All Chapters of The Alpha's concubine mate : Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

The days following the confrontation with the Old Ones settled into a quiet sort of peace. Cole and Lila returned to a semblance of normalcy, although the memory of the battle lingered as a constant reminder of the darkness that lurked beneath the surface of their world. They spent their days exploring the woods, strengthening their bond, and trying to piece together the fragments of their lives that had been shattered by the supernatural.One crisp autumn afternoon, while sorting through some of Cole's grandfather's belongings in the cabin, Lila stumbled upon a small, intricately carved wooden box. Curiosity piqued, she opened it to find a collection of old photographs, letters, and a delicate silver locket.The photographs were faded and worn, depicting people she didn't recognize. Some were formal, posed portraits, while others were candid snapshots of everyday life. The letters, tied together with a faded ribbon, were written in a flowing, elegant script. Lila didn't recognize the

Lila raised the locket, its silver surface gleaming in the firelight.“It represents love and strength.”For the first time, Jade’s expression faltered.A fine crack split the air between them—like lightning without the light. The shadows around Jade recoiled as if burned by the locket’s glow. Lila felt the warmth spreading through her palm, not scorching but steady, calm, resolute.Cole, still struggling to rise from the floor where Jade’s spell had thrown him, froze. His eyes widened—not with fear, but stunned recognition.“Lila… the locket—” he rasped.But Jade recovered quickly.“Light,” she hissed, as if the word tasted bitter. “You dare use light against me?”Her hands curled, summoning another wave of darkness, thicker this time—black fog swirling like a storm around her wrists. The shadows hissed as they collided with the growing aura around Lila.Lila stepped forward, her legs trembling but her spirit unshaken.“I don’t need your destiny,” she said, her voice gaining strength

The darkness vanished as abruptly as it had come, shattering like fragile glass around Lila. She stumbled forward, breathless, her pulse thundering in her ears. But this time—this time—she didn’t fall.She stood.Her legs trembled beneath her, but she stood tall, shoulders squared, her fingers curled tightly around the glowing locket. It pulsed like a heartbeat, warm and brave.Jade stared at her as if she had just defied the laws of nature.“You… broke my spell.” Jade’s voice was thin, stretched between disbelief and irritation. “You’re stronger than I thought.”Cole dragged himself back to his feet, blood dribbling from a cut above his brow. He shot Lila a look—half astonishment, half pride—before turning his glare on Jade. “You’ll never get her, Jade. Not while I’m here.”Jade smirked. “Oh, Cole. You’re cute when you try.”With a flick of her fingers, a burst of dark magic sent Cole flying backward again, slamming him against the cabin wall hard enough to rattle the shelves. Lila’

The clearing crackled with leftover magic, bright and dark clashing like storm clouds colliding. The wind whipped around them, bending trees and scattering ash across the ruined cabin’s remains. Lila’s heartbeat thrashed in her chest—too fast, too loud, filled with something foreign yet strangely familiar.The light pulsed through her veins, humming, alive.Cole stared at her like he was seeing her for the first time.“Lila…” he whispered. “Your aura—it’s… radiant.”But Lila barely heard him. Her eyes were locked onto the one person who refused to retreat.Jade.Her cousin stood with her hair wild around her face, eyes glowing an unnatural shade—dark veins crawling up her neck from the blast. Yet even injured, even pushed back by Lila’s light, Jade smiled.“Finally,” Jade breathed. “You’re starting to become who you were meant to be.”Lila raised the locket, its glow pulsing in her palm. “I’m not becom

Cole felt Lila trembling before he even saw her eyes. Something inside her had cracked open—something raw and terrified. He pulled her closer, steadying her breath with his own.“Lila,” he whispered, “what did you see?”She tried to answer, but the words tangled in her throat. Jade watched her quietly, her expression no longer triumphant—now wary, almost… unsettled.The forest around them remained deathly still, like even the air was listening.Finally, Lila found her voice.“It wasn’t Seraphina,” she said. “Not the way we were told.”Jade stiffened. Cole’s grip tightened.Lila swallowed hard. “The council—the ones who claimed to protect balance—they destroyed it. They forced light to dominate the shadow. They ripped the twins apart. Seraphina wasn’t evil—she was cornered.”Jade’s eyes widened. “That’s not possible. The council served the Light Order. They were guardians.”“They were tyrants,” Lila whispered. “And they’re not gone.”A cold wind brushed Cole’s neck, making the hair sta