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 theWhat’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
"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
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
"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
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
"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
"Ican't let you in," Kimberly said firmly as she stepped out of Hunter's hospital room, blocking Aleah's way."Doctor, I think you're crossing the line," Aleah shot back, her hands balling into fists."Clearly, you don't get it. And no, I'm not crossing any lines. Between the two of us, I'm the one who has the real connection to Hunter. I know him better than you. You're just his wife on paper. But me? I'm his soulmate. The real deal. I won't let someone like you mess things up for him. You've done enough damage," Kimberly replied, her tone sharp. Aleah bit her lip and clenched her fists harder, feeling Kimberly's words hit a nerve. Her mind was too clouded with worry for Hunter to fully process what was being said. But one thing was painfully clear—Kimberly had a point. Trouble seemed to follow Hunter because of her, and it stung to hear it out loud."You don’t have to come here. I can take care of him," Kimberly added with conviction. "While I&rsqu
As Aleah wandered aimlessly along the street, she had no idea where she was going. Lost in thought, she didn’t realize her feet had carried her back to a place from her past—their old flower shop. When she saw it, she froze. The shop she and her mom once called their own was no longer there; in its place stood a sleek coffee shop. She stood outside the door, staring, memories flooding back. Her chest tightened as she thought, If I hadn’t met Hunter, if I hadn’t married him...would Mom and I still be here, running this place together?“Aleah?” A familiar voice broke through her thoughts, startling her. She turned and saw Director Kim, her mom’s boyfriend, walking toward her with a curious look.“What are you doing here?” he asked gently. His eyes shifted to the coffee shop. “Did you miss your old flower shop? It looks like the new owner turned it into a café,” he added with a soft smile, trying to read
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
"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
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
"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
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
"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
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
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
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