Chapter 197

Chapter 197
Madilyn’s POV

"How touching," Jared sneers, his wicked eyes pinned on Harrison.

"Do you really think one of you could stand against all of my men?"

His words strike like a punch to my chest. Cold dread seeps through every pore.

Harrison isn’t going to leave…
He didn’t leave.

Why didn’t he go like I told him to?

Before I can plead with him again, Jared lifts his hand.

His soldiers begin to close in, moving like predators who’ve cornered their prey.

There are too many of them.
And Harrison… is just one.

The air grows heavy with tension. Shadows flicker across the enemy's faces—merciless, eager, prepared to kill.

But Harrison doesn’t blink.

The kind, soft-spoken warrior I’ve known transforms into a terrifying force. His muscles coil. His stance locks. His claws shimmer in the moonlight as he readies himself for war.

And then—with a savage growl—the first wave charges.

Harrison meets them head-on.

A storm of claws and power, he moves like a beast unleashed. Every step, every strike, is pure instinct. Three wolves fall in seconds, and more are coming. He’s everywhere, blocking, striking, tearing through the enemy.

A sword flies toward me—
But Harrison dives in front of it.

The blade carves deep into his flesh.

Blood pours.

Still… he fights.

Still… he shields me.

Even as four wolves surround him, even as another sneaks from behind—
I act.

I grab a fallen soldier’s sword. My hands shake, but my grip is firm.

The blade pierces the attacker’s shoulder. He howls in rage and turns on me.

I’m no warrior. But I lift my sword.

If I die, I’ll die defending what matters.

He advances—
And then crumples to the ground.

Behind him stands Harrison, panting, bloodied, with the man’s heart clutched in his hand.

But even that isn’t enough.

Another soldier rushes from the darkness.

“Harrison!” I scream.

Too late.

A knife plunges into his back.

“No!” I cry, running toward him.

He turns, blood coating his lips, and offers me one last smile.

He slashes his attacker’s throat and stands once more.

But more come.

They stab.
They slice.
They shred.

Still, he fights.

Still, he guards me.

Until… he begins to stagger.

Swords pierce him from every direction. Blood streams from him in rivers.

Then—he falls.

I collapse beside him, cradling his massive head in my lap, sobbing uncontrollably.

Jared lifts a finger.

The few remaining soldiers lower their weapons.

He isn’t finished.
He has something worse in store.

But all I see is Harrison.

Bleeding. Fading. Dying.

“No, no, no,” I weep. “You should have gone. You should’ve been with your wife and child.”

His eyes—blurry, fading—find mine.

A soft grin tugs at his lips.

“It was an honor to serve you… my Queen,” he murmurs.

And then…

His eyes close.
His chest stills.
His body goes limp.

Gone.

Just twenty years old.
A father who never met his child.
A protector who gave everything.

Gone.

Grief crashes through me like a storm.

Just yesterday, he was lifting Ariana on his shoulders. Just yesterday, he was teasing me about Mason’s frown. And now…

Now, he’s gone.

Forever.

Jayden’s voice slices through the silence.

“How stupid,” he laughs coldly. “Didn’t he realize we weren’t going to kill you? Just take you as a hostage?”

Jared joins in, his chuckle cruel and heartless.

“Patriotism makes men stupid,” he scoffs.

He turns toward me, voice dripping with venom.

“Mason thought he could beat me. Now… he’ll have to make the ultimate choice.”

He smirks.

“His woman… or the crown.”

My stomach churns in rage.

“I’ll make him choose,” Jared continues. “Give up Bloodmoon for love—or give up love for the throne.”

Jayden crouches beside me, lips curled into a bitter grin.

“I bet you wish you had chosen me,” he whispers.

“When Jared becomes king, both you and Mason will die. But if you’d come back to me…”

He leans in closer, his voice a hiss.

“I would’ve given you peace.”

His words blur into noise.
Because something else is rising inside me.

Something louder.

I look down at my hands—
Soaked in Harrison’s blood.

I see Kara’s face when she learns her husband will never walk back through the door.

I see Ariana asleep inside, dreaming sweet dreams… unaware that her protector has died for her.

And then I see Mason.

Mason… broken.
Mason… cornered.
Mason… forced to choose between me and his kingdom.

And in that moment—

Something snaps.

A scream rips through me.
A fire ignites.

Grief. Rage. Fury.
It becomes molten power.

My fingers tingle.

Claws burst from my skin.
My fangs extend.
My hair turns white as snow.

My wolf… is here.

She is wild. She is livid.

She is done watching our people die.

Sparks leap from my hands.

I rise.

Jayden stumbles back.

Jared’s smirk disappears.

They see it.

The glow.
The shift.
The power.

It wraps around me like a storm. It surges through every cell.

The White Wolf.

She has awakened.

“You will not harm my people,” I roar.

Jared steps back.

“You will not break the man I love.”

The ground trembles beneath my feet.

“You will not take the King of Bloodmoon. Not today. Not ever.”

The energy spirals.

Hot. Bright. Furious.

I feel Mason and Ariana in my heart.

Smiling. Whispering: “We’re proud of you.”

Tears streak down my face.

I lift my arms—

And I let go.

The beast.
The fire.
The storm.

I unleash everything.

White-hot light bursts from within me.

And then—
There is only fire, smoke, and the downfall of our enemies.