyes. He hated leaving, especially after they’d just made up. “I’m sorry, Lei,” he said quietly, moving closer to wrap his arms around her.Aleah shook her head, her smile bittersweet. “I get it. You never really stop, do you?” she said softly. “But that’s you—always ready to do what’s right. It’s one of the reasons I fell in love with you.”Hunter sighed, holding her tighter. “It’s Aster, the reporter. She went missing while investigating a drug syndicate. My team’s counting on me to help find her. I have to go.”Aleah’s heart ached, but she managed a small, brave smile.
"Hunter!" Elara gasped, visibly surprised when Hunter stepped into Antonio's mansion. "You’re here to bring your wife home, aren’t you?" she teased, a playful smirk dancing across her lips.Hunter nodded casually, his gaze steady."I heard about your mission," Elara continued, her tone softening. "It was all over the news.""Aleah—where is she?" Hunter’s voice carried a subtle urgency."She’s in her room. Go to her," Elara said, giving him an encouraging look. "You two need to talk. Don’t let a single day pass without working things out. It’s been three weeks, Hunter. Three weeks of distance and silence. And you’ve been away while Aleah’s... you know, carrying your child—""I know," Hunter cut her off, guilt shadowing his expression. "I’m sorry.""You don’t owe me an apology," Elara replied, shaking her head. "She’s waiting upstairs. Go make things right."Hunter gave her
"Alpha?!" exclaimed a task force member, including Rafael, as Hunter and the Vice Admiral arrived at their headquarters. Everyone was visibly shocked and confused. Just last week, the Vice Admiral had informed them that their Alpha was KIA (Killed in Action). But now, standing before them was Alpha—unharmed and very much alive. Their shock was such that it was as if they'd seen a ghost."You're alive?" Rafael asked in astonishment, staring at his friend in disbelief. Hunter responded with a restrained smile."Later. This isn't the time to be stunned. We still have work to do," Hunter said, walking inside. He turned to Charles and added, "Charles, set up everything in the conference room. We have something to discuss." He then approached Charles, tapping his shoulder. Unlike the rest, Charles was the only one unsurprised by the return of the man they had believed to be long gone."Yes, Sir!" Charles responded enthusiastically as he stood up."Hunter, wait!"
"KIA? What do you mean KIA? Who’s KIA?” Aleah’s voice cracked as she stepped into the living room, her eyes darting to Rafael, who was mid-conversation with Sebastian. Charles and Michael were also there, but their usual easygoing demeanor was replaced with somber expressions. It was as if a dark cloud had settled in the room.Hunter hadn’t been home in two weeks. Every time she went to the camp, the soldiers would block her path, telling her the Alpha wasn’t accepting visitors—not even her, his wife. She had tried to be patient, to understand, because deep down, she knew she still had a lot to make up for. But now… this? Her chest tightened as if the air had been sucked out of the room.“Aleah, dear…” Sebastian’s voice was calm but carried the weight of something heavy, something she wasn’t ready to hear.“No, no,” Aleah said, shaking her head as she took a hesitant step forward. &l
"Zen!" Aleah called out, her voice trembling slightly as she followed him off the bus. The weight of his silence during the ride there still hung heavy between them. Even his men, usually talkative, hadn’t dared to utter a word. The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife, and everyone could feel the storm brewing within their Alpha."Alpha Hunter," Aleah tried again, grabbing his hand gently to stop him. He froze at her touch, and for a moment, everyone else around them seemed to hold their breath.“We’ll head inside first,” Charles said, offering a quick salute. The rest of the Astral Guardians followed suit, their movements sharp and disciplined. Hunter returned the gesture with a curt nod, still silent."I’ll prepare the report," Rafael chimed in, saluting his friend. Hunter barely glanced his way, giving a small nod of acknowledgment before they all began filing into the camp.Aleah watched as Hunter pulled his hand from he
Aleah hunched down inside the van, trying to avoid the bullets tearing through. Two men hit the ground, lifeless. Chatles, perched on top of the bus, joined in firing at the attackers. Rafael and Hunter weren’t holding back either.Soon enough, Aleah's kidnappers started dropping one by one. The driver and his buddy in the passenger seat didn’t stand a chance either. Out of nowhere, Aleah gasped as someone yanked her out of the van."Stop! Stop firing!" a SWAT officer shouted, raising his hands. Carlos and his team noticed the man dragging Aleah and signaled for everyone to hold their fire."You piece of—!" Hunter growled, barely keeping his rage in check as he watched the man use Aleah as a human shield. The man dragged her further away from the van, pointing a gun at her head, facing off against Hunter and Rafael."What do you think you’re doing?" Aleah shot at him, her voice steady despite the fear in her chest. "You think they’re
"You’re being reckless again,” Hunter said, pushing himself off the hospital bed and letting go of Aleah’s hand. “You’re shaking, but here you are, worrying about everyone else’s safety instead of your own.”Aleah didn’t reply, but Hunter could see it—she was scared, terrified even. Yet, knowing her as well as he did, he knew she’d never ignore the injustices she witnessed.“What the hell are you doing? Get over here already!” the armed man barked at Aleah, his patience wearing thin. Aleah glanced at him briefly, then turned back to Hunter. The tension in the room was palpable; everyone inside seemed to be holding their breath.“Rafael, are you hearing me?” Hunter said into the device clipped to his ear. He’d been in the emergency room all along, tipped off that Shadow and the Iron Maiden’s operatives might target Claire after learning about Taniya. It had been days of stak