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Jim's anguished cry cut through the tension.

"Mia!" Through their bond, she felt his heart breaking, his desperate love pouring through the connection like a lifeline.

Her ear twitched. Then, as Matthews loomed over her, ready to deliver the killing bite, Mia exploded upward with her remaining strength. Her teeth found his throat in a perfect killing strike, locking in place as momentum carried them both to the ground.

This time, she was on top, jaws clamped around his jugular.

Matthews thrashed beneath her, but his movements grew increasingly feeble. The vampire blood had given him strength, but it was failing him now, working against him in some incomprehensible way.

As his struggles weakened, Mia's wolf eyes locked with his.

Through the soul link that connected predator and prey in their final moments, she projected directly into his fading consciousness: In your next life, be careful with little wolf teeth soaked in magic garlic potion if you have anything to do with vampires.

Funny thing about becoming what you consume—you inherit all their weaknesses too.

Your hybrid blood made you nearly invincible.

Nearly. But even vampire lords fear a good garlic bread.

Understanding and fury flashed in Matthews' eyes as the pieces clicked into place—every bite, every small wound, delivering doses of magically enhanced garlic directly into his bloodstream.

His wolf nature had protected him from stakes and sunlight, but this?

This was something his system couldn't process or heal.

One final, weak struggle, and then stillness.

The massive white wolf went limp beneath her, the unnatural red glow fading from his eyes.

Silence fell over the pack house, broken only by the storm outside and Mia's labored breathing. Slowly, painfully, she released her grip on Matthews' throat and stepped back, leaving his lifeless form on the bloodstained floor.

Jasmine stepped forward, officially declaring what everyone could see. "The challenge is complete. Alpha Mia is victorious."

The ritual words released the magic holding them in wolf form. Mia's shift back to human was agonizing, broken bones and torn flesh protesting the transformation. When it completed, she knelt naked and bleeding on the floor, her body covered in wounds but her eyes clear and focused.

The pack erupted—wolves howling victory, fists pumping the air. Gerald actually whooped, something she'd never heard from her dignified beta. Even Elder Agnes allowed herself a small smile of satisfaction.

Jim broke free from Bertram's loosened grip, stumbling to her side. His hands hovered over her injuries, afraid to touch and cause more pain. Through their bond, she felt his awe, his pride, his overwhelming relief.

"My magic potion worked. Unbelievable." Beatrice grinned.

Mia snorted: "Yeah, considering how much I hate garlic, and how many failed attempts of yours, I consider this one of the biggest gambles of my life. But it pays off. Thanks Beatrice. And please do work with Jasmine to make it taste better."

"My clever queen of the moon." Jim kissed her.

Mia smiled. "Garlic. Silver extract. Herbs that affect vampire blood." Her voice was hoarse from the wolf's howling. "In my saliva. Every bite delivered a dose. Though I'll be honest—drinking that stuff this morning was almost worse than fighting him."

Mia's gaze moved to Matthews' body, now returned to human form. The black veins stood out starkly against his pallid skin, the vampire corruption fully revealed in death. "The hybrid strength made him overconfident. He never considered that I might have my own advantages."

"Or that you'd be crazy enough to drink something that smelled like a garlic farm exploded in a silver mine," Jim added, a note of fond exasperation in his voice.

Bertram knelt beside Matthews, his angelic senses confirming what they all suspected. "The vampire blood altered his cellular structure. Made him stronger, faster, but also vulnerable to traditional vampire weaknesses."

"Which his wolf blood mostly countered," Mia added, accepting water from Jasmine to rinse the lingering taste from her mouth. "Except the one delivered directly into his bloodstream with every bite. Even hybrid healing can't fight that kind of magical toxicity."

The Council approached, Elder Agnes at their head. "You have fulfilled the Alpha's duty," she said formally. "Defended your territory. Protected your pack. The Challenge is complete."

Mia nodded, accepting the judgment, then turned to Jim. His temporal anchors had faded to faint outlines beneath his skin, no longer glowing with dangerous energy.

"You knew I would win," she said quietly, searching his face.

Jim's smile was tinged with pain and relief. "I saw possibilities. This one... this one I hoped for most." His hand found hers, careful of her injuries. "Though next time maybe warn me before you drink potentially lethal potions?"

"Where's the fun in that?" Despite everything, she managed a small smile. "Besides, I seem to remember someone time-slipping twice while poisoned to save me. We're even."

Around them, the pack began to move with purpose—tending to the wounded, preparing Matthews' body for return to his territory, sending messengers to inform the Northern Pack of their Alpha's fate.

Bertram conferred quietly with Jasmine, their Supernatural Law Enforcement protocols already in motion. The vampire blood trafficking would be investigated, the corruption rooted out beyond Wolf Valley's borders.

But for Mia, for this moment, there was only Jim—battered and weakened but alive. She leaned against him, feeling his arms encircle her with careful tenderness.

"The Mating Challenge is over," she murmured. "No mate selected."

Jim's chest rumbled with a soft laugh. "I think you made your choice quite clear."

"Did I?" She looked up at him, managing a small smile despite her injuries. "I don't recall officially selecting anyone."

"Actions speak louder than ceremonial words." His hand found hers, fingers intertwining. "Besides, there's still that blood moon coming in a few days."

"Plenty of time to heal," she agreed. "For both of us."

"And plenty of time for you to make an honest wolf of me," he added, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Unless you're planning to reject me too?"

"Never," she said fiercely. "You're stuck with me, Jim Miracles. Through time and space and terrible-tasting potions."

"Best fate I could imagine," he murmured against her hair. "In any timeline."

Outside, the storm began to abate, the howling wind calming to a gentle whisper through the trees.

Dawn wasn't far off—the first rays of sun would soon break over Wolf Valley, illuminating a pack stronger for what they'd endured, an Alpha who had proven her worth beyond any doubt, and a future that belonged to them alone.

Somewhere in the spirit realm, Mia imagined Reyes watching with approval. Be so damn happy it makes the moon jealous, he'd said. Looking at Jim, feeling their bond humming with quiet joy despite their injuries, she thought they just might manage it.

"In all the futures you saw," she asked softly, "was there one where we both survived this?"

Jim pressed his lips to her forehead, careful to avoid her injuries. "This one," he whispered. "Always this one. Though I'll admit, none of them showed you defeating him with weaponized garlic breath."

She laughed, then winced as her ribs protested. "Beatrice is never going to let me live this down."

"A small price for victory," Jim said. "And for keeping your promise to Reyes."

Mia's expression softened, remembering the fallen alpha's final words. "We'll make him proud. Build something good here. Something worth his sacrifice."

"Together," Jim agreed.

"Together," she echoed, and sealed it with a kiss that tasted of blood and victory and the promise of all the tomorrows they'd fought to earn.

The deadline wolf and the time walker—an unlikely pair who'd defied tradition, death, and time itself to choose each other.