Everyone lit up with relief when Hunter opened his eyes. After days of being out cold, the moment they’d all been waiting for finally came—he was awake. Inside the room were Sebastain, Damian, Guiller, Elara, Darylle, Rafael, and Claire, who had been taking turns keeping watch.
“Where’s Aleah?” Hunter asked right away, scanning the room and frowning when he didn’t see her. No one answered, just a bunch of awkward glances. His eyes darted to Guiller and Rafael. “Seriously, where is she?” he pressed, already trying to sit up. Claire rushed over to help, steadying him.“Hunter, this… isn’t easy to say, but you’ve got to hear it,” Rafael started carefully.“Out with it,” Hunter said, his tone sharp.“She hasn’t been home for two days,” Darylle blurted out, earning a stunned look from Hunter.“What are you talking about?” Hunter demanded, confu"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
“OPEN THE GATE,” Hunter suddenly commanded, his voice firm and sharp. Aleah blinked in surprise at his sudden shift. Carlos hurried over, his expression tense.“Sir, we can’t do that. It might cause chaos,” Carlos said, trying to reason with him.“I’m sure the mayor wouldn’t want any more bloodshed,” Hunter said, his tone calm but with an edge. He turned to the mayor and his group. “I’m just a guest in this town, after all. That’s why I’ll leave the decision to you. Inside, there are wounded rebels and the bodies of the ones who didn’t make it.” His words were steady, even as the weight of them lingered in the air.“Open the gate,” Hunter repeated, his sharp eyes locking with Carlos. The two stared at each other for a moment before Carlos let out a deep sigh. He knew there was no changing the Alpha’s mind. With some hesitation, Carlos nodded and gave the signal
"You’re here,” Hunter said as he reached Aleah, his voice calm but tense. He was sure she’d seen what happened earlier. His chest was a storm of emotions. Normally, he didn’t care if his enemies died in an operation, but finding out they had families tore at him. It wasn’t just sadness—he was angry. Angry at how pointless it all felt. And, deep down, he blamed himself for jumping in too fast, without thinking things through. That old woman’s words earlier made him realize how much he had messed up.“Zen,” Aleah said softly, and out of nowhere, she wrapped him in a hug. Hunter froze, caught off guard.“I’m glad you’re okay,” Aleah said, her voice full of relief.“Do you even know where we are? Looks like someone got gutsy overnight,” Hunter teased, smirking as he moved to touch her shoulder.“I saw what happened earlier,” Aleah blurted out, stopping him in his tra
Upon discovering the rebel stronghold, Hunter and his team launched a decisive counterattack. This operation wasn’t only driven by the ambush that injured Hunter's men but also aimed to rescue the young individuals held captive by the rebels and rogues. Hunter received news that several boys from the town had been taken by the rebels and were being forcibly trained as fighters. These boys were taught how to handle firearms and were being prepared to combat the government.During the assault led by Hunter and the Astral Guardian on the rebel base, a fierce battle erupted between their forces and the combined strength of the rebels and rogues. Some rebels perished, as they refused to surrender. Despite Hunter's reluctance to see bloodshed, he had no choice since negotiations with the rebels were impossible. One of the rebel leaders was killed in the clash. Meanwhile, the rogues involved in the group resisted capture and left Hunter and his team no alternative but to neutral
Aleah lifted her head slowly, tears spilling down her cheeks. "It was all a lie," she confessed, her voice trembling. "I never forgot you, not even for a second. I lied, Hunter. I lied to you.""Lied?" he echoed, his tone a mix of confusion and hurt. "You... you’ve been lying to me this whole time?""I’m sorry," she said, her voice breaking as she clung to his shirt for dear life. "I didn’t know what else to do. I just wanted to see what you’d do—if you’d still stay with me, even if you thought I couldn’t remember you. If you’d still care about me… or if it was just pity keeping you here."Hunter stood there, stunned, as her words sank in."When you told me at the hospital that you’d give me whatever I wanted," Aleah continued, her voice cracking, "it hurt so much. But I couldn’t blame you. I deserved it... for lying. And then, when I heard about the encounter and thought you might be gone forever
"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
“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?
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
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
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