Once His Mate Now His Rival (by Lord Browny) novel Chapter 6

Chapter six

Amber didn’t know how much time had passed since Damon left.

She just lay there on the cold stone floor, her arms wrapped around the dying child. Her body trembled from exhaustion, her eyes raw from crying. The little one barely moved now, his tiny body cold to the touch as greenish lines appeared beneath his skin like poison.

A broken sob tore from her throat.

Had she not suffered enough? Was it not enough that Damon had betrayed her? Now, she had to watch helplessly as her child faded in her arms, without ever being given the chance to save him.

How could life be so cruel?

How could Damon be so cruel?

Her sobs grew louder.

She was still crying when footsteps echoed down the corridor.

Amber looked up. Standing in the doorway was the midwife. Her face was hard to read, neither pitying nor cold. She stepped forward without a word, kneeling beside Amber.

“Give me the child,” the midwife said softly, reaching into her satchel.

Amber instinctively tightened her grip, shielding the baby from her.

“If you wish to save him, you’ll do as I say.”

From her bag, the midwife pulled a small glass vial filled with a thick black liquid.

Amber hesitated, then, slowly, she handed over the child. The midwife uncorked the bottle and let a few drops fall into the baby’s mouth. Moments later, the green lines began to fade, just slightly, but enough.

Amber’s breath hitched in disbelief.

The midwife reached into her bag again, this time producing a second bottle.

“Here. Drink this,” she said, handing it to Amber. “And keep this one. Give it to the child every day for a month. If you do, he will survive.”

Amber took the bottle with shaking hands and drank. Warmth spread through her limbs almost instantly, dulling the ache in her bones, strengthening her.

She opened her mouth to speak, but the midwife was already standing.

“Come with me, child, if you wish to live. I know a secret passage out.”

The midwife moved swiftly toward a dark corner of the cell. A hidden stone slid aside with a push, revealing a narrow passage carved through the wall.

Amber staggered to her feet, the baby in her arms, and followed. But just before stepping in, she called out, “Why are you doing this?”

The midwife paused, then turned with a faint smile.

“Some of us still believe in you, Luna. We know you didn’t do what they said. I’ve always known you were innocent. That’s why I’m helping you.”

Amber’s breath caught in her throat. She could barely process the words before the midwife gently took her by the

1/3

-Chapter ax

+25 Bonus

arm and led her into the darkness.

They moved quickly, winding through a narrow, damp tunnel. After what felt like forever, they emerged at the edge of the forest. The moonlight bathed the trees in silver, and Amber recognized the place. She used to come here as a child.

“Follow that path,” the midwife said, pointing. “It will lead you to the main road. From there, go wherever your heart tells you. I wish you well, Luna.”

Amber turned to her. “My other child is still inside. I need to get her. Please.” She tried to go back, but the midwife stopped her with a firm hand.

“If you want to protect this child, you must protect yourself first. That’s the only way any of you survive.”

Amber’s knees buckled as fresh tears escaped her eyes. She couldn’t bear the thought of leaving her daughter behind.

The midwife knelt and placed both hands over Amber’s.

“Your daughter will be saved, Luna. I promise you that. But for now, you must go. When the time is right, you’ll see her again.”

She leaned closer, her voice urgent now. “Go. Before they discover you’re gone.”

Amber nodded, wiping her tears with the back of her hand.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

And then, holding her baby close, she ran into the woods, desperate to survive. But even as she ran, Amber vowed to return another day, to reclaim all she had lost and make him pay for everything he’d put her through

Meanwhile, back at the pack house, Alpha Damon stood on the balcony, cradling the baby he had just taken from Amber. His gaze was fixed on the vast expanse of woods surrounding his home.

So much had changed in just one day.

His wife had given birth to their child, only to lose him.

And then there was Amber. She, too, had given birth today, to twins.

Damon inhaled deeply, his eyes falling to the infant in his arms. For a fleeting moment, something stirred in him, an emotion he couldn’t quite name.

The little girl had his eyes, but her features were unmistakably her mother’s.

He took another deep breath and then, tore his gaze away. Had he made the right choice by taking the child from her mother? 1

Amber had murdered his father. And he had shown her mercy by sentencing her to a life in a cell rather than death.

And yet… why did he feel so empty?

He had the woman of his dreams. He had won. So why did it feel like he had lost?

Just then, footsteps echoed behind him.

“Alpha!” a guard called, bowing deeply.

Damon turned sharply. “What is it?”

2/3

Chapter six

+25 Bonus

The guard hesitated, then said, “It’s about your ex–wife, sir. She… she’s escaped.”

Damon’s expression darkened. “What?! Find her. Now!”

The guard nodded and sprinted away.

Damon turned back to the balcony, watching as guards scattered toward the woods. Still, even as they moved with urgency, the empty feeling in

side him only deepened.

And in that moment, Damon knew, without a doubt, that he had lost her forever.

P