Alpha 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?
"Hey, did you hear? There was a fight between the military and rebels in the next town," the market vendor said, leaning in like she was sharing a secret.Ester and Aleah, busy picking out food supplies for the barracks, froze. They looked at each other, worry flickering in their eyes."Ma’am, can I ask something?" Aleah said, stepping closer to the vendor."Sure, what’s on your mind?" the vendor replied, raising an eyebrow."This, uh, fight you’re talking about... when did it happen?" Aleah asked, her voice tight."Just this morning. Everyone's been talking about it. Two soldiers died, and a few others got injured," the vendor said with a heavy sigh.Ester and Aleah shared another uneasy glance."But why are you so curious? Kids your age don’t usually care about things like this," the woman added, eyeing Aleah. "Honestly, I don’t get it. We have so many soldiers around here, but the rebels? They’re just everywhe
"What’s going on?” Aleah asked Rafael and Claire, glancing at their companions. After patching Hunter up, they had taken him to the hospital to rest. But when Aleah returned the next day, she found Rafael and Claire looking troubled.“I’m sorry, Aleah,” Rafael began. “We don’t even know what happened to him. He just… left the hospital out of nowhere.”“He was here last night when I left him to get some rest. But then—”“I checked with headquarters,” Charles interrupted, walking in with Trisha, who was holding some papers. “Apparently, Alpha Hunter requested to be discharged.”“Discharged?” Aleah’s voice shot up in surprise. “I know I healed him, but why would he ask to leave? For what reason?”Claire shook her head as she looked over the papers. “I have no clue.”“How can they just let a wounded man leave?&rdqu
Again and again, he repeated the cycle, silently pleading. "Come on, Aleah. Wake up. Please," he whispered, his voice cracking with desperation. He couldn’t lose her—not now, not ever."Where’s the medic?" Rafael barked, turning toward Trisha, who was frantically talking on her phone. She glanced back at him and shook her head."Seriously? Of all the rescue ops, how could they miss sending a medic?" Rafael snapped, frustration spilling out in his tone.Kimberly’s smirk widened. "Looks like your so-called master strategist didn’t think this one through," she said, her words dripping with mockery.Rafael shot her an icy glare, his fists clenched tight.Kimberly’s attention shifted to Hunter, and her voice took on a bitter edge. "I told you, Zen. If I can’t have you, she won’t either. Stop wasting your breath. You’re hurt, and you’re only making it worse."Hunter didn’t even flinch, didn&rsq
"ALEAH!" Hunter shouted, his voice cracking with panic as he saw what those men had done to his wife. He bolted to the ship's railing, gripping it tight. Just as he was about to leap, Kimberly grabbed his arm."Zen, are you out of your mind? You really wanna die?" Kimberly said, her voice sharp with urgency. She clutched his arm, holding him back.Hunter shot a quick look at her hand, then locked eyes with her. "Who cares? Death’s gonna catch up with me anyway," he said, yanking his arm free. Without another word, he threw himself over the railing, diving into the water. At that moment, nothing else mattered. His thoughts were consumed by one thing: saving Aleah. He didn’t care what happened to him."Zen!" Kimberly yelled, clutching the ship’s railing as Hunter disappeared into the waves. Rafael and the others started toward the railing, but before they could get closer, Helen’s and Kimberly’s men swarmed in, blocking their path.Hun
"Kimberly! Dr. Helen!" Aleah's voice shot out, filled with shock, as the men who had grabbed her dragged her onto a ship. There they were—Kimberly and Dr. Helen, waiting as if they'd planned this all along. Her eyes darted between the two, disbelief clear in her expression. "What do you want from me? Why did you bring me here?"Kimberly stepped forward, her voice dripping with smugness. "The only way for Zen to be with me is if you… disappear.""Disappear?" Aleah repeated, her brows furrowing as her confusion quickly gave way to anger."Yes. If you’re out of the picture, Zen won’t have a reason to stay with his so-called family. He’ll come back to me." Kimberly’s lips curled into a sly grin. "We belong together. We’re soulmates."Aleah let out a dry laugh, her voice sharp. "Soulmates? Seriously? And ‘fake family’? Do you even hear yourself?" She took a step closer, glaring at Kimberly. "If you’re really
At Aleah's house, Rafael and Claire showed up with a couple of Hunter's old Astral Guardians crew. Rafael broke the news—Aleah was missing, and nobody had a clue where to start looking. The clock ticked into the night, but they were still stuck."You think something bad happened to her?" Elara asked, worry written all over her face."Let’s hope not," Claire said softly. "We don’t even know where Hunter is," she added, casting a glance at Rafael. "Still no word about---""Don’t mention that coward!" Antonio snapped suddenly, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. Everyone turned to him, startled. Claire shot a look at Rafael, who just shrugged. Clearly, no one had any idea why Antonio had it out for the Alpha."We should wait a bit before reporting this as a missing person case," Trisha suggested, trying to calm everyone down."While we wait, let’s hit up the spots she usually goes to," Charles said. "And get in touc
"Guiller!" Don Antonio called out as he walked back into the cell. He froze for a second, spotting Guiller with a gun aimed squarely at Hunter's head. Hearing the old man's voice, Guiller turned, and even Hunter, who seemed ready to embrace his end, glanced at him."Hold up," Antonio said, keeping his voice calm. He locked eyes with Guiller. "I'm not stopping you because I've had a change of heart. There's just something more important I need from you. Killing him can wait.""What’s up?" Guiller asked, lowering the gun slightly."My granddaughter’s missing," Antonio replied. The weight of his words hit Hunter like a truck. He blinked, then shot a look at the older man."What happened to Aleah?" Hunter said, standing and pressing a hand to his side. His voice wavered between panic and pain. Both Guiller and Antonio whipped their heads toward him, surprised."Why do you care? It’s none of your business anymore," Antonio snapped. His tone was
“These are Gio’s and my medical records,” Kimberly explained gently. “And Zen’s situation is identical.”Aleah’s heart sank as Kimberly’s words began to sink in.“As you’ll see,” the other woman chimed in, “both Gio and Kimberly developed brain tumors—side effects of the experiment. Gio passed away last year from complications. The condition is incurable. Even Kimberly, as a doctor, couldn’t do anything to stop it. And the wolf blood they carry? It’s not enough to save them.”Aleah’s breath hitched, and her mind raced. Was Hunter facing the same fate?Aleah stared at Kimberly’s files, her stomach twisting as the woman’s words sank in. Scenarios played out in her mind, each one worse than the last. If Giovanni and Kimberly had the same illness, and they were both products of the experiment, then it wasn’t hard to believe Hunter might have it too.
While Aleah was busy packing her belongings, she received a call from an unknown number. She stared at the screen of her cellphone for a few moments, wondering whether she should answer it. The thought of Hunter crossed her mind. Hoping it might be Hunter on the other end of the line, she quickly answered the call. To her disappointment, it wasn’t Hunter but Kimberly. Curiosity got the best of her when Kimberly mentioned she was in the country and wanted to meet her. Aleah felt there was nothing to discuss between them. However, her interest was piqued when Kimberly revealed she was with Zen’s mother, who wanted to meet and get to know her. Aleah was aware that Zen wasn’t Sebastian Bryant’s biological child, and she secretly wanted to meet Zen’s real parents. Previously, Giovanni and Kimberly had told her that they, along with Hunter, were products of an experiment. Aleah agreed to meet Kimberly because she was also eager to meet Hunter’s mother. When Aleah stepped out of her room,
For a month, Hunter hadn't shown himself to them. There was no news about what had happened to him. Even the members of the armed forces were clueless about the Alpha's whereabouts. They confirmed to Aleah that Hunter had taken leave before they departed and had specifically asked not to be disturbed while he was on vacation with his wife. This left them puzzled when Rafael informed them that Hunter hadn't returned yet.Aleah stayed for a week at her grandfather Antonio's mansion before deciding to return to the country, hoping she'd meet Hunter upon her return. However, when she arrived, even Rafael didn't know where his friend was. Rafael was surprised to hear that Aleah and Hunter hadn't been together, as he believed Hunter had been on a mission. The young captain then confirmed that the Alpha wasn't on any mission."Something terrible might have happened to him," Aleah remarked. She was at Hunter's house along with her grandfather Antonio, Guiller, Daryll, and Elara. W