The Rise Of The Betrayed Luna (Amorah and Holmes) novel Chapter 1

AMORAH

“Luna Amorah,” the healer said warmly behind me. “The Moon Goddess has finally favoured you.”

“Favoured”…

The word echoed softly in my mind.

I had prayed for this moment so many nights that I had begun to wonder if the goddess had stopped listening to me entirely.

But now…

Now the miracle had come.

“I’m… pregnant,” I whispered aloud, the truth still sounding strange on my lips.

The healer nodded with a gentle smile. “Yes. And the child appears healthy.”

Healthy.

Relief washed through me so strongly my knees almost weakened.

My fingers trembled as I bent to retrieve the report from the floor. I clutched it tightly, afraid that if I loosened my grip, the dream might vanish.

Holmes would be so happy.

My Alpha.

My husband.

For years the elders had whispered that Silvercrest Pack needed an heir. That an Alpha without children risked instability within the pack.

And I….

I had been the greatest disappointment.

The barren Luna.

The weak mate.

But not anymore.

My heart raced with excitement as I hurried out of the healer’s chamber and into the long corridor leading toward the royal wing of the pack house.

I could already imagine Holmes’s reaction.

He would pull me into his arms.

He would laugh in disbelief.

He would thank the Moon Goddess for finally granting us the heir our pack deserved.

But halfway down the corridor, another thought surfaced in my mind.

Bethany.

My younger sister.

My closest friend in this entire pack.

Bethany had been the one who stayed beside me during my worst moments. When the healers delivered disappointing news, she had squeezed my hand and whispered that miracles often came when we least expected them.

She had comforted me when Holmes stayed late in council meetings and returned to our chambers long after midnight.

She had even encouraged me to spend time with her children whenever loneliness crept into my heart.

My niece and nephew.

Zane and Kyra.

They were the light of the pack house.

Smiling softly to myself, I turned away from Holmes’s wing and headed toward Bethany’s chambers instead.

She should be the first to know.

But as I approached the hallway leading to her rooms, my wolf stirred uneasily beneath my ribs.

A faint prickling sensation crept along my spine.

Something felt… wrong.

At first, I ignored the feeling.

Then I heard laughter.

A little laughter.

Soft giggles drifted through the quiet corridor.

I smiled despite myself.

It must be Zane and Kyra.

Those two could turn the most solemn hallways into chaos.

But as I stepped closer, another sound reached my ears.

A woman’s voice.

Low.

Breathless.

Moaning.

My footsteps slowed.

Then a man’s voice followed.

It was rough, deep but familiar.

My stomach twisted painfully.

No.

That couldn’t be right.

Bethany had sworn she would never share another man’s bed after her husband, Zach, died.

She had said it herself.

Yet the sounds grew louder with every step I took.

My wolf growled softly in warning.

The door ahead stood slightly open.

I should have turned away.

I should have walked straight back to Holmes and shared the news of our child.

Instead, my feet carried me forward.

Closer.

Closer.

Until I stood beside the door.

And looked inside.

The world shattered.

Bethany lay tangled in silk sheets, her long dark hair spread across the pillows like spilled ink.

Above her…was Holmes.

My breath vanished from my lungs.

My husband’s powerful body moved against her with relentless rhythm.

Bethany clung to his shoulders, soft cries escaping her lips as his name slipped from her mouth.

For a moment, my mind refused to understand what my eyes were seeing.

This wasn’t real.

It couldn’t be.

But the sight burned itself into my memory.

Holmes thrust into her again, and Bethany gasped softly.

Pain exploded through my chest so violently I nearly cried out.

How could they?

How could the two people I trusted most betray me like this?

My knees trembled as I gripped the wall for support.

Then Bethany whispered breathlessly.

“Holmes… slower. The twins will wake.”

My blood ran cold.

Holmes chuckled softly.

“Let them sleep,” he said.

The man who had sworn to protect me.

Bethany shifted closer to him.

“You never loved her anyway,” she murmured.

Holmes scoffed.

“Please….. She was just a political marriage.”

The words pierced my heart like blades.

“All I needed was your pack’s alliance to strengthen my position. Unfortunately your father chose her. And gave you away to my good for nothing brother”.

Tears burned behind my eyes.

But I refused to cry.

Not here.

Not where they could hear me.

I stepped back from the door.

One step.

Then another.

Then I turned and ran.

The corridor blurred as tears streamed down my face.

Halfway down the hall, two maids stood whispering near a window.

They fell silent when they saw me.

One of them muttered softly,

“Does the Luna know yet?”

The other hissed,

“Quiet!”

Their eyes filled with pity.

My heart sank deeper.

The pack already knew.

The humiliation was complete.

My wolf stirred weakly as I reached the staircase.

Instinctively, I tried to shift.

I tried to summon the strength of my wolf to steady myself.

But nothing happened.

My wolf remained weak.

Silent.

Years of poison had crippled it.

My foot slipped.

Pain exploded through my ankle as my body twisted violently.

I tumbled down the staircase.

My hands flew to my stomach instinctively.

My baby.

My miracle.

The metallic scent of blood filled the air as my body struck the final step.

Pain spread through every bone.

My vision darkened.

And the last thing I felt was warm blood spreading beneath me.

Then…Everything went black.