All Chapters of The Alpha's Cursed Heir: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

Lena looked at the woman in front of her, astonishment coursing through her. The similarity was unmistakable; those striking eyes, the defined jawline, and the manner in which she carried herself exuded an eerie recognition."Sister?" Lena murmured, her voice hardly distinguishable.The woman’s smile deepened, though it held no warmth. “Yes. Though we’ve never met until now, have we? Strange how fate works.”Kaden stepped in front of Lena, his protective instincts kicking in. “Who are you, really? And what do you want with her?”The woman tilted her head, amusement flickering in her expression. “I’m Rielle. And what I want... is what Lena wants, the truth. Only I’ve had to live with it longer.”“What truth?” Lena demanded, stepping forward despite Kaden’s silent protest. Her chest burned where the mark pulsed, almost as if it recognized Rielle.Rielle’s gaze softened, but it was laced with bitterness. “The truth of our lineage, of the curse. It didn’t start with you, Lena. It didn’t e

As Lena, Kaden, Rielle, and the others gazed at the figure that was coming from the crack, tension was in the air. Shrouded in darkness, it radiated a tangible threat that chilled the surroundings."What is that?" Over the low rumbling of the fissure, the voice of Rielle could almost be heard as she muttered.The sound of the shadowed figure's laughter was a menacing mix of sarcastic laughter and unbridled might. “You thought breaking the curse would bring salvation,” it said. “But you have merely shifted the balance. Now, the true reckoning begins.”Lena stepped forward, her hands clenched into fists despite the trembling in her legs. “Who are you? What do you want?”The figure’s fiery eyes fixed on her, and it tilted its head. “I am the consequence of your choices, child. The light you have unleashed has awakened me, a power that even your mother dared not confront.”Kaden drew his blade, its steel glinting in the fading sunlight. “Whatever you are, you won’t harm them,” he said, st

The aftermath of the blinding light left an eerie stillness in the clearing. Lena sat in Kaden’s arms, her breaths shallow, her heart pounding in disbelief. Rielle stood frozen, her mind racing to process Lucan’s betrayal.“He planned this,” Rielle whispered, her voice trembling. “Lucan knew exactly what he was doing.”Kaden’s jaw clenched, his anger barely restrained. “He betrayed us, Lena. He used you.”Lena struggled to sit up, her hands clutching her chest where the mark pulsed faintly. “No,” she said, her voice cracking. “Lucan wouldn’t… there has to be more to this.”Rielle spun toward her, her eyes blazing. “More? He handed us over to that thing! You can’t defend him now!”Lena’s tears welled up, but she shook her head. “He said balance demands correction. Maybe he believed he was fixing something we couldn’t see.”“Or maybe he was working with the shadow all along,” Kaden growled. “We can’t keep making excuses for him.”As tensions flared, the ground beneath the altar rumbled,

The forest was eerily quiet, as if holding its breath after their narrow escape. The soft rustling of leaves above was the only sound, interrupted occasionally by Lena’s shaky breathing as she cradled Lucan’s still form. With each step feeling heavier than the last, the group proceeded quickly.Lena said in a panicked whisper, "He's getting colder."Rielle grimaced as she put a palm to Lucan's forehead. “His energy is nearly depleted. Whatever light is keeping him alive won’t last much longer.”“Then we find the cure now,” Kaden said firmly, his jaw clenched. He glanced at Lena, his expression softening. “We’re not losing him, Lena.”Her grip on Lucan tightened, her heart aching at his pallid complexion. “I won’t let him go, Kaden. I can’t.”Rielle stood, her eyes scanning the horizon. “Not far from here is a holy spring. It is believed to revitalize both the body and soul. It might give us the time we need.”Kaden nodded. “Then that’s where we’re heading. Let’s move.”---The group a

The group sat in a startled circle around Rielle's still body. The eerie reminder of the shadow's reach was left in the air by her last words. Lena shook and clasped her hands together.With tears in her eyes, Lena muttered, "She… she can't be gone."Lucan put a reassuring hand on her shoulder, but his tense jaw and aloof eyes betrayed his own sorrow. “We need to move her somewhere safe. She deserves better than this.”Kaden, usually the stoic one, wiped at his face roughly. “Rielle wouldn’t want us to stop. We can grieve later. For now, we need to keep going.”Lena looked at him, her voice breaking. “And just leave her here? Like she didn’t give everything for us?”“No,” Kaden said firmly. “But we honor her by finishing what she started.”They built a makeshift cairn in the forest clearing, each placing a stone as they whispered their farewells. When it was done, Lena knelt at the base, her fingers brushing the earth.“I’ll make it right,” she said softly. “I promise.”---As they le