THE LUNA WHO CONQUERED DEATH novel Chapter 43

THE LUNA WHO CONQUERED DEATH

Chapter 28: Betrayal and Choice

I found Lucas in the training grounds at dawn, running drills with the younger warriors like nothing was

wrong.

Like he hadn’t been selling our secrets to the enemy.

Clairh

I watched from the shadows, my Alpha senses reading his body language. Exhaustion. Stress. The weight

of someone carrying an impossible burden.

When the warriors dispersed for breakfast, I stepped forward.

“Lucas. Walk with me.”

He turned, and something in my expression made him tense. “Alpha. Is something wrong?”

“That depends on your definition of w

I gestured toward the woods. “Privately, please.”

We walked in silence until we were far from any ears. The morning mist clung to the trees, making everything feel surreal.

“How’s your mate?” I asked quietly. “Sarah, right?”

His face crumpled. “Not good. The healers say she has mayb nothing…” He stopped walking. “Why are you asking?”

a month left. We’ve tried everything, but

“Because I know, Lucas. About the reports you’ve been sending to Harrison. About the information you’ve been feeding the coalition.” I turned to face him. “About the deal they offered you.”

All color drained from his face. “Sera, I can explain…”

“Then explain.” I kept my voice level, but silver light flickered around my hands. “Tell me why my Gamma, my trainer, the wolf who helped me prepare for the Alpha trials, has been betraying me for three months.”

“They said they’d cure her!” The words burst out of him. “Harrison has a witch, a powerful one. She can reverse the illness, but she won’t help unless I cooperate.” He dropped to his knees. “Sera, Sarah is my everything. My mate, my life. Without her…”

“So you sold out your pack. Your Alpha. Your students at the school.” I moved closer. “Do you have any idea what you’ve given them? Defense layouts, student identities, my pregnancy status…”

“I know. I know, and it’s been destroying me.” Tears streaked down his face. “But every night I go home and watch Sarah dying, and I can’t… I can’t lose her, Sera. I can’t.”

I understood that desperation. If Adrian were dying, if someone offered to save him…

Would I betray everything I stood for?

Episode 28

Iwanted to say no. But standing there, looking at Lucas’s broken expression, I wasn’t sure.

“Did you tell them about yesterday’s attack? About the hostages?”

“No. That intelligence came after I’d already sent my report. I swear had nothing to do with Sophie being put in danger.”

Small mercy, but mercy nonetheless.

“What have you told them recently?”

“That you’re preparing defenses on the western border. The school students are untrained and vulnerable.

That your pregnancy is making you cautious, less willing to engage in direct combat.” He looked up at me.

“All lies. I’ve been feeding them false information for two weeks.”

I blinked. “What?”

“Once I realized what I’d done, once I saw that they were planning to attack the school, to target the

students…” He shook his head. “I couldn’t. I started lying in my reports. Giving them bad information while

trying to figure out how to fix this.”

“Why not come to me?”

“Because I was terrified you’d kill

Or exile me. And then Sarah would die alone.” He stood slowly. “I know I betrayed you. I know I Please help Sarah. After that, I’ll

è punishment. But please, Se

accept whatever judgment you give.”

I studied him for a long time.”

years ago? Who’d been one

Lucas, who’d trained me every morning. Who’d sworn loyalty to my mother

first to accept me/as Alpha?

Broken by love and impossible choices.

“I’ll help Sarah,” I said finally. “But not because of any deal with Harrison. Because she’s pack, and I protect

my pack.”

His eyes widened. “You… you’ll help her?”

“Katherine Wolfe is one of the most powerful healers alive. If anyone can cure your mate, she can.” I moved closer. “But Lucas, this ends now. No more reports to Harrison, true or false. You tell me everything you know about his operation.”

“I will. I swear on the Moon Goddess.”

“And after Sarah is cured, we’re going to have a very serious conversation about your position in this pack.” I let him see the Alpha in my eyes. “Trust, once broken, isn’t easily rebuilt. You’ll have to earn it back.”

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