The Rise Of The Betrayed Luna (Amorah and Holmes) novel Chapter 40

Chapter 40

AMORAH

I did not sleep well after what I heard the night before, and it showed the moment I opened my eyes. The room felt too quiet, and my thoughts did not settle even after I got out of bed.

I tried to focus on simple things, but something stayed at the back of my mind, refusing to fade.

It started again when I stepped outside.

I paused near the entrance, pressing my hand lightly against my chest as I felt it. My heartbeat had picked up without reason, not fast enough to alarm me, but not normal either. It did not feel like fear or stress, and that made it harder to ignore.

I looked around, scanning the path ahead.

There was nothing unusual. The guards remained at their positions, and the pack moved through their routines like they always did. Yet the feeling stayed, quiet but present, like something had shifted without warning.

I let out a slow breath and started walking.

I told myself it was nothing.

The past week had been tense, and my body was reacting to it. That was the only explanation that made sense, and I held onto it as I moved deeper into the inner territory. I refused to connect it to anything else.

But then it happened again. This time it was stronger.

I stopped mid–step, my breath paused slightly as my chest tightened for a second. It passed quickly, but it left something behind, something I could not explain.

I frowned and pressed my hand against my chest again.

“What is this,” I muttered under my breath.

I forced myself to keep moving, ignoring the discomfort as best as I could. I made my way toward the outer training grounds, hoping the distraction would help. Physical activity had always helped me clear my head, and I needed that now.

When I arrived, a few wolves were already training.

They stopped briefly when they noticed me, offering a slight nod before returning to their drills. No one approached. No one spoke. It was the same pattern I had come to expect here.

I stepped to the side, watching for a moment before stepping into an open space.

I moved through a series of strikes and defensive motions, focusing on each step, each shift in weight, each breath. For a while, it worked. My thoughts began to quiet, and the tension eased.

Then it came back.

Stronger than before.

I froze mid–movement, my chest tightening again as my heartbeat rose. This time it did not settle immediately. It lingered, steady and present, like something was pulling at me from a distance.

I turned slightly, scanning the area.

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Chapter 40

Nothing had changed.

The wolves continued their training, their attention on their own tasks. There was no sign of danger, no reason for my body to react this way.

And yet it did.

I exhaled slowly, lowering my arms.

“This doesn’t make sense,” I said quietly.

“You’re not focused.”

The voice came from behind me.

I turned immediately, already knowing who it was.

Conrad stood a short distance away, his posture relaxed, his attention fixed on me. He had approached without sound, without drawing attention, and that alone should have unsettled me.

But it wasn’t that.

It was the timing.

“You always show up when something is wrong.” I said.

“And something is wrong now,” he replied.

I shook my head once. “I didn’t call you”

“You didn’t need to.”

I stared at him for a moment, then looked away. “I’m fine.”

You’re not.”

His tone remained calm, but there was no doubt in it.

I crossed my arms lightly. “You’re making assumptions again.”

“I don’t need to assume,” he said. “I can hear it.”

My brows drew slightly. “Hear what.”

“Your heartbear.”

I went still.

For a second. I did not respond.

“That’s not possible,” I said.

“It is.”

I shook my head again, more firmly this time. “No. That doesn’t just happen.”

It does in certain situations.”

I looked at him again, my expression tightening. “What situation?”

OOGT

13:02 Sat, May 30 MM.

Chapter 40

He did not answer immediately. That alone made my chest tighten again.

“What situation.” I repeated.

He stepped closer, stopping just in front of me.

“You’ve been feeling it more often,” he said. “Not just now.”

I hesitated.

Then I answered. “Yes.”

“How long.”

“A few days.”

He nodded, like that confirmed something for him.

“And you didn’t think to mention it.”

“I didn’t think it mattered.”

“It does.”

I let out a quiet breath, frustration was starting to build. “Then explain it.”

He was quiet for a second.

Then he said, “You’re reacting to me.”

I stared at him.

“That doesn’t make sense,”

“It does.”

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“No, it doesn’t,” I replied. “We’re not bonded.”

“Not officially.”

“That still doesn’t explain this.”

He watched me for a moment, then stepped back slightly.

“You should speak to one of the elders,” he said.

I frowned. “Why”

“They’ve seen this before.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

“It will”

I hesitated, then lowered my arms.

“Where I askert.

“I’ll have someone guide you.”

HANSE

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Chapter 40

“I can find my way.”

He gave a slight nod. “Then do that.”

I looked at him for another second, then turned and walked away before he could say anything else.

I did not like the direction this was taking.

I made my way through the inner paths, following the route I had been shown days earlier. The elder quarters were set further back, away from the main activity of the pack. It was quieter there, more isolated, and it felt intentional.

When I reached the entrance. I paused briefly before stepping inside,

An older wolf sat near the center of the room, his posture relaxed, his attention already on me as if he had been expecting my arrival.

“You’ve come,” he said.

“Yes,” I replied.

I stepped closer, stopping a few feet away.

“You’re feeling something you don’t understand,” he continued.

I frowned slightly. “Conrad told you.”

“No,” he said. “I can see it.”

I didn’t respond to that.

“What you’re experiencing is not common,” he said.

“I figured that much.”

He nodded slightly. “It happens in rare cases.

I crossed my arms again. “What does?”

“Pre–bond resonance.”

The words settled heavily.

I did not speak immediately.

“That’s not possible,” I said after a moment.

“It is.”

“We’re not bonded.”