Queen Althara arrives
**Arin's POV**
"Kill them?" I yelled at Malik. "Are you crazy?"
The entire room erupted in a golden glow before he had a chance to reply. I lifted my hands to protect my eyes, and when I looked again, a different person was standing before Malik.
She was the most stunning woman I had ever encountered. Pale golden hair that appeared to radiate light from within, tall and graceful. Despite wearing a plain white dress, she somehow appeared more regal than any queen.
"Malik," she said in a melodic voice. "Stand down."
Malik said, "Queen Althara," and I could hear the fear in his voice. "I didn't anticipate you."
Queen Althara? Although I had heard tales about her, I believed them to be merely folklore. As the head of the Northern Alliance, she was supposedly the most powerful Alpha in the world.
Queen Althara calmly stated, "Of course you weren't. Didn't the Shadow King tell you I was busy somewhere else?"
Malik's face turned white. "How did you—"
