The Rise Of The Betrayed Luna (Amorah and Holmes) novel Chapter 23

Chapter 23

AMORAH

The guard’s eyes locked on me, and in that moment, I knew there was no slipping away unnoticed. His posture straightened as recognition settled, and his hand moved toward his weapon out of instinct rather than necessity. I did not move immediately because any sudden action would only make the situation worse.

“Luna Amorah,” he said, his voice carrying just enough to travel down the corridor.

The sound of my name reached the room ahead, and I heard movement inside. My chest tightened as I straightened slowly, forcing myself into composure even though my pulse had already

“I couldn’t sleep.” I said calmly, stepping away from the wall. “I needed air.”

The guard did not look convinced, but he also did not challenge me directly. His hesitation lasted only a moment before the door ahead opened.

Holmes stepped out first.

His

gaze found me immediately, sharp and assessing, and behind him, Bethany appeared a second later. Her expression shifted when she saw me, though she recovered quickly, her concern settling into place like something practiced.

For a brief second, none of us spoke.

Then Holmes took a step closer.

“You shouldn’t be here,” he said.

His tone was calm, but there was something underneath it that made my wolf stir. I held his gaze, refusing to show the unease pressing at my chest.

“I could say the same about you,” I replied.

His eyes narrowed slightly, and the guard stepped back, sensing that this was no longer his place to interfere. The corridor felt smaller now, the air heavier with the presence of two Alphas and everything that had not been said between us.

Bethany moved forward gently, her voice softer than his. “Amorah, you should be resting. After everything that happened. wandering alone like this isn’t safe.”

I almost laughed at that.

“Safe?” I repeated. “Is that what you call this place now?”

Her expression flickered for a fraction of a second before smoothing again. “You’re not thinking clearly.”

“I’m thinking very clearly,” I said.

Holmes closed the distance between us without warning, his presence pressing into mine in a way that forced me to stay still. He stood close enough that I could feel the heat of his body, and the scent of his wolf wrapped around me in a way that made my skin crawl.

“You’re causing problems again,” he said quietly.

I met his eyes. “You mean I’in asking questions you don’t want answered.”

His jaw tightened.

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Chapter 23

Bethany stepped closer as well, placing herself just slightly behind him, her hand brush is a

unnoticed, and I saw the brief shift in his posture as he allowed it.

“You need to stop this,” she said softly. “You’re hurting yourself.”

arm. The gesture did not go

I looked at her, really looked this time, and whatever softness she tried to show did not reach her eyes.

“You’re worried about me?” I asked.

“Yes,” she replied without hesitation.

“That’s interesting.” I said. “Because it didn’t sound like concern when you were talking about moving the twins tonight.

Silence fell immediately.

Holmes’s grip tightened slightly where his hand hovered near my arm, not touching, but close enough to remind me he could. Bethany’s expression changed again, this time slower, more controlled.

“You were listening.” Holmes said.

It wasn’t a question.

“I was standing in the corridor,” I replied. “You weren’t exactly hiding it.

His gaze sharpened. “You shouldn’t be near them.””

That confirmed everything I needed.

“Why?” I asked. “What are you afraid I’ll find?”

Bethany stepped in before he could answer. “There’s nothing to find. You’re creating something out of nothing because you’re angry.”

“I have every reason to be angry,” I said.

“You lost a child,” she replied gently. “That pain is making you see things that aren’t there.”

I shook my head slowly. “No. That pain made me finally see what was always there.”

Holmes moved closer again, and this time his hand caught my wrist before I could step back. The grip was firm, not enough to hurt, but enough to stop me from moving.

“You need to stop talking.” he said.

The contact sent a sharp reaction through me, not fear, but something/colder. My wolf growled softly inside me, her voice low.

“Break away.

“I will.” I answered her.

I tried to pull my hand free, but his grip tightened slightly, keeping me in place. The forced proximity made it unpossible to ignore him, and I could feel his wolf pressing against mine, testing, pushing

“You don’t get to silence me anymore,” I said.

“You’re not in a position to make demands.” he replied.

“I don’t need to,” I said. “The council is already listening.”

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That made him pause.

Just for a second.

But it was enough.

Bethany stepped closer, her tone shifting slightly. “Holmes, this isn’t the place.”

He didn’t look at her.

His attention stayed on me, steady and controlled, but there was something else beneath it now. Something calculating

“You’re trying to get to the twins,” he said.

“Yes.” I replied.

Her breath caught softly behind him.

“You won’t,” he said.

“I will.” I answered.

His grip tightened again, and this time there was no attempt to hide the control behind it. He pulled me slightly closer, closing the space between us completely.

“You’re pushing too far,” he said quietly.

“And you’re running out of lies,” I replied.

Then Bethany spoke again, her voice softer but edged now. “You should let her go.”

He didn’t move immediately, but after a second, his hand released my wrist. The moment the contact broke, I stepped back, putting space between us again.

“Return to your room,” he said.

“No.” I replied.

His expression darkened.

“You don’t have a choice.”

“I do,” I said. “And I’m using it.”

Bethany exhaled softly, as if tired. “Amorah, please. This isn’t helping anyone.”

“It’s helping me,” I said.

Holmes’s gaze sharpened again. “You think this will end well for you?”

“I think it will end with the truth,” I replied.

“That’s not the same thing.”

“It is when you’ve been living a lie” I said.

Silence followed that.

The tension between us had shifted again, no longer just about control, but about what was coming next. I could feel it

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clearly now.

Something was about to change.

Holmes looked at me for a long moment before speaking again.

“You’re not going near them,” he said.

“I already am.” I replied.

He glanced briefly at the guard at the end of the corridor, then back at me.

“You should have stayed in your room,” he said quietly.

My chest tightened slightly.

“Why?” I asked.

He stepped closer again, but this time slower, more deliberate. The space between us disappeared once more, myself not to step back.

“Because now,” he said, his voice dropping, “you’ve made this harder for yourself.”

I felt my wolf react immediately, alert and tense.

“What are you planning?” I asked.

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, his gaze moved over my face as if measuring something.

Then he leaned slightly closer.

“Not everything needs to be done in the open,” he said.

A cold realization settled in my

chest.

“You’re moving them now,” I said.

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