Chapter 191

Chapter 191
Madilyn’s POV

I walked back and forth across the room, my nerves crawling all over me. My eyes were locked on the laptop on the table. It was connected to the fake perfume detector Mason had planted inside Johnson’s room. It looked real—but its real job was to catch anyone who tried to switch it. Every second felt longer than the last. The screen stayed still. My heart pounded harder.

“What if they don’t fall for it?” I asked, biting my lip. “What if Johnson warned Jayden?”

Across from me, Mason was sitting on the couch. Ariana was curled up on his lap, fast asleep, hugging his shirt like a stuffed toy. Mason was calm. He gently ran his fingers through Ariana’s hair, then looked at me with that same relaxed, steady gaze.

“Madilyn,” he said softly, “we prepared for this. Trust our plan. And if something goes wrong—we’ll deal with it.”

His calmness gave me a little comfort, but deep down, I was still scared. I glanced again at Ariana. She looked so peaceful, so innocent. All I wanted was to keep her safe—and Mason, too.

“If we fail,” I whispered, “you could lose everything—your name, your crown, your future. I can’t let that happen to you.”

He smiled at me. A real, gentle smile.

“None of that matters to me,” he said. “The title, the crown—it’s not why I’m fighting. I’m fighting for you and Ariana. If I lose everything else, but I still have you two… that’s enough.”

Then he bent down and kissed Ariana’s forehead.

My throat tightened. I was about to speak again—when suddenly, a voice crackled through the laptop.

We both froze and turned to the screen.

“Wait,” Mason said, leaning forward. “This is it.”

The video came to life. And there they were—Jayden and Leila. Even with the blurry video, it was clear it was them. Their bodies were tense. They were clearly nervous.

“Do you have the replacement?” Jayden asked, glancing around like someone might catch him.

Leila nodded. “Yes. I had a few men build a copy that looks just like the real one.”

Jayden looked unsure. “Are you sure it’ll fool them? I need this to work. If Mason’s plan fails, he loses everything. They’ll never suspect I killed the king. That’s the only way you, me, and my mother survive this.”

His words felt like knives through the air.

Mason and I looked at each other.

Leila leaned in and whispered, “Calm down. I’ve got it under control. We’ll win.”

Then they quickly switched the detector and left.

Mason turned to me, his lips curling into a sly smile.

“That’s it,” he said quietly. “They confessed. Tomorrow… they fall.”

\---

The Next Day

The royal hall was packed with people. Lights blazed. The energy in the air was electric. Jayden had turned the entire event into a public show. Ministers. Nobles. Media. Everyone was invited. Cameras rolled. This was history.

Jayden walked confidently to the center of the room. His voice rang out.

“Today, as requested by my brother Mason, we will use the perfume detector to identify the killer of our late king. If he succeeds, justice is served. If not, he’ll lose his title and be punished for accusing me.”

People murmured. The tension rose.

Alaska, Jayden’s mother, watched proudly from her seat. Leila stood beside her, calm and smug. Amanda looked pleased. Johnson sat at the end of the council bench—silent, shadows under his eyes.

I sat behind Mason, heart pounding.

Guards entered the room carrying a box—the fake “detector.” Jayden gave me a nod. I reached for it.

But before I could touch it, Mason stood up… and laughed.

Not just a little laugh—a deep, sharp, cold laugh that cut through the entire room.

Everyone turned to stare.

Jayden’s eyes narrowed. “What’s so funny, Mason?”

Mason looked at him like he was looking at a fool. “Oh, brother… You really thought I wouldn’t know? You switched the detector. I saw it coming.”

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

Jayden stood taller, trying to keep control. “You have no proof. This is another lie, another stunt. You’re grasping at straws.”

Mason didn’t blink. He raised his hand.

“I don’t need to say anything,” he said. “I’ll let the truth speak for itself.”

He began counting out loud.

“Three… two… one!”

Suddenly—buzzing filled the room.

People grabbed their phones. One by one, screens lit up with the same video.

Jayden’s voice echoed through the hall:

“All I had to do was kill him. You said you’d handle the rest.”

The crowd erupted into shocked gasps. The walls shook with noise.

Jayden opened his phone, his hands trembling. He watched himself on the screen… swapping out the detector… confessing murder.

“No… No…” he whispered.

Leila stepped back, eyes wide with fear.

Jayden turned to Alaska. “You told me it would be fine! You said to kill him, and you’d take care of everything!”

The room fell into stunned silence.

He had just exposed his mother.

Leila spun toward Amanda. “Don’t even try to leave! You were in this too!”

The once-powerful trio fell apart in front of everyone.

Jayden shouted, “It’s Leila’s fault!”

Leila screamed back, “Amanda gave me the perfume idea!”

Amanda gasped. “You idiots got caught! I just gave you the idea!”

The room turned into chaos.

And then…

BANG.

Johnson slammed his gavel down. Silence fell.

Amanda looked at her father, eyes wide. But his face was like stone.

“With the authority of this court,” Johnson said coldly, “I find Prince Jayden guilty of murdering the king. Queen Alaska—his accomplice—also guilty. Both will be sentenced to death.”

Screams rang out.

“Leila,” he continued, “you are sentenced to life in prison. Amanda, for helping them—you are sentenced to thirty werewolf years in prison.”

Amanda’s face turned pale. “Father, please—!”

BANG. He slammed the gavel again.

“My decision is final.”

Then Johnson looked at Mason.

“As next in line… the kingdom awaits your command, Your Highness.”

My heart felt like it would burst.

Mason stepped forward, voice firm and full of strength.

“The mourning period for my father isn’t over. There will be no coronation until then. The guilty will be punished. Bloodmoon will grieve. And then… we move forward.”

Then he turned to me, and with no care that everyone was watching, he pulled me into his arms.

\---

Third Person POV

In the dark prison, the former royals sat behind cold steel bars. Their power was gone. Now, they had only blame to share.

“You should’ve known who made the perfume,” Leila snapped at Amanda. “You didn’t even realize it was Madilyn’s design.”

Amanda scoffed. “And you idiots walked straight into her trap. Don’t blame me.”

Jayden glared. “Leila, you trusted the wrong people.”

She fired back, “You thought you could outsmart Mason. That’s why we’re in here.”

Their voices echoed off the walls.

Then—a baby cried in the distance. Amanda flinched at the sound. She rubbed her temples, annoyed.

Then her eyes widened.

She had a child.

Suddenly, her face changed.

She turned to Jayden. “You still have loyal guards outside this place, right?”

Jayden looked at her, suspicious. “Why?”

“I need to send a message,” Amanda said, her voice low and serious. “To Alpha King Jared of Warpaw.”

Jayden raised an eyebrow. “Jared? Why him?”

Amanda leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper.

“Just send it. It’s the only move left… and it might be our last chance.”

Her lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile.