"Alpha Hunter!" Claire exclaimed in surprise as Hunter entered Missy's private room. Rafael was present at the time, having taken over for Trisha. Claire was there to check the child's vitals and ensure she had fallen asleep. The child had been crying endlessly because of what happened to her mother, and no one could comfort her.
"How is she?" Hunter asked, his gaze shifting to the sleeping child."She's finally asleep now. It's good that she could rest, but she still refuses to speak. As for Mario, he's close to being discharged. He's regained his strength after the operation," Claire replied."I’ve already asked Trisha and Joyril to investigate the two policemen you mentioned. I’ve also ordered an investigation into the missing evidence," Hunter said firmly."If this child won't speak and the knife remains missing, Aleah will surely be in danger," Rafael said, his voice full of concern. "By the way, how is she?" he asked."She’s not doingI'm glad to hear that man has finally been caught," Dennis said as he visited the hospital where Missy was staying. In just a few more days, the child would be discharged. She seemed happy, especially with the attention and care they were giving her. Dahlia had been visiting as well, and it seemed she was slowly recovering, even though they all knew she was still grieving the loss of her mother."I'm sorry I couldn’t do much for you," Dennis admitted, his voice tinged with regret. "Even though people call me a genius and my father is a judge, I wasn’t able to do anything to help you.""Don't think like that," Aleah said with a reassuring smile. That smile—so warm and radiant—made Dennis pause. Why couldn’t he take his eyes off her face?"Ah, by the way, have I mentioned that Dahlia’s aunt is planning to adopt Missy? They’re already working on the paperwork so she can bring Missy into their family. Isn't that wonderful—"
"Aleah," Claire gasped, her voice a mix of surprise and concern as she caught sight of Aleah in the emergency room. She had been engrossed in her rounds, her focus fully on her patients, when the sight of Aleah stopped her in her tracks. Without hesitation, she hurried toward her cousin, her mind racing with worry."Aleah!" Claire called out, her tone edged with panic. "Why are you here? Did you get into trouble again? Are you okay? Should I call Alpha Hunter?" Her words tumbled out in quick succession as she reached into the pocket of her crisp white coat to retrieve her phone. Her fingers fumbled for a moment, a reflection of the concern etched on her face.Before Claire could make the call, Aleah gently took her hand, stopping her. Her expression was calm but reassuring, a stark contrast to Claire's evident alarm. "It's okay. I'm fine," Aleah said softly. Her voice carried a steadiness that immediately caught Claire's attention. "I was just helping a pregnant woman I sa
Oh, you’re finally here!” exclaimed a man with a welcoming smile as he approached Sebastian and Damian’s family, who had just arrived at the private island. The family had traveled on a luxurious yacht that docked elegantly at the shore. As they stepped off, their eyes widened in awe at the breathtaking beauty of the island. It was a paradise of modernity and nature combined, showcasing cutting-edge architecture harmoniously blending with lush greenery. Everything—from the sophisticated facilities to the latest tech gadgets—spoke of a place that spared no expense in maintaining its elegance. The air was filled with the sweet scent of the sea, mingling with the fragrance of tropical flowers that adorned the pathways.The staff and personnel lined up to greet them with warm smiles and polite bows. They exuded kindness and professionalism, making the family feel instantly at ease. While everyone on the island was aware that Sebastian’s friend wa
"Wow!" Aleah gasped, her voice filled with wonder as they stepped into the room Hunter had arranged for them. The soft glow of the setting sun bathed the floating cottages in a golden hue, their reflections shimmering on the tranquil water below. Standing on the veranda, she gazed at the endless expanse of azure, her heart swelling with awe."Do you like it that much?" Hunter's voice was low and warm as he approached her, his presence grounding her in the moment."I do," she said, her eyes sparkling as they met his. "Aside from our trip to Sta. Lucia, this is the first time I've been somewhere so breathtaking." Her smile was radiant, a reflection of her unfiltered joy."You’re like a child seeing the world for the first time," Hunter teased, his lips curving into a soft smile. "You should see yourself in the mirror.""Sorry for being so simple," she murmured, her cheeks tinged with a delicate blush. "It’s just that I’ve never been to a place lik
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 be
I'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
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