Malik’sughter splits the night again, his body twitching in unnatural spasms, veins glowing faintly with the sickly power of Veydris.

    And then–he lunges. Darkness pours off him like smoke.

    Jack wastes no time. Bones snap and stretch, fur bursts as his skin, and in a sh his Alpha King wolf towers in the clearing. His massive frame gleams faintly beneath the moonlight, golden eyes zing like molten fire. A snarl tears from his throat, deep and earth–shaking, a warning reverberating through the forest.

    But Malik shows no fear. The shadows cling to him, coiling around his body like a second skin, a living armor of darkness. When Jack charges, ws shing, Malik meets him with a hand engulfed in ck

    fire.

    The collision shatters the ground beneath them.

    Jack pushes, his teeth snapping inches from Malik’s throat, but the Veydris pulses–sickly, vile—and with a surge of impossible strength no mortal wolf should possess, Malik shoves him back. Jack ms into the earth, the impact exploding dust and stone into the air.

    The Queen clenches her fists, her throat tightening with panic. She had known it would be like this–but seeing it, watching her son–inw fight darkness incarnate–it is worse than any nightmare.

    Jack ws himself free from the crater, lips curling back in a snarl. He leaps again, but Malik is faster. A whip of shadow cracks across Jack’s arm, slicing deep. His wolf howls, staggering, blood sttering across the dirt.

    Malik chuckles, low and poisonous, his cracked lips curling into a smirk. “Even with Alpha King blood, you’re still nothing, boy. Nothing against Veydris. Nothing against me. Now submit, you fool.”

    Jack growls, dragging himself upright, refusing to bow. His massive frame trembles, but his eyes burn

    with defiance.

    Malik circles him, dragging his crippled leg yet radiating power with every step. “You don’t know how long I’ve waited for this. How much I’ve sacrificed. My blood, my flesh, my soul–all for this day, when I make you watch everything you love burn.”

    Jack lunges again, fury fueling him, but Malik twists, shadows snaking around his throat, mming him into the dirt. Jack ws at the darkness choking him, his body buckling under the force.

    Malik leans close, his hollow eyes gleaming with madness. “After I kill you, nephew, I’ll start with your mate. I’ll tear her apart, piece by piece, for daring to defy me. And before I let her die, I’ll sell her to beasts who’ll do unspeakable things to her. You’ll watch from the afterlife, powerless, as her screams echo forever.”

    +15 bBONUS /b

    A guttural snarl tears from Jack’s chest, rage and fear warring in his zing eyes. He thrashes, ws digging trenches into the dirtb, /bbut Malik’s hold doesn’t break. The shadows choke tighter.

    Malik grins, lips peeling back from broken teeth. “Big, bad Alpha King… look at you now. Crawling like a dog. Worthless.”

    He raises his other hand, the shadow twisting into a spear of ck fire, aiming for Jack’s heart.

    And then-

    “Enough.”

    The voice is calm, regal, cutting through the night like a de of light.

    Malik freezes, the smirk lingering as he turns slowly. The Queen steps from the shroud of shadows she

    has concealed herself within through an ancient spell, her presence like a storm contained within fragile flesh. Her gown ripples in the night wind, her face calm, though her eyes are hard as steel.

    “Your Highness.” Malik bows with mocking grace, shadows hissing around him like serpents. His lips curl into a wicked grin. “You should have sent me a personal invitation if you wished to see me–instead of using my pathetic nephew as bait.”

    Jack gasps for breath, forcing himself up on shaky legs, golden eyes snapping to the queen. His chest

    heaves, fury and terror mixing in his expression.

    The Queen’s face betrays no fear as she meets Malik’s gaze, every inch the sovereign, though her heart

    pounds and her knees tremble beneath the relentless pull of his magic.

    Tonight, it ends–for good.