When Aleah and Hunter returned to the country, they were immediately welcomed by a call from the elderly patriarch, Don Sebastian. He had insisted that they stay at the expansive Bryant mansion for a week before moving to Hunter's house in the Astral Guardians' Compound. The mansion stood as a symbol of grandeur and tradition, a place that carried both history and the weight of family expectations.
“Are you alright with coming back here to the mansion?” Hunter asked as he stepped out of the car and held the door open for Aleah. His gaze caught hers as she lingered, her eyes momentarily fixated on the grand structure before them. It wasn’t her first time seeing it, but its imposing size and the memories it held still had the power to unsettle her. This was the place she had called home for a while during their engagement—an arrangement born not of romance but of a pact between Sebastian and Damian.
“Daniela also stayed here while waiting fo
"Sorry, I can't join you here. I had an urgent call," Hunter said to Aleah as she walked him to the grand iron gates outside the mansion. The crisp morning air carried the faint scent of blooming flowers from the garden. Hunter had suddenly received a call from an officer of the Astral Guardians, summoning him to the camp. The Alpha King had learned of his return and insisted on his presence, emphasizing the urgency of the matter."I can't do anything about it. You're heading to work, after all. Even if I tried to stop you, you wouldn't listen," Aleah replied, her voice tinged with a mix of acceptance and sadness. She wrapped her arms around herself, shielding against the morning chill."Good thing you understand. Will you be okay?" Hunter asked, his intense gaze fixed on her face, as if trying to gauge her emotions."Of course," Aleah said with a forced smile, her eyes betraying a hint of unease."Don't act so tough, clumsy girl," Hunter teased, breaking
Aleah walked into the kitchen and found Daniella, Michelle, and Aurora busily preparing breakfast. It was a surprising sight for her—back when she lived in the mansion, she was used to seeing the household staff take care of such tasks. The family members rarely, if ever, lifted a finger in the kitchen. But here, for the first time, she saw these women actively cooking, moving with practiced ease as they chopped, stirred, and arranged ingredients. What caught her attention even more was how effortlessly they worked together, their laughter and light banter filling the air. It was evident that Daniella had already won their affection.“G-good morning. Can I help with anything?” Aleah’s voice was hesitant but hopeful. She had woken up early, thinking it would be a good idea to lend a hand. Helping in the kitchen seemed like a way to make herself useful and to prove that she wasn’t just a burden on Don Sebastian’s family. It also seemed like an
Dalia! Tommy! Ramil!" exclaimed Aleah in surprise as she stepped out of the car, her expression shifting from confusion to delight upon seeing the three eagerly waiting by the door of Hunter’s house in the Astral Guardians compound. She had barely taken a step when the sound of the gate opening drew her attention—it was Rafael. Not surprising, she thought. Rafael was always around Hunter, and it wouldn’t be shocking to learn his house was also within the compound. His presence there only added to her growing curiosity."Big Sis Aleah!" shouted Dalia and Tommy, their faces lighting up as they ran toward her. The twins practically launched themselves into her arms, hugging her tightly. Overwhelmed but smiling, Aleah gently hugged them back. Her eyes shifted to Hunter, who stood nearby with his usual calm demeanor. She noticed Ramil approaching him, and in that moment, Hunter handed over their bag to the younger man."How are you?" Ramil greeted her with an
"Why is the kitchen light on?" Hunter asked as he entered their home, his voice tinged with curiosity. It was late into the night, and he assumed everyone, including Aleah, was fast asleep. However, the glow coming from the kitchen immediately caught his attention. Instead of turning on the living room light, he quietly made his way toward the source of the illumination. He was curious to see who was awake at such an unusual hour.Standing at the doorway, Hunter was greeted by an unexpected sight. Aleah sat at the kitchen table, her posture heavy with dejection. In front of her was a plate of food that, even from a distance, looked disastrously overcooked. Her chin rested on one hand as she stared blankly at the plate, seemingly deep in thought. The sight of her, lost in her own world, piqued Hunter’s interest. His gaze shifted to the charred food she seemed to be contemplating, and he furrowed his brows, wondering what could be running through her mind."What are yo
"Really now. What a troublesome person," Hunter muttered as he approached her. He picked up the rock near her foot and tossed it to the side of the road."What?" Hunter asked, puzzled, as Aleah simply stared at the hand he extended toward her. "Do you have no plans of getting up from there?" he asked, his tone slightly teasing."Ah—" Aleah stammered, her words trailing off as she hesitated, her eyes fixed on his outstretched hand."Come on," Hunter said, placing a hand on her shoulder and helping her to her feet."Ah," Aleah winced as pain shot through her foot when Hunter pulled her up. He immediately paused, concern flashing across his face."Did you sprain your ankle?" Hunter asked, glancing down at her foot while keeping a steadying hand on her shoulder. "Stand still," he instructed as he crouched down to examine her foot.When he touched her ankle, Aleah flinched and instinctively grabbed the back of his shirt. Hunter looked up at her, worry
"Grandpa?!" Aleah exclaimed in surprise as they arrived at their house. She was with Hunter, and they had just come back from the grocery store, their arms laden with bags. Since Aleah had finished work early and it was Hunter's day off, they decided to tackle the shopping together. With Ramil still at school, it seemed like the perfect opportunity for the two of them to get it done.Their light mood quickly shifted when they noticed Don Damian standing outside their gate, accompanied by Melissa and Albert. The atmosphere grew tense as Aleah and Hunter exchanged uncertain glances. Hunter, ever the gentleman, immediately took the bags Aleah was carrying, allowing her to greet her family.Aleah approached her grandfather with a warm smile and kissed his cheek, followed by her father, Albert. She hesitated slightly before turning to greet Melissa. However, Melissa, with a sharp turn of her head, deliberately avoided her, leaving Aleah's smile faltering."Sir," Hunter gre
"Do you need anything?" Ramil asked a man in uniform standing in front of Hunter's gate. He had just arrived after picking up his younger siblings from school. The afternoon sun cast long shadows, and the air was heavy with an unspoken tension. Ramil froze when Tommy suddenly gripped his hand tightly, his small fingers trembling, while Dahlia quickly hid behind him, clutching the hem of his shirt. Confused, Ramil glanced at the soldier, who stood with his head bowed, holding his hat as if weighed down by something more than just the heat. Ramil couldn't understand why his siblings were suddenly so frightened of the man."Oh! You're here. Why haven't you gone inside yet?" Aleah's voice broke the silence as she opened the gate, stepping out of the house. She noticed the siblings standing outside, their faces pale and uneasy. Her gaze shifted to the man in uniform, who seemed out of place yet oddly familiar."Do you need anything, sir?" Aleah asked politely, her tone cautious
As the man lay sprawled on the ground, Aleah turned to look at him, her breathing heavy. Her gaze then shifted to Hunter, who stood protectively in front of her. Hunter's men, seeing the man incapacitated, lowered their weapons and moved toward the children and Rafael to ensure their safety."You’re bleeding," Hunter said with concern as he approached Aleah, gently placing his hand on her neck to examine the wound."I’m fine. It’s just a small cut," Aleah replied, brushing it off as she touched the wound herself."This is what happens when you’re stubborn. How troublesome. Don’t provoke someone dangerous with your defiance. What would you have done if it had been worse than this?" Hunter scolded his tone a mix of frustration and worry."I—I’m sorry, okay? Nothing bad happened," Aleah stammered, unsure why Hunter was reacting so strongly.As they spoke, neither of them noticed the man regaining consciousness. He reach
The members of the Astral Guardian carefully infiltrated a cargo vessel as part of a joint mission with the Navy. They moved cautiously, ensuring that they made no noise that might alert the kidnappers inside. Within the cargo vessel, three male hostages were being held. The Navy members located a container where the captives were confined.Since the container was locked, one member had to shoot the lock to open it. Once the lock was broken, another Navy member forcefully kicked the door open. The hostages were visibly shocked to see the Navy members standing before them.One of the hostages blinked in disbelief as the Navy members appeared in the doorway."We're getting you out of here," one of the Navy officers said firmly, already moving to help the nearest man to his feet.“We need to move. Now,” another hissed, scanning the area. “They’ll know we’re here any second.”Without hesitation, their leader barked, “Hel
"He's not gonna make it, is he?" Elara asked Aleah, watching the families on the school grounds snapping pictures. Today was Aleah's graduation day, but something felt missing.Aleah glanced at the scene, her gaze lingering on the happy faces. "I don't know, Mom," she said softly, biting her lip as she scanned the crowd.“Don’t tell me your husband’s off saving the world again?” Dennis said as he walked toward them, his suit crisp and a bouquet of flowers in hand.Aleah’s eyes met his. "Dennis," she greeted quietly."For you," Dennis said, offering the bouquet with a grin. "Seriously, though. I heard he just got out of the hospital. Is he really off on another mission already? Seems like he’d rather save strangers than be here for you."Before Aleah could reply, Rafael joined them with Claire and their child in tow. "Hey, he’ll be here soon," Rafael said confidently, giving Aleah a warm smile.Seeing them, Aleah
The birthday party for Daniella and Zane’s child came to an abrupt end when a frantic call from the hospital informed them that Hunter was in the operating room. Without wasting a second, they raced to the hospital, where the Vice Admiral and two of his men were waiting.Aleah froze the moment her eyes landed on the Vice Admiral. The world around her seemed to stop, her body going icy cold—especially when she noticed the blood staining the hands and uniforms of his men.“What happened to Hunter?” Daniella and Zane demanded, their voices sharp with worry. The Vice Admiral shook his head, refusing to share any details. “The doctors have been working for almost six hours now. His injuries are... serious. Even though he should’ve been able to heal himself, the wounds are too severe this time.”He continued, his voice grim, “He was shot. One hit his body, but the worst—we think—might’ve hit his head.”
A young man was running frantically, dodging gunfire from men on motorcycles and a pickup-style jeep. Explosions erupted behind him as he sprinted, forcing him to quicken his pace to evade his relentless pursuers. The chase led to a beach, where the explosions continued to trail him. One of the men in a car aimed a rocket launcher at him, causing the young man to dive just as the rocket exploded behind him. He landed on the ground, unconscious and bleeding from a head wound.The pursuers stopped a short distance away, and one of them ordered two men to check if the young man was still alive. They approached him, turned him over with their feet, and saw blood streaming from his head, along with wounds on his side and shoulder. Noticing his faint breathing, one of them cocked his gun, ready to end the young man's life.Just as the trigger was about to be pulled, the sound of a helicopter filled the air, followed by gunfire targeting the men on motorcycles and in the car. One
Before they headed back home, Hunter and Aleah made the most of their time together on their honeymoon. After three long years apart, Hunter wanted to make sure Aleah never felt insecure, even with the new mission looming ahead. She would always be his number one—he promised her that in a letter three years ago."Morning, love," Hunter greeted with a bright smile as he walked into their room. Aleah couldn't help but beam when she saw him carrying a breakfast tray with a single white rose resting on top. When she woke up and found his side of the bed empty, she thought he’d left for his mission—gone without a word, as his top-secret missions usually demanded. The Vice Admiral’s visit had left her half-expecting it. She had even braced herself to go home alone. But there he was.Hunter set the tray on the bed, picking up the rose with a grin. "Breakfast in bed, madam."Aleah raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "What’s th
Ahem." The throat-clearing sliced through the sweet moment between the couple. Hunter and Aleah both turned to find its source. Aleah’s eyes rounded when she saw a man she didn’t recognize. He wore a spotless white uniform—the kind Navy officers wore, if Aleah had to guess. Her eyes caught on the insignia on his shoulder. Two younger men stood behind him, their stances stiff, their outfits screaming “military.”"Alpha Hunter," the man in white said as he saluted, sharp and precise. The two men behind him followed suit. Hunter helped Aleah up gently before returning the gesture."Vice Admiral Salvacion," Hunter replied, his tone calm but alert."Sorry to crash your vacation," Salvacion said, extending his hand to Hunter.Hunter hesitated, glancing at Aleah. She didn’t say anything, just quietly watched the exchange, her expression unreadable. Hunter’s gut churned—whatever the Vice Admiral was here for, it wasn’
The casual gesture made her feel warm and safe as they strolled toward the hotel restaurant. As they sat down to eat, the relaxed atmosphere was interrupted by the sudden appearance of a woman.“Hi! You’re the guy from the beach earlier, right?” the woman asked, her voice far too enthusiastic. Aleah and Hunter both turned toward her, startled by her abruptness.“I know this might sound weird, but... can I sit with you guys?” the woman asked directly, not even attempting subtlety.Seriously? Aleah’s brows twitched, and she had to fight the urge to roll her eyes. The woman’s boldness was almost laughable.“S-sure,” Hunter stammered, clearly caught off guard. The woman didn’t hesitate, slipping into the empty chair at their table as though she belonged there.Aleah’s eyes narrowed, her gaze boring into Hunter like lasers. Hunter gulped, clearly realizing his mistake. Yep, he’d definitely ma
When Hunter came back to their room after handling the unruly guest, he spotted Aleah already asleep on the bed. He quietly placed the wine and glass on the table, a small gift from the hotel manager for his efforts earlier. Hunter moved closer, sitting beside his wife. He carefully brushed her hair off her face, smiling softly as he adjusted her blanket."Sleep well, my love," he whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek before standing again. He walked to the table, poured himself a glass of wine, and stepped onto the terrace."How am I supposed to sleep?" he muttered under his breath, leaning back in his chair. The wine glass and bottle sat untouched on the side table. Opening the bottle, he poured a little wine, swirled it around, and took a sip."A honeymoon under the stars, yet here I am drinking wine on my own," Hunter said, frustration coloring his voice. His thoughts drifted to the commotion earlier and the guest's horrible timing—interrupting the
"Wow!" Aleah gasped, eyes wide as they stepped into Hunter's hotel room. The soft glow of scented candles flickered around the room, casting a warm light over the trail of rose petals leading to the massive bed. The bed was sprinkled with more petals, and the room felt alive with a dreamy, romantic atmosphere that made her heart skip.She turned to Hunter, her brows furrowing. "How... How did you pull this off? We’ve been together all day!"Hunter grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Magic, babe. You like it?""Like it? I love it. It’s amazing." Aleah whispered, her voice filled with awe.Hunter stepped closer, brushing a finger along her hand. "Glad you do. Now, I’m calling dibs on the shower first." He leaned in just enough to make her breath hitch, his voice dropping to a teasing whisper. "Don’t go anywhere."Aleah froze as he disappeared into the bathroom, her heart pounding so hard she was sure he could hear it. Her gaze d