Chapter 192

Chapter 192
Madilyn’s POV

The sanitorium was peaceful—almost too peaceful. It stood hidden away from the chaos of the world, wrapped in fresh air and golden light streaming through trees. But inside me, there was no peace. Not today.

It had been far too long since I last saw my father, Jackson.

Now, walking through those sterile, quiet halls with Mason and Ariana by my side, the scent of disinfectant clung to my nose while an uneasy knot coiled in my chest.

When we reached his room, my steps slowed. My heart beat loudly against my ribs as I turned the doorknob and gently pushed it open.

There he was.

Sitting by the window, his eyes locked on the distant gardens as if caught in some far-off memory.

He turned slowly at the sound of the door—and when our eyes met, time stopped.

“Dad,” I breathed, my voice cracking.

Tears spilled from both our eyes as I rushed forward and fell into his arms. His hug wrapped around me like home. Warm. Strong. Unchanging.

“Madilyn, my girl,” he whispered, voice low with emotion. “I’ve missed you so much.”

I couldn’t hold it back. I cried openly, clinging to him like a child.

When I pulled away, still wiping my face, I looked over at Ariana. “Come here, sweetheart.”

Though they had spoken many times through phone calls, this was their first meeting in person.

The moment my father laid eyes on her, his entire face lit up.

“Well, hello there, little one!” he exclaimed joyfully, his eyes sparkling.

Ariana, ever full of sass, giggled and strutted forward with a pose. “Hi, Grandpa!”

The sound of laughter filled the room—deep, warm, healing. I scrunched my face at Ariana playfully, making her giggle even harder, and Jackson chuckled along with us. For just a moment, the years of pain and separation faded away.

Then my father turned to Mason and extended a hand.

“Mason,” he said sincerely, “my daughter told me everything. I’m sorry I ever doubted you. But deep down, I never truly believed the things they said. I’m proud of you. I’m glad she has you.”

Mason shook his hand firmly. “Thank you, sir.”

He came over and wrapped his arm around me, planting a soft kiss on the side of my head. I melted into him, comforted by his strength.

Meanwhile, Ariana had made herself completely at home with her grandpa, chatting away, making silly faces, asking endless questions. I watched them with my heart full.

I had dreamed of this—seeing her laugh with the father I thought I might never see again. This was family. This was peace.

“Grandpa,” Ariana said with a cheeky grin, “remember what you told me about Mommy the other day on the phone?”

Jackson pressed a finger to his lips. “Shhh, that was supposed to be our secret.”

Ariana’s eyes gleamed. “I don’t keep secrets from Mommy! You said she was a troublemaker!”

I gasped dramatically and laughed. “Maybe just a little.”

The room rang with laughter again.

Then Mason leaned in and whispered in my ear, “So… you were a troublemaker, huh? Maybe you can show me just how bad you can be… tonight.”

His teeth brushed my earlobe, sending a shiver through me. I glanced quickly at Jackson and Ariana, relieved they were still talking.

I swatted Mason playfully. “Behave.”

But he didn’t reply.

I turned to him—his body was stiff. His eyes glazed. His jaw locked.

“Mason?” I asked, my voice dropping.

He blinked. The mind-link ended.

“That was Caleb,” he said grimly. “Jayden, Leila, and Amanda… they’ve escaped. Jared helped them.”

Jared.

His name landed like a hammer in my chest. Before I could react—

BOOM.

A massive explosion tore through the building.

Windows shattered.

Mason grabbed me and threw us to the floor, shielding me with his body. With his other arm, he wrapped Ariana close, covering her head. My father ducked low, shielding himself from the blast.

The ground trembled beneath us. The air filled with dust and panic. Distant screams echoed down the corridors.

“The Tarevine mines,” Mason growled, his voice filled with dread. “Jared’s making his move.”

And I knew it in my bones.

This was just the beginning.

\---

Third Person POV

In the heart of the Warpaw Kingdom, inside a fortress laced in shadows and blood-red banners, Jared—the fearsome Alpha King—sat on his dark throne. Symbols of forbidden power covered the walls. The room pulsed with danger, tension thick in the air.

Before him stood three familiar traitors—Jayden, Leila, and Amanda.

Jayden looked like a ghost of himself—shoulders hunched, skin pale, fingers twitching nervously.

Beside him, Leila couldn’t stop fidgeting, her eyes darting nervously around the room.

Amanda, ever the actress, leaned casually on a velvet couch, feigning confidence.

Jared studied them like a predator eyeing prey. But there was one reason he hadn’t torn them apart yet:

The child.

A small boy sat beside Amanda, eyes wide with silent fear.

Jared had already confirmed the boy was his son through a blood test. That child was the only reason Amanda’s head wasn’t already on a pike.

But as Jared looked at him now—frail, shaking, hands clamped over his mouth—his eyes narrowed.

No son of Jared would tremble like that.

The room was silent but not quiet—far beneath the floors, the muffled screams of prisoners filtered up from the dungeons. Jared’s elite guards loomed in the corners like stone statues—barbaric, brutal, and ready to kill at a nod.

Jared leaned forward, his voice like cold steel.

“What do you want, Jayden? And why should I let you live?”

Jayden straightened his spine. “We seek sanctuary. Bloodmoon is lost to us. But I can offer you something greater—inside knowledge. I know their weak points. I can help you bring it down.”

Jared arched a brow. “Go on.”

“I’ll give you detailed maps,” Jayden said. “Hidden passages. Guard schedules. Secret escape routes. In return, I want protection for my family—and when you take the kingdom, I want my title restored. My mother, Alaska, is still locked in the former Queens’ prison. This is the only way to free her.”

Jared’s lips curled. “So you would betray your people. Just like that?”

Jayden didn’t flinch. “They already betrayed me. I have nothing left there.”

Jared laughed—a dark, hollow sound that echoed off the stone walls.

He liked this.

He liked it a lot.

“Very well,” he said finally. “Tomorrow, you’ll draw me a full map. Then we’ll talk about what comes next.”

He turned to his guards. “Take them to their rooms.”

As the group turned to leave, Amanda cast Jared a sultry smile. “Would you like me to stay, Alpha King?”

Jared smirked. “Not tonight. I want to spend time with my son.”

Amanda nodded, masking her frustration. She turned to the boy.

“Be good,” she said sharply.

Then she walked out with the others.

Outside the door, Amanda’s lips curled into a smug smile.

He still wants me, she thought. This child might finally give me the life I deserve.

But inside, Jared stared at his son—trembling, terrified.

His lips thinned.

“Why are you crying like a weakling?” he barked.

The boy hiccupped. “Mother gets mad when I cry. I… I don’t want her to hear me.”

Jared’s gaze darkened.

The boy wasn’t scared of the world.

He was scared of his own mother.

A slow, cruel smile curved Jared’s mouth.

“Well, well,” he whispered, eyes gleaming with malevolence. “Looks like I have more than one reason to punish the ones who stole from me.”

He leaned back, fingers tapping against his throne, already planning his next move.

And this time… there would be no mercy.