A gust of freezing wind surged through the ancient chamber as the portal split wide open behind Damien, spilling darkness into the once-sacred throne room. Tendrils of shadow slithered across the stone like living serpents, crackling with void energy and staining the ground with corruption.
Selene's grip on Moonfire tightened as she stepped forward, her heart pounding in her chest—not with fear, but with determination.
Damien stood at the center of the chaos, his eyes glowing with unnatural light. The sigils carved into his arms pulsed in rhythm with the dark portal behind him. Cloaked in swirling black energy, he looked nothing like the Alpha she once knew.
"You were never meant to rule," he sneered. "You're a child of weakness, clinging to outdated hope."
Selene's voice rang like a blade. "I was chosen by the moon, Damien. And the moon does not choose blindly."
His laughter echoed across the chamber. "The moon is dead, Selene. And I've awakened something far greater."
Behind him, the shadows twisted—and something began to step through.
Saria's eyes widened in horror. "He's pulling through a Voidbeast! That's not just magic—it's a living curse!"
Jace drew his blades and moved to Selene's side. "We need to shut the portal. Now."
Selene nodded, eyes locked on Damien. "I'll keep him busy. You and Saria disrupt the spell circle."
The battle erupted like a storm.
Selene charged forward, her armor glinting silver as Moonfire clashed against Damien's corrupted claws. Sparks flew. Magic collided.
Every strike shook the chamber.
Selene moved with divine fury, her wolf surging within, lending her speed and strength. But Damien fought like a creature possessed—unnaturally fast, his strikes powered by shadow.
Behind them, Saria raced to the arcane circle glowing around the portal's edge, dodging tendrils of darkness that lashed out with venomous speed.
Jace followed close, slicing through voidborn creatures emerging from the cracks in the ground—twisted wolves with eyes like pits of endless night.
Saria threw up a barrier just in time to deflect a wave of shadow flame.
"This is bound to his blood!" she shouted. "I need something stronger!"
Jace spun, cutting down another beast. "What do you need?"
She held up a crystal shard. "The Queen's fire. Only moonlight can counter this darkness."
Selene's blade met Damien's corrupted claw with a violent crack that shook the chamber.
"You've lost yourself," she growled. "You gave up your soul for power!"
"I was never like you!" Damien shouted. "I was born to rule—by claw, not ceremony."
Selene twisted away from his next strike and slammed her sword into the ground, sending a ripple of silver light that knocked him back.
"I didn't need to be born to rule," she said. "I earned it."
She reached for her amulet—the one Kael had given her. It pulsed with brilliant moonlight as she tore it from her neck and threw it to Saria.
"Use this!"
Saria caught the amulet. Moonfire surged through her fingertips, blinding in its brilliance. She dropped to her knees beside the ritual circle and slammed her hands onto the stone.
The dark sigils screamed—burning with white fire.
The portal flickered, then began to collapse.
"No!" Damien roared, spinning toward them.
Selene tackled him mid-lunge, dragging him back. "It's over!"
The portal buckled inward, screeching like a living thing. The Voidbeast still clawing through howled as its body was severed, sucked back into the abyss.
With a final burst of light, the gateway shattered.
Silence.
Only the sound of breathing remained.
Selene stood over Damien, her sword at his throat. He was bloodied, burned, trembling—but still defiant.
"You think killing me will end this?" he hissed. "The Void is awake now. You can't stop what's coming."
Selene looked down at him, her face calm but unreadable.
"I'm not here to kill you, Damien," she said quietly. "I'm here to strip you of everything you took."
She turned away.
"Take him," she ordered Jace.
Later, the throne chamber was cleansed with silverfire.
Saria sealed the circle with sacred runes. The Moon Priestesses arrived to purify the structure and begin restoring the sacred ground.
Selene watched in silence as the flames erased the last traces of corruption. The final battle had ended.
But the war was not yet over.
In the moonlit ruins, Selene stood alone atop the highest spire. Her silver eyes scanned the horizon—the stars clearer now than they had been in weeks.
Jace joined her quietly.
"You stopped him," he said. "The packs will never forget this."
Selene nodded slowly. "But something bigger stirs. That portal wasn't just a spell—it was a signal. The Abyss is watching us now."
Jace's voice lowered. "Then we make sure they watch a realm that stands united."
She turned to him, their gazes locking.
"And this time," she said softly, "we'll be ready."