The Rise Of The Betrayed Luna (Amorah and Holmes) novel Chapter 166

Chapter 166: The Man At The Gate

Amorah PUV

The estate shifted into lockdown within minutes of the security alert.

Guards moved through the hallways with purpose, communication devices pressed against their ears as they secured every entrance and exit. The usual warmth of the house disappeared beneath the tension spreading through the territory.

I stood beside the living room window while Conrad reviewed updates from security. His wolf scent had sharpened noticeably.

“They’ve stopped at the outer gate,” one of the security wolves reported through the communication screen.

Conrad folded his arms.

“How many?”

“Seven wolves total. Holmes and six loyalists.”

I glanced toward the screen.

The image showed several vehicles parked outside the estate’s secured perimeter. Holmes stood beside the lead vehicle with his hands visible, making no attempt to cross the border.

For some reason, that unsettled me more. Holmes had never been patient. Conrad noticed my expression immediately.

“What are you thinking?”

I exhaled slowly.

“He’s planning something.”

Conrad nodded. “I agree.”

The baby shifted sharply beneath my ribs. My hand moved automatically to my stomach. Conrad immediately stepped closer.

“You need to sit down.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’ve said that six times today.”

I rolled my eyes. “Because people keep asking.”

His hand settled against my lower back anyway.

I didn’t move away.

Across the room, Kyra sat curled into the corner of the

couch clutching a blanket she definitely did not need.

Every few minutes she glanced toward the security screens.

Zane noticed too.

“You know he can’t get in here.”

“I’m not scared,” Kyra muttered.

“You’ve been holding that blanket for twenty minutes.”

“It is a tactical blanket.”

Zane stared at her. “What does that even mean?”

“It means leave me alone.”

Despite everything happening, I almost laughed. The twins had grown noticeably over the past few months.

They still argued constantly, but their reactions to problems felt different now.

Unfortunately, Zane’s version of protective currently involved arguing with security personnel.

“I should be helping.”

“No.”

“I can fight.”

“No.”

“I’m literally training every day.”

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Chapter 166: The Man At The Gate

The guard didn’t even look up.

Zane looked personally offended.

Conrad finally intervened. “You are helping.”

Zane crossed his arms. “How?”

“By staying where your family knows you’re safe.”

The answer clearly frustrated him. Still, he sat down. That alone showed how much he was maturing.

Several months ago he would have kept arguing. A rtotification appeared on Conrad’s tablet. The room immediately went quiet.

The message had come from Holmes.

Conrad opened it.

“Requesting private meeting with Amorah.”

“No.”

The answer left my mouth before Conrad could speak.

His eyes turned toward me.

I shrugged.

“At least we’re in agreement.”

Kyra looked relieved. Zane looked disappointed. The next message arrived less than a minute later.

Conrad opened it silently.

His jaw tightened.

“What?”

“He says he possesses evidence connected to your

I felt nothing.

exile.”

That realization surprised me. Months ago those words would have shattered my concentration. Now they mostly irritated

1. me.

“He always has evidence.”

Conrad looked at me carefully.

“You don’t want to know?”

“I want to know.”

I folded my arms.

“But I don’t need him to tell me.”

Something softened in Conrad’s expression.

The response seemed to satisfy him.

The next few hours passed slowly.

r

Security remained active throughout the territory while intelligence wolves monitored every movement around the border Holmes never left. He simply waited and hat felt wrong.

The longer he stayed there, the more obvious it became that this wasn’t a political maneuver.

This was personal.

Late that afternoon, I found Conrad in the nursery. Half the furniture had finally been assembled. The room looked increasingly real now.

The baby would actually be here soon. That realization still felt strange sometimes. Conrad was standing beside the crib studying the assembly instructions.

“You built it wrong.”

“I did not.”

“The rail is backwards.”

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Chapter 166. The Man At The Gate

“It is absolutely not backwards.”

puifited

Conrad looked.

Then he sighed.

“It’s backwards.”

I smiled.

He walked toward me immediately.

His hands settled on my waist. “You’re enjoying this.”

“A little.”

The baby kicked.

Conrad’s entire attention shifted instantly. His palm moved against my stomach.

“That’s because your mother is being disrespectful.”

I laughed.

The baby kicked again.

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