"How long are you planning to keep me locked up in here?” Aleah snapped as Kimberly strolled into the room. The last thing Aleah remembered was being taken by Kimberly and Giovanni to some place Kimberly claimed was their origin along with Hunter. Kimberly had made it clear she was going to take Hunter back. Then boom—everything went black after she got whacked on the back of her neck. When she woke up, she was stuck in this room, with Giovanni and Kimberly taking turns bringing her food.
Escape? Not happening. The windows were barred, even the bathroom ones. And her phone? Long gone—Giovanni had snatched it before they left the country. Now Aleah had no idea where she was. Every time she peeked out the window, all she saw was a massive stretch of ocean. It reminded her of that other time Giovanni kidnapped her. He’d taken her to this cliffside house with nothing but endless water below.“When I finally get Zen back, I’ll send you home.Kimberly couldn’t believe what she was seeing—one by one, the people around her dropped to the ground. Before she could process it, Guiller’s armed group stormed in. They closed in on Kimberly, grabbing her without hesitation.“Well, Giovanni, it’s just you now. Give it up,” Guiller ordered.“Ha! You think I’ll surrender that easily? Don’t forget, I’ve got your wife—and the lives of everyone in that hospital—under my thumb,” Giovanni shot back, smirking.Hunter stood firm. “Nice try, but you can’t scare me with that. My team’s already at the hospital, disarming your bomb as we speak,” he countered.“Oh, really?” Giovanni sneered, taking a step back with Aleah in tow. “Fine, I’ll give you that. But don’t think for a second this ends here. I always have the last laugh.”As Giovanni dragged Aleah closer to the edge of a cliff
Aleah!" Elara’s voice rang out in worry as she rushed into the hospital with Sebastian and Damian in tow. Inside the room, Aleah was perched on one bed, while Hunter snoozed on the one next to her. His wound had been treated, the bandages neatly in place. The doctor had stressed he needed proper rest. But still—why had he suddenly had complications? And who on earth discharged him without even bothering to check with his doctors?"Lei, you’re okay now. What happened to you, kiddo? Are you alright? Is anything hurting?" Elara asked, hurrying over to her daughter. Her hands fluttered to Aleah’s face, her eyes scanning her daughter like she was checking for any hidden cracks."I’m fine, Ma," Aleah said, flashing her mom a faint smile. Hearing those words, Elara let out a breath she didn’t even know she was holding and pulled Aleah into a tight hug."It’s such a relief to see you safe, Aleah," Sebastian said warmly, a gentle smile
ALeah! Why are you still here? Aren’t you supposed to be heading to the hospital? Hunter’s getting out today, isn’t he?” Elara asked, surprised to see her daughter coming down the stairs at Darylle’s house. While Hunter was recovering in the hospital, Aleah had been staying with Darylle.Elara had noticed Aleah wasn’t visiting Hunter much. Every time she’d ask, Aleah would say she was tied up with schoolwork—projects piling up as the semester came to an end. But even Hunter himself had asked about her during one visit, wondering why Aleah seemed distant. No one could figure out what was going on.“Morning, Ma! Morning, Director Kim!” Aleah greeted her mom and Darylle, planting quick kisses on their cheeks before settling into a chair at the dining table. The two were already halfway through breakfast.“You know, the Alpha king invited Hunter’s family to the Palace today,” Darylle said, bitin
“Where’s Aleah?” Sebastian asked as everyone gathered at the Headquarters. Elara and Darylle showed up, but Aleah was still a no-show. Hunter walked over with Rafael and a few other members of the Astral Guardians trailing behind. Sebastian and Damian turned to him as he arrived.“Xen, what’s going on? Your wife knows she’s supposed to be here, right?” Sebastian asked, raising an eyebrow.“She’s probably on her way,” Hunter said, though deep down, he had no clue why Aleah had been avoiding him. It wasn’t like he’d seen her much after he got out of the hospital. Was she still mad at him, or had he messed up again without realizing it? He had no answers.The ceremony kicked off, celebrating Hunter and his team for their success in capturing Giovanni's group. Everyone seemed excited about the recognition.“Do you think something’s up with Aleah?” Darylle whispered to Elara as t
Sebastian shouted, "Who are you?!" as the man yanked open the car door. He had been heading to Bryant Shopping Mall when a motorcyclist suddenly appeared, blocking his car. The bike skidded to a stop in front of them, forcing the driver to hit the brakes. Then, out of nowhere, the man on the motorcycle pulled out a gun and shot Sebastian's driver, the bullet shattering the windshield and striking him square in the head. Sebastian froze, unable to move. Before he could even think, the man was at the car, flinging open the back door and shoving a gun in his face. He didn’t say a word, not even a glare. Instead, he opened the driver’s door, dragged out the lifeless body, and climbed into the driver’s seat himself. As the man started the car, he glanced over at Sebastian, eyes cold and sharp, and aimed the gun at him—a silent warning to stay still if he wanted to live. The car roared to life, speeding away, leaving the motorcycle behind like discarded trash. Sebastian managed
Aleah narrowed her eyes at him. “Better? How is that a good thing? Now we have no way of finding out who’s behind all this!”Hunter let out a deep breath and put his hand on her head in a comforting gesture. “Stop trying to be a detective, okay? That’s my job. You just stay out of it and let me handle this.” His touch was light, but it still sent Aleah’s heart racing. She hated how easily he could make her feel this way.Rafael joined them, looking serious. “Alpha Hunter, there’s no CCTV in this area either. Whoever’s doing this knows exactly how to avoid getting caught. They pick their spots carefully.”Dennis followed behind Rafael, his face tense as he silently joined the group."Looks like trouble just keeps finding its way into your life, Captain," Dennis said with a mix of frustration and sarcasm. "It’s not just Aleah in danger anymore—now it’s your family and hers. How long
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
"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
Everyone in the emergency room—doctors, patients—turned their heads in shock at the deafening sound of a gunshot. All eyes shifted to the glass door just as a security guard collapsed outside. Moments later, a man in tactical gear stormed in, dragging another guard who was clearly his hostage.The room froze. Nurses and patient companions panicked, racing toward the door leading to another section of the hospital. But their escape was short-lived as more men blocked the exits, forcing everyone back. With every way out sealed, tension filled the air.“If you don’t want this to be your last day alive, you’ll do exactly as we say,” the masked man barked. His grip on the hostage tightened as he scanned the terrified crowd. “Nobody leaves until we get what we came for. Got it? And to prove we mean business...watch this.”Without hesitation, he jammed a syringe into the neck of the hostage. The guard's eyes widened in terror a
"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