Aleah couldn’t stop contemplating what had happened earlier. Why had Hunter reacted the way he did to her actions? She bit her lip as guilt gnawed at her. Deep down, she knew she had been wrong, but a part of her had hoped—no, expected—that he might appreciate what she had done. Instead, his harsh words cut through her like shards of glass. They stung more than she cared to admit. She sighed deeply, her shoulders sagging under the weight of it all.
“That sigh seems pretty deep,” a familiar voice broke through her thoughts.Startled, Aleah whipped her head around to see Dennis walking toward her, a kind smile on his face.“Senior!” she exclaimed, blinking in surprise.“You can call me Dennis. No need to be so formal,” he replied with a chuckle, lowering himself onto the sand beside her. His relaxed demeanor contrasted with the tension she was carrying. “What are you doing out here? Shouldn’t you beI'm sorry, did I hurt you?" the man asked, his voice calm yet unsettling, as he bumped into Claire. She was on her way to the wedding venue, her mind racing after Rafael's urgent call. He had said he had something important to tell her. But it wasn’t just Rafael’s call that troubled her—it was the relentless texts and calls from another man, a stranger whose messages had grown increasingly disturbing. She thought coming here might help her escape him, but the chilling photos and texts she received earlier suggested otherwise. He was close. Too close."It's okay. I'm fine," Claire replied, her voice trembling as she bent down to pick up her fallen cell phone. The man crouched down at the same time, their hands almost brushing against each other."We finally meet," the man said, his tone dripping with menace. Claire froze, her heart pounding in her chest. She stared at him, her breath hitching as she took in his sinister grin. Panic surged through her veins
"Alpha, what’s wrong?” Rafael asked, his voice thick with concern as he noticed Hunter clutch his chest. It wasn’t just the sudden gesture that alarmed him—it was the way Hunter’s usual composure shattered, replaced by an uncharacteristic fear that flickered across his face like a warning.Hunter froze, his heart racing—not from exertion, but from the invisible thread of connection tugging violently at his soul. He could feel Aleah, and something was wrong. Danger lingered in the air like a storm cloud, heavy and suffocating. Her heartbeat, unstable and erratic, echoed in his mind like a distant drum signaling distress.“Aleah...” Hunter murmured, his jaw tightening. The sun was sinking fast, bleeding hues of orange and red across the horizon, yet Aleah still hadn’t returned. He had felt her anger earlier, the sting of her frustration with him. But he never thought—never imagined—that she’d stay away t
Aleah woke up in an unfamiliar room, her head pounding and her surroundings hazy. As her vision cleared, her heart sank—Claire was lying on a dusty, old sofa, dressed in a pristine wedding gown that seemed jarringly out of place. The room was dimly lit, with a single, flickering bulb hanging from the ceiling, casting eerie shadows on the walls. Aleah’s gaze shifted to the walls, where dozens of photographs of Claire were taped haphazardly, like a twisted shrine. Panic gripped Aleah as fragmented memories of the events before they blacked out resurfaced.The air in the room was thick with a nauseating stench—a blend of metallic tang and decay that stung her nostrils. She instinctively covered her nose, the smell making her stomach churn. She stood up unsteadily from a wooden chair by the door, her legs feeling like jelly. As she took a cautious step toward Claire, something cold and unyielding tugged at her ankle. She looked down and froze. A heavy chain was cl
"Argh," groaned the man, clutching his neck as he woke up. His head throbbed, and his vision blurred momentarily as he tried to make sense of his surroundings. He scanned the room, his eyes darting to every corner, only to realize Claire was no longer there. The door stood ajar, and when he peered outside, the emptiness confirmed his worst fear."What did you do?! Where's my bride?" he bellowed, his voice echoing with fury as he turned to Aleah, his eyes blazing with accusation."You never had a bride to begin with," Aleah shot back, her voice steady but laced with disdain. "She's already gone, so stop living in your delusion. Wake up! Can't you see you're terrifying Claire? Is this what you want—to push her further away?""What do you know?!" the man roared, his anger boiling over. In a flash, he lunged at Aleah, his hands wrapping tightly around her neck. His bloodshot eyes glared with a feral intensity, and his sharp nails dug into her skin, leaving angry red
"Claire!" Amanda’s voice trembled with worry as she rushed toward Claire and Aleah, who had just disembarked from the helicopter. The sun was beginning to rise over the island, casting a warm, golden hue on the scene, but Amanda’s mind was clouded with concern. Claire and Aleah had returned early that morning after spending the night recovering at the hospital.As Amanda reached her daughter, she immediately enveloped her in a tight embrace. Her hands gently cupped Claire’s face as her eyes scanned for any signs of injury. "Are you okay? Did they hurt you?" she asked, her voice laced with both fear and relief."I’m okay, Mom," Claire assured her softly, her lips curving into a faint smile. "Aleah saved me," she added, glancing gratefully at the young woman standing beside Hunter. Aleah’s presence radiated calm confidence, her stance poised despite the tension still lingering in the air.Amanda turned to Aleah, her expression shifting to o
Hunter was caught off guard when, upon stepping outside, he was greeted by the assistant of Aleah's grandfather. The man spoke with a tone of urgency, informing him that Sebastian and Damian were waiting for him in the dining hall. Hunter nodded without a word, his mind already racing with questions, and followed the assistant through the grand corridors of the estate.As they approached the hall, the assistant suddenly stopped and turned to Hunter. "I’ve been instructed to stand guard here. No one else is to enter," the assistant explained before opening the heavy wooden doors for him. Hunter stepped inside, his footsteps echoing in the vast, dimly lit room. His gaze immediately landed on the two elderly men seated at the long, ornate dining table. He noticed that no one else was present—a detail that only deepened his curiosity. The assistant closed the doors behind him, leaving Hunter alone with them.The young man hesitated for a moment, then strode c
He didn’t wake me up,” Aleah whispered, her voice tinged with a mix of annoyance and hurt as she stirred awake. From the balcony, she caught sight of the horizon painted in hues of orange and purple, the sun slowly descending. Twilight was fast approaching. A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she decided to rise, the lingering ache of being forgotten gnawing at her chest. She took a long bath, hoping the warm water would soothe her simmering thoughts, before stepping out to face the evening.As Aleah left her room, she headed to the wedding venue for the rehearsal. But when she arrived, an unsettling emptiness greeted her. The silence in the room was almost deafening, amplifying the loneliness she tried to push aside. With a deep breath, she made her way to the dinner hall, where the lively chatter of family members filled the air. Their laughter and voices intertwined like a melody, one she felt she could never be a part of.She lingered at the doorway, her steps
"Oh, you’ve arrived!” Amanda exclaimed cheerfully as she spotted Hunter and Aleah entering the dining hall. The woman was approaching Sebastian and Damian’s table, carrying a tray of food. “Take a seat so you can eat,” she said with a warm smile.Aleah glanced over at Rafael and Claire’s table. The two waved at them, signaling for them to sit there.“Let’s sit by Rafael and—” Hunter turned to Aleah, ready to guide her to Rafael and Claire’s table, but he froze when Aleah suddenly sneezed. The sound drew everyone’s attention.“Don’t tell me you caught a cold from just a little rain?” Hunter teased, adjusting the jacket draped over Aleah’s shoulders. Aleah wiped her nose and sneezed again.“Do you have a fever?” Hunter asked, concerned by her sneezing fit. He placed his hand on her forehead and neck to check if she was running a temperature. The scene didn&rs
"Let’s get out of here," Hunter said to Mikha, extending his hand. The little girl, still wrapped in the blanket, stood up and approached him. Despite the pain in his back from the falling ceiling earlier, Hunter crouched down and let Mikha climb onto his back."Hang on tight," he told her as she clung to him. He adjusted his grip on Aleah, who was still unconscious, and carried her outside. By the time they got out, firefighters had arrived and were working to control the flames."Mikha!" the officer and his wife called out as they ran over. The woman quickly took Mikha from Hunter’s back, hugging her tightly as the child cried. They pulled off the blanket wrapped around her, checking for injuries. Luckily, she didn’t have a scratch—just tears and fear after everything she had been through."Hunter, what about Aleah?" Rafael asked as he approached, his concern obvious. Several Astral Guardians joined them, Kimberly included. Hunter gently laid
IIt was the birthday of the wife of an Astral Guardian official, who lived in the compound. Everyone was invited to a small celebration, held outdoors near the cooking school in the compound. The gathering was attended by the wives of the officers and members of Hunter's Astral Guardians. Kimberly also came along to avoid being bored at home, since it was her day off from the hospital.The officer's wives quickly warmed up to Kimberly, especially impressed by her cooking skills. She even brought Russian cuisine to the celebration, which earned her extra praise from the ladies. They didn't recognize the dishes she brought, but the fancy sound of them left the women enchanted. Kimberly also won them over with her conversation skills, showing confidence despite having lived abroad for quite a while."I hope you can teach that girl how to cook," said the major's wife, glancing toward Aleah, who sat at a table sulking and nibbling on her food. Aleah overheard the comment
"No way?!” Aleah exclaimed, bolting upright from her chair as she spotted her mom and the director sitting together. They had brought her to a restaurant, saying they had something important to tell her. But what they revealed had her so shocked, she shot to her feet, drawing everyone’s attention in the room.“Sit down. People are staring,” Elara whispered, gently pulling Aleah back into her seat. The girl obeyed but couldn’t tear her gaze away from the young director.“Hey, stop looking at him like that,” Elara muttered, visibly embarrassed by her daughter’s piercing stare.“Hold on, I’m so dizzy from everything you’ve said. I can’t make sense of it.” Aleah grabbed her glass of water, took a sip, sighed, and slammed it back down on the table. Her eyes darted right back to the director.“Leah, seriously, stop looking at him like that,” Elara warned, this time grabbing her da
Alpha Hunter!” Kimberly called out excitedly as soon as she spotted the young man stepping out of Alejandro’s room. The familiar voice made Hunter glance her way, where he saw Kimberly in a crisp white coat. It clicked—of course, she worked here at the hospital.This hospital wasn’t just any facility, either. It housed government-funded research labs where Kimberly was continuing her work on a drug to restore lost memories. Hunter remembered the briefing he’d received—it explained that Kimberly had been a researcher in Russia, leading a team that was developing medication to reverse memory loss. Their focus had been on treating Alzheimer’s patients. But everything changed when their facility was attacked. She was the only survivor, and she’d fled to her godfather for safety.“Kim—Dr. Stuart,” Hunter said, nodding in acknowledgment.“You don’t have to be so stiff. Don’t forget, I told y
"I'm really sorry about what happened," Dennis said to Alfredo, his voice steady but sincere. He stood by the hospital bed, his hands awkwardly clasped in front of him. "I came here to clear things up—to explain that what you saw in those pictures isn’t true. Yeah, I have feelings for Aleah. I won’t lie about that. But she doesn’t feel the same way about me. And I know she’s married. I’m not the type to mess up someone else’s life. Aleah’s a good person, and I would never wreck her life or her marriage with Hunter.""Why are you telling us this?" Melissa asked, her tone sharp and suspicious."Because I don’t want you to think badly of Aleah," Dennis replied, looking her in the eye. "I also heard about Don Damian’s heart attack. I can’t stand the thought of you blaming Aleah for that. She didn’t do anything wrong—she’s just caught up in a misunderstanding.""But you just said you have f
What’s that guy doing outside our house?” Hunter asked, his voice sharp as he leaned against the railing of the terrace. His eyes locked onto Dennis, who was standing just outside the gate, unmoving like he had all the time in the world. It was just him and Aleah at home, with Kimberly and the others still stuck at the hospital. The silence of the house amplified his unease.Hunter’s gaze flicked to Aleah, who stood by the terrace door, her face troubled as she watched Dennis. She wasn’t saying anything, but Hunter could read the emotions in her expression like an open book.“I’m going to talk to him,” Hunter announced, pushing himself off the railing and heading for the door with purposeful strides. He barely made it three steps before Aleah reached out and grabbed his hand, her grip firm and desperate. The gesture was so out of character it stopped him cold.Hunter glanced down at her hand and then at her face. Her eyes were
Dennis was stunned when he walked into the restaurant and saw Clarisse sitting at the table. Her call had been urgent, and now he knew why. Clarisse wasted no time and revealed that Aleah and Natasha's elderly grandfather was in the hospital after suffering a sudden heart attack.“You heard me,” Clarisse began sharply, her tone cutting through the air like a blade. “And you’re partly to blame for this mess. If you hadn’t been flirting with a married woman, none of this would’ve happened.”Dennis sat down slowly, his face filled with a mixture of shock and disbelief. Clarisse reached into her bag, pulled out a folder, and placed several photographs on the table. The pictures showed Dennis and Aleah at the baseball field, their body language undeniable. Dennis’s eyes widened as he grabbed the photos.“Whoever took these is impressive!” Dennis remarked, though there was no humor in his voice. He held one of the
What are you doing here? Why are you lying down on the floor?” Hunter asked as he stepped into the basement, his voice tinged with both confusion and concern. The room was dimly lit, the faint hum of the air conditioner the only sound breaking the heavy silence. This basement was his sanctuary, a space he had designed to escape and train in solitude. Yet now, it seemed anything but tranquil.Hunter’s gaze swept across the room until it landed on Aleah. She was sprawled on the floor, her face pale and her eyes distant. But what caught his attention next froze him in place: scattered photographs lay strewn across the floor, fragmented moments of someone’s pain. His chest tightened, and instinctively, he clenched his fists. Without hesitation, he bent down and began picking up the photographs.“Zen,” Aleah whispered, her voice trembling as she looked up and saw him gathering the pictures. She scrambled to her feet, panic flashing in her eyes. &ld
Aleah, you're here! Come have some snacks with us," Carlos called out from the garden, where he was hanging out with Joyril, Trisha, Rafael, and Kimberly. But Leah didn’t even glance their way. She just rushed inside the house, heading straight upstairs without a word. The group exchanged baffled looks, their confusion written all over their faces. Leah wasn’t the type to just brush people off like that."What’s up with her? Did something happen?" Joyril asked, turning to Rafael for answers.Rafael just shrugged. "No idea."The truth was, none of them knew. The Alpha himself wasn’t home—he, along with Michael and Charles, had been called away by the Alpha King, leaving the rest to keep Kimberly company.While they were chatting, Rafael’s phone buzzed. It was a message from Claire, telling him that Leah’s grandfather had been rushed to the hospital and was in critical condition. Rafael’s eyes darted toward the house